Get to know McMurry's 100: University honors its family at centennial

From A to almost Z, McMurry University in its centennial year has selected 100 people - men and women, athletes and academians, graduates or not - to honor.

The list begins with the Afflecks, who graduated together in 1955, and ends with Robert Wylie, a member of the first board of trustees.

There are those who attained doctorates, a few bishops and reverends, judges, two colonels and even a mayor.

There are two Raymonds ... and a Raymon. Two were Bynums.

Bynum also is the first name for another honoree.

Nicknames included Coach, Bud, Buddy and Pro. Hershel Kimbrell was known to some as "Bird Dog."

One honoree taught at McMurry for 44 years, still the record.

Football player and then coach Grant Teaff would be a candidate for Baylor University's list of 100.

Mark Odom cut the grass, then headed security at McM

Mark Odom came to McMurry and never left, he said.

Odom came to what then was The Reservation in 1977 and graduated in May 1982.

He took off a whole month before officially beginning his job in the athletic department in June, though he said someone had to water and cut the grass in May, and that was him.

He was the equipment manager for football, baseball and track.

"I helped out with all of the other stuff, too," he said. "And did maintenance in the athletic area."

In 1992, he was asked to change paths to head the university's first in-house security department. Security had been privately contracted to that point.

"I told them, 'It sounds interesting to me. I've never done this before,'" he said. "They said, 'You know all the kids. You'll figure it out.'"

He laughed. Odom retired from that post just last year.

He acknowledge he has been at McMurry most of his life, seeing buildings change and many students pass through.

"I'll meet former students now. I remember a face and then a name once they tell me," he said. But he needs a hint - when were you there?

"Then it comes back to me," Odom said.

It emphasizes, to him, "the family atmosphere there. Everybody cares about everybody else," he said.

Being named to the honor list, then, is special.

"It was definitely and honor, for sure. Not something I was expecting," he said of learning he was one of the Centennial 100. "I thank them for thinking of me as one of the one hundred."

Gary Shanafelt hopped off bus in Abilene, stayed here

Shanafelt, who taught at McMurry for 36 years after interviewing in Abilene while traveling cross country, has served as a volunteer for centennial efforts. He was part of the research effort the 100 honorees but said he never saw his name on any lists he saw.

A primary job was helping to select photos to be used. He believes he scanned more than 1,000 photos.

"I felt like I was turning into an archivist instead of a historian," said Shanafelt, who retired in 2017, when he turned 70. He taught the second half of world civilizations as an adjunct the next year.

A lot of time was spent finding specific photos in the university yearbook.

"So I was kind of surprised when I got a letter in the mail saying congratulations. It was like, What did I do to deserve this?" he said.

"I guess I educated some students and didn't p--- off anybody too badly," he said, laughing.

Shanafelt heard about a job opening at McMurry while finishing a one-year sabbatical role at Washington University in St. Louis. He was headed back to California, where he had grown up, by bus and chose to stop in Abilene on the way.

"While I was sure to be reimbursed, I never was," he said, chuckling. "I saved them some money on that."

"I never heard of the place," he said of McMurry, adding he was the second choice for an opening. But No. 1 "blew his on-campus interview. Dr. Kim was nervous about hiring someone from UC-Berkeley."

He was hired and soon impressed with McMurry's collection of faculty. Previously, he only had gotten to know others in the history department; here, he met everyone and encouraged his students to do the same - take advantage of being on a smaller campus.

"McMurry was a whole lot better place than I expected," he said.

Even if the campus was a bit barren.

One thing that changed over the years was the addition of oak trees, which made McMurry more appealing than an earlier description of being "open and empty."

The process and what's next

Work on the list began a year ago, with nominations requested.

President Sandra Harper said more than 200 names were submitted, meaning there was work to do to cull that to 100.

Centennial and research committees worked to gather information and solidify an A list.

There were multiple reviews by research and centennial leadership groups before a list was submitted to the Trusteeship and Executive committees of the university's board, which in December voted its approval.

Recipients or their surviving family will be awarded a special coin.

The list will be available for review digitally in Old Main, and honorees and/or family members will be recognized during homecoming, Oct. 27-29. The weekend will culminate in a gala event at the Abilene Convention Center.

Here are the 100 honoree, with a little bit about each:

The Rev. Dr. Bert ’55 and Patsy ’55 Affleck

He was student government president and later college chaplain from 1961-71. She was student government secretary twice and Reservation Princess.

Jimmy Allen ’97

Inspirational volunteer football coach from 1971-90s and member of the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Dr. Morris Baker ’63

First Black graduate. After working as an administrator for the Peace Corps, he returned to his alma mater as a professor of psychology and taught from 1983-94. He was named a Distinguished Alumni 1987. He currently serves on the McMurry Board of Visitors.

Dr. Clark W. Beasley

Professor of biology for 41 years, from 1969-2010, and a Tardigrades scholar. With assistance from other English speakers, he translated the Tardigrade “bible” (Ramazzotti and Maucci 1983 Il Phylum Tardigrada) from the original Italian and published the English version at McMurry. He was honored with the Outstanding Professor Award. The Clark W. Beasley Endowment Fund was established in 2012 by Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Turner for summer research biology students.

President Gordon Bennett

First layperson to serve as university president, from 1959-70.

Caroline Couch Blair ’30

Dedicated speech faculty member from 1930-36 and 1950-79.

Dr. Virgil E. Bottom

Scholar, faculty leader and professor of physics from 1958-73. The Dr. Virgil E. Bottom Professorship was established in 2018 by former student Larry Conlee.

Brenda Breeden ’00

Breeden managed McMurry’s business office from 1971-2015. She was active with United Methodist Women.

Tucker Bridwell

Member of the McMurry Board of Trustees from 1983-99 and chair from 1990-91,he received an honorary Doctor of Humanities in 2017. He is president of Mansefeldt Investment Corporation and the Dian Graves Owen Foundation. An energy industry executive, he serves on the board of First Financial Bankshares. His civic honors include Outstanding Citizen of the Year, Distinguished Citizen Award by the Boy Scouts of America, and SMU Distinguished Alumnus.

Maurice Brooks

McMurry Board of Trustees secretary from 1959-76.

Dr. Claude Brown ’70

McMurry Board of Trustees member who supported the J.W. Hunt Physical Education Center and political symposium initiatives. The first Brown Symposium on Texas politics was held at McMurry in 1967. He opened the matching fund drive for the Hunt PE Center with a gift of $75,000.

Dr. Raymon ’52 and Mary Esther ’52 Bynum

Devoted donors and supporters of McMurry. he served as Texas Commissioner of Education. She was an educator for many years. Both named Distinguished Alumni - he in 1984 and she in 2003. She was awarded her maroon Trailblazer jacket in 2018. Four scholarships have been established by Mary Esther, including the Raymon L. Bynum Sr. Endowed Scholarship, Mary Esther Bynum Endowed Scholarship, Jack and Bettie Holden Endowed Scholarship, and Hershel and Georgia Kimbrell Endowed Scholarship.

Raymond T. 'Prof’ Bynum

“Prof” Bynum was the beloved professor of music and band director from 1946-72, and the band hall was later named in his honor. The scholarship established in memory of Prof Bynum and his wife is named the Raymond T. “Prof” and Mary Catherine Adamson Bynum Endowed Band Scholarship.

Bishop Alsie H. Carleton ’33

Served as student government president in 1933, and later as a bishop in the Methodist church from 1968-80. He led efforts to raise money for the building of the United Methodist Campus Center. When it was dedicated in December 1979, the chapel — named the Alsie H. and Artha Blair Carleton Chapel — was a focal point of the new building. The Bishop and Mrs. Alsie Carleton Scholarship was established in the couple’s honor in 1983, and he was posthumously named a Distinguished Alumni in 1985.

Maudell 'Sue' Carney ’49

Served for more than 40 years in the business office. She was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. In 2015, the Maudell Sue Carney Business Scholarship was established in her memory by longtime friend Barbara Swagerty.

Arvalee Chappell

Professor of education and dean of women from 1950-74. In addition to her teaching duties, she served as secretary to the president before her appointment as dean in 1951.

Willie Mae Christopher

“Miss Chris” taught English from 1926-57. In 1926, she established Wah Wahtaysee, a pep squad for female students that later became a service organization during World War II and remained active until the 1980s. She was honored in 2020 as one of the six founding women of McMurry.

Harold Crawford

Abilene civic leader, board of trustees member in the 1990s, and donor. In 1973, he was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce.

Barbara Crousen

Men’s track coach who won 17 conference titles and was the first woman to lead a men’s NCAA team in any division to national titles in 2008 and 2012. The McMurry women’s team won 10 American Southwest Conference (ASC) championships under Crousen’s guidance. Her teams have a total of 10 top-four national finishes. She was named the ASC Men’s Coach of the Year all 14 seasons and named the women’s ASC Coach of the Year 10 times. Created through individual donor support by friends, colleagues and former student athletes, the Barbara Crousen Track and Field Endowment was established in 2015.

J.M. Cunningham, Edward S. Hughes, Kirvin Kade 'K.K.' Legett and Henry Sayles Jr.

These Abilene civic leaders came together to donate the 42 acres of land for McMurry’s campus. Cunningham made a financial contribution to ensure the college could be established.

The Honorable J. Neil ’39 and Frances 'Weeze' Daniel ’38

He served as a longtime district judge and was honored as a Distinguished Alumni in 1982. She was awarded her maroon Trailblazer jacket in 2018. She was McMurry’s oldest living graduate before her death in 2021. The couple were donors who established the J. Neil and Frances Hill Cooper Daniel Endowed Scholarship in 2002.

Kenneth Deckard ’68

Member of the football team in 1960s and recognized for his role in the integration of Texas football in Robert D. Jacobus’ book "Black Man in the Huddle: Stories from the Integration of Texas Football."

Dr. Dan Dodson ’31

Instrumental in the integration of Major League Baseball through his efforts with Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers. he also played a substantial role integrating the public school system in New York. In 1982, he was posthumously honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

The Rev. Dr. Fane Downs

Faculty leader and professor of history from 1970-88. she was a contributing author of "Pride of Our Western Prairies McMurry College, 1923–1988." She also worked to collect and organize McMurry archives for the purpose of preserving records and memorabilia of the college.

Dr. Bill and Dianne Dulin

Both mathematics professors, he was a member of the faculty from 1971-90, as well as faculty leader, chairman of the science division and the math department. In 2017, she and her sons established the Dr. Bill Dulin Memorial Scholarship for math and science students.

Dr. O.H. Finch and the Finch family

The Dalhart businessman and his son, Gary, were members of the board of trustees. The Finch family was the key donor to the Finch-Gray Science Building in 1967. Dr. Finch’s daughters, Jennifer and Elizabeth, are alumnae of McMurry.

Lt. Col. (Ret) Manuel 'Manny' Flores Jr., PhD, ’66

After serving for 14 years in the U.S. Air Force, he retired as lieutenant colonel from the military and returned to McMurry as chairman of the division of business and professor of economics from 1970-78.

Charles 'Buddy' Fornes ’56

Played football for three years. He served in Korean War before returning as a member of the 1961 football coaching staff and later served as head coach from 1966-73. He was instrumental in integrating athletics at McMurry.

Shirley L. and Mildred Garrison and the Garrison Family

Supporters of McMurry. Shirley Garrison was a member of the board of trustees. The couple established the S.L. and Mildred Garrison Scholarship in 1981. In 1995 the board of trustees bestowed upon Shirley Garrison the honor of trustee emeritus. In 1999, the university awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humanities. In 2016, Garrison family members established the entrepreneur programs in business and the Garrison Lectureship in honor of their parents.

Iris Graham ’28

Served as registrar from 1925-45. The Iris Graham building, originally the dining hall and currently the education and curriculum building, was named in her honor after her death only months after the groundbreaking ceremony for the building.

Sara Hernandez Hudman Graham ’63

Long-serving board of trustees member, from 1998-2007 and from 2012-19 and honored as trustee emeritus in 2020. She was the lead donor for the Walter F. and Virginia Johnson School of Business. In 2016, she received the John Wesley Award for philanthropy. A donor to athletics, she was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Honor in 2017 as recipient of the Bob and Clara Brown Award. She was and named a Distinguished Alumni in 2021. To support Hispanic students attending McMurry, she established the Sara Hernandez Hudman Graham Endowed Scholarship and the Reverend Richard and Sarah Herrera Hernandez Endowed Scholarship to honor her parents.

Rebecca Estes Gray

Her estate gift supported the retirement of the science building’s debt. Her name was added to the building, now known as the Finch-Gray Science Building.

Dr. J.T. Griswold

A Methodist minister, he shepherded the idea of establishing a new college through the Northwest Texas Conference. He went on to serve on the McMurry Board of Trustees.

William (Bill) 'Doc' Hadley

Affectionately known as "Doc," he served as athletic trainer from 1982 until his death in 2004. The William (Bill) “Doc” Hadley Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established in his memory in 2007.

Elton Hailey ’43

The estate gift from Hailey, a retired lieutenant commander in the military, funded renovation of the Wilford Moore Stadium and athletic operations in 2012.

Dr. Esperanza Hope Harmon ’55

Served President Nixon as an appointee and advisor for Hispanic issues. Harmon then worked as president of HOPE Associates, an international research and development firm based in Washington, D.C. She earned a PhD in psycholinguistics from Georgetown University. A former McMurry board member, she was named a Distinguished Alumni in 1984 and continues to support the university as a donor. She established a scholarship in memory of her friend Lenore Cain Waldrop and provides funds for a women’s initiatives at McMurry.

Genie Henson

The “Voice of McMurry,” she greeted incoming callers as the switchboard operator from 1966-88.

Dr. Ralph Hester

Chairman of the department of physical education from 1967-84. he designed the J.W. Hunt Physical Education Center and redesigned the required PE classes, making them more appropriate for a liberal arts program. He served as McMurry accreditation chairman for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges .

R.A. Hodges

As a business leader, he provided seed funding to support the campaign to establish a Methodist college in Abilene. Dr. J.W. Hunt credited Hodges with the campaign’s success.

Dr. William Curry Holden

The first professor at McMurry to hold a doctorate, he taught history from 1923-28.. Dr. Holden enrolled students in a museum project that collected artifacts of native and early pioneer life. The museum was located behind Old Main. His efforts garnered attention from Texas Tech University, which hired him in 1929. Holden later attributed the origins of the Texas Tech Museum, National Ranching Heritage Center and Southwest Collection to his time at McMurry.

Charles Hukill

Theater professor, whose playwriting students swept state awards for many years, Hukill served McMurry for more than three decades and was honored as Outstanding Faculty member. Now professor emeritus, he is a playwright, actor, director, visual artist, designer and educator. In 2021, he and his wife, Betty, received honorary Doctor of Arts degrees. His career accomplishments include directing more than 70 plays, set designs for more than 130 plays and light designs for more than 100 plays. In 2022, he was honored with the Founders Award by the Texas Educational Theatre Association for his contributions to educational theatre. As an artist, his style is akin to Edward Hopper.

Dr. Joe C. Humphrey

Known as the keeper of the iris garden. he was professor of education from 1928-41 and from 1955-79. During his tenure, he was an academic dean and became chairman of the department of education in 1963. He tended the iris garden from the early 1960s until well after his retirement.

President J.W. Hunt

Founder and first president of McMurry, serving from 1923-34. His efforts led to making a college a reality and proved his abilities as a fundraiser and publicist. In Abilene, he advocated the founding of a Methodist college from the pulpit of St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church, where he assumed a pastorate after the 1918 closing of Stamford College , where he was president. Bishop William Fletcher McMurry appointed Hunt as commissioner of the new college in 1921, and he served as president until his death in 1934 at 59. One area newspaper surmised that Hunt indeed had given his life for McMurry College.

Henry James

The fourth president of Farmers and Merchants National Bank (now First Financial Bank) and longtime member of St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church when the church’s pastor, Dr. J.W. Hunt, launched the campaign to establish McMurry. James joined Hunt and became a leader in the movement. He was one of the college’s founders and served on board of trustees for many years. The relationship between the bank and McMurry began before the college doors opened in 1923.

S.M. Jay, W. Bryan McDaniel and O.P. Thrane

Known as The Triumvirate Interim, these three leaders ran McMurry while awaiting the arrival of the next president. Jay served as chairman of the board of trustees from 1931-37 and again from 1942-50. The Jay-Rollins Library is named in his honor. McDaniel was professor of chemistry and academic dean from 1941-53. Thrane served as business manager from 1937-51.

Dr. W. Norton Jones Jr.

Professor of chemistry from 1948-75, textbook author and faculty leader. During his tenure, he and the science faculty established McMurry’s reputation of excellence in the sciences. He was committed to preparing students for graduate and professional schools and was mentor to those who went on to medical careers. His legacy is alive today as generations of McMurry graduates credit their success to Jones. To honor him, McMurry alumni established the W. Norton Jones Endowed Professorship.

The Rev. Johnnie Kahl ’63

Student president of the Texas State Student Movement, he returned to McMurry to serve as university chaplain from 1978-94. With a heart for students and always with a smile on his face, he served his last few years while undergoing cancer treatments. The Johnnie Kahl Memorial Scholarship was established in his name.

President Thomas K. Kim

McMurry’s first academic president, the university’s eighth and longest serving, from 1970-93. Early in Kim’s tenure, the college embarked on the Thrust for Excellence campaign to raise $10.7 million over a seven-year period for endowment and further construction. He was the first chairman of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas Committee on Research. Because of the committee’s efforts, the Legislature in 1971 enacted the tuition equalization grant program.

Hershel Kimbrell ’50

Longest running and winningest basketball coach in McMurry history, from 1959-90. The men’s basketball team won the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) title every year but one from 1978-88. In 1987, he won his 400th game as a college coach. He was inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985 and given the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1995. The Hershel and Georgia Kimbrell Scholarship was established in 1987 for “his impact on hundreds of McMurry students.”

Dr. Paul D. Lack ’66

Professor of history, he served in many roles from 1971-2002, including vice president of academic affairs and director of institutional research. He led the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges self-study in 1989. He authored books, including "The Texas Revolutionary Experience: A Political and Social History, 1835–1836, and was a contributing author of "Pride of Our Western Prairies: McMurry College, 1923–1988." He was a fellow of the Texas State Historical Association and honored with the McMurry Distinguished Alumni Award in 1991.

Neel Lemond

“Coach Neel” left a legacy at McMurry through his servant leadership of more than 50 years. He was active in every aspect of campus life outside the classroom, and in 1996 he was inducted into McMurry’s Athletics Hall of Honor. The Neel Lemond Endowed Scholarship was established by his many friends and is awarded annually to students or organizations that embody the characteristics that exemplified Lemond’s life — servant leadership and Christian faith.

Dr. Beverly Lenoir

A member of the faculty and staff from 1982-2009. heserved in leadership roles including vice president of academic affairs, department chair for education, and director of institutional research and planning.

Col. Bill Libby

A U.S. Army Chaplain, he served his country in 101st Airborne during the Vietnam War until his retirement in 1991. He then came to McMurry and became a professor of religion and history. Through his work with the religion and philosophy department, he led archeological digs in the Middle East with a team of professors from area universities. He also served as athletic director from 2006-08, established the cross country program and coached cross country teams from 1996-2003. In 2011, he was inducted into the McMurry Athletic Hall of Honor, receiving the Bob & Clara Brown Award. In 2014, He donated land to create Firebase Libby for field research in biology. He was co-host of the daily radio talk show “The Professors” on KWKC-radio from 2005-17. He established endowments, including the Iva Libby Gray Endowed Scholarship in his mother’s name and the Bill Libby Student Support Endowment for the Walter F. and Virginia Johnson School of Business, which provides internships, externships and other experiential learning opportunities for business students. He received the John Wesley Award for extraordinary service and philanthropy. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, where he served as the associate pastor for many years.

Julia Luker

English professor from 1923-56 and one of the six founding faculty women. She was national vice president of Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, which recognizes achievements in general scholarship.

Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Maedgen

C.E. was founder of Lubbock National Bank, and he established the Maedgen Foundation in 1952. In 1955, funds from the foundation were transferred to McMurry College, where Charles E. served on the board of trustees. In 1957, McMurry awarded C.E. an honorary Doctor of Law degree. The Maedgens donated funds to build the administration building in 1962.

Raymond McDaniel family

The family’s support and donations began with Raymond Sr., who was chairman of the trustees and building committees. He oversaw two large building projects - Maedgen Administration Building and Jay-Rollins Library, both made possible by gifts from the estate of S.M. and Inez Jay, Raymond’s aunt. Years later, following in his father’s footsteps, Raymond Jr. served on the board of trustees from 1981-2001 and was chairman from 1993-96. He and his wife, Gloria, continued the family’s support, which has lasted more than 70 years. The couple established a history scholarship in the name of Raymond’s mother, Ruth Barr McDaniel. Then, their son Bryant McDaniel and his wife, Nancy, established an endowed scholarship in honor of his parents, Raymond Jr. and Gloria McDaniel.

Boyd M. McKeown

Served as the first academic dean from 1923-30. Believing that the success of the college depended on high scholarship of its faculty, McKeown implemented methods in the 1920s that resulted in better credentialed faculty. In 1927, he made efforts to help inadequately prepared freshmen by developing a study skills course.

R.M. Medley

McMurry’s first coach, from 1923-39. he coached football, basketball, baseball and tennis. In its second year in the conference, the football team won the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship in 1927. In the early 1940s, a new football stadium was built and named Medley Field in honor of the coach,

Bynum ’59 and Barbara Miers Ex ’59

Bynum served on the board of trustees from 1971-75 and 1984 -2005 and was chairman from 2002-05. A civic leader, he was elected to the board of directors at First Financial Bank in 1975 and was a member until his retirement in 2008. Bynum was co-chairman of the Shaping the Future Capital Campaign (2007-10), which resulted in the construction of Furr Welcome Center and restoration of Old Main. She also served McMurry and the Abilene community, and together they were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.The Miers established the Bynum and Barbara Miers Scholarship.

George 'Bud' Miller

For 50 years, he was head of the custodial and maintenance staff. He is a Totem dedicatee.

J. Robert Miller ’51

Miller joined McMurry in 1962 as an adjunct instructor of art and shared his talents with students for more than 30 years.

Dr. Robert C. Monk

Professor of religion from 1964-95 and unofficial chaplain, he also served as a study leader at Perkins School of Theology at SMU. With Monk as department chair, the religion professors pioneered teaching techniques, including the course “Introduction to Religion.” In and out of the classroom, he shared his knowledge and mentored students. Former students are quick to say, “Bob taught me to think for myself.” He is a well-respected scholar in Wesleyan studies. He served as a bridge between McMurry and the Methodist church, and in 2015 received the Cross & Flame Award. John Keith established the Robert C. Monk Distinguished Professor of Religion Endowment in 2018 in honor of his mentorship of his sister while she was a student at McMurry. Heestablished the Robert and Carolyn Monk International Student Travel Fellowship in 2020.

Wilford Moore

The stadium at McMurry honors the university’s winningest football coach. He coached from 1946-55 with a 60% win rate. He returned to McMurry in the 1960s to work with admissions and financial aid, continuing his tradition of attracting students to McMurry. Moore was in the first class inducted into the Athletic Hall of Honor in 1984. In 2014, his children established the Wilford Moore Memorial Flow-Through Scholarship.

Betty Jo Hamill Mowry

She attended McMurry for one semester in fall 1945. Despite her short time on campus, the longtime Methodist laywoman and supporter of Methodist causes did not forget her experience. In 1977, she established an endowment in memory of her husband, Eugene, to provide scholarships for students from Hockley County to attend McMurry. In January 2008, the university announced the Betty Jo Hamill Mowry estate gift as the largest in the school’s history. This transformational gift made possible the 2014 restoration of Old Main, the original building known as the administration building, which is the centerpiece of campus.

Patrick Munn

A member of the board of trustees from 1993-2003. Munn was instrumental in spearheading the Shaping the Future Capital Campaign that supported renovations and modernizations, including expanding the space in the Finch-Gray Science Building and the earlier renovations of Old Main and Bynum Band Hall. Radford Auditorium also was upgraded with additions, including Furr Welcome Center. He and his wife, Jan, have supported the University for more than 30 years.

Elizabeth Myatt

Recognized as one of the six founding faculty women. Myatt taught Spanish from 1923-25 and 1931-69, until her retirement. She was appointed director of girls’ sports in 1924,and in 1926 several athletic activities were offered for women, including basketball and an invitation-only pep squad. During the 1930s, she worked at a low salary, taught heavy loads and performed many duties beyond the classroom to keep college costs down. When Gamma Sigma social club was organized in 1936, she was the first sponsor and remained so until her retirement. She loved to attend football and basketball games and traveled to cheer for the teams. In 1956, she was chosen the dedicatee of Totem and was awarded an honorary degree of Humane Letters in 1990.

Vernie Newman

One of the six founding faculty women, her 44-year teaching career at McMurry began in 1926. She taught Spanish briefly but spent most of her time teaching in the history department. She sponsored numerous campus organizations and attended every McMurry football and basketball game. In 1985, a year before her death, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities from McMurry. The most extensive historical publication of the University, "Pride of Our Western Prairies: McMurry College, 1923–1988," was dedicated to her.The authors consulted a variety of sources, but they began with the work of Newman in her master’s thesis, "A History of McMurry College, 1920–1936." The history department established the Vernie Newman Outstanding History Student Award in 1983; in 1984 the Women of McMurry gave her its first Trailblazer Award during Women’s History Week.

C.B. Oates

A prominent Abilene contractor and civic leader who attended McMurry. His buildings are seen across campus, including the remodel of President's Hall; construction of Gold Star Residence Hall, Iris Graham Dining Hall, Maedgen Administration Building and Finch-Gray Science Building; and completion of the Bynum Band Hall. The veteran’s housing village, which is now occupied by the baseball and softball fields, also was built by Oates.

Mark Odom ’82

Worked for the university from 1982-2022 as the first security officer. He also was football manager. Odom has been a donor to the university for more than 35 years. He is also an unofficial historian of McMurry.

Hann Ollison ’10

He had a remarkable track and field career at McMurry and helped to elevate one of the NCAA Division III’s top programs to national success. He lettered four seasons, from 2006-09, and became a 17-time All-American. His six NCAA Division III national championships included two wins in the 4x100 relay, two wins in the indoor 400 meter dash, and two wins in the outdoor 400 meter dash. He was instrumental in the program’s first national championship in 2008. His five school records still stand, including the indoor 200 meter (22.04), the outdoor 400 meter (46.40), and three different relays. He was inducted into the McMurry Athletic Hall of Honor in 2021.

Dr. Pug Parris ’73

A McMurry campus leader during her student days and professor of kinesiology for 42 years. Dr. Parris’ historical knowledge of McMurry is legendary, and she is known as the champion of the iris garden. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Honor in 2003. She received the Cross & Flame Award in 2003 and the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009. The Pug Parris Classic, an area women’s basketball tournament, is named in her honor. She is well known in the Abilene area for the many years she taught aerobics classes to the public. She worked hard to garner support for the Centennial Iris Garden in 2022, and many of the varieties of irises in the garden were replanted from her personal collection. The Dr. Pug Deavenport Parris Endowed Scholarship was established in 2012 in her honor.

Harvey Pinner ’39

Maintenance director for 19 years. During this time, he was at the nerve center of the most progressive period in the history of the school. The 1958 Totem was dedicated to Pinner.

Jewell Posey ’27

A member of the first graduating class in 1927, she served as student government secretary. Posey joined the university as a professor of English and religion and as student dean. She served McMurry from 1931-43 and again from 1961-72. In the 1980s, an academic writing contest was named for Posey and Vernie Newman.

James and Bessie Radford

Only 21, he started a grocery wholesale business in Abilene, then 50 years later sold it for more than $400 million. The Radfords have dedicated their wealth to enterprises help Abilene prosper. In their lifetime, they supported and built more than 40 buildings. Radford Auditorium was made possible with two donations by Bessie, the first gift in 1947 and the second in 1949. In honor of her generosity, McMurry gave her an honorary Doctor of Letters.

Nat ’28 and Eva Rollins

The estate gift from the Rollinses, along with a gift from the S.M. Jay Estate, made possible the construction ofJay-Rollins Library, which opened in 1963.

Dr. Basil and Amy Graves Ryan

He served as a member of the board of trustees from 1955-58 and 1962-69, donated $1 million to honor his late wif in 1967. The fine arts building bearing her name houses the departments of art, music, communication and theater. After his death in 1973, an additional $600,000 was given to McMurry through his estate. Granddaughter Barbara Ryan attended McMurry.

Dr. Gary Shanafelt

Professor of history from 1981-2017 and then adjunct faculty member through the 2020s. He was a contributing author of "Pride of Our Western Prairies: McMurry College, 1923–1988." He worked with Dr. Fane Downs to collect and organize the archives for the purpose of preserving records and memorabilia of the college. His current work has guided the development of the centennial photo and historical collections.

Dr. A.C. Sharp

He attended McMurry for three years before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1955. After two years in Korea, he returned to finish his degree. Eight year later, he joined McMurry as a professor of physics who occasionally taught math and astronomy during his tenure from 1965-99. In addition to teaching, he was active in many aspects of campus life, serving as faculty athletic representative and sponsoring mission trips. He was interim president of the Lone Star Conference and served on the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Ethics Committee for several years. The Dr. A.C. Sharp Scholarship was established in his honor by McMurry alumnus Larry Conlee for students majoring in science or math.

Dr. Rob Sledge

History professor and author, and known as “Mr. Alpha Chi.” From 1969-2001, he served as faculty leader, university historian and contributing writer of "Pride of Our Western Prairies: McMurry College, 1923–1988." From 2014-15, he created a database of all memorial markers located on campus. In 2021 he began the research for the McMurry 100 as the first step in the selection process. Even though he resigned his position as university historian due to his wife’s failing health, he continued his research and remained active as a project consultant.

Bishop Dan Solomon ’58

Served as a bishop in the United Methodist Church from 1988-2000 and bishop-in-residence at McMurry from 2000-12, as well as president of the Texas United Methodist College Association. He was recognized as Distinguished Alumni by Perkins School of Theology at SMU in 1995 and by McMurry in 2004. He served as Pacesetter Gifts chairman for Shaping the Future Capital Campaign from 2007-10 and has supported the university for many years. In memory of his parents, Dr. Solomon established the Henry and Mabel Solomon Endowed Scholarship in memory of his parents in 2003.

Joe Specht

Co-founder of the Abilene Library Consortium and McMurry’s librarian from 1975-2007, the longest-serving librarian at the university. Specht conducted research for the McMurry 100 and Centennial Museum projects, and he is author of several books chronicling the history of Abilene.

Ann Spence

Servant leadership is one of McMurry core values, and Spence was the director of servant leadership from 1995-2006. In addition, she was an assistant professor of business administration from 1982-2018. She received the Heartbeat of the Campus Award in 2013.

Dian Graves Owen Stai

Former student and member of the board of trustees from 1984-93 and recipient of an honorary doctorate in 1988. Stai was co-chairwoman of Shaping the Future Capital Campaign that led to the renovation of Old Main in 2014, and her foundation was the lead donor to the Walter F. and Virginia Johnson School of Business campaign in 2017. She was co-founder of Owen Healthcare Inc., which merged with Cardinal Healthcare in 1997, and then founder of Mansefeldt Investment Corporation and the Dian Graves Owen Foundation, both headquartered in Abilene. Stai has served on the boards of First Financial Bankshares and Zale Lipshy University Hospital in Dallas and as commissioner of the Texas Department of Commerce. She was the first chairwoman of the Texas Department of Commerce and Abilene Chamber of Commerce, which recognized her with its Outstanding Citizen of the Year award. In 2016, she was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame.

Dr. Joseph Stamey

A professor of philosophy, he taught from 1967-99. In 1990, he was recognized by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education as Texas Professor of the Year, the only winner in the history of McMurry.

Dr. George J. Steinman

Professor of religion and department chairman, training many of the Northwest Texas Conference ministers during his 1948-69 tenure. In 1984, the George Steinman Ministerial Scholarship was established in his honor. In 2014, his children donated his cross collection to McMurry. Many of these crosses were collected during the professor’s travels or given to him by former students and proudly displayed in his office for many years.

Barbara Seidel Swagerty ’56

When you hear tennis, you think of Swagerty, who has supported the sport and student scholarships for decades. She was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 and awarded an honorary doctorate in 2018, the same year she received her maroon Trailblazer jacket. Students benefit from the 10 scholarship funds she endowed in honor of family members and friends. In addition to the Barbara Seidel Swagerty Tennis Center, she regularly provides support to T.I.P. Social Club. Her most recent capital funding project was the paving of a parking lot near the tennis center and repaving of the lots between the Bynum Band Hall and Wilford Moore Stadium.

Mike and Mary 'Corky' ’77 Swanson

This husband and wife team both worked a the university - he was with McMurry from 1966-2011 and started the computer science program. She worked as director of financial aid from 1979-97. The Vida R. Swanson Family Endowment Fund was created in 2007 by his mother.

Jennie Tate

Mathematics professor and dean of women. she devoted 40 years to McMurry, from 1923-63. She is one of the six founding faculty women of McMurry and has a classroom dedicated to her in Old Main. She headed the mathematics department until her retirement in 1963, and served as dean of women from 1935-51. In 1923, she organized Alpha Theta Nu, a girls’ literary club, and served as faculty sponsor. Following her death, a tribute in the Abilene Reporter-News read: “Like others on the original faculty who shared the college’s hopes and problems with her, Jennie Tate contributed in a very substantial way to what McMurry is today.”

Grant Teaff ’56

All-conference defensive player for the McMurry football team in the mid-1950s. In 1960, Teaff returned to his alma mater to coach football for five years, followed by 20 years at Baylor University. His career college football record was 170-151-8. He became executive director of the American Football Coaches Association in 1994. McMurry honored Teaff with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998 and as a Trailblazer for philanthropic support in 2018. In 2022, a statue of Teaff was unveiled on campus, honoring him and his 1963 team who survived a plane crash. Teaff credits McMurry with providing him solid footing for life: “McMurry was a very important part of my development as a person, football coach, a teacher — everything.”

Dr. S.B. Thompson

Professor of government and history from 1950-72, he also served as dean of students.

Lila Mae Sears Touchstone

One of the first women trustees on the board of trustees, her passion helped lead the campaign to build the band hall, which was finished in 1959. She was a civic leader and a advocate for McMurry for many years. She was honored in 1976 for 50 years of service as an insurance underwriter for Southwestern Life Insurance Company.

Jerome Vannoy

Vannoy joined McMurry as head basketball coach and assistant football coach in 1946. He also taught algebra and trigonometry. During his first year as basketball coach, he coached freshman Hershel Kimbrell, who became an all-conference player and then a basketball coach for the university. In 1948, Vannoy became registrar, a position he held for more than 30 years. He was active in the Abilene Speakers Club and Kiwanis Club,and was a charter member of Aldersgate Methodist Church. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

Dr. Richard C. Von Ende

Professor of music and director of the Chanters. he taught from 1950-63. He helped with the design of the Amy Graves Ryan Fines Arts Center.

Roger Ward ’67

A Distinguished Alumni Award honoree, he established the Ward-Bottom Science Fund in 2004 in honor of Dr. Virgil Eldon Bottom, former professor of physics, whose guidance and teaching helped prepare him for a successful career. He credits Bottom for a summer job working for Hewlett Packard Company in the quartz crystal R&D group in 1966. After graduating with a physics degree in 1969, he returned to work for the company full time. He later became president and CEO for Quartzdyne, Inc. Ward’s generosity continues to benefit the advancement of science programs at McMurry. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science from the university.

The Honorable Sarah Ragle Weddington ’64

Served as student government secretary. After graduation, she attended law school and later became the youngest person to argue and win a case (Roe v. Wade) before the U.S. Supreme Court. She served in President Carter’s administration and was a representative in the Texas legislature. McMurry honored her with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1992. Weddington established two endowed scholarships at McMurry, one from she and her brother in memory of their parents, and the other for pre-law students. Weddington named McMurry as beneficiary in a sizeable estate gift in 2022.

The Honorable Anthony Williams ’94

The 1987 Abilene High School alumnus attended McMurry, where he played football. After graduation, he become a civic leader in Abilene. He served on the Abilene City Council for almost two decades, then became the city's first Black mayor. Williams was a member of the board of trustees from 2008-16.

J.M. Willson

This Floydada lumberman is the longest-serving board of trustees member, from 1951-69, during which time he also served as chairman. Willson guided the destiny of the college for more than two decades. In 1945, he donated funds to establish a lectureship, which has evolved in the Willson-Bennett Lecture Series featuring prominent philosophers and theologians.

Horace 'H.O.' Wooten

Wooten was the first chairman of the board of trustees, from 1923-26, and he served as a member on the board for many years. An entrepreneurial businessman and civic leader, he believed, along with Dr. Hunt and Henry James, that it was important for Abilene to have a Methodist institution of higher education.

Gypsy Ted Sullivan Wylie

Recognized as one of the six founding faculty women of McMurry, she served the university from 1923-54. Wylie was a professor of music who originated and directed the Chanters from 1923-50. She served as dean of fine arts and was a charter member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and served on the committee that chose the state song, "Texas Our Texas," in 1927. She was a member of the original board of directors of the Abilene Philharmonic and was national program chairman of the Texas Centennial in 1936. She sang many leading roles in the Abilene Civic Opera, which she helped organize. As a member of St. Paul Methodist Church, she was choir director for many years. The student gallery, which is home to the Centennial Museum in Old Main, is named in her honor, Gypsy Ted Gallery II. 

Robert B. Wylie

Wylie was the first secretary-treasurer of the board of trustees from 1923-27. He later rejoined the board and served from 1935-50. He was the husband of one of McMurry’s six founding women, Gypsy Ted Sullivan Wylie.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Get to know McMurry's 100: University honors its family at centennial