SPRING 2009 Life’s Hurdles and the people who overcome them THE MCMURRY UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS FROM THE PRESidENT Dear McMurry Alumni and Friends: As I introduce this issue of the Chieftain, I am reminded of passing of our first president Dr. J.W. Hunt, to surviving a verse from the book of Isaiah: the Depression years and the loss of students during World War II. But with the help of the McMurry family, “Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and the University has always come through the difficulties affliction for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. stronger than before. McMurry will face and conquer these You will see your teacher with your trying economic times as well and own eyes, and you will hear a voice we will come out on the other side say, “This is the way; turn around stronger and more prepared for the and walk here.” Isaiah 30:20-21 future. (NLV) Despite the current economic No person or institution willingly turmoil, McMurry University must seeks out adversity, but most would continue to fulfill its role among agree that our reaction to adversity today’s colleges and universities by helps define our character and offering a unique experience to its strengthen our resolve to succeed. students. We accept our challenge to And as the verse from Isaiah enable McMurry to remain skilled in promises, we will not be alone. its mission of educating students and In this Chieftain, you will sincere in its passion for nurturing and meet three individuals—a McMurry shaping students. student, a professor and a longtime Our efforts today will prepare us coach—who have faced adversity as an institution for the 21st century. and come out stronger for the We will be offering more distinctive experience. Whether their battle educational experiences that will was against a physical illness or a life prepare our students for a challenging changing problem, these individuals world. They will have the skills they persevered through the storm and emerged stronger. need to gain and apply new knowledge throughout their We also will be introduced to Dr. David Blackburn, who lifetimes. The progress that we are making today will have helped many of his students overcome difficulties while an impact that will span the entire century. here and prepared them to succeed after moving on from I will close with a quote from Dr. Barbara de Angelis: McMurry. I think you will be inspired by their stories. We don’t develop courage by being happy every day. We The current world economic situation has caused develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging many individuals and institutions to deal with financial adversity. adversity and McMurry University is not exempt from these trying economic times. With Warm Regards, This is not the first time McMurry has faced difficult trials. Pride of Our Western Prairies, the book outlining McMurry’s past, relates a number of instances John H. Russell, President when McMurry faced difficult times—from the sudden THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF MCMURRY UNIVERSIT Y SPRING 2009 Publisher McMurry University Relations Office Box 938 McM Station Abilene, Texas 79697 13 Editor-in-Chief Nancy Smith ’79 Editors Gary Ellison Lori Thornton Alumni Editor Greeley Myers ’93 Art Director Sheila Kitts ’01 Photographers Gary Ellison 32 Sheila Kitts Maigen Sawyer Contributing Writers Steve Crisman 36 Brenda Davis ’78 Ben Dobson Gary Ellison Greeley Myers ’93 John Russell Nancy Smith ’79 ©2009 2 The Measure of Greatness Friends & Family 33 From the Alumni Director MCMUrrY PRESIDENT 4 John7 Austin Tatum And OFFICERS 6 Dr. José GÓmez 34 Distinguished Alumni Dr. John H. Russell 8 Jimmy Allen ’75 35 Cross & Flame Award PRESIDENT 10 Dr. David Blackburn 36 Homecoming Photos Dr. Beverly Lenoir VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS 38 Event Photos Dave Voskuil Development Corner 39 Class Notes VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT 13 Honor Roll of Donors 43 Friends We’ll Miss Lisa Williams VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS Steve Crisman Athletics VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT 30 Athletics Update Brad Poorman 32 Athletics Hall of Honor VICE PRESIDENT FOR INFORMATION & Support SERVICES The Measure of nborn in every member of the human displays of personal courage, self-sacrifice, team effort, species is a vision of greatness, a desire and perseverance. In other words, in the race called life, to be the best, and a dream of winning we measure greatness by how the race is run as much as the gold medal. Do we all achieve greatness? Of course the final outcome. not—if we measure according to society’s standards. But In the world of athletic competition, there exist true greatness is not only associated with individuals countless examples of a “race well run.” Kerri Strug, who score the winning goal or who cross the finish line gymnast for Team USA in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, first. Greatness can also be identified with outstanding suffered a leg injury during the vault competition and 2 M C M urr Y U niversit Y “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed…” BOOKER T. WASHINGTON was faced with a monumental decision. She could sit out face of adversity and whose strength of will and purpose her final jump and avoid worse injury that might eliminate propelled them onward and upward. her from individual competition the following week. Or, In the annals of track and field, Derek Redmond will she could put pain aside as well as her personal dreams, always be remembered for his courageous performance and sacrifice all for her team. With flawless skill and in the 1996 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. In the middle unwavering concentration, she gave the performance of of his 400 meter semi-final race, he fell to the ground her life. Her near-perfect effort gave Team USA the gold in a crumpled heap. With excruciating pain caused by a medal in the women’s team gymnastics competition—for torn hamstring, he refused to quit. He rose and began to the first time in Olympic history. Sacrificing personal hobble agonizingly to the finish line. Within moments, goals for one’s team is the stuff that heroes are made of, Redmond’s father jumped out of the stands and made his and in the pages ahead, you will read of other individuals way to the track. He draped his arm around his son and whose stories epitomize the same courage and personal walked with him to the finish line. Through courage, and a sacrifice that leads to great accomplishment. remarkable display of teamwork, he inspired millions. As Another sports icon, Kurt Warner, was considered you read the stories in this publication, you will sense the a “nobody” before his 1999 season when he eventually led same courage and applaud the selflessness and teamwork the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl championship. He had of a campus community who has rallied around their own. played only one year of college football at a small college, Whether in athletic competition, artistic expression, but he dreamed of playing in the NFL. He never gave up scientific discovery, or medical research, we applaud his dream, even while living with his parents and working the “common runner” for grand achievement. But in a hometown grocery store. His stint in arena football what inspires us and empowers us is their “uncommon and then European football only served to deepen his race.” Booker T. Washington once said, “Success is to resolve. The Rams organization decided to take a chance be measured not so much by the position that one has on this unknown, and his chance at stardom was made reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome possible after the starting quarterback suffered an injury. while trying to succeed…” As you read the pages of this In the end, 1999 was a year in which Warner generated Chieftain, our desire is that you will be inspired to greater the second-finest statistical season by a quarterback in heights and will be reminded that life’s hurdles can either NFL history. His perseverance and belief in himself is a cause us to fall, or they can most certainly provide us with trait shared by many achievers, including those showcased the opportunity to soar. in this issue—individuals who refused to give up in the M C M urr Y U niversit Y 3 John Austin Tatum ’09 I T ’ S often B een S A id that the measure of an aneurysm. Surgery was performed to remove a man is best revealed in how he handles adversity. the aneurysm and the fluid behind his eyes. Three So often, anger and self-pity can cause one to remain months after the first surgery, on Christmas Day imprisoned by his circumstances. We are both amazed in 2005, doctors operated again to remove the tumor. and inspired when we see someone whose behavior, After a successful surgery, he returned to Abilene attitude and actions demonstrate the best of the human for a couple of months and went to the West Texas spirit—a real-life hero who shares his story of medical Rehabilitation Center (WTRC) daily to treat for the devastation and recovery with a thankful heart and a paralysis on his left side caused by the aneurysm. In positive attitude. addition, his rehab helped to build his strength so he John Austin Tatum was a 19-year-old college would be able to endure the six weeks of radiation.