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LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY
SPRING 2013
YellowJackets pitcher
Curt Copeland fires off
a pitch under new lights
during first season in
LETU’s new Joyce Family
Athletic Village.

a message from the president
I have been a lifelong fan of sports. Anyone visiting
my office will see immediately that I love baseball
and especially the Texas Rangers and New York
Yankees. Some of my most cherished possessions
are gifts I’ve received from student-athletes here at
LeTourneau and elsewhere. For example, I proudly
display a signed golf ball from Leslie Lee, LETU’s first
two-time conference champion in women’s golf.
So you can imagine
how elated I am
to tell people
that LeTourneau
University alumni
are making a
significant impact in
professional sports.
You’ll enjoy reading
in this issue of NOW
about Tom and Bob
Gaglardi, Ray Davis,
and John Solheim,
who are each leaders
in the multi-billion
dollar industry of
professional athletics.
University intercollegiate athletics are important.
Student-athletes learn the power of working
together as a team, the love of shared community,
the necessity of personal sacrifice and discipline.
The intellectual development that is the focus of the
classroom is nicely complemented by the emotional
and relational development that happens in
athletics. It is correct to say that our athletic courts
and fields are LETU’s largest classrooms.
That’s why I’m thankful God has provided the new
Joyce Family Athletic Village as a beautiful venue for
our NCAA programs and also our popular intramural
sports.
athletes compete with success, but also gain
recognition for their academic performance and for
their character on and off the playing field.
The LETU team is not limited to our NCAA programs.
Our faculty, staff, alumni and supporters form the
larger LETU team. It is my honor to serve as team
captain, and you’ll find in this issue of NOW a
brief summary of
the progress our
team is making in
implementing our
strategic plan.
In Hebrews, the
Christian faith is
compared to athletic
competition. The
writer of Hebrews
12 encourages us
to lay aside every
encumbrance and
sin which so easily
entangles us and
challenges us to “run
with endurance the
race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of faith.” Being a disciple
of Christ is not something we know, it is something
we do. Athletic competition can prepare us for
excellence and endurance as we follow Jesus.
Dr. and Mrs. Lunsford with LETU YellowJacket mascot "Buzz."
With Christ, let us all be encouraged to keep our
eyes on the goal and to live our lives so that we,
too, run our race well and claim every workplace in
every nation for Him.
And I’m thankful for Athletic Director Terri Deike
and our NCAA coaches who provide Christ-centered
leadership to our YellowJackets NCAA Division III
programs. You’ll see in this issue that LETU student-
Follow me on Twitter: @dalelunsford
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dalelunsford
Blog: letupresident.blogspot.com

N W O NO W LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY
“BEHOLD, NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE
TIME; BEHOLD NOW IS THE DAY OF
OUR SALVATION.” —II Cor. 6:2
contents
4 LETU Alumni Impact Professional Sports
DALE A. LUNSFORD, Ph.D. PUBLISHER
JANET RAGLAND EDITOR IN CHIEF
KATE GRONEWALD WRITER / EDITOR
JON VASHEY CREATIVE DIRECTOR / GRAPHIC DESIGNER
GAIL RITCHEY/JUSTIN MCDOWELL CLASS NOTES
NIEMAN PRINTING PRINTING
Claiming every workplace in every
nation as their mission field,
LeTourneau University graduates are
professionals of ingenuity and Christlike
character who see life’s work as a
holy calling with eternal impact.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
WEB: www.letu.edu
Email: NOW@letu.edu
8 NFL Player Chooses LETU
10 Sports Lessons for Life
12 LETU Sports Four Core Values
14 News and Notes
18 Six Years of Successful Teamwork
22 Class Notes
26 Faculty Feature: Dr. Brent Baas
28 Not Business as Usual
30 LETU is the Law in Galveston County
ADMISSIONS OFFICE
PHONE: 800-759-8811
ALUMNI OFFICE
PHONE: 800-259-5388
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
PHONE: 800-259-LETU
LeTourneau University is an interdenominational
Christ-centered university located in Longview, Texas,
offering academic majors in aviation, business,
communication, criminal justice, education, engineering,
healthcare, kinesiology, the liberal arts, psychology and the
sciences. LETU also offers undergraduate and graduate
programs at educational centers in Bedford, Dallas, Houston,
Tyler and online.
NOW is published by LeTourneau University,
2100 South Mobberly, Longview, Texas 75607 •
Sent free upon request to Editor, P.O. Box 8001,
Longview, Texas 75607. • Postmaster: Send address
changes to: NOW, P.O. Box 8001, Longview,
Texas 75607. • E-mail us at NOW@letu.edu.

LETU ALUMNI IMPACT
Professional Sports
Written by Janet Ragland
Courtesy photos; logos used by permission
When Bob Gaglardi was a
mechanical engineering
student at LeTourneau
College from 1959 to
1963, he may never have
dreamed his family would
one day own a professional sports team, especially
one over 1,700 miles away from his home in
Vancouver, Canada.
Bob founded his family’s business on its first
35-unit Sandman hotel in 1963. The family business
grew, adding restaurants and a construction
company. Today it is known as Northland Properties,
Canada’s largest family-owned hospitality company,
employing over 11,000 people with $600 million in
annual revenue.
Northland Properties is the parent company
to over 40 Sandman Hotels, Inns and Suites
across Canada, as well as the Northland Asset
Management Company. It owns 70 Moxie’s
Restaurants, and nearly 30 higher end Shark Club,
Rockford and Chop restaurants, along with nearly 50
Denny’s franchise units.
“I have four kids and all are involved with me in
our business,” Bob said. “I was able to give away my
company to my four children. They now are equal
partners in the company.”
Bob’s son, Tom, was always interested in hockey
growing up, and due to the family’s success in the
hospitality industry, as well as Tom’s astute business
acumen, the Gaglardi family became the owners
of the Dallas Stars National Hockey League Team in
2011 when Tom Gaglardi purchased the team for
$240 million.
“I had a dream when I was a child, to be selfemployed,
to build a company, to be successful,”
said Bob Gaglardi. “Since I was 12 years old, I always
dreamt I would have the ability to build things. My
dreams have been fulfilled.
“I want my children to have their own
dreams and successes, to look at what they have
Tom and Bob Gaglardi both grew up playing hockey.
accomplished on their own. I want them to fulfill
their dreams,” he said. “So my son Tom loves
hockey, and I am so very pleased for him to have the
hockey team. They are wonderful athletes.
“People who do well in sports are smart
people,” he said. “They recognize their gift and work
hard to hone it. Talent alone is not enough. You
have to work your heart out to be the best at any
sport.
“I am so very pleased with Tom,” he said. “I do
some budgeting and work with the business side
of things with the Dallas Stars. I’m involved with
the general manager, sales people and accounting
group. I have a love for the game. I watch it.”
Hockey is a sport Bob played as a “preacher’s
kid” growing up in the city of Kamloops, British
4 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

Columbia. His dad, a church minister, entered
politics in 1952 when Bob was 11, and rose to
significant public prominence in the province as the
minister of highways for the next two decades. His
father was an outspoken and gregarious personality,
unlike his quiet and pensive son. During a speaking
engagement to a Christian Men’s group in California,
Bob’s dad met R.G. LeTourneau.
“They became very good friends,” Bob said.
“In 1956 when my father opened a new church
building, R.G. LeTourneau came to open the church
as its keynote speaker. When he left, he left his
book Mover of Men and Mountains. I read it and
was enthralled with the man and what he had
accomplished, and how he gave so much back
through his ministry.
“When I turned 18, I wanted to go into business
for myself,” Bob said. “I was a loner and didn’t want
to work for anyone else. My father told me to go to
university.
“Because I was my father’s son, and he was so
prominent, I wanted to get away,” he said. “That’s
when I decided to attend LeTourneau College. I
wanted to be Bob Gaglardi, not Phil Gaglardi’s son.”
Bob was interested in big equipment that his
father was involved with in building projects like the
trans-Canada highway. Bob attended LeTourneau
College on the “alter day” program, taking classes
a few days a week while working at LeTourneau’s
manufacturing plant the other days. The work/study
program was a good fit because Bob’s father was
unable to help him financially through college.
“I learned more about R.G. and his life,” Bob
said. “He was a model for me. I respected him an
awful lot. My mother and Evelyn were friends. Mom
would come see me and stay with Evelyn. Mom
LeTourneau was like a mom to the students.”
Bob saw the dedication that R.G. LeTourneau
gave to his work, putting in long hours through the
week and flying off to speaking engagements on
weekends.
“Those things influenced me,”
he said. “We used to have chapel
services with wonderful speakers
who gave us practical knowledge.
Premised on the example of R.G.,
I knew you could go out and
work hard and contribute to the
Lord’s work. That was the primary
message that I got.”
When he returned to
Canada after LeTourneau, Bob
worked hard and founded his
family business, gaining success
far beyond what he had ever
imagined and overcoming the
identity of being known only as
his famous father’s son. Today, he
laughs that it has changed.
“I kid my children that I
went from being ‘Phil’s son’ to
being ‘Tom’s dad,’” he said.
LeTourneau University | 5

The Dallas Stars are not the
only professional sports team in
the Dallas/Fort Worth area with
ties to LeTourneau University.
Texas Rangers Major League
Baseball team is co-owned by
Dallas oilman Ray C. Davis, who
graduated from LeTourneau
College in 1966 with a business
degree.
Davis and co-owner Bob
Simpson purchased the Rangers
franchise in August of 2010,
shortly before the ball club would
enjoy back-to-back trips to the
World Series in 2010 and 2011.
By October 2010, the Texas
Rangers had won the American
League Pennant and were playing
in the 2010 World Series for the
first time in history. While the
Rangers lost to the San Francisco
Giants in five games, they still
became the first MLB team in
Texas history to ever win a World
Series game. The Rangers went
to the World Series again in 2011,
losing to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Davis and his co-owner keep
their roles low key, depending
on management staff, including
minority owner and baseball
pitching legend Nolan Ryan, to
handle media interviews and dayto-day
operations for the team.
Today, Davis leads a familyowned
diversified investment
company as chairman and CEO
of Avatar Investments, L.P. Davis
has honed his shrewd business
judgment throughout 30 years of
a successful career in the energy
industry. He has led and shared
his business leadership serving
on and chairing several boards
of directors for numerous energy
companies including Energy
Transfer Partners and Energy
Transfer Equity.
Another professional sport with ties to
LeTourneau University is golf.
John Solheim, Chairman and CEO of PING Golf,
attended LeTourneau College in the mid-1960s.
Solheim’s father, Karsten, invented the first PING
putter in 1959 in his garage at his home in Redwood
City, Calif., while still working as an engineer for
General Electric. His genuine desire to build a better
putter and help golfers play better has steered the
privately owned family business into a long history
of innovation and success, making PING one of the
preeminent golf club manufacturers in the world.
In every PGA or LPGA tournament, PING clubs
are used by many of the professional golfers.
Every time a golfer wins a professional
tournament with PING clubs, the Solheim family
has a special way of commemorating the win: They
make two gold-plated putters. One of the gold
putters is presented to the golfer. The other goes
into the Solheim’s vault.
The hundreds of gold putters in the family’s
company vault are proof of their commitment to
excellence and celebration of success, as well as
the success of the professionals who golf with PING
clubs. Their family built the business by seeking
perfection, by providing breakthrough customer
service, custom fitting sets of golf clubs for their
customers, by taking care of their employees and by
controlling their processes.
“My dad used to say, you build the best and the
business will come,” Solheim said. “I believe that.”
When Solheim was a student at LeTourneau
College, he was impressed by the ingenuity of the
6 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

school’s founder, a man much like his own father.
“I was only at LeTourneau for one semester,
but I feel it was the Lord’s timing,” Solheim said. “It
gave me exposure to R.G. LeTourneau. The way he
did things, it wasn’t conventional. He was an open
mind.
“I remember I sold putters out of my trunk,” he
said. “The classes were really good. It was a real
experience, a real joy. For some reason, the Lord
took me there, and I have stayed involved and kept
in contact.”
Solheim has been a faithful steward to the
university for many years by serving as a member
of LETU’s board of trustees and by supporting the
athletics programs at LETU, including providing PING
golf clubs to LETU golfers. He also has hired some
of LETU’s top engineering graduates to work for him
at his headquarters in Phoenix. LETU is home of
the Solheim Recreation and Activity Center where
basketball games are played in the Solheim Arena.
“I’m excited to be in golf,” Solheim said. “You
look at the players, especially our PING players
like Bubba Watson and Mark Wilson—they are
true Christians. They’re not afraid to put it out
there what they are and what they believe. A lot of
professional sports really worry me because what
kind of influence are they having on our kids?”
“My Christian faith, my Christ-centered world
view, reminds me that each person was created in
the image of Christ,” Solheim said. “Each person is
special. That influences me as a manager knowing
that each person I interact with deserves my respect
and also my attention.” This viewpoint spills over
into the work that the Solheim family has done
to help wounded warriors and disabled people in
wheelchairs have specially fitted clubs made for
them to play golf. “We did it because it was right,”
he said, “and to honor God.”
Solheim says he feels golf is a lot about
following the Lord’s way, because if you hit a bad
shot, it puts you in a bad position, but when you get
to your next shot, you have to forget what you did
wrong, and you have to hit your best shot from that
point on. “Life is like that, too,” he said.
“God has given me a wonderful position, a
wonderful father, an industry and a game that helps
people learn about themselves,” he said. “My joy
is developing new products that help them enjoy
the game. How fortunate I am that the Lord blessed
me and put me where I am because it is a way I can
glorify him, and I love what I do.” •
John Solheim, center with LETU alumni Adam Harding ('10), left, and David Peterson ('92), right, in the PING vault with gold
putters. Harding and Peterson are LETU engineering graduates working for PING.
LeTourneau University | 7

Written by Rachel Stallard
Photography credit Buffalo Bills
LeTourneau
University
has never
had a
football
team, but
that doesn’t
mean the
university
isn’t having
an impact on
professional
football.
The offensive lineman gets set for the snap of the football.
Anticipation and adrenalin course through him as he plows
into action, feet pumping, pads clashing, pushing ahead.
David Snow, 23, loves delivering bone-crunching blows on the
football field as a member of the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line.
8 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

However, the 6’4”, 305 lb. guard also realizes his
professional football career is always one play away
from getting sacked.
With the unpredictability of the game in mind,
Snow snapped up the chance to get a graduate
degree when the National Football League Players
Association offered to pay for it. Snow enrolled in
LeTourneau University’s Masters of Business Administration
program and started classes in January. He
and his wife, Holley, live in Tyler during the off-season.
“I wanted a college that was close, and everybody
around here knows the LeTourneau name,”
Snow said. “It’s a great school, and the graduate
program is completely online, which helps me out
because I travel back and forth. This was the best
option for me.”
Carl Francis, communication director for the
NFLPA, praises Snow for looking ahead.
“The NFL Players Association is always pleased
when we see players like David take advantage of
educational opportunities so they have a career
path to fall back on once their playing days are
over,” Francis said.
Snow says his MBA will prepare him to reach his
goal to become a certified financial planner.
“The average career of a professional football
player is three and a half years,” he said. “A lot of
players don’t understand that. The money you make
in football is a lot of money, but you’re not going to
be making that for the rest of your life. My MBA will
help me get a job and do something that I want to
do, not something that I have to do.”
Snow was an East Texas football success early
on as a starting guard all four years on the Gilmer
High School Buckeye Football Team. He gained the
attention of University of Texas Longhorn scouts
after playing in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American
Bowl and being ranked as the second-best guard on
ESPNU’s top 150 national prospects list.
Snow enrolled at UT in Austin, playing every
game his freshman, junior and senior years and 14
games his sophomore year.
“I just love playing the game,” Snow said. “If you
go up to someone at a bus stop and hit them like
you do on the football field, you’d get arrested. But
if you do it playing football, you get cheered.”
Getting an education was always his first priority
at UT. He earned his corporate communications
degree in December 2011 and joined the Buffalo
Bills as an undrafted free agent in April 2012. He is
proud of his NFL rookie season, where he played in
five games and started in two.
“Buffalo gave me the best chance to get noticed
and to play,” he said.
Snow understands that the popularity of being a
professional football player comes with the price tag
of responsibility — an exchange he takes seriously.
Playing for the
NFL has given me
a great platform for
being able to talk
about Christ.
“Kids see us on TV, and all they want to do is
talk to you, and they’re happy. When you hold that
much influence over somebody, you can either put
them on the right path in life or the wrong path. I
know many of these guys just love playing football
and didn’t ask to be role models, but they go handin-hand.”
As far as the former “Bevo Beast” award recipient
is concerned, professional football is merely a
venue God has given him.
“Playing for the NFL has given me a great platform
for being able to talk about Christ,” he said.
“I’m not perfect, but I do what I can to further the
Kingdom and leave the rest up to God.” •
LeTourneau University | 9

LETU ALUMNUS
Shares Sports Lessons for Life
Not everyone who is interested in sports gets
to produce sports television programs watched
by viewers all over the country, but LETU alumnus
Aaron Bearden does.
The 2008 LeTourneau University graduate has
worked for the past five years at ESPN in Bristol,
Conn., as an associate producer for “Baseball
Tonight.” After five brutal winters, he just recently
accepted a new job as producer at the Golf
Channel in sunny Orlando, Fla. In his new role, he
will produce “Morning Drive,” that airs 6 to 8 a.m.
Central Time on the Golf Channel. Bearden admitted
switching sports will be a challenge, but said "I’m
excited about the new challenge and opportunity.”
“With ESPN, I had the opportunity to learn
every aspect of the television industry, from cutting
Bearden played
baseball for the
YellowJackets.
Aaron Bearden
Written by Janet Ragland
Photographs used by permission
highlights for SportsCenter to interviewing Bryce
Harper on the field after the Nationals clinched the
NL East last year, to producing hour-long Baseball
Tonight shows,” said Bearden, who earned his
degree at LETU in digital writing and had interned
at the Longview News-Journal. “Even when the
job was demanding or frustrating, I would remind
myself that, hey, I get paid to watch baseball! And,
besides, I knew getting there was definitely a God
thing.”
Bearden played for the LETU YellowJacket
baseball team. On a bus ride home from one of
the LETU baseball games his senior year, he and a
teammate began talking about their career plans.
“I told him I wanted to work for ESPN; that was
my dream job,” Bearden said. “He said he knew
someone who worked with
ESPN. I talked to them and
that led to an interview, and
ultimately, a job.
“God worked it out,”
Bearden said. “He had His
hand over the whole process
and just worked it out.”
“The first couple of years
at ESPN, I cut highlights of
all sports, but focused in on
Baseball Tonight as soon as I
could,” he said. The first time
I produced an hour-long show,
I was nervous. The prep time
I had put into it beforehand
talking to the anchors all
came together.
It was like muscle memory.
I was ready because I had put
in the work. Bearden says it
was a lot like playing baseball.
10 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

“You have to practice. You can’t just roll out of
bed and hit .400,” he said. “You have to put in hours
in the cage in batting practice and your work ethic
has to be good.”
Another good lesson he learned from sports
was teamwork.
“Especially in baseball, if you have
a weak spot as a team, the ball will
always find that weak guy,” he
said. “I’ve noticed it here, too. If
you have a weak spot in your
job, it shows when you turn
on the TV. I’ve got to think as
a team player, and that means
communicating and getting
feedback. It also means dealing
with different personalities. TV
is a people business, and you have
to be sensitive to how you deal with
people.”
In the time-pressured world of producing
live television, Bearden said one of his biggest
challenges was staying positive.
“You are working nights and weekends, and you
hear others complaining. So my goal was to have
joy at all times,” he said. “Even if it’s a 13-inning
game and slow to finish, I learned to be happy,
and instead of looking at
the negative, I realize I am
blessed. It’s about having the
right attitude.
"When you do that,
people realize there’s
something different about
you,” he said. “Coming here
to a major sports network
in the Northeast has led me
into a lot of good discussion
about God. While it was a
little overwhelming at first,
people I come into contact
with respect my values. It
has actually strengthened my
faith.”
Bearden’s love for sports
began early.
“Some of my earliest
memories are playing catch
with my Dad out in the front
yard,” he said.
“My dad was always involved in my sports. He
never missed a game when I was growing up. I’m
the second oldest of seven kids. We were all really
involved in sports. With six siblings, everything was
and still is a competition.”
When Bearden was 10, his family moved
from Frisco, Texas, to a farm located
near Sherman, in a little town
called Whitewright. He grew up
homeschooled until high school,
which had about 50 in his
graduating class.
“The sports world always
interested me,” he said. “I grew
up wanting to play for the Texas
Rangers, and I still would love
to work for them someday, but
I realized my freshman year in
college that I wasn’t good enough
for pro ball, but I was still able to
follow my dream of playing college ball
at LeTourneau”
Even in high school, Bearden enjoyed writing
about sports.
"It’s really always just about telling the story,”
he said. •
Bearden, far right, interviewing
Bryce Harper, at left.
LeTourneau University | 11

Four Core Values of
"...what matters most is that student athletes
discover who they are in Jesus Christ..."
LETU Athletic Director
Terri Deike
Written by Janet Ragland
Sports at LeTourneau University are about more
than who scores the most points. Sports are about
building character, both on and off the playing field.
“While the score at the end of the game
matters, what matters most is that student-athletes
discover who they are in Jesus Christ through
hard work, competition, teamwork and academic
excellence,” said LETU Athletic Director Terri Deike,
who came to LETU in 2009 as athletic director after
30 years of coaching and teaching.
“As a member of NCAA Division III and the
American Southwest Conference, LETU places the
highest priority on the overall quality of the studentathlete’s
educational experience and successful
completion of their academic programs,” Deike
said. “Coaches play a significant role as educators.”
Deike expects student-athletes to work hard. She
is no stranger to hard work herself. Deike grew up on
dairy farm five miles south of a town of 250. She and
her sisters were the “hired help” to run the farm.
“We were taught to work hard and get the job
done, regardless of the time it took. My father was
an ex-coach, teacher and superintendent, so we
were taught to be the best we could,” Deike said.
“Quitting and giving up were not options.” Deike
played basketball and showed cows in 4H and FFA,
graduating in a class of eight students.
She majored in health/physical education and
biology in college at East Texas State University,
now Texas A&M Commerce. At the age of 22, she
got her first coaching job as head basketball coach
in Overton, Texas. Her career would take her to
Hallsville, Belton, Whitehouse and University of
Texas at Tyler before landing her at LETU.
“Athletics has helped make me who I am, taught
me how to live, how to treat others, how to achieve
success,” Deike said. “Athletics opens doors, helps
you achieve what you never thought you could. It
stretches you, helps shape the kind of husband/
wife, parent, employee, or friend you will be.”
LETU offers 13 NCAA sports including men’s
baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer
and tennis as well as women’s softball, volleyball,
basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and tennis.
This past year, Deike said one LETU athlete was
an all-around standout.
Nicole Leman (’13) is a four-year letter winner
in women’s cross country, who advanced to national
competition in the NCAA Division III women’s cross
country championship in Terra Haute, Ind.
“Nicole Leman and golfer Leslie Lee (’11) are the
only LETU athletes ever to qualify for NCAA national
championships,” Deike said.
Deike says success like this takes hard work.
“You can be successful if you are willing to set
goals and work hard to achieve those goals; no days
off, no games off,” she said.
Competing in athletics with a God-centered
focus can be one of the most effective and
meaningful classrooms anywhere, Deike said.
“Our goal is to develop each student-athlete’s
gifts, talents and abilities to their fullest potential,
while they grow spiritually and learn valuable life
lessons,” Deike said.
To do this, LETU’s Athletic Department focuses
on four core values: Accountability, Commitment,
12 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

Sports
Integrity and Excellence, which Deike says are the
keys to success in athletics, academics, and life.
Accountability
“Accountability means you are responsible for
yourself,” Deike said. “I tell our student athletes:
You are accountable to God, your family, teachers,
teammates and coaches. You make your own choices
and there are consequences for every choice.
You choose not to work hard in practice,
not to train hard and get in shape – what is the
consequence? Sit on the bench. You made the
choice. Your work ethic, morals and discipline are
directly related to your team’s success.”
Even if they get back from a game late, studentathletes
are still expected to be in class the next
morning. “There are no days off in athletics,” she
says.
Commitment
Deike says when students commit to playing
sports at LETU, they are required to take their
commitments seriously. They are committing
to something bigger than themselves. They are
committing to the success of their team.
“It’s not all about you when you’re playing a
sport—no one is more important than the team,”
she said. “We ask them to commit to making hard
work their passion, to go beyond what is expected.
We tell them to commit to their classes, set goals
and achieve them. Learn everything they can, and
achieve academic success and graduate. We also
want them to commit to serving others through
campus and community service. It’s a big list of
commitments, but the student- athletes are better
for it.”
Integrity
One of the most important core values LETU
expects from student-athletes is integrity.
“Do the right thing when no one else is
watching,” Deike said. “We tell our student-athletes
to take responsibility for their actions, and to
make ethical decisions and follow the rules. Our
student-athletes are representatives of LETU, both
on and off campus, therefore our expectations and
standards in some areas are placed at a higher level
than the general student body.”
Excellence
Deike says
one of her jobs
as an athletic
director and a
coach has been
to encourage
studentathletes
to expect
excellence from
themselves in
the classroom
and on the
field of play.
That requires
they develop
a winning
attitude within
themselves.
“I want
them to stay
competitive
and never get
outworked,”
she said. “I
want them to
expect to win
every day in
every contest. Going in with that mindset makes all
the difference in the excellence we will see in their
performance.” •
LeTourneau University | 13

newsandnotes
LETU STUDENTS PRAY THE LOOP
During homecoming festivities in
April, LETU students came together
around the loop on the Longview
campus to unite in prayer for God’s
direction, protection and will for
LeTourneau University.
LONGVIEW MAYOR APPOINTS
LUNSFORD TO TASK FORCE
LETU President Dr.
Dale A. Lunsford
was chosen by
Longview Mayor
Jay Dean to lead an
I-20 Task Force to
identify methods to
draw more visitors
into Longview from the interstate
that passes through the south side
of the city. Lunsford served as the
chairman of the Longview Chamber
of Commerce for 2012. He has been
outspoken in support for renovation
of the city’s entrances from the
interstate since he became the
university’s president in 2007.
TEACHER EDUCATION GAINS ACSI
ACCREDITATION
LETU’s School of Education has been
recognized among outstanding
colleges and universities that train
educators for private, Christian
schools, following its recent
recommendation for accreditation
by a visiting team of the Association
of Christian Schools International.
ACSI is the world’s largest community
of Christian educators dedicated to
providing a Christ-centered education.
LETU ATHLETIC DIRECTOR ELECTED
TO LEAD NCAA MEMBERSHIP
LETU Athletic Director
Terri Deike was elected
the 2013 chair of
the NCAA Division
III Membership
Committee, the largest
division in the nation
with 453 member schools.
LETU SPRING ENROLLMENT
MARKS RECORD AGAIN
LETU’s traditional undergraduate
enrollment of new, transfer, and
former students is the highest in the
last decade for a spring semester.
International students are also at
record levels, totaling 100. Retention
rate for first-time-in-college students
from Fall 2012 to Spring 2013 was 95
percent, one of the highest retention
rates ever.
LETU COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
TEAM EARNS HONORABLE MENTION
LETU computer science students
competed in the University
of Chicago’s 2013 Invitational
Programming Contest and won
honorable mention even against stiff
competition from universities like
Stanford, MIT and Columbia with
graduate programs. The contest was
only open to teams who already
qualified for the 2013 ICPC World
Finals, which the LETU team qualified
for last year. Pictured from left are
Daniel Rothfus, Terry Penner and
Micah Shennum.
LETU NAMES NEW NURSING DEAN
Dr. Kimberly Quiett will
become the first dean
of LETU’s proposed
School of Nursing,
pending Texas State
Board approval. Quiett
is working now to move
LETU’s proposed nursing program
through the application and approval
process with the State Board and the
SACSCOC. The proposed school will
enable LETU to offer its own Bachelor
of Science in Nursing.
LETU ‘E-WEEK’ ATTRACTS 130
Nearly 130 participating high school
and middle school students from East
Texas attended LETU’s E-week event
to engage in a variety of engineering
activities, including modeling and
design labs. The goal was to teach
students what engineers do and to
encourage them to pursue careers in
engineering.
LETU NAMES NEW BUSINESS DEAN
Dr. Bruce A. Bowman
will become LETU’s
new dean of the
School of Business,
effective July 1.
Bowman was an
academic dean at Northern Virginia
Community College and Norwich
University and has held senior
corporate positions in the defense
industry.
SPRING BREAK IN GUATEMALA
Seven engineering students traveled
to Antigua, Guatemala, during spring
break to test wheelchair prototypes
with children at two orphanages and
at Hope Haven mission agency to get
input for improvements. The students
are developing a new wheelchair for
children in developing nations as part
of the Frontier Wheelchairs Senior
Design Team, under the direction of
assistant professor Norm Reese.
14 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

LETU AWARDS $23,000 IN FACULTY GRANTS
LeTourneau University recently awarded more than $23,000 in funding to seven
faculty members to pursue research initiatives. The faculty from biology, engineering,
language arts and theology were awarded giant checks to represent the grants they
will use to pursue their research.
Faculty Scholarship Grant recipients include (pictured from left):
Dr. Patrick Mays, theology, “Best Practices for the Integration of Faith and Learning” $1,500
Dr. Ben Caldwell, engineering, “A Biblical Understanding of How and Why Engineers Design” $500
Ms. Karen Rispin, biology, “Presenting Wheels Research at Annual RESNA Conference” $1,980
Dr. Darryl Low, engineering, “Evaluation of Selenium Coated Membranes for Wastewater Treatment” $5,965
Dr. Stephen Ayers, engineering, “Development of High Durability Bridge Decks” $8,700
Dr. Seung Kim, engineering, “Research of Optical Cavity Based Biosensor” $4,500
Dr. Martin Batts, language arts, “Presenting and Chairing at South Central Conference on Christianity and Literature” $500
LETU ENGINEERS WIN 1ST AND 2ND
PLACE AT IEEE REGIONALS
LETU electrical and computer
engineering students won first place
in the Robotics Technical Report
competition and second place in the
Circuit Design competition at the IEEE
Region V conference in Denver, Colo.,
under the direction of faculty sponsor
Dr. SeungHyun Kim.
LETU AVIATION STUDENT WINS
$5,000 SCHOLARSHIP
LETU aviation
student Whitney
Brouwer was
awarded a $5,000
scholarship from
The Racing Aces
flight team of
Dianna Stanger and Victoria Holt.
The professional pilots donated the
winning purse they won at the 36th
Air Race Championship. Their goal
was to empower a female flight
student to realize her own dream
of flight. The Federal Aviation
Administration reports that only
7 percent of all pilots are women.
PSYCHOLOGY RAMPS UP
New additions to the psychology
department include Dr. Chuck West
serving as the Director of Graduate
Programs, Dr. Peter Bradley serving
as the Director of Clinical Training
and Dr. Jeffrey Quiett as professor of
psychology. Also new are academic
advisers Judi Coyle and Emily Johnson.
The department recently moved to
new faculty offices in Longview Hall
where a new counseling center will
begin operation.
AVIATION HOSTS FIRST ART SHOW
The Abbott
Center Grand
Hall was the
location of
the School of
Aeronautical
Science’s first aircraft-themed art
show in February. The exhibit
displayed various types of aviationrelated
artwork including paintings,
drawings, photographs from LETU
faculty, staff, students and alumni.
SCHOOL CHILDREN ATTEND SPORTS
CAMP OUTREACH
As an outreach into the community,
LETU student-athletes and coaches
hosted a Jackets Sports Camp for
about 150 4th and 5th graders from
Bramlette Elementary School in
Longview to provide a free day of
fun and instruction in basketball,
baseball/softball, soccer, volleyball
and tennis.
LETU WHEELS TEAM PRESENTS
RESEARCH
LETU biology students presented
their on-campus wheelchair research
studies to physicians, post-docs and
graduate and undergraduate students
at the Texas chapter of the American
College of Sports Medicine (TACSM)
in Austin. Nearly 500 attended the
event, according to faculty adviser
Karen Rispin.
CENTER FOR FAITH AND WORK IN
SINGAPORE
CFW Executive
Director Bill Peel gave
a presentation on the
integration of faith
and work to about 400
people at Hope Church
in Singapore. He and
Dr. Lunsford also met
with Christian business leaders.
LETU STUDENTS PLACE AT PAMA
A team of LETU aviation students won
first and third place at the Professional
Aviation Maintenance Association
competition. Jake Hefner placed first,
and Quintin Socha placed third. PAMA
is the premier aviation maintenance
organization that fosters continuous
improvement in aviation safety.
LeTourneau University | 15

newsandnotes
JOE BOB JOYCE RECEIVES AWARD
The Henry O. Gossett Community
Partner Award was presented to Joe
Bob Joyce for his service and support
to the university.
LETU COLLABORATES WITH ECI
FOR INTENSIVE ENGLISH CLASSES
Educational and Cultural Interactions
(ECI), a leading provider of intensive
English language programs, to provide
their programs for international
students at LETU’s Dallas Educational
Center. Texas is one of the top
three states to attract international
students.
LETU RUGBY CLUB LAUNCHES SEASON
In its first year as a club sport with the
Texas Rugby Union, LETU Rugby Club
was #2 in their Northern Conference
and the #4 seed at the LoneStar
Conference Playoffs.
LETU DEDICATES PARROTT
REFLECTION ROOM
A reception was held at the Abbott
Aviation Center in March to dedicate
the Parrott Reflection Room. The
Rev. Robert “Bob” Parrott, widely
known as a minister to astronauts,
has donated his NASA memorabilia,
including microfiche Bibles that have
been to the moon and back.
SHEAFER NAMED A TOP PROFESSOR
After winning
the Frank Costin
Memorial Award
for Excellence
in Teaching last
semester, LETU
psychology
professor Dr. Vicki Sheafer has
been selected as one of the top 23
psychology professors in the state of
Texas by www.State.States.org. The
website reports that top professors
in the field of psychology research
extensively, inspire, teach, and even
help the community.
LETU HOSTS CS LEWIS
CONFERENCE
“Fairytales in the Age of iPads:
Inklings, Imagination, and
Technology” was the theme for
the C.S. Lewis conference hosted
by LETU’s Literature and Language
Arts Department. The purpose of
the conference was to promote the
advancement of scholarship, teaching
and writing on the life and works of
C.S. Lewis and the Inklings.
TREE OF LIFE COMES TO LETU
LETU has signed a five-year contract
with Tree of Life Bookstores, Inc.,
a faith-based and family-owned
bookstore that services Christian
colleges and universities across
the country. The Indiana-based
corporation will be the university’s
new bookstore vendor, effective July 1.
LETU OPENS NEW LOCATION NEAR
HOUSTON GALLERIA
Classes began in a new location
in Houston at 701 North Post Oak
Blvd this spring. While still located
near the Houston Galleria, the new
location provides for less traffic and
more convenient parking.
LETU ATTRACTS RECORD NUMBER
OF HERITAGE SCHOLARS
About 124 of the best and brightest
high school students from all over the
country competed for 10 full tuition
scholarships totaling more than $1.2
million in institutional financial aid at
LETU’s largest Heritage Scholars event
in history.
BAJA TEAM TAKES 5TH OVERALL
LETU
engineering
students
placed 3rd
in overall
dynamics
and 5th
overall recently in the Society of
Automotive Engineers (SAE) 2013
Baja Team competition with their
“Renegade Racing” car.
16 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

ASC Honors
YELLOWJACKETS
ASC ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMS
A total of 52 LeTourneau student-athletes were named to the 2012-13 American Southwest Conference All-
Academic Teams, with 23 athletes honored in the Fall and 29 in the Spring. To receive ASC All-Academic honors,
a student-athlete must be a sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student during the competition season; must
have attended and completed at least two consecutive semesters at their institution; and have a 3.0 cumulative
grade point average at the end of the academic semester in which they competed.
ASC ALL-DIVISION TEAMS
Recognition for ASC All-Division/Conference Team is an honor student-athletes receive for their athletic
performances on the field, and honors are voted on by the head coaches of the ASC in each individual sport.
The athlete with the most votes at a certain position determines the honor of First Team, Second Team, and
Honorable Mention.
SOFTBALL
A school record eight YellowJackets from the LETU softball team earned
2013 ASC All-Division Team honors. Pictured from left, senior Juliana
Tuel, junior Kaylee Pritchett, sophomore Brooklyn Greene, and freshman
Megan Hill all earned Second Team All-ASC honors while juniors Anna
Winter, Jourdan Glover, Sara Whitehead and freshman Shelby Borders all
earned Honorable Mention.
BASEBALL
Five LETU YellowJacket baseball players landed on the 2013 ASC All-
Division Team. LETU pitcher Curt Copeland, a junior, earned First Team
All-ASC, while juniors Bryce Griffin and Jordan Price and sophomore Ryan
Bertram were all named to the Second Team. Junior Garrett Methvin
earned Honorable Mention.
MEN’S TENNIS
Three YellowJackets were named to the 2013 ASC Men’s Tennis All-
Conference Team. Junior Josh Bailey earned Second Team honors at
the No. 5 singles position, while freshman Michael McLaughlin and
sophomore Sindre Johnsgaard each earned Honorable Mention. The team
of Bailey and McLaughlin also earned a spot on the Honorable Mention
No. 3 Doubles Team.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Three LETU Women’s Tennis players were named to the 2013 ASC All-East
Team. Junior Miranda Lamb took home Second Team honors for No. 4
singles, while Sara Case (No 1 singles) and Kayla Bonina (No. 3 singles)
each earned Honorable Mention.
LeTourneau University | 17

SIX YEARS OF
SUCCESSFUL
TEAMWORK
Written by Janet Ragland
Photography by Randy Mallory
AT LETU
Being a university president is a lot like
being a sports team captain. Team captains
are members of the team with significant
responsibility for strategy, leadership and
ensuring teamwork that gets results. Team captains
interact with game officials regarding rules, just
like university presidents interact with legislators
and other governing associations. They represent
the “team” wherever they go. Dr. Dale A. Lunsford
became LeTourneau University’s “team captain” in
2007 when he assumed the presidency. Here are
some of the leadership milestones of the first six
years of LETU’s sixth president.
In his first year as president
of LeTourneau University, Dr.
Dale A. Lunsford lived in an
apartment on campus during
the week, before his family
moved to Longview. He ate
meals with students in the old
Skipper Dining Hall, attended
YellowJacket athletic events, and
worshipped with students
on Sunday evenings at
praise services in Speer
Chapel.
That first year, he also traveled the United
States to meet alumni, trustees and friends of the
university. He listened intently to many stories
about the university founder, R.G. LeTourneau.
During those visits, he reinforced the steadfastness
of the university’s Christ-centered commitment and
assured that the school would continue to grow
in a way consistent with its heritage of faith and
ingenuity.
“Those first-year experiences gave me a clear
vision of our unique calling,” Lunsford said. “They
helped me see a God already at work at LETU, and
helped me set a course for seeking His will for things
to come.”
Claiming Every Workplace
in Every Nation as our
mission field, LeTourneau
University graduates are
professionals of ingenuity
and Christ-like character
who see life’s work as a holy
calling with eternal impact.
18 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

NEW VISION STATEMENT & LOGO
In 2008, Lunsford strengthened the school’s
foundation when he initiated a campus-wide
strategic visioning initiative, grounded in prayer, to
seek to know God’s vision and His design for the
future of LeTourneau University. Students, staff,
faculty, alumni and trustees helped identify key
messages about what the university had done well,
what it could do better and how it could better
join God in the work He was already doing. The
result was a clear, new strategic vision statement
that would encapsulate the university’s brand and
inform future initiatives: To reinforce the university’s
Christ-centered mission, a new logo of a shield
incorporating a modern cross and global imagery
with “LETU” was launched. The official university
seal was also modified to add “Matthew 6:33”
as the university’s signature statement of faith, a
legacy of our founder R.G. LeTourneau, who claimed
it as his life’s verse.
STRATEGIC PLAN
Lunsford charged a strategic planning
committee of administration, faculty, staff and
students to develop a campus-wide, five-year,
2010-2015 Strategic Plan that the board of trustees
approved in April 2010. The “Every Workplace Every
Nation” Strategic Plan identified five commitment
statements to guide the university as it seeks 1) to
educate a new generation of leaders who effectively
integrate their Christian faith and professional
calling; 2) to meet the changing needs of students
who seek a Christ-centered residential university
education; 3) to achieve excellence as a Christcentered
university of exceptional professional
programs; 4) to be a university of global influence;
and 5) to develop the capabilities, structure and
resources to achieve the university’s vision.
CENTER FOR FAITH AND WORK
In response to the first point in the strategic
plan, Lunsford saw that to educate a new generation
of leaders who effectively integrate their Christian
faith and professional calling, the university should
launch a center whose sole focus was to equip
Christians who view their work as worship.
“Closing the gap between Sunday faith and
Monday work means recognizing that every
workplace in every nation is a mission field, a place
of ministry where people can effectively integrate
their Christian faith and professional calling,”
Lunsford said. “God does not ask that we choose
between a life of faith or work – He challenges us to
see our work as worship and to offer it to God as a
sacrifice of praise. This is a truth that changes lives.
And it means seeking excellence in what you are
called to do that will set you apart as a leader worth
following. ”
LETU’s
Center for
Faith and
Work provides
web-based
resources
at www.
centerforfaithandwork.com to help equip people
to explore what the integration of faith and work
looks like in a variety of work settings. Leading
the CFW is Executive Director Bill Peel, who in the
past year has brought over 40 leaders to the main
campus in Longview to speak to students on the
theology and practice of “work done unto the Lord.”
The CFW also provided churches with a “Making
Monday Meaningful” curriculum for Labor Day
and participated in research and educational video
initiatives.
FACILITIES
The second commitment in the strategic plan
recognizes the value of a traditional residential
campus experience and the challenge of meeting
the needs of today’s students.
“We’ve come a long way from the barracks and
slide rules of LeTourneau Tech,” Lunsford said. “But
we still have a distance to go to provide the overall
experience that will attract and retain students of
this generation.”
LeTourneau University | 19

Completed Facilities Improvements
Since Lunsford's arrival, more than $40 million in capital improvements have added more than 112,000
square feet to campus facilities.
The Paul & Betty Abbott Aviation Center at East
Texas Regional Airport opened in 2009.
The Glaske Center faculty offices expansion added
18 new and much-needed office spaces.
The renovated Corner Café dining facility expanded
with larger seating capacity for future growth.
The new 200-bed South Hall opened in Fall 2011 and
has already won design awards.
The renovated and expanded Kielhorn Materials
Joining Engineering Lab is the largest, stand-alone
college welding lab in the country.
The new Joyce Family Athletic Village opened in
2012 to serve 13 NCAA intercollegiate sports and
intramurals.
Under Construction
One of the most visible improvements to campus since
the 2007 construction of the Belcher Center is the new
60,000-square-foot Anna Lee and Sidney Allen Family
Student Center, currently under construction and set to
open by Fall 2014.
20 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

The new Allen Center will be home to the
university mail center, bookstore, print shop,
counseling and health services, achievement
center and offices for admissions, alumni, career
services, student life and administration. A two-story
commons area will provide a place for students,
faculty, staff, alumni and guests to meet or enjoy a
meal from the coffee shop. A large, multi-purpose
room with movable walls can be sectioned off into
five separate rooms for maximum functionality for
meetings and projects.
NEW PROGRAMS,
NEW SCHOOL OF NURSING
To achieve excellence as a Christ-centered
university of exceptional professional programs,
LETU has launched several new degree programs in
the past six years. New graduate degrees are being
offered in engineering, health care management,
psychology, counseling, and marriage and family
therapy. New undergraduate degrees include civil
engineering, criminal justice, computer network
security, communications, international studies,
aviation studies, and allied health-nursing.
“Because of the forecasted high demand
for highly qualified nurses, we have begun the
application and approval process to launch our own
LETU School of Nursing, pending SACSCOC and Texas
State Board approval,” Lunsford said. “We have
hired a new dean of nursing who is working now
through the application and approval process with
the State Board for LETU to offer its own Bachelor
of Science in Nursing. Our plan is to repurpose the
MSC building as the home of our proposed School
of Nursing after the Allen Center is completed.”
GLOBAL INITIATIVES
To be a university of global influence, Lunsford
formed in 2011 the new Office of Global Initiatives
which includes a Center for Global Service Learning.
The university’s goal is 1) to increase international
student enrollment on the main campus to 10
percent in the next five years and 2) to encourage
more LETU students to participate in study-abroad
opportunities. The university is seeing success with
both goals.
This past fall, the university had a record
number of 100 international students on its main
campus. LETU has also been fulfilling its strategic
vision to be a university of global influence in just
the last few months as LETU students have traveled
to study or serve in Kenya, Israel, Scotland, Spain,
Australia, Guatemala, England, Korea, Bangladesh,
Cambodia, Haiti and Mongolia.
RESOURCES
To develop the capabilities, structure and
resources to achieve the university’s vision,
Lunsford began to strengthen the university’s
financial condition through trimming budgets,
reorganizing staff
and launching
the university’s
most ambitious
and first-ever
comprehensive
capital campaign
to raise $27.5
million before
December 2014.
The “For Such
a Time as This”
campaign is the
most ambitious in the university’s history because
it is a comprehensive campaign that will also fund
scholarships, people and projects—not just brick
and mortar facilities like campaigns in the past.
Progress is tracked on the campaign website at
www.campaign.letu.edu. Many initiatives benefit
from this campaign, including student scholarships,
faculty endowments, the Center for Faith and Work,
Global Service Learning and capital projects like
the new Allen Family Student Center and the Joyce
Family Athletic Village.
“Our strategic enrollment plan goal is to grow
our traditional campus to 1,600 students by 2015
and 2,000 students beyond that,” Lunsford said.
The campaign has enjoyed success to date with over
$22 million, or 80% of the total pledged, despite a
depressed economy since 2008.
“The LeTourneau legacy instructs us on how
to proceed into this new generation of service,”
Lunsford said. “Mr. R.G. has already told us how to
go forward. His life verse, Matthew 6:33, points the
way. He might say if here today, ‘University, seek
first the Kingdom of God and all else will be added.’
And that is exactly what we intend to do.” •
LeTourneau University | 21

classnotes
MEMORIALS
Charles Perkins (’53, MES), 79, died
Dec. 25 in Austin, Texas. He viewed R.G.
LeTourneau as a role model and deeply
respected Mr. and Mrs. LeTourneau.
Perkins is survived by his wife, Connie.
Arthur L. Rendall (’54, EE) died Aug. 11
at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation-
Kenosha South in Wisconsin. He is
survived by five sons, two daughters and
seven grandchildren.
Ernest J. Way
Jr. (’55, IE), 89,
died March 2 in
Atascadero, Calif.
He is survived by his
remaining siblings
Kara Stevenson
and Robert "Doug" Way; children Susan,
Ernest C., Sondra, Linda and Thomas;
10 grandchildren; and eight greatgrandchildren.
He was looking forward to
the birth of his ninth great-grandchild in
May.
Charles Ralph Coonrod (’58, IS), 77, of
Bethel, Mo., died Feb. 6. He is survived by
his wife, Delberta “Debbie” Hollaway, his
son Charles "Chic" Coonrod, his daughter
Marcee, and five grandchildren. The
Coonrod Vocational Education Scholarship
Fund in Shelbyville, Mo., was set up to
remember and honor the passion that he
had for applied mechanical education.
Edward L. Nichols
(’59, EN), 83, of
Siloam Springs,
Ark., died Nov. 26.
He is survived by
his wife, Carol, son
Eddy, daughter Lydia
(Collins), and seven grandchildren.
Stan Olson (’62, IE) died on Feb. 1 in
Lincoln, Neb. He is survived by his wife,
Loretta.
Timothy Dale Mark
(’81, ATBS) died
in Woodstock, Ga.
on March 14. He is
survived by his wife,
Barrie Ann Mark.
The loss of a loved one, friend or
colleague often inspires us to ensure
that their memory lives on. Many people
find that supporting LETU is an ideal way
to honor someone who has died. Gifts
made "in memoriam" offer lasting honor
to a loved one while providing family and
friends with the satisfaction of knowing
they have helped others. If you would like
to give a memoriam to LETU, please call
1-800-259-5388 or donate online at www.
letu/give. The family will be notified of your
generosity when a memoriam is made.
BIRTHS
Larry McGuire (’68, ET)
and wife, Virginia, would
like to announce the birth
of their ninth grandchild,
Jonah Obadiah, born
to Philip and Michelle
McGuire. Jonah weighed
8lb 14oz and was 21.5 inches long.
Daniel Cutler (’81, ATBS) and wife,
Judyanne, announce the November
birth of Nathan Miles, in Auckland, New
Zealand. He joins his big sister Maeghan
Grace.
Dr. George Berry
(’93, WT) and wife,
Elisa, welcome their
first child, Naomi
Garnet, born Nov. 16
at 7 lbs. in Longview, Texas.
Jeff (’97, ME) and Julia
Thielman welcome their
first child, Hannah Marie,
born March 2 at 8 lb. 6 oz. in
Corvallis, Ore.
Matt (’00, EE) and Lidia (Calderon) (’02,
IBBS) Brodine announce the birth of
their fourth daughter Sara Grace on Sept.
1. They now have four girls: Rebekah
(6), Esther (4), Ruby (2) and Sara Grace.
They pray for energy to keep up with them.
They live in Overland, Kan.
Shane Qureshi
(’02, AFFS) and Dr.
Natacha Qureshi
(Torres) (’02, BYBS)
welcome their
daughter, Ela Colette,
born Feb. 13. Shane is a commercial
pilot with Republic Airways. Natacha is an
Emergency Medicine physician with Team
Health.
Nick Helsper
(’05, ASFM) and
Lindsey (Brown)
Helsper (’05, BYBS)
announce the birth of
their second son, Garin, born in Feb. 2012.
He joins big brother, Baylor.
David ('05, ME) and Lindsey Eaton would
like to introduce their new baby girl, Shiloh
Abigail, born on Sept. 22. David is the
CEO and cofounder of AXIS, a nonprofit
that seeks to challenge students to live
out their faith in tangible ways and make a
lasting impact on our culture.
Matthew “Matt” Reeves (’06, ASFL) and
Jessica (Kaufman) Reeves (’07, ISE1-
EC-4) announce the birth of their daughter,
Annabel Jane, on April 10. She weighed 9
lbs 5oz and was 20 1/4 inches long.
22 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

Michael Ratcliff (’07, AFFS) and wife,
Tabitha announce the birth of Andelyn
Hope, in Jan. 2012. She joins siblings
Asher (3) and Everly (2) at home in Spring,
Texas. Michael started a new position as
an air traffic control specialist (controller)
for the FAA in Houston.
Jonathan (’08, MJE)
and Paige Bear
announce the birth
of Megan Noel on
born Feb. 28. She
weighed 6 lbs 8.5
oz and was 19 inches long. Megan is
welcomed by her big sisters, Madison and
Kimberly.
Michael (’08, MK) and
Rachel Gaines (’07,
ACCT/FIN) announce
the arrival of their first
child, Emily Lynn, on
Nov. 6 in Houston. She
weighed in at 7lbs. 5 oz. and 20” long.
Joshua Swain (’05, PSYS) and wife,
Jackie, welcome their
son Ryder Swain
into their family.
Joshua has accepted
a position as an
associate attorney at Coghlan Crowson,
LLP in Longview, Texas.
WEDDINGS
Will Hyslop (’66, ME IE) and his wife,
Dorothy (Ruddell), celebrated their
52nd anniversary on March 25. Will and
Dorothy live in Nampa, Idaho. They have
three grown children (one son and two
daughters) and seven grandchildren.
Tom Pace (’66, MI) and wife, Carolyn,
celebrated
50 years of
marriage at a
reception on
Aug. 25, 2012
in Lima, Peru.
Andrew “Andy” Briggs (’77, MTAT) and
his wife, Jan, announce the marriage of
their daughter, Lydia, to Yuichi Murakami in
Costa Rica. The wedding was performed
by his former LeTourneau classmate and
fellow MAF alumnus, Jonathan (Abel)
Mejia (’76, ATBS). Lydia and Yuichi help
out on weekends with Jonathan and
Yolanda's ministry to the underprivileged
youth of San Jose.
Elizabeth (Moss) (’07, IES1-EC-4) and
Jeff Lubin (’11, EE) were married March
23 in Longview, Texas. Elizabeth and Jeff
live in Midwest City, Okla.
Anna Coley (’09, FIN)
married Chris Oliver at
her grandparents’ home
in Statham, Ga. May 19,
2012. She manages the
office at Horizon Physical
Therapy.
Chris Plorin (’11, MT/DT) and wife, Erica,
were married June 6, 2012. They live in
Arlington, Texas, where Chris works for
Lehigh Hanson Aggregates.
Joseph (’12, ME/
MJE) and Elizabeth
(Johnson) Bailey
were married on
June 30th, 2012. Joe
works at Vermeer Corporation as a Weld
Engineer in Pella, Iowa.
CLASS NOTES
50s
Montague “Monty” Collins (’54, MES)
is a retired locomotive engineer for SP&S/
Burlington Northern who currently lives in
Alto, Texas.
60s
Phil Hoy (’67, AET) donated a 1958 Piper
Tri Pacer to the Piper Aviation Museum on
June 23, 2012. Phil presented the plane at
the Sentimental Journey Banquet in Lock
Haven, Pa.
70s
Paul Helgesen (’71, IE) was one of the
emergency medical technicians at the
Boston Marathon at mile marker 25 during
the recent bombing. Paul and his medical
partners treated and counseled runners
who could not finish the race, and they
also treated a family with minor injuries
from the blast. He encourages that
citizens consider training and volunteering
with the American Red Cross.
Robert Rice Brandt (’78, ET) completed
his thesis and obtained a doctorate in
electrical engineering in December from
the Universidade Federal de Campina
Grande.
Tony Karr (’79, EET)
and his wife, Lee Ann,
have raised four sons
in their hometown of
Kansas City, Mo. They
moved in August to
the city of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, where
they are serving with Youth With A Mission
(YWAM).
80s
Christopher (’80, ME)
Bozung has recently
published a book titled
Uncommon Questions
from an Extraordinary
Savior. He and his
wife, Johnna, live in
Marion, Iowa. He is
self-employed.
Paul Nielsen (’81, IM) and wife, Karen,
recently moved to St. Louis, Mo., where
he is the process designer for industrial
manufacturing facilities at LINKs
Consulting, LLC.
Timothy Livengood (’86, WE) was
recently pictured on the NASA website
when NASA reporters visited the Boeing
Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans,
La. The article was on the Space Launch
System portion of the Orion Project.
LeTourneau University | 23

classnotes
Jerry Krause (’81,ATFL) and his twinengine
Beechcraft 1900 aircraft went
missing Sunday, April 7, in a storm off
the coast of West Africa on approach to
the Sao Tome airport. He was flying from
Johannesburg, South Africa, to Mali when
radio contact was lost. The emergency
location transmitter in his aircraft was
never activated, and despite searches
in the Gulf of Guinea, no wreckage has
been reported, which leads the family to
believe the plane could still be intact with
Jerry alive. His family set up a website
www.findjerry.com to raise awareness and
prayer support.
90s
Dean Thomas (’90,
MT/ATBS) and his
wife, Lynn, along
with their daughter
Carly (20) and son
Troy (18), live in Oklahoma City, Okla.,
where Dean works as a stress analyst
engineer for Boeing.
Michael Brown (’94, BU/AU) has worked
at the Procter & Gamble Wal-Mart team
for over 12 years. His team won Supplier
of the Year award at the Wal-Mart year
beginning meeting due to excellence with
the 2012 ZzzQuil launch.
Jeffrey (‘95, ATFL) and Nicole Barnett
(’95, BI) shared their story of ministry
with AIM Air on a radio show, "Hearts for
Africa Radio Show.” Go to http://www.
heartsforafricaradio.com/ Jeff's interview is
#35 under the Archived Shows.
Penny (’95, BBM) and Robert Parsons
(’95, BBM) live in Granbury, Texas. Penny
is semi-retired and works part-time as a
clerical assistant at Bond Arms, Inc.
David C. Stanton (’94,
ME) recently patented
an auxiliary power unit
diagnostic tool for a truck
Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)
while working for Navistar
in Ft. Wayne, Ind. The tool is to help
technicians diagnose power generator
problems. He has accepted a new job as
a project engineer for Terex in Fort Wayne.
He and his wife, Amy, have three children,
ages 12, 10, and 7.
Carrie Fitchett (’95,
BUBS) is a tour director
working with Educational
Travel Adventures and
was featured in an Urban
Insider column in National
Geographic in January.
Jeffrey “Jeff” Waldrop (’95, ATFL)
received his Ph.D. in Church History
and Theology from Fuller Theological
Seminary during the summer of 2012.
He now teaches as an adjunct profetssor
for Golden Gate Baptist Theological
Seminary. He lives in Pasadena, Calif.
with his wife, Carey.
Jennifer Goodin (’98, BBM), her
husband, Kevin, and their two sons, Austin
(21) and Ryan (15), live in Bixby, Okla.
Jennifer works as an IT director in Tulsa,
Okla.
Joel (JD) ('98, EE) and Antonia
(McCarron) Solis ('99, ACCT) now live in
Cypress, Texas. Joel works for Dresser-
Rand as a Commodity Specialist in
Houston.
Pamela Taylor (’99, BBA) graduated from
Washburn Law School in December. She
passed the Texas Bar Exam and is now a
licensed attorney in Irving, Texas.
00s
Keeng Eng (’00, BBM) is now senior
consultant for Ambit Energy in Houston.
Stephen Casey, (’03 HIPL,
BI) is chief counsel for the
Texas Center for the Defense
of Life (www.TCDL.org) and
recently was featured on
national news for successfully saving
the life of the unborn baby of a pregnant
Houston-area 16-year-old whose parents
were seeking to coerce her into getting an
abortion. TCDL is a nonprofit that seeks
to defend the sanctity of human life by
providing legal representation to pro-life
organizations and individuals.
Robert “Bob” Francis (’06, MBA) has
a new job as vice president of marketing
at Capital Assets Group for Liquidity
Services, Inc. in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Steven “Mike” Cross (’07, CE) has been
promoted to Systems Engineer II and is
relocating to St. Louis, Mo., with his wife,
Cyndi, to work a new contract with Harris
Corp. Mike and Cyndi also have launched
a website, www.crossbeatstudios.com, to
share their mutual passion for music.
David Martinez II (’07, MBA), his wife,
Olivia, and their two children, Carl (8) and
Mateo (6), currently live in Dallas, where
David is a financial advisor for Wells Fargo
Advisors LLC.
Greggory Wright
(’07, PSYS) received
his Ph.D. in Industrial/
Organizational
Psychology from Capella
University in February.
He and his wife, Lauren,
are moving to Farmers
Branch, Texas, to start a
new job working for T-System.
24 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

Brandon J. Ray
(’07, ASFS) of
Richmond, Texas,
recently renewed his
Master Certificated
Flight Instructor(CFI)
accreditation for
the third time, making him one of only
85 Master CFIs worldwide to earn the
credential three times. The Master
Instructor designation is a national
accreditation recognized by the FAA. Ray
is a captain with Western Airways and is
owner of High Performance Aviation at
Sugar Land Regional Airport.
William Horton (’08, MJE) has received
his Master of Engineering and is currently
half way through his PhD.
Joshua de Graffenried
(’08, Biology) graduated
in May 2012 from Texas
A&M University Baylor
College of Dentistry with a
Doctor of Dental Surgery.
He joins his father’s
practice, Dr. Joey de Graffenried, in
Kilgore, Texas.
Courtney Lemmond
(’08, PYSCH)
recently earned her
law degree from
Regent University
in Virginia. She is
now pursuing her
Master of Arts in
family therapy and will be sitting for the bar
exam. She will be working remotely for a
law firm in Texas.
Jared Szaroleta (’09, AFFS) joined the
U.S. Marines, married his wife, Jodie, and
had a little girl, Riley, since graduating
from LETU. Jared currently serves as a
First Lieutenant/UH-1Y (Huey) Helicopter
Pilot in Camp Pendleton, Calif.
10s
Cory (’10, MA) and Elizabeth (’10,
ISBS) Krause were married Aug. 11 in
Nacogdoches, Texas. Cory is an adjunct
math professor at Stephen F. Austin State
University.
Adam Harding (’10, ME) was recently
promoted to Knowledge Content
Coordinator at PING Golf in Phoenix, Ariz.
His new position involves the development
of education systems to be used within
the retail environment. His main focus is
creating content by means of photo, video,
and other publications to better educate
account holders.
Brenda (Manley) Brummell (’12, BBM)
has recently moved to Pittsburg, Texas,
and is working as a histotechnologist in
Longview, Texas.
LeTourneau University | 25

Brent Baas
Solving Problems, Serving People
Written by Rachel Stallard, Photographed by Randy Mallory
Esteemed educators dressed in dark flowing robes,
velveted hoods with tasseled caps and mortar
boards follow in single file the footsteps of one
man as the music “Pomp and Circumstance”
plays for the packed auditorium.
Dr. Brent L. Baas, LeTourneau University’s Teaching
Faculty Organization president, leads this processional
holding the university’s mace aloft in front of him. These
commencement services are a celebration of academic
achievement for students who will soon go out and make
an impact on the world as they seek to follow God’s call
on their lives.
Baas remembers 30 years ago when he got
the answer to God’s call on his own life as a college
sophomore dabbling in accounting and psychology.
“I would see rooms full of typists and bookkeepers
doing repetitive, tedious tasks, and I thought, is this what
God has created these people to do?” he said. “Can I help
them become more of what God intended them to be?”
Baas has invested his teaching career helping
students learn and fulfill what God intended them to
be. Completing his undergraduate degree at Calvin
College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1985, Baas pursued
his master’s at Western Michigan University and his
doctorate at Wayne State University in Detroit. He has
taught at LETU since 1992.
Over the years, Baas has watched computers evolve
from being clunky, wired terminals connected to a
mainframe to today’s smartphones that can summon up
a universe of answers with a fingertip on a touchscreen.
Baas reiterates to all of his students that a computer
is merely a tool.
“Our job is to help people,” he said. “They might be
banging their heads, fighting with a problem, and we can
do something about that. We can create a program to fix
it. However, one of the hardest things to realize is, you’re
never going to solve all the problems, nor were we meant
to.
“Challenges exist in life, and we have the creative
ability to address those,” he said. “Yet, every time we
think we have solved a problem, we’ve actually created a
situation for more potential problems.”
Baas saw this firsthand as a Fulbright Scholar in 2002,
teaching at a government school in northern Ethiopia
where he saw the incredible contrast from a modern-day
classroom to subsistence farming communities a few
miles away.
“It’s a real challenge when you have a farmer living
the same way as his father, his grandfather and his greatgrandfather;
and yet his son gets to attend a government
school, and learn there’s a bigger world out there, and he
doesn’t have to farm,” Baas said. ”It causes some stress
on the happiness and satisfaction of what has been.”
Baas grew up a missionary kid in Nigeria without
access to computers. He says LETU students today have
been playing with computers since childhood, and while
they may have broad experience, they benefit from
greater depth of understanding. All of LETU’s eight
computer science programs are designed to provide that
depth.
“History is built into each of our courses,” Baas said.
“There’s always an aspect of, ‘Where has this come from?
How did this start?’ and then, ‘Where is it going?’”
Baas says the historical aspect is important because
more elements of computer science have remained the
same than have changed over the years — such as the
human element, the programmers.
“Despite advances in technology, some things stay
the same,” he said. “Fundamental skills of problemsolving,
attention to detail and organization are all goals
our students must develop to be professionals. My
proudest moment is when I see a student learn how to
deal with frustration, because at some level, you’re going
to get frustrated. The computer is not going to do what
you think it should do.”
Even though LETU’s computer science department
doesn’t yet have a graduate program, LETU students
have competed successfully against other schools with
graduate programs. This year, LETU’s programming
team took 1st place in the region at the International
Collegiate Programming Competition, and this year marks
the fourth time since 2000 that LETU has sent a team
to World Finals. Past World teams have competed in
Honolulu, Vancouver and Prague. This summer, they will
travel to St. Petersburg, Russia.
“Our students are coming away with what we hope
all LeTourneau graduates have — that whole person
development,” he said. “They’re going to be responsible
men and women of integrity within their workplaces,
which is of particular importance when you’re dealing
with issues like security and privacy. Companies really
want people they can trust, who can be loyal.” •
26 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

LeTourneau University | 27

NOT BUSINESS
AS USUAL
Written by Brittany Linder, LETU junior business major. Courtesy photos used by permission
LETU students pictured from left:
Carlos Cantu
Sarah Krippner
Curtis Wise
Trifena Sutanto
Ryan Jacobs
Brittany Linder
Lucas Trevino
Dr. Karen Jacobs
Jamee Ruhl
Sam Epp
Josiah Walker
LeTourneau University junior Brittany Linder was one of 10 business students who
participated in a Spring Break outreach to Preston, England. These undergraduate
and graduate students developed presentations to educate local business owners on
growing their businesses. The students also shared their faith with this Post-Christian
community where over half of the children come from families suffering deep financial
hardship and unemployment. Here is her story:
As our plane descended into the United
Kingdom, I felt a little fear about how
God might stretch me and my team
during our trip. The quality time
we spent on the eight-hour flight
transformed us from strangers into the closest of
friends, yet we knew we would be the faces of
LeTourneau University’s School of Business.
Preston, England is a place where many are
blinded to God’s truth. LETU professors Drs. Karen
and Wayne Jacobs helped organize the trip for us
to serve with a church that was planted in 2011 by
their friends Jason and Nicola Greene, who were
originally from the Preston area and returned as
missionaries. The Jacobs’ knew the Greenes from
Longview, Texas, where their paths crossed in a
marriage coach training seminar. They shared the
same faith and family values.
Jason Greene had told the Jacobs’ that Preston,
England, is a dark place. While statistics show that
many profess Christianity, the truth is that most are
not attending church or seeking a relationship with
Christ. Poverty was crushing their hope.
Months prior to our departure, three teams
of students began working with our faculty
sponsors to learn about the economy in England.
We brainstormed, researched, and prayed
in preparation for an outreach to encourage
struggling small business owners in Preston. We
developed workshops to help the business owners
identify their competitive advantages, write their
business plans, learn their strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats, and devise strategies to
set their businesses apart from their competitors.
Our goal was to help them grow and prosper their
small businesses in a depressed economy, but also
to showcase God’s love and grace through our
conversations and actions.
Through Jason’s connections through a local
business network, we presented our presentations
28 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

WE LEARNED GOD HAD
SPECIFIC APPOINTMENTS
FOR US.
to local business owners. Despite our bestlaid,
meticulous plans, God stretched us with
spontaneity.
While we had planned workshops for several
attendees, the final outcome was spending
extensive, quality time consulting with three specific
business owners, looking over their documentation
and websites and making specific recommendations
to improve their chances of success.
Over the course of the week, God presented
himself in many other ways.
One of our planned outreaches to the
community was “litter picking” in one of the nearby
neighborhoods. A bare grass field among rows of
houses was clearly the only place children could
play outdoors. A child of about 8 or 10 years of age
asked us why we were there. She told us she was
not allowed to play there because it was so dirty
and unkempt. With servants’ hearts, we happily
picked trash for several hours.
Later we went back to our hotel to rest before
attending evening church services where three new
believers would be baptized. Since the church was
established two years ago, it has been meeting in a
school building for Sunday services, but on this day,
Jason was able to rent a church for the baptisms.
As we walked into the dimly lit church, God’s
spirit was overwhelming as we anticipated the
rebirth of three new brothers and sisters in Christ.
We solemnly spread out throughout the church
to pray for God’s will to be fulfilled in that place.
After what seemed like only a few minutes of prayer,
an hour had passed. The church service began with
Nicola and two LETU students leading worship in a
moving experience as people from different parts of
the world came together to worship alongside one
another.
After Bible verses were read and prayers were
spoken, the first of three new believers stepped into
the baptismal water with Jason.
He was a man
of about 20, small
in stature, whose
countenance reflected
that he carried a
heavy load. His
mother, we learned,
was in the ending
stages of her battle
with cancer. He seemed to
succumb to God’s grace as
he emerged from the water
beaming.
The next was a youth
who was a part of Jason’s
extracurricular soccer team.
They met weekly for games,
and Jason’s sweet presence
left him wondering if there
was more to life than he
knew. Jason’s efforts to
reach out to him were
successful. With God’s
mighty hand, he was saved.
The third was a woman
who was unable to walk
without assistance prior to
this day. She eagerly and
willfully threw down her
canes and carefully stepped
down the stairs into the
water. Upon rising, she burst
into tears and commanded
her feet bring her up out of
the water.
My team and I were
overwhelmed to witness Heritage Church’s first ever
baptisms. What a blessing! For these individuals,
this baptism service provided a point in their lives
where they publically acknowledged their personal
relationship with Christ.
Throughout the remainder of our trip, God
blessed us in many other ways by presenting several
occasions where were able to share His word and
return His blessing. •
LeTourneau University | 29

Written by Janet Ragland | Photographed by Janet Ragland
LeTourneau University’s Houston education
center has provided the stepping stones
of career opportunity for numerous adult
students over the years. And it appears LETU is the
law in Galveston County, just a little farther south.
League City, Texas, located about 25 miles
south of Houston, is a growing city of about 84,000
people. When Andrew Daniel (BBM, '99) was
promoted to chief of police of the League City Police
Department about 10 years ago, he was the first
LETU graduate to hold that position.
“There is no question that the degree and
the LeTourneau experience were instrumental in
my appointment as Police Chief in League City,”
Daniel said. Not only did Daniel earn his degree,
but he and his success encouraged several League
City Police officers to pursue their college degrees
through LeTourneau University.
Today, League City has its second LETU alumnus,
Michael Kramm (BBA, '04), serving as police chief.
And, two LETU alumni have served in the past 10
years as assistant police chief, including Chris Reed
(BBA, '01) and, current assistant police chief Gary
Ratliff (BBM, '03). Reed has now completed a
graduate degree and is the city manager in Nassau
Bay, about five miles north of League City.
Other peace officers have earned LETU degrees,
including former LCPD crime prevention officer Paul
Odin (BBA, '02, MBA, '04), who is now the chief of
police at Bayou Vista Police Department, less than
20 miles southeast of League City.
Former LCPD officer Jerry Fisher (BBM, '99) is
today Galveston County Precinct 8 constable.
Former community outreach officer John
Griffith (IS, '08) is a detective in the LCPD criminal
investigation division and a police and firearms
instructor.
LCPD lieutenant Bruce Whitten is only a few
credit hours short of completing his undergraduate
degree.
“As a command level officer, a captain at
Andrew Daniel was the first LETU graduate
to be named chief of police at LCPD.
that time, I found all the management-related
courses immediately beneficial,” Daniel said of his
LETU undergraduate course work. “The research
and preparation of the presentations, and the
experience of public speaking, have benefited me
tremendously throughout my career. The program
is student-centered, and the faculty and staff are
committed to the success of each student.”
Today, Daniel works in law enforcement using
his communication skills in another way—as a
lawyer. He said his LETU business law professor
encouraged him to attend law school, so Daniel
used his LETU bachelor’s degree as a stepping stone
to complete his law degree in 2004 from South
Texas College of Law.
Chief Kramm said he was attracted to LETU by
the accelerated pace that enabled him to finish
quickly, since he already had a strong business
background from his previous college experience
and service in the U.S. Navy. Kramm’s LETU degree
was a stepping stone to an MBA.
“Two things from the LeTourneau program
really helped me,” Kramm said. “One was the
experience of pulling together a project with input
from others in our study group, editing and creating
tie-ins from their input. Second was the public
speaking in almost every class. Throughout most
of my police career I’ve trained others and given
presentations, but not to the degree that we did at
30 | NOW Magazine | Spring 2013

in Galveston County
LeTourneau. That public speaking
helped advance my career.”
Several of the officers noted
that public speaking with confidence
was a key benefit to their college
education—but especially Griffith,
who earned an interdisciplinary
studies degree and taught in
elementary schools as a D.A.R.E.
officer. “It definitely made me a
better instructor,” Griffith said.
Others said specific courses
applied immediately on the job, including human
resource management, economics, business ethics
and classroom management. One even said the
marketing course helped him in recruitment.
“The BBM program is well rounded and focuses
on all the key components that intersect the needs
of business and government management,” Fisher
said. “I found that the faculty and staff were always
supportive of student needs and providing a positive
learning atmosphere.”
Griffith said he saw integration of faith and
work modeled at LeTourneau where different types
of people came together for a common goal. “It’s
not that people just had a job,” he said. “They had
passion for what they did. It made a difference.”
He said LeTourneau has made a
difference in how he does his job as
a cop.
“It opened me up,” he said.
“It took the edge off me as a
police officer and made me more
compassionate and understanding.
I’m more optimistic and grateful to
use the gifts God has given me.”
Ratliff said he appreciated that
LETU was a Christian university for its
positive, encouraging environment.
“Although the experience at LETU required a
major commitment, I would say that during the
difficult times, it resulted in a growth in faith,” he
said.
Ratliff added that since he graduated in 2003,
two of his older children have earned their degrees,
and his wife and son are currently in college. “More
people attend college to pursue a degree if their
parents have a college education.”
Reed agreed that earning his degree has had a
positive effect on his family, too.
“I have become a better leader to my family,” he
said. “It sets an example for my children that there
is an expectation to go to college.” •
LETU alumni in law
enforcement in Galveston
County include, from
left, League City Police
Department Chief Michael
Kramm ('04), Galveston
County Constable Jerry
Fisher ('99), lawyer and
former LCPD Chief Andrew
Daniel ('99); Nassau Bay
City Manager Chris Reed
('01), LCPD Assistant Chief
Gary Ratliff ('03), and LCPD
Detective John Griffith ('08).
LeTourneau University | 31

NOW
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LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY
Ensure the dream
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Your gift to the LETU Annual Fund, the 1946 Society,
funds much-needed scholarships for students.
You can double the impact of your gift by giving before
June 30, 2013
thanks to a
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from a group of generous donors.
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32 | NOW Magazine | Fall 2012