In Memoriam
1930s
Dr. McDonald Watkins Held Sr., AB '33, of Billings, MT, died Aug. 11 at age 105. He was believed to be the oldest living Baylor alumnus. Held was a U.S. Air Force intelligence worker, a professor, an author, a nationally known stage lighting specialist, and college president. Held played freshman football and basketball under student coach Weir Washam, who two years earlier had survived the Immortal Ten bus accident. Held was president of the junior class, a member of Chamber and president of the Baptist Student Union. Held earned master and doctoral degrees from Northwestern University. From 1955-64, he was chair of the speech and theatre department and academic dean at Howard Payne. He worked for seven years at Wayland Baptist University before moving on to Montana State University- Billings, where he retired in 1977. Held became vice president and then president of Yellowstone Baptist Bible Institute, now Yellowstone Baptist College. Held became an ordained Baptist pastor at age 74, ministering in three churches in Montana. His father, John Adolf Held, AB 1896, AM 1906, became a popular preacher and influential Baptist pioneer in beginning adult Sunday School classes and incorporating vacation Bible school into Baptist churches. He was also a key figure in starting the Baptist Student Union movement in the South. Held's younger brother, Dr. Colbert C. Held, BA ’38, a former professor of history and Diplomat-in-Residence at Baylor, was a U.S. Foreign Service Officer from 1957-77. Held was preceded in death by his wife Beverly and is survived by his five children, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
1940s
Dulce Maria (Muirhead) Brooks, BA '40, of Waco, died July 24 at age 94. Born in Brazil as the eighth child of missionary couple Dr. and Mrs. H.H. Muirhead, she married Richard H. Brooks in 1941 and had five children. After a career with a Dallas travel agency, she retired to Waco in 1989. Brooks was fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and English and was a member of the local French Club. She is survived by her children, Richard S. Brooks, Beverly B. Downward, Tom H. Brooks, Joe K. Brooks, BBA ’80, and Cinda B. Lewis; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Treasure Thomas Malone, BA '40, MSEd '72, a longtime resident of Waco, died Aug. 30 at age 98. She served two years as chairman of the Administrative Board of Austin Avenue United Methodist Church. In 1978-79 she served as the First Woman Lay Leader and in 1985-86 she was First Woman Chairman. She served as Secretary for the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, Central Texas Annual Conference, United Methodist Church 1979-80. Malone was named outstanding Den Mother, Boy Scouts of America and was honored with a proclamation from the Mayor of Waco in recognition of her gift to the Freedom Foundation from the American Association of University Women in 1971. She earned the Woman of Distinction award in 1999. She was preceded in death by her husband and three sisters. Survivors include her three children and their families.
Douglas Nichols Hudson, '45, of Manitou Springs, CO, died June 19 at age 91. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and returned to Baylor in 1946. In 1947, he became owner/operator of Hudson's Supermarket in Harrison, AR. He served as president of Harrison Rotary Club, Harrison Senior Chamber of Commerce and Harrison School Board and was on the Harrison City Council. Hudson was a member of First Baptist Church, 32nd Degree Mason, a Shriner, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Gideons and the National Rifle Association. Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Bettye (Horn) Hudson, '48; daughters, Vickye (Hudson) Posey, ’72, Shelley (Hudson) Ayres, BA ’75, and Kim (Hudson) Daiger, and five grandchildren. A son, Stephen Hudson, '71, predeceased him.
Polly (Breedlove) Polk, BS '45, died in Dallas on Aug. 18, 2014. She was 89. She was a member of the Atheneans sorority, the Baptist Student Union and YWAs. Early in her marriage of 68 years to Bob Polk, BA '46, she taught school, but for 30 years she was a pastor's wife in eight churches throughout Texas and Oklahoma. Polk served as a hospital volunteer in Dallas for 13 years and was an active member of Park Cities Baptist Church Internationals Ministry. She is survived by two sons and daughter, Nancy Perry, BS '76.
Mary Nell (Durie) Taylor SoRelle, BA '45, of San Antonio, died Aug. 30 at age 90. At Baylor she was president of the University Urbanites. She taught third grade at La Vega in Bellmead and married William Harold Taylor Jr., BBA '47. They had four children. Mary Nell was active in the Al-Anon Family Groups, serving as Alateen sponsor, delegate for Texas-West and represented the area at three World Service Conferences in New York City. In 1987, she married her second husband, Jack Martin SoRelle, BBA '49. She served as an associate at Baylor's Strecker Museum and as a member of Waco League of Women Voters, among other activities. SoRelle is survived by her sister, Nancy Durie Duncan, BA '49, of Willow Park, four children and many other family members.
Martha Elizabeth (Patterson) Young, BBA '45, of McAllen, TX, died June 26 at age 89. At age 15, she was valedictorian of her class at Hillsboro Senior High School. She graduated from Baylor at 19. Young's first job teaching at Hill Junior College in Hillsboro included future Lieutenant-Governor Bob Bullock, JD '58, as a student. She taught in Pharr, McAllen and Mission and was a Sunday School superintendent and teacher. She also worked for Aguirre & Patterson. Young was preceded in death by her husband Charles. She is survived by her son, Pat Young, BA '79, among others.
Betty "Sue" (Wathen) Coburn, '46, of Fort Worth, died April 11 at age 89. She was the niece of Mary Maxwell Armstrong and Dr. A.J. Armstrong, founder of Baylor's Armstrong Browning Library. She studied Browning under Dr. Armstrong. In 2014, Coborn toured campus with her daughter and saw her dorm room at Memorial Hall. The last week of her life she was still able to remember entire stanzas of Browning poems she had studied seven decades before. She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, James Lee Coburn, and is survived by three children, five grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and her brother, Bill Wathen.
Dr. Robert F. "Bob" Polk, BA ’46, died Jan. 29 in Dallas at age 90. He was president of Baylor Chamber and was a keyboardist for the Pat Neff Hall carillon. He also played the organ live for a weekly program on KWBU. Polk earned divinity degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. In the Texas Army National Guard, he became a captain as a chaplain. Polk pastored eight churches throughout Texas and Oklahoma prior to his serving the Baptist General Convention of Texas for 14 years in church stewardship and Cooperative Program promotion. Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Polly Breedlove, BS '45. He is survived by two sons and a daughter, Nancy Perry, BS '76.
Dr. Kenneth E. Reidland, BS '46, MD '49, of McAllen, TX, died July 20 at age 90. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the Korean War. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and received a commendation from the Republic of Korea for his volunteer work with civilian patients. Reidland was an Emeritus Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He served as chief of surgery at McAllen Medical Center. He volunteered at The Easter Seal Society for decades and was recognized as their Physician Volunteer of the Year. Reidland was an ordained deacon and most recently a member of Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Peggy Reynolds, BS '46, and three children, including Sam McKinney Reidland, BS '86. Memorials may be made to Baylor University.
Dr. Lois Marie Sutton, MA '46, of Waco, died June 17 at age 89. Baylor Professor Emeritus of French, Sutton received her BA and PhD from the University of Texas. She also studied at the University of Mexico and the Sorbonne University in Paris. Sutton began teaching at Baylor in 1945. She served as director of the division of French and Italian from the mid-1970s until the early 1980s and as chair of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages in the mid-1980s. She retired in 1994. She was presented The Herbert H. Reynolds Award for Exemplary Service and the Baylor University Retired Faculty Service Award.
Dr. Lester Blackshear Collins Jr., BA '47, of Houston, died Aug. 14 at age 92. At Baylor he met and married Catherine (Bryan) Collins, BA '45. He enlisted in the Navy during World War II, graduating from Columbia University midshipman's school. At 23, he became the youngest ship commander in the South Pacific. Collins also attended UCLA and Southwestern Baptist Seminary. For over 64 years, he pastored seven Texas churches, retiring from Tallowood Baptist Church, Houston. Collins was also a Baylor Trustee for 18 years. After Catherine's death in 1993, he married Jan McDonnell in 1997. He is survived by his wife, Jan M. Collins; siblings Paul Collins BA '51, and Joy Almaas, BA '56; children Dr. Lester B. Collins III, BA '72, Laura Bower, BA '75, Mark Bryan Collins, BBA '76, JD '78, and their families.
Dorothy (Atkinson) Kolinek, BA '47, of Kenedy, TX, died June 28 at age 88. She taught Sunday school at the First Baptist Church for over 30 years and sang in the choir. Kolinek was an excellent seamstress. Among her survivors are her husband, H.J. Kolinek Jr., daughter Marsha Duniven, BA '75, and granddaughters Crista Kuhn, BA '06, and Cara Duniven, a Baylor junior. Memorials may be made to The Marsha Kolinek Duniven and Dorothy Atkinson Kolinek Endowed Student Foundation Scholarship Fund at Baylor.
William C. Black, BBA '48, MS '51, LLB '54, of Temple, TX, died Sept. 16 at age 88. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944-46. In 1969 he received an honorary juris doctorate from Baylor. He attended Troy (TX) United Methodist Church and was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church in Temple. Black was on the Executive Board of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Black was an attorney in Milam and Bell counties, serving as County Judge and then as counsel to the U.S. Agriculture Committee from 1967-69 in Washington, D.C. He returned to Bell County as County Judge from 1969-71. He then was District Judge of the 146th Judicial District from 1973-88 and served as a retired Senior District Judge. He also served as Naval Commander in the Naval Reserves. Among his survivors are his sister Martha Maxwell, BA '51, and two daughters. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorris Black.
Robert E. Mitchell II, BA '48, of Waco, died Aug. 12 at age 94. He served overseas during World War II and graduated from Southwestern Theological Seminary. Mitchell pastored five Texas Baptist churches. He worked for the Office of Economic Opportunity in Jackson, MS, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and then the Texas Commission on Human Rights until he was 79. Mitchell sang in a quartet during the Waco Youth Revival that started the Youth Revival movement. Preceding him in death were his first wife, Ruth Moss Mitchell, BA '48, to whom he was married 52 years. He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Betty Jones, BS '47, MSEd '53, children Bob Mitchell III, BA '78, and Carol Vanderslice, BSEd '78, and other family members.
Colleen (Ward) Hightower, BM '49, of Austin, died Aug. 13 at age 87. At age 14, she became the organist at the First Baptist Church in Tulia, TX, beginning a career that lasted 50 years. At Baylor she studied organ and went on to work on her master's degree as Dr. Robert Markham's first graduate assistant. Colleen married Jack E. Hightower, BA '49, LLB '51, in 1950. For 33 years she served as the organist and children's choir director at the First Baptist Church of Vernon, TX. She was active in the Musician's Club, the Community Concert Association and the Camp Fire Girls. Hightower was a talented seamstress and also taught music at Hawkins Elementary School. She supported her husband's political career, making many trips to Austin and Washington, DC. After his Congressional career concluded, they moved to Austin, where she was the assistant organist at the First Baptist Church for 12 years. Hightower was a member of Mu Phi Epsilon and Senate Ladies Club, among others. In 2013, she was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years. Among her survivors are her daughters, Ann Hightower, BSEd '75, Amy Brees, BSEd '79, and Alison Suttle, BSEd '82; four granddaughters, including Molly Suttle, a Baylor sophomore, two grandsons including Reid Brees, BBA '05, and a sister, Emily Hill, '63. Memorials may be made to the Baylor University School of Music and The Jack Hightower Book Vault at the W.R. Poage Legislative Library at Baylor.
George Royalty "Rook" Edwards, JD '49, of Waco, died July 8 at age 89. He joined the Army Air Corps in World War II and won a scholarship for graduate study in International Law at the University of London, where he finished with honors. In Waco he formed the law firm of Edwards, Ressler, Horner & Lebowitz. Edwards served in the Air Force as a JAG officer during the Korean War, retiring as Captain. Later he was a commercial pilot. Edwards joined the Shrine and became a member of the Karem Temple. He also served as an assistant district attorney in Waco, practiced law in Houston, and served on the board of banks and insurance and oil companies. Among his survivors are his wife of 57 years, Marlene Edwards, and children David Brett Edwards, BBA '82, JD '86, and Deborah Marie Davenport, BSN '84.
Keith Jarrell, BBA ’49, of Dallas, died June 22 at age 90. He served as an Army medic during World War II and was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the First Baptist Church. He was an insurance salesman and a factory representative before becoming a commercial builder, specializing in banks and credit unions. Among his survivors are his wife of 63 years, Allegra Jarrell; three sons Rick, Craig, BBA ’80, and Mark Jarrell, BA ’80, and their families.
John N. Kittlitz Jr., BBA '49, MS '51, of Palmdale, CA, died July 28 at age 87. He worked for Aerojet in Sacramento and Lockheed in Redlands, Burbank and Palmdale. Kittlitz retired as a senior quality assurance specialist in 1989. He was a charter tennis member of the Antelope Valley Country Club. He "retired" from tennis at age 85. John is survived by his wife of 54 years, Anne (Koch) Kittlitz, and their five children.
Dr. Jean (McCall) Patterson, BBA '49, of Temple, TX, died Feb. 19 at age 89. She held advanced degrees from Texas Woman's University and Texas A&M. She was an advocate of continuing education activities and worked at Humble Oil/Exxon in Houston and as a teacher in Wichita Falls. Patterson was preceded in death by her sister, Carol Woodfin, BA '44, MA '49. Among her survivors are her sister, Margaret Milner, BA '43, and sons, George Patterson, JD '70, and wife Nancy, BS '71, Mark Patterson, and David Patterson.
1950s
B.J. Chenault, BBA '50, of Lubbock, died June 29 at age 88. He was self-employed for more than 40 years as a CPA; he also was a retired Baptist minister and former employee of the Baptist Annuity Board. Chenault served in the U.S. Navy. He moved to Lubbock from McKinney, TX, in 2004, when he married Evelyn Garnett Gammill. He was a member of Sunset Church of Christ. Among his survivors are his wife, two children, a sister, 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Dr. Arnold Maynard Guderian, BS '50, MD '53, of San Jose, CA, died Aug. 31 at age 85. At age 16 he started his Baylor education. He continued his medical training at Northwestern, Harvard and Duke. Guderian served as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy and as a battalion surgeon in Japan and Korea. Guderian started his medical practice in 1959 in San Jose, but soon moved that practice to Los Gatos where he was a founding member of the Los Olivos Women's Medical Group. He was a renowned obstetrician and gynecologist, delivering over 8,000 babies in his 30 years of practice. He was a pioneer in infertility before the term was known. Guderian helped found Good Samaritan Hospital in 1965, where he was a chief of obstetrics and gynecology. Guderian also was a clinical professor at Stanford University Medical School. Among his survivors is his wife of 57 years, Ruth Guderian.
Arthur William "Bill" Bailey Jr., BA '51, JD '51, of Waco, died Aug. 19 at age 86. At Baylor he was a member of Chamber and tennis and debate teams. During the Korean War, Bailey served in the U.S. Air Force as a 1st Lieutenant in the JAG Division. He was promoted to Captain in the USAF Reserves. Bailey established Bailey Insurance and Risk Management Inc. and became a noted state and national leader in his profession, testifying before U.S. Senate and House committees, as well as before the Federal Reserve Board, on behalf of the insurance industry. In 1969 he and others established the Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) program, which became the foundation of the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research.
Bailey served as the 1990-91 president of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association of America (IIABA), the premier association representing more than a quarter million agents/brokers and their employees. He was awarded the IIABA Woodworth Memorial Award for Meritorious Service to the Insurance Profession, as well the Drex Foreman Award of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT), the highest award conferred by each organization.
Bailey was chairman emeritus of Bailey Insurance and Risk Management, Inc., chairman of Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home Inc. and a former director, executive committee member and past vice chairman of Texas National Bank of Waco (Compass Bank BBVA). Bailey served as a Baylor Regent/Trustee for 18 years and was given the W.R. White Meritorious Service Award. He and his wife provided the funds for the Bill & Roberta Bailey Golf Center at Twin Rivers Golf Club. The Institute for Faith and Learning of Baylor's Truett Seminary established the Annual Bill and Roberta Bailey Family Lecture in Christian Ethics. The couple received the James Huckins, Pat Neff and Presidents Medallions from Baylor. Among his many leadership roles, Bailey served as president of the Greater Waco United Way, the Baylor-Waco and Baylor Bear Foundations, the Waco and Northwest Waco Rotary Clubs, the Waco YMCA, The Waco Camp Fire Girls, the Baylor Stadium Corporation and Ridgewood Country Club. Bailey was a deacon of First Baptist Church of Waco.
Roberta Hatch Bailey, BA '51, MS '52, his wife of 63 years, preceded him in death. Among his survivors are three sons, Roy Bailey, Wesley Bailey, BBA '78, and Hatch Bailey, BA '84; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Bill and Roberta Bailey Family Lecture Series in Christian Ethics at the George W. Truett Seminary and the Bill and Roberta Bailey Endowed Scholarship Fund at Baylor.
Robert Alexander "Bobby" Dodson, BBA '51, of Waco, died July 16 at age 88. He served in the U.S. Navy overseas during World War II and was member of the Baylor's golf team. He worked for Dow Chemical, Alcoa, and the Texas Dept. of Health in Austin and El Paso, where he was the regional administrator for 18 years. Among his survivors are his wife of 64 years, Peggy Jo Dodson, ’53; two daughters including Carol Meyers, BS '74; sister Dorothy McCreary, BA '49; three grandchildren including Michael Meyers, BBA ’03, and Matthew Meyers, BA '10; and five great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Baylor University.
Rev. Wilburn "Bill" F. Foster Jr., BA '51, of San Antonio, died July 24 at age 87. With his wife Doris alongside him, Foster pastored many Texas churches including South Elm Baptist of Cameron, First Baptist-Purdon, and First Baptist-Coolidge. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and served as a U.S. Army First Lieutenant Chaplain in Germany. Afterward, Foster pastored churches like First Baptist-Kerens, Fernwood Baptist, Southern Crest Baptist in Dallas, Speegleville Baptist in Waco, and he assistant pastored at Wynnewood Baptist in Dallas. He also was a Dallas County juvenile probation officer. The Fosters were missionaries in Korea, Venezuela and Belize. Among his survivors are his wife of 64 years, Doris (Gummelt) Foster, '51, children Dr. Preston Foster, BA '77, and Becky Clanton, BSEd '79, and sister, Dr. Betty Lou Schroeder.
Mary Jane (Aiken) Stopschinski Sternberg, BM '52, MMEd '54, of Waco, died Aug. 28 at age 84. She attended The Juilliard School in New York City and studied under Marcel Grandjany. She married Heinz David "Hank" Stopschinski and had a private piano studio in Houston for 30 years. She taught harp, assisted with the Houston Harp Ensemble and was a member of the Houston Music Teachers Association for over 25 years. She also raised and bred dogs. In 1995, Jane moved to Waco and married Daniel Sternberg, dean of the School of Music at Baylor for over 40 years and leader of the Waco Symphony Orchestra, with which she was very involved. She also volunteered at a senior center teaching computer classes, and with Waco Meals on Wheels. An avid traveler, Sternberg ventured across the Atlantic once or twice a year for the past 15 years. She is survived by her five children, including Elizabeth Shaw, ’85, and five grandchildren.
Stanley "Stan" Neil Williams, BBA '52, of Waco, died Sept. 13 at age 85. He was named first-team All-American offensive end and first team All-Southwest Conference for Baylor football. He was a member of the Baylor Hall of Fame, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, a Floyd Casey Stadium All-Time Team nominee, and he was a Baylor Legend. Williams played for the Dallas Texans and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. In 1957, he retired from professional football to return to his job at Kendrick Tire and Auto Center in Waco, where he worked for 52 years. He taught Sunday School at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church. Williams served as a member of the Army National Guard and was on the board of The Boys Club. He was an active supporter of the Methodist Children's Home and Meals on Wheels and helped develop of the Malcolm Louden Fields at the Lake Air Little League Baseball Center. Among his survivors are his wife of 67 years, Barbara Grist Williams, four children, and four grandchildren.
Billy Brice Hamlin, BA '52, of Palacios, TX, died June 29 at age 81. He served overseas in the U.S. Army from 1953-55. Hamlin and his father opened Hamlin's Minimax Grocery, which Billy operated for the next 48 years. He later managed The Luther Hotel for 10 years and was a deacon of FBC Palacios. Among many other activities, Hamlin was director of the Palacios Lions Club, a Little League coach, and a member of the Board of Directors for the City State Bank of Palacios. He was deemed Man of the Year and received Business of the Year by Palacios Chamber of Commerce. Hamlin was a 2013 Outstanding Alumni of Palacios High School. He was a Baylor season ticket holder for over 35 years. Among his survivors are his wife of 61 years, Dolly (Milam) Hamlin, children Walter Hamlin and Lisa Ann McKethan, BBA '83, six grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Walter Ray Trim, BBA '53, died Aug. 16 at age 83. He was a member of the 1948 State Champion Waco High football team and served in the Air Force during the Korean War. The Trim family settled in Big Spring, TX, where Walter worked in the oil business. He continued in the Air Force Reserve, rising to the rank of Major and commanding a Civil Air Patrol unit at Webb Air Force Base. Later, Trim worked for Union Pacific Railroad in Big Spring, Dallas, and St. Louis, retiring to Waco in 1992. Among his survivors are his wife of 63 years, Mary (Rowland) Trim, BA '51, and two children and their families.
Therol (Motley) Nell, BA '52, of Hollis, OK, died July 28 at age 85. She was a member of the Chapter "O" P.E.O. Sisterhood, '51 Sorosis and a member of the Board at Great Plains National Bank. She was a past member of the Library Board, Community Action Board, City Council and the Mayor of Hollis. She was a member of the Church of Christ, Hollis. Survivors include her husband of 60 years, W.B. "Dub" Nell, Jr., and two children, including Susan Collier, '78.
Charles Loyd Manning, BS '55, MS '64, of Bosqueville, TX, died July 8 at age 83. He played football and ran track at Navarro Junior College before enrolling at Baylor. While a full-time student, Manning worked the graveyard shift as a lab technician at General Tire and Rubber Co. He served in the Army and taught and coached in Stephenville, Waco and Port Arthur ISD. He was an ordained deacon and a Rotarian. Among his survivors is his wife, Lorita Manning, BSEd '81, MSEd '85.
Vivienne (Van Arsdale) Bailey, '57, of Sandy, UT, died July 16 at age 81. She earned a BS from Arizona State University and an MS from BYU, then had a 25-year career nurturing young minds with learning disabilities. Married to a pastor, she was a Bible study leader. Survivors include her husband of 62 years, James F. Bailey, BA '54, with whom she had four children.
Dr. C.I. "Ike" Smith, BS '58, of San Angelo, TX, died June 19 at age 84. He earned advanced degrees from LSU and the University of Michigan. He was professor and chairman of the geology department at the University of Michigan and the University of Texas in Arlington. Smith retired in 1993. He did extensive research for the Shell Oil Company in the Texas Hill Country and Edwards Plateau. Survivors include his wife, Anita.
Alberta Anne (Volz) Benson, BA '59, MA '61, of Waco, died July 22 at age 76. Volunteering and service to others remained important to Anne throughout her life. She worked as chief of social services at MHMR, led the Head Start program in Waco, and taught GED and ESL classes. Benson was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome Benson, BA '64. Among her survivors are two children, including Melissa Benson, BA '85, MA '89.
1960s
Dr. George Willard Pollock, BA '63, MA '66, of Ransom Canyon, TX, died Sept. 15 at age 74. He married Jan McNeill in 1968 and earned a doctorate at Texas Tech in 1974. Pollock taught English at TCU and Mountain View College before settling at Blinn College, where he retired in 2007 after 23 years. He earned several teaching awards before retiring in 2007. Pollock also was a gifted musician, singer, and songwriter. He wrote "Don't Play the Game," a song recorded by Waylon Jennings.
Richard Lee "Dick" Clark, BBA '59, JD '64, of Waco, died Aug. 24 at age 78. He played on Baylor's 1957 Sugar Bowl team, was drafted by the Chicago Bears, and played in the Canadian Football League. He became an assistant district attorney for McLennan County before going into private practice. Clark also served in the Naval Reserves JAG Corps as a Lt. Commander. He was a Mason and a member of the Karem Shrine Temple. Survivors include his wife, Sandra Clark, '97, and children Christi Clark, '90, and Richard Lee "Rick" Clark Jr., BBA '93.
Marcia (Davis) Petty, BA '59, of Richmond, TX, died July 22 at age 77. At Baylor she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and graduated with a BA degree in 1959. She lived in Shreveport, LA, for 48 years and taught a special education class at Broadmoor Baptist Church. Marcia was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Jerry Alan Petty, '59, and sons Alan Davis Petty and Dr. John Aubrey Petty, BA '91, DMin '03. She is survived by three daughters, including Rosemary Cunningham, BBA '88, three brothers, and others.
Sandra Jean (Johnson) Millegan, BBA '61, of Leander, TX, died June 21 at age 76. She was married to the late Thomas Graydon Millegan for 43 years. She was a high school teacher and member of First Baptist Church Round Rock. Among her survivors are three children, including Dr. Sharon Sandercock, BS '91, and Dr. Shelly Nagle, BS '94, four siblings, and 10 grandchildren.
Gary Ray Price, JD '65, of Brownwood, TX, died Aug. 10 at age 78. Price was the creator of the Texas Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG), a state funded grant that helped students at private colleges and universities offset the higher cost of tuition of private institutions over that of publicly funded state institutions. Since its passage in 1971, the TEG has helped more than 100,000 students attend the private college or university of their choice. By 2010 more than $100 million had been allocated for students in Texas. He was county attorney of Brown County from 1969-72, and district attorney for the 35th Judicial District of Texas from 1973-80. He also practiced law privately. Price served as president of the Brownwood Jaycees, director of the Brownwood Chamber of Commerce, director of the Heart of Texas Girl Scout Council, director of Texas Bank Brownwood, and board member of the Howard Payne Board of Trustees, among others. Among his survivors are his wife of 57 years, Jarene Price, and sons Kent Price, '84, and Waren Price, BBA '92. Memorials may be made to Baylor Law School.
Dwain (Horsley) Bouldin, BA '2, of Charlotte, NC, died July 18. She was married to Dr. Don Bouldin, BA '60, for 54 years. She taught high school English, Bible and debate in multiple states across the South. Bouldin was an editor at the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board, a speaker at statewide women's events, and a Bible teacher in churches she and Don served. They had three children, 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Paul Edward "Ed" Pepper, BA '62, MA ’69, died June 17 in Dalton, GA. He was 79. He taught for 29 years at Katy (TX) High School and continued to teach at Houston Community College for another 15 years. Pepper was faculty sponsor of the Katy High School annual and the voice of the Katy Tigers. He was a deacon at First Baptist Church, Katy, and Grace Presbyterian in Houston. Pepper was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Joanne Louise Pepper. He is survived by four sisters, three sons, Randy, Paul, BBA '79, MPP '83, and Tim, BSEd '92, and two grandsons.
James "Jim" Randall Sale, BBA '66, of Stephenville, TX, died Feb. 19 at age 71. He lived most of his life in Midland, TX, where he was a landman in the oil and gas industry for 16 years and later in the insurance industry. He enjoyed teaching adults the Bible through his church. Survivors include his wife, Judy Ferguson Sale, BA '67; sons, Jim "Wade" Sale, '91, and Spencer Ashby Sale; his mother, Hallie Sale; sisters, Sandra Baucom, '64, and Sharon Camp, '64; and eight grandchildren.
Richard D. Huff, BA '69, of Houston, died Aug. 19 at age 67. He was a retired public finance partner in the Houston office of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP (formerly Fulbright & Jaworski LLP), where he represented a variety of clients in financing many Houston public landmarks, including the Harris County toll roads, the Brown Convention Center and convention center hotel, and Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center, and NRG Stadium. He retired in 2008. Huff graduated from Duke Law School in 1972. Huff was included in The Best Lawyers in America and named a Texas Top Rated Lawyer by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubble. He was a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, the American College of Bond Counsel, the Administrative and Public Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, and others. Huff was a speaker and panelist at seminars on public finance topics. Among his survivors are his brother, Wayne Huff, BA ’72, and daughter, Raquel Richards.
1970s
Michael P. McNamara, BBA '70, of Waco, died Sept. 1 at age 67. McNamara retired in 2004 after 34 years as a deputy with the U.S. Marshals Service. He then was a private investigator for five years before becoming chief investigator of the McLennan County District Attorney's Office in 2011. McNamara came from a long line of McLennan County lawmen. Among his survivors are children Michael McNamara Jr., Anna Margaret Shanks, BA '04, and Scott McNamara, BA '08, and brother Parnell McNamara Jr, BBA '69.
Donald R. Simpson, BA '70, of Temple, TX, died July 29 at age 69. He served in the Air Force as a B-52 navigator pilot during the Vietnam War, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Simpson worked for HEB as a safety and risk manager for 17 years. He was chairman of the deacons at Immanuel Baptist Church of Temple. Among his survivors are his wife of 48 years, Pat (Yocum) Simpson.
Thomas Ralph Culver III, BBA '71, JD '73, of Richmond, TX, died Sept. 4 at age 66. He was an Eagle Scout and civil attorney before serving as a judge for 38 years. Prior to becoming District Judge in 1990, he served as Fort Bend County Assistant District Attorney Felony Prosecutor and County Court at Law Judge for Fort Bend County. Judge Culver was active in many local organizations and was a deacon at FBC Rosenberg and a trustee for The South Texas Children's Home in Beeville, TX. Culver served on the Fort Bend County Juvenile Board, Fort Bend County Council of Judges, the Purchasing Agent Board, the Fort Bend County Auditor's Board and was the Jury Management Judge of Fort Bend County. He was licensed by the State Bar of Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and the Fifth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals. Among his survivors are his wife of 42 years, Jan Carden Culver, BA '72; children Courtney Culver Baker, BA '99, JD '02, and Thomas R. Culver, IV, BBA '04; and brothers Richard G. Culver, BBA '74, and John R. Culver, BBA '79.
Charles Frank Culver, BBA '73, MBA '74, of Sugar Land, TX, died July 2 at age 65. He was an Eagle Scout and a member of Kappa Omega Tau Fraternity at Baylor. Early in his banking career, he was vice president at Southern National Bank. He then worked for many years as financial advisor to the President of Central Ford and Southern Ford auto dealerships. He retired in March. Survivors include two sons, Dr. Cameron Culver, BS '06, and Clayton Culver; two grandchildren, girlfriend, Shelly Brigham; and three brothers, Richard G. Culver, BBA '74, and John R. Culver.
Nita Kissel Fanning, BA '76, JD '78, died August 21 in Waco. She was 61. Fanning practiced general and family law in Waco, and also gave a period of service to Legal Aid. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas, where she was active in the Chapel Choir. At Baylor, Fanning was involved in Student Congress, Student Foundation, and Kappa Theta. Most recently, she enjoyed teaching children's Sunday School at Fellowship Bible Church in McGregor. She is survived by three children and two grandchildren.
Darlene Jo (Ellison) Johnson, BSEd '76, of Waco, died Sept. 8 at age 61. She graduated magna cum laude from Baylor. Johnson was in her 40th year of employment as Hallsburg ISD's 6th grade teacher. Survivors include her husband, Gary Johnson, BBA ’77, MBA ’78; children, Greg and Stacey; sister, Linda Roberson, BA '73; and two grandchildren.
Dr. Marcus E. Staples, MS '77, of Tyler, TX, died July 20 at age 64 from complications of ALS. After spending twelve years as a petroleum geologist in the oil industry in Houston and Ft. Worth, he entered medical school at UT School of Medicine at San Antonio. Since 1997, he was a physician with the FamilyCARE Center of Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Brenda Ann Diegel Staples, and two children, Rachel Claire Staples and Collin Marcus Staples.
1980s
Dr. Jane Hoogestraat, BA '80, of Springfield, MO, died Sept. 8 at age 56. She earned an MA and PhD (with honors) in English from the University of Chicago. Since 1989, she has been an English professor at Missouri State University, where she had been director of Graduate Studies for the English Department before becoming the department's literature coordinator. Hoogestraat was an accomplished poet, scholar and beloved teacher of literature, poetry, creative writing, composition and advanced academic writing.
Kyle Cook, JD '86, of Houston, died Jan. 11 at age 53. He practiced law in Houston and Dallas following his graduation from law school until an illness about one year before he died. He is survived by parents, Evelyn and Grant Cook, JD '61.
1990s
Whitney Leigh Shepperd, BSN '99, of Dallas, died June 21 at age 39. Most recently she was a case manager for United Health Care. Shepperd also had been a pediatric nurse and a traveling nurse in New York, Austin and Houston. She was a member Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas and Kappa Delta at Baylor. Among her survivors is her mother, Marilyn Hastings, '72.
Dr. James M. Dunn, of Winston-Salem, NC, died July 4 at age 83. He was a well-known Baptist advocate for religious liberty and separation of church and state. For nearly two decades, he was executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. For 12 years he was as executive director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission. After retiring from the BJC in 1999, the Dunns moved to Winston-Salem, where he became professor of Christianity and public policy at Wake Forest's Divinity School. He also served as president of the Baptist Joint Committee Endowment. In 2011 Wake Forest established the James and Marilyn Dunn Chair of Baptist Studies in the Divinity School. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn McNeely Dunn, BA '56, BM '58.
Dr. Daniel Milton Lotz, of Raleigh, NC, died Aug 19 at age 78. He was a member of the undefeated 1957 University of North Carolina basketball team. Lotz began the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on campus, a ministry he participated in for the rest of his life. He served on the National Board of Directors for 40 years and was given their highest honors. Lotz became an Air Force captain and a dentist. He married former Baylor Regent Anne Graham Lotz in 1966. Lotz helped to plant two churches in Raleigh. Earlier this year he was presented with the most prestigious civilian award North Carolina offers, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. He fathered three children, Daniel Jonathan Lotz, BA '94, Morrow Reitmeier, BSEd '96, and Rachel-Ruth Wright, BSEd '97, and had three granddaughters.
Dr. Darrell R. Slette, of Waco, died July 14 at age 83. He held degrees from the University of Wisconsin and George Washington University Medical School. Slette worked in private practice as a medical doctor in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at Providence Hospital and Hillcrest Hospital in Waco. From 1962-97 he was in private practice in Appleton, WI. Slette was a member of the American Medical Association, the McLennan County Medical Society, Rotary International, and the Waco Civic Choir, and Baylor's Endowed Scholarship Society. Among his survivors are his wife of nearly 15 years, Donna (Spence) Slette, children Carolyn Ficklin and Steve Slette, BA '84, and two grandsons. He is also survived by the family of Donna Spence, including Thomas Spence, David Spence, Susanna (Spence) Salmanns, '91.
Dr. Tommie R. Thompson, of Waco, died June 29 at age 74. He was a professor of mechanical engineering at Baylor and was named Engineer of the Year in 1995 by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers Central Texas Chapter. Thompson retired from Baylor in 2008 after 25 years. He was also an accomplished photographer. Among his survivors are his wife, Lynda, and daughter, Alice Thompson, BA '92.
Virginia "Sue" (Jones) Tidwell, of Waco, died July 20 at age 83. She attended Baylor and married Kalvart K. Tidwell Jr., BBA '59, in 1948. They were married 67 years before Kalvart died in 2010. Surviving children are Jan Smith and Kalvart K. Tidwell III and wife, Brenda, BSEd '74, five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to The Sue and K.K. Tidwell Endowed Scholarship Fund at Baylor.
Dr. John C. Park, associate professor of curriculum and instruction in Baylor's School of Education, died June 28 at age 59. He joined the Baylor faculty in 2012 after teaching from 1985 to 2011 at North Carolina State University that culminated in the title of associate professor emeritus. He also taught at Ohio State and as a high school science teacher. Park served as president of the national School Science and Math Association from 2012-14. Among his awards were the 2011 North Carolina Science Teachers Association Distinguished Service Award, two Association for Science Teacher Education national awards in 2003 and 2006, and the 1991 NC State Outstanding Teacher Award. He held degrees from from Anderson College and Ohio State.
Incoming freshman Alger Ben Baker III died in a car accident July 25 in Plano, TX. He was 18. Survivors include his parents, Ben, BBA '88, and Allison (Ellis) Baker, BA '86. Ben was a 2015 graduate of Plano Senior West High School and planned to attend Baylor in August as a fourth-generation Bear with enough credits to start as a sophomore.
Truett Seminary student Ronnie Carter, of McGregor, TX, died Aug. 27. He was 57.
Christopher James "CJ" Werner, a sophomore medical humanities major from Fort Worth, died Sept.1. He was 24. Werner was a 2009 graduate of Southwest Christian School and was a second-year pre-med student.
Dr. Diana R. Garland, founding dean of Baylor School of Social Work, died Sept. 21 in Colorado following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. This past April, Baylor's Board of Regents voted to rename the School in her honor as the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work.
Garland earned her undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees, all from the University of Louisville in Kentucky. For 17 years, she served as professor of Christian family ministry and social work at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. She also served as dean of the Carver School of Church Social Work and director of the Center for Family Ministries. Prior to teaching, she was administrative director of a pastoral counseling center.
She and husband Dr. David Garland joined the Baylor faculty in 1997. In 1998, Diana Garland was named director of the University's then-new Center for Family and Community Ministries. She became chair of the social work department in 2001 and, in 2005, was named inaugural dean of the School of Social Work. During the following decade, she championed the School’s rise to national and international recognition, while maintaining its steadfast mission to prepare social workers in a Christian context for worldwide service and leadership.
During Garland's tenure as dean, the School of Social Work rose to national prominence, and the faculty grew from five full-time professors and lecturers to a full-time faculty of 20. Graduate student enrollment in the program increased to 120 and undergraduate enrollment grew to 120 students. Garland also raised more than $7.4 million in research and program grants, and the School of Social Work established an endowment of $14.5 million. She oversaw the School's move in 2010 to renovated space in downtown Waco, which allowed the School to triple its teaching and lab space.
Garland's legacy also includes growth in academic programs, from baccalaureate and master's degree programs in social work to three joint-degree master’s degree options. In addition, the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work welcomed its first students this fall in a Houston-based master's degree program in social work.
Garland was author, co-author or editor of 21 books and more than 100 academic articles. Her latest book was Why I Am a Social Worker: 25 Christians Tell Their Life Stories. She had served as editor of the Journal of Family and Community Ministries since 1993.
Garland also gave significant service to national social work organizations. She served as a Board Member of the National Association of Deans and Directors of Social Work from 2009-14 and Councilor for the Council on Social Work Education from 2003-13. She served multiple terms as president of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work.
She also was first lady of Baylor University when David Garland, then dean of Truett Seminary, was named interim president in 2008. She served in that additional capacity until 2010.
Garland is survived by her husband of 45 years, David; daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Matthew; son, John, BA ’03, and his wife, Abby; and three granddaughters, Aurora Grace, Azalea Faith and Tess Moran, and a new grandson. (Read more about David and Diana Garland in the summer Baylor Magazine story "Good Shepherds.")