Class Notes
1940s
Dunreath Holleyman, BA ’49, celebrated her 100th birthday Nov. 23, 2023. She and her late husband, Max Holleyman, BA ’49, spent their lives serving their community. Holleyman has four sons, eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, some of whom also have joined the Baylor Family.
1950s
Jean Irwin Pearson Chatham, BS ’52, of San Antonio and her Baylor roommate Mary Davidson Kay, BA ’52, of Richardson, TX, spent a special Saturday together at Chatham’s home in San Antonio. Lots of looking at pictures and remembering happy times at Baylor. They also caught up on family events and friends they have known.
John Minton, BA ’54, LLB ’56, and Martha Minton, BA ’55, of Tyler, TX, established the John H. and Martha Meiners Minton Endowed Scholarship in Law.
Bill Rogers, BA ’58, and Carol Rogers of Carrollton, TX, established the William H. and Carol B. Rogers Endowment for Men’s Tennis.
1960s
Don Wagner, MHA ’60, of Houston, established the Brigadier General Donald B. Wagner Endowed Fund for the Robbins Institute.
Diane Crain, BBA ’61, and Gaylen Crain, BBA ’59, of Dallas, established the Gaylen and Diane Crain Endowed Fund for Football.
Wendell Erwin, BA ’62, MD ’66, and Jenny Erwin, BBA ’62, of Houston established the Wendell and Jenny Erwin First in Line Endowed Scholarship.
Lynn Clayton, BA ’63, retired from serving as community pastor of New Life Baptist Church, DeRidder, LA.
Matt C.C. Bristol III, BA ’66, JD ’67, of North Chesterfield, VA, established the Betty Hess Bristol Endowed Scholarship in Nursing in memory of his first wife, Betty, and her life as a nurse and missionary.
Niké Luqman, BA ’67, was awarded the prestigious Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (Real Orden de Isabel la Católica) by the Consul General of Spain on behalf of His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain Nov. 15, 2023.
Glynn Gilcrease, BA ’67, JD ’73, was honored with the 40th Annual Don Carlos Humanitarian Award in Tempe, AZ, for his community service and humanitarian efforts advocating for and supporting youth and children in Tempe and beyond. As a long-time Tempe resident, he has given more than 40 years of service and leadership to the Boys and Girls Clubs organization, where he was recently inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame. His philanthropic efforts have supported Tempe Sister Cities’ international cultural exchange programs. Gilcrease devoted years of service to numerous projects as a Tempe South Rotarian.
Andy Pittman, BS ’68, taught at Baylor in the HHPR department from 1981-2009, where he started the sports management graduate program, and at Texas A&M from 2011-2021. He has authored eight editions of three textbooks, authored/coauthored 11 book chapters, authored/coauthored 33 journal articles and given 80 conference presentations. He recently had a presentation accepted at the 2024 Sport and Recreation Law Association Conference in Baltimore. In addition, he had two chapters accepted on transportation law and intentional torts to be included in the book Safe at First, Second Edition [2024].
1970s
Joel T. Allison, BA ’70, and Diane Allison, BA ’70, of Waco established the Joel and Diane Allison Endowed Fund in Business.
Jerry B. Cain, MA ’71, served as editor for The History of the Karen People of Burma, a college-level textbook by Angelene Naw [Judson Press, January 2023]. Cain has retired after serving as president of Judson University in Illinois but still carries the honorary title of chancellor. He lives just northeast of Kansas City, MO.
Mike Kennedy, BA ’71, who spent much of his career with the Los Angeles Times and National Public Radio, is now retired and living in San Antonio. He spent a large portion of his career as the Times bureau chief in Beirut and Houston. Later, he was the city editor of the Nashville Tennessean and foreign editor of NPR’s Morning Edition.
John A. Wood, PhD ’75, authored Tombstone Whispers: Departed Baseball Legends and their Moral (and Immoral) Lives [March 2023].
Mark Flagg, BA ’79, MBA ’80, and Laura Flagg, BA ’80, of Plano, TX, established the Dean Emeritus Terry S. Maness Endowed Fund in Business in honor of Terry Maness, BA ’71, MS ’72, former dean of the Hankamer School of Business. They also established the Mark and Laura Flagg Endowed Fund in Business and the Mark and Laura Flagg Endowed Fund for the Center for Sales Strategy in Sports and Entertainment.
J. Cary Gray, BBA ’79, BAcc ’80, JD ’83, and Amber L. Gray of Houston established the Amber L. and J. Cary Gray Endowed Scholarship in Law.
1980s
Roland Garcia, BBA ’81, has been named to Memorial Hermann Health System’s Distinguished Board Wall of Honor and to the Lifetime Board Wall of Honor, which recognizes board members who have served full terms, held multiple leadership roles with exemplary service and were significant advocates and champions for the system. Garcia also is a shareholder in the Houston office of the international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Gil Guthrie, BA ’81, JD ’84, and Lizanne Guthrie, BA ’83, of Wichita, KS, established the Gil and Lizanne Guthrie Endowed Scholarship Fund, a Hord Challenge Scholarship supporting students in the College of Arts & Sciences.
R. Michael Haynes, BBA ’82, and Wendy Haynes of Stephenville, TX, established the Pamela Jyl Haynes Steakley Bouche Endowed Scholarship in Special Education, in honor of Michael’s cousin, Pamela Jyl Haynes Steakley Bouche, BA ’72.
Mike McBrayer, BBA ’82, MBA ’83, and Kelly McBrayer, BA ’83, of Richardson, TX, established the McBrayer Family Endowment in Christian Leadership & Ethics in Business.
Beth Haller, BA ’83, authored her latest book, Disabled People Transforming Media Culture for a More Inclusive World [Taylor & Francis Publishers, 2023]. Print copies are available, as well as a free open access e-book online.
Penny Pickle, BSN ’83, MSN ’13, authored her debut novel, A Shortage of Angels, now available. Set in 1968 rural East Texas, the novel is the diary of a 10-year-old Angel Hunter.
Peter McCullough, BS ’84, was recognized with the Shining Scalpel Award from the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons for pandemic leadership on early therapeutic and vaccine risk mitigation strategies used around the world. He has dozens of peer-reviewed publications on the infection and has commented extensively on the medical response to COVID-19 in The Hill, America Out Loud, OAN, ABC, and Fox News. McCullough lives with his wife, Maha, in Dallas, and his medical office practice is in McKinney, TX.
Eleni Caddell, BA ’88, of Florence, KY, established the Chris Caddell Endowed Memorial Scholarship for the Golden Wave Band in honor of her late husband, Chris Caddell, BBA ’88, to honor his love for Baylor and his experience as a member of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band.
After working for a group practice for 22 years, Melissa “Missi” Hanson Handley, BS ’88, opened a solo general pediatric practice, Bright Beginnings Pediatrics, in Lufkin, TX, July 5, 2023.
Tami Stallings, BBA ’88, and Alex Stallings, BBA ’89, of Tulsa, OK, established the Stallings Family Scholarship, which supports graduate students pursuing a degree in the field of communication sciences and disorders.
Mark P. Yablon, BBA ’88, is celebrating his third year of opening Yablon Law PLLC. Yablon Law operates a growing statewide practice from its Houston offices that focuses on commercial litigation, bankruptcy, family law and probate.
Sarah “Sally” Beggs Howard, BA ’89, MA ’91, owner of the family-owned Sally Bee’s Honey Company, is proud to be the official honey supplier for Baylor’s live bears, Indy and Belle! Howard says, “As a four-generation Baylor family, we are thrilled to provide pure Texas honey as the perfect merging of our love for all things bear and bee!”
1990s
Elisabeth DeLoach Howell, BSEd ’91, was named 2023 Administrator of the Year for the state of Texas by the Texas Foreign Language Association. She oversees the world language department for Lamar CISD. She and her husband, Mark Howell, BA ’92, live in Sugar Land, TX.
Derek Haas, BA ’91, MA ’95, and Kristi Haas, BA ’93, of Los Angeles, established the Haas Family Alumni in the Arts Endowment, which supports the Baylor in L.A. program.
Gabi Keenum, BA ’93, graduated in December 2023 with a doctorate in community care and counseling: marriage and family counseling, from Liberty University. She continues to work at her private practice in Lubbock, TX, seeing couples and individuals. She and her husband, Michael, have written a premarital curriculum certified by Twogether in Texas. They also speak at marriage retreats for churches across the United States. www.themarriagedesign.com
Deanna M. Lovesmith, BSEd ’93, MSEd ’96, was honored by the Texas Association of School Administrators as a lifetime member. In June, she retired with 30 years of service in Texas public schools serving as a teacher, counselor, principal and assistant superintendent. Lovesmith is now overseeing gifted and talented education in a district and provides professional learning across Texas for teachers and instructional leaders.
David Roberts, BBA ’93, and Kim Roberts, BSEd ’94, of Scottdale, AZ, established the David and Kim Roberts Endowed Fund for the Hankamer School of Business. Their son, Benjamin Roberts, is a member of the Baylor class of 2027.
Christine Wan, BA ’93, was named regional vice president at Next Level Urgent Care in Houston. She is sharing her 23 years of experience as a family physician to lead a diverse and innovative group of healthcare professionals delivering care at 44 clinics in Texas, serving Houston, Beaumont, Nederland, San Antonio and Austin.
John Bell, BBA ’94, and Nikki Buxton Bell, BBA ’98, of Tulsa, OK, established the Sarah Bell Endowed Scholarship for Educational Leadership in honor of John’s mother, Sarah Bell, BBA ’59.
Rocky Saenz, BA ’95, has been a practicing radiologist in Michigan for 17 years. He just authored his fifth book, CT for the Non-Radiologist — The Essential CT Study Guide (3rd Ed.).
Christopher B. Trowbridge, BBA ’95, JD ’98, managing partner at Bell Nunnally, has been elected chairman of Legalink, a Chambers-ranked global network of 68 independent business-oriented law firms with more than 3,500 attorneys across the majority of the world’s main commercial centers. Bell Nunnally has been a member since 2015. Trowbridge, whose term as chairman will span 2024 and 2025, previously served as vice chairman of Legalink. Trowbridge also was named a “Star” in the 2024 edition of Benchmark Litigation.
Mike McGuff, BA ’99, premiered his documentary Runaway Radio in November 2023 at the Sound Unseen music documentary festival held in Minneapolis.
2000s
Kathryn Brogdon, MA ’02, former public relations and facilities supervisor of Armstrong Browning Library (1997-2011, retired), authored a family history book, Winds & Bloodlines. Its major themes touch on family migration and the regional histories of New England, Texas, Southern colonial settlements and the U.S. Also included is a murder mystery in early Texas and an oral interview concerning the Waco Tornado of 1953. Brogden’s book received the 2023 grand prize for best overall entry in the Texas State Genealogical Society book competition and has been received into the collections of the Texas Heritage Museum (Hillsboro), The Library of Virginia and the Waco-McLennan Public Library.
Emily Marie Easley, BA ’03, MS ’04, of Richmond, TX, and Ellen Elisabeth Rodkey, BSEd ’06, of Bloomington, IN, established the James Alan & Rebecca Marie Coe Endowed Scholarship in memory of their parents, Jim and Becky. This scholarship supports students participating in a study abroad program.
Nora Frost, BA ’02, was named chief external affairs officer of the City of Los Angeles department of city planning, the largest urban planning department in the United States.
Kevin Hood, BBA ’02, a 24-year credit union industry veteran, was named CEO of Waco’s 1st University Credit Union in January.
Becky Dean, BA ’03, writing as B.L. Dean, released a four-book science fiction series, Shades of Starlight [Aethon Books, 2023]. Rogue Pursuit, Pirate’s Code, Shadow Games and Final Break are all available now. Learn more about these books and Dean’s young adult romance novels at beckydeanwrites.com.
Yasmene McDaniel, BS ’03, was named chair of the 2024 March of Dimes Houston March for Babies. This is the largest March of Dimes walk in the country.
Hans Christianson, BA ’04, recently joined The University of Scranton, a Jesuit university in Scranton, PA, as the director of enrollment marketing. In this role, he is responsible for managing marketing and communications efforts related to undergraduate, graduate, international and transfer admissions. He can be reached at hans.christianson@scranton.edu. Previously, he spent nearly eight years working for the Geisinger Health Foundation.
Stephanie Eckerle, BA ’04, was named chair of Krieg DeVault’s Health Care Practice. Eckerle will lead a team of talented attorneys and professionals in one of the firm’s most prominently served industries. Eckerle has been with the firm for nearly eight years, joining as a partner in 2016. She has served as an instrumental team member in the practice’s recent growth since her arrival.
R. Heath Cheeks, JD ’06, a partner at Bell Nunnally, was named a “Star” in the 2024 edition of Benchmark Litigation.
Whitney Reynolds-Heiner, BA ’07, was named to the Fall 2023 Crains Chicago’s “40 Under 40” list. She also received her second Emmy nomination, this time as executive producer, and won a Stevie Award for “Equality in Pay for Women.” Reynolds-Heiner is entering the 7th season of her nationally syndicated PBS TV show, The Whitney Reynolds Show.
Jacob B. Kring, JD ’07, was added to Husch Blackwell’s commercial litigation practice team as a partner. He routinely handles trade secret disputes, oil and gas litigation, trademark litigation, securities fraud claims, shareholder and partnership disputes, employment disputes, and real estate-related litigation.
Ashleigh White, BBA ’07, an audit managing director in the KPMG Asset Management practice, was named to the 2023 Black Women in Asset Management (BWAM) “40 under 40” list. White’s contributions and expertise in the private markets category were recognized at the BWAM gala in London.
Ashley Wall, BSEd ’08, authored her first book and started a publishing company, MamaBear Books, in 2022, specializing in children’s picture books. With a goal of promoting literacy and a love of reading in all children through engaging and fun picture books, MamaBear Books launched its first three books in 2023. All three books have been critically acclaimed by industry leaders, are top new releases on Amazon and are finalists for book awards. Find more information about MamaBear Books at mamabearbooks.com.
Anna Blanch Rabe, MA ’09, graduated October 2023 with her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of New England, Australia. After working with the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University for the past four years, Rabe recently accepted an appointment as a foreign service officer in public diplomacy with the U.S. State Department. She will represent the United States as a diplomat. She is married to Lt. Col. Dwight Rabe (USAF).
2010s
Casey Schachner, BFA ’10, assistant professor of art in the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art at Georgia Southern University, won the global design contest for the “COVID-19 Monument of Honor, Remembrance, and Resilience,” scheduled to unveil spring 2025 in Chicago. Her sculpture concept features the dandelion flower as a metaphor for the worldwide pandemic experience. Visually, she references the starburst dandelion’s aesthetic affinity to the official CDC renderings of the COVID-19 virus. Metaphysically, her vision embodies beauty through ashes, rebirth, hope and resilience.
Laura Vayda, BSN ’10, was named the 2023 School Nurse Administrator of the Year by the Texas School Nurses Organization. She is the lead nurse in Garland ISD in Garland, TX. She is passionate about student wellness and providing excellent nursing care for all students.
Ben Davis, BA ’11, released a short film, “The Jellyfish Man,” online in 2023. The film has been selected by Omeleto — a curated Youtube channel of the “World’s Best Short Films” — and will make its debut after a robust film festival run including screening at Waco’s own Deep in the Heart and the Oscar-qualifying Austin Film Festival. “The Jellyfish Man” is a wild suburban satire and holiday comedy about neighbors, mental health and jellyfish. The film’s lead is “Fuller House” star Adam Hagenbuch and features TikTok sensation Theresa Rowley. “The Jellyfish Man” was chock-full of other Baylor alumni on the crew. Alumni include cinematographer Aaron Youngblood, BS ’05, MA ’14; production designer Rose Youngblood, BBA ’05; VFX supervisor Philip Heinrich, BA ’12, MA ’14; first assistant camera Michael Macasa, BA ’14; and grip Dom Scalise, BA ’20. Viewers can find the film on YouTube.
Seth Gist, BFA ’12, accepted a position within Disney Signature Experiences as principal technical director, leading a core team of professionals supporting Disney Cruise Line offerings and entertainment. Gist began his new position in December.
J. Christian Berry, BBA ’13, completed his ophthalmology residency and surgical glaucoma fellowship at the Dean McGee Eye Institute in Oklahoma City, June 2023. He has joined his parents, Mark Berry, BBA ’82, and Sue Berry, in ophthalmology practice in San Antonio with his wife, Katie, and their new daughter, Sarah Grace.
Sarah Danielle (Rodrigue) Franco, BA ’13, graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch with a master’s in adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner in May 2023. She received the Mary Beth Lott Upchurch Award, bestowed upon an outstanding MSN graduate who exemplified academic excellence and made a significant contribution to the field of healthcare and/or interdisciplinary healthcare activities.
Justin Kroll, BM ’13, MM ’15, completed the Doctor of Musical Arts in voice performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May 2023 and was appointed assistant professor of voice and director of opera workshop at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. In addition, Kroll recently won a position as a Filstrup Resident Artist with the Tulsa Opera for the 2023/2024 season.
Jonathan Tijerina, BS ’14, MA ’15, is making strides in the field of ophthalmology, becoming a trailblazer as the first anterior segment chief resident for Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami.
Alyssa Rummel, BFA ’15, graduated with a master’s degree in strategic communication from East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, TX. She is a member of the marketing department and teaches photography at ETBU.
Christian Dickinson, PhD ’18, authored his first book, Sonnets from the Psalms, Volume 1 [December 2023].
Cameron Gunter, BBA ’19, and Meredith Mrok, BBA ’19, were married July 22, 2023, in Southlake, TX, surrounded by friends, family and many Baylor Bears. The couple lives in Bowie, TX, where Cameron owns a title company and Meredith works as a high school registrar.
2020s
Connor Price, BA ’20, and Madison Price, BSEd ’20, established the Connor and Madison Price Endowment for Baylor Sports Ministry.
Ashley Abbott Craighead, BBA ’22, MTax ’22, married Burke Craighead, BA ’22, Aug. 19, 2023, in Dallas. The couple met at Baylor and now reside in Cambridge, MA.
Friends & Family
Larry Bates, professor of law, of Waco, established the Professor Larry Bates Endowed Fund for the Legal Writing Center.
Michael and Karen Brisch of Houston established the Brisch Family Endowed Scholarship. Their son, Alexander Brisch, is a member of the Baylor class of 2026.
Kenneth Hall, ABC ’13, and Linda Hall, ABC ’13, of Longview, TX, established the Kenneth and Linda Hall Endowed Fund in Business in honor of their son-in-law, Neal Ford, BA ’99, MBA ’06.
Paco Jordan, ABC ’19, and Kay Jordan, ABC ’19, of Colorado Springs, CO, established the Paco and Kay Jordan Endowed Scholarship for the Honors College and the Paco and Kay Jordan Endowed Scholarship for Truett Seminary. The Jordans’ children, Chandler Jordan, BA ’20, and Mikayla Jordan, BA ’20, are Baylor graduates.
Andrew and Jennifer Little of Sandy, UT, established the Fourreds Endowed Scholarship Fund for the School of Education. Their daughter, Taylor Little, is a member of the Baylor class of 2026.
Ruth and Lee Martinson of Southlake, TX, established the Martinson Family Endowed Scholarship in Engineering and Computer Science. Their daughter is Sara Martinson, BSE ’17.
The Don & Colletta McMillian Foundation Endowed Fund in Business and the Don & Colletta McMillian Foundation Endowed Fund in Athletics was established by the Don & Colletta McMillian Foundation of Houston.
The Mary Elizabeth Stowe Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Nursing was established by Brad Morris of Plano, TX, in memory of his mother, Mary Elizabeth Stowe, BSN ’76.
Debbie and Lee Nelson of Niwot, CO, established the Nelson Family Endowed Scholarship for Robbins College. The Nelsons’ daughter, Katie Nelson, BS ’23, is a Baylor alumna.
Paula and Stephen Reynolds of Broomfield, CO, established the Dr. Taylor M. Reynolds Endowed Scholarship in Nursing in honor of their daughter, Taylor Reynolds, BSN ’17, who is currently earning her Doctorate of Nurse Practitioner.
Christine and Michael Tooker and Diane and Gary Tooker of Scottsdale, AZ, established the Tooker Family Endowed Fund for Christian Leadership in Business. Grant Tooker, son of Christine and Michael and grandson of Diane and Gary, is a member of Baylor class of 2027.
Brent and Julie Walker of Colleyville, TX, established the Karen Claycomb Walker Endowed Scholarship Fund for Robbins College in honor of Brent’s mother, Karen Claycomb Walker, BS ’70. The Walkers’ daughter, Halle Walker, is a member of the Baylor class of 2027.
Henry and Laura Weaks of Waco established The Henry and Laura Weaks Family Endowed Scholarship to benefit deserving Baylor students. Their daughter, Caroline Weaks, is a member of the Baylor class of 2026.