In Memoriam
1930s
Ruth Gaye (Caudle) Kinkeade, BA '39, of Irving, TX, died Jan. 31 at age 96. She was married to Rev. Henry Kinkeade, BA '40, MA '47, for 64 years. Together they led Texas Baptist churches in Abbott, Wellington, Dallas, Carrollton, Denton, and spent 32 years at First Baptist Church in Irving. Trained as a teacher, an elementary school in Irving is named honoring her: the Dr. Henry H. and Ruth Kinkeade Early Childhood School. They had three children; Susie Gaye Reynolds, Dr. Hal Kinkeade, and Judge Ed Kinkeade, BA '74, JD '74; eight grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.
Matt "Mad Dog" Dawson, BA' 38, LLB '38
Baylor Law School Professor Matt "Mad Dog" Dawson, BA '38, LLB '38, died Feb. 17 at age 98. He was the director of Baylor Law's top-ranked Practice Court program for 13 years and on everyone's list of greats in the Texas bar. His practice in the courtroom was for decades a testimony to the extraordinary gifts of advocacy.
"Professor Dawson's profound impact as a teacher and a revered mentor is recognized far and wide in the Baylor Law School community and beyond," said Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr, holder of The Louise L. Morrison Chair of Constitutional Law at Baylor Law School.
"His quiet work was his philanthropic investment in Baylor Law School and the manner in which he modeled philanthropy for his students. As a Practice Court director he would invite his students to his ranch to gather pecans so that the harvest could be sold and the proceeds applied to a scholarship at Baylor Law School. Ever the teacher, Professor Dawson was teaching his students an important lesson about giving back to the school that was giving so much to them.
"We have lost a remarkable friend, a great man and a superb lawyer, who was consummately dedicated to his craft," Starr said.
Baylor's J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies is named for Matt Dawson's father, J.M. Dawson, BA 1904, DDiv 1916, and Dawson Residence Hall is named after his mother, Willy Turner Dawson. Both were heavily involved at Baylor.
While a student, Dawson was chosen by Baylor Law Professor and Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court James P. Alexander to clerk for him.
Dawson and future Baylor President Abner McCall briefly had a law practice in Longview. Dawson was elected Gregg County judge and served for almost two years until he joined the Navy in 1944. He later worked as a trial attorney at his brother's law firm Davis, Jester, Tyson & Dawson in Corsicana until 1971. In those 25 years, Dawson became renowned in Texas legal circles as a trial lawyer. In 1971, he assumed the mantle of law professor and director of the Practice Court program at Baylor Law School. His demand for excellence earned him the affectionate nickname "Mad Dog" among his students. His mock trial teams won two national competitions and nearly every regional competition in a period of 10 years.
Under Dawson, the Practice Court program added "mini-trials" that consisted of opening statements, examination of witnesses and final arguments. The mini-trials became the model for the mock trials at the National Trial Competition, sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers.
As a result of Dawson's mini-trial competition innovation, Baylor Law awards the "Mad Dog"--an 18-inch bronze statuette of Matt-- to the student winner of the Bob and Karen Wortham "Mad Dog" Practice Court competition.
After Dawson retired from teaching in 1983, he resumed his profession as trial lawyer for another two decades. His long list of professional honors include such distinctions as Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers--the first inductee from a small Texas city; Outstanding 50-Year Lawyer, as named by the Texas Bar Foundation; one of Texas Lawyer's 100 Lawyer Legends of the 20th Century; and Texas Monthly's oldest Super Lawyer for 2005, 2006 and 2007.
In 2009, a life-sized bronze statue of Dawson was unveiled at the Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center and stands watch outside a Practice Court classroom.
Dawson was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Princess Louise. Among his survivors are his five children and their spouses: Donna Fisher, BA '61, Rebecca Brumley, BA '64, Mark Dawson, Carol Dawson, and John Dawson.
1940s
Sugie (Williams) Barrow, BA '43, MA '91, of San Antonio, died Jan. 20 at age 91. She was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Justice Charles Wallace Barrow Sr., JD '43. The had four sons, eight grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. The couple met at Baylor and after their graduation, Sugie declined her acceptance to Baylor School of Medicine to marry Charles. She tirelessly supported her husband's endeavors: engagements in World War II and the Korean conflict, his lifelong duties as a Naval Reservist, as a young lawyer, as a district judge, an appellate judge, Texas Supreme Court justice and dean of Baylor Law School. She earned a master’s degree in religion at Baylor at age 67.
Geneva Sybil (Boyd) Davis, BA '43, of Austin, died Dec. 23, 2014, at age 93. She earned her master's degree from Texas State University in 1970 and taught 30 years in Austin ISD. She married Charles I. Davis in 1943 and accompanied him on military assignments until the couple moved to Austin in 1963. They had four children, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Dr. Warren Baylor Tharp, BA '43, of Longview, TX, died Jan. 30 at age 92. He served in the Navy and then was an officer in the U.S. Army before beginning a practice in pediatrics in Houston and later moving to Longview. After more than 40 years as a pediatrician, Tharp opened an allergy clinic. He retired in 2002. He and his wife, Mary Lee, loved to travel, especially with the Sonshine Singers directed by his niece, Babs Baugh, '64. Tharp was a member of Longview First Baptist Church and the Longview Rotary Club.
Nelsyn Ernest Brooks Wade, BBA '43, of San Augustine, TX, died Jan. 29 at age 92. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II while stationed in the Pacific Theater. Wade and his wife Julia were owners of Nelsyn's Furniture for 40 years. He was also a rancher and a tree farmer. Wade was a deacon and Sunday School director of the First Baptist Church in San Augustine. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Julia (Howard) Wade, BA '48; children Sylvia (Wade) Drake, BA '75, Lisa (Wade) Crouch, William Wade, BBA '78, and David E. Wade, BBA '82; and 10 grandchildren.
Hettie Christine "Chris" Flint, AB '45, of Greenville, SC, died Jan. 26 at age 93. She also graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the George Peabody College for Teachers. Flint was a legal assistant with the Social Security Administration in Baltimore, MD, for over 25 years. She was a member of Baylor’s Old Main Society.
Jane Adelle (Harvey) Chalmers, BA '47, died in Phoenix, AZ, on Jan. 16. She was 89. After World War II, she joined her parents as they served occupation duty in Japan. She later worked as a secretary to the dean of Phoenix College. Chalmers was an avid outdoorswoman and visited every continent with her husband of 59 years, Stephen Chalmers. They had four children. She was a volunteer leader for the Girl Scouts of America and a docent for the Phoenix Art Museum.
Beverly (Wrench) Quinius, BA '47, died Jan. 3 in Mansfield, TX. She was a teacher at Taylor High School and La Vega High School and later owned and operated an antique shop. She married Frank Miles Quinius, '47, in 1949. She is survived by her son, Larry D. Quinius, BBA '81.
Mary Ruth (Williams) Stanford, BA '47, died Jan. 11 in Teague, TX. She was a 65-year resident of Lorena, TX, where she and her husband, O.C. Stanford Jr., farmed. Stanford was active in the community and in Lorena United Methodist Church. She is survived by her son, James Stanford, four grandchildren, and a sister, Jean W. Herring, BA '47. Jean can be reached at 277 Sandy Creek Trl., Weatherford, TX 76085 or jeanw.herring@yahoo.com.
Norma (Quinn) Staton, BA '47, MA '61, died Jan. 5 at age 89. She was married to Hiram Staton and served in Waco ISD from 1956-86 as a teacher, counselor, principal, and assistant superintendent. She served in various professional and civic organizations, including as vice-president of McLennan County Retired Teachers Association and president of the Waco Public School Administrators Association and Delta Kappa Gamma. Among her survivors are four children, including Edward Staton, BA '76, seven grandsons, and her sister, Rose Ann Barzak, BA '47.
E. Mabry Beard, BA '48, formerly of Tyler, TX, died Feb 18 at age 89. He earned a master's degree from SMU and served in World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps and the Merchant Marines. Beard was licensed to practice clinical psychology and was a Master Mason. He worked as human resources director at Texas Instruments and Dillingham Corporation in Honolulu and San Francisco. His wife, Dorothy (Ballard) Beard, BA '48, preceded him in death. Survivors include his three daughters, Connie (Beard) Lipsey BA '73, Barbara (Beard) Chonko BS '75, and Jenny (Beard) Garner BS '81.
William "Bill" M. Dyal Jr., BA '49, of Fredericksburg, VA, died Jan. 29 at age 86. Dyal went to Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, became a pastor, and served as a missionary in Costa Rica and Guatemala. He worked with a Baptist agency to train other missionaries and joined the staff of the Christian Life Commission. Dyal's agenda with the Baptist agency included race relations, war and peace, citizenship and international affairs. He visited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in jail while he was working for the church sponsored social action agency in the South in the 1960s. He served as a country director for the Peace Corps in Colombia in the mid 1960s. The Colombian government gave him a gold medal for his contribution to education there, an unprecedented honor for a North American. Dyal went on to lead Peace Corps programs in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia and became one of the four Peace Corps regional directors in the world. Dyal was the founding director of the Inter American Foundation and worked as a consultant to the president of the Ford Foundation as an advisor in foreign affairs, and as a trusted advisor to members of the U.S. Congress's Committee on Western Hemispheric Affairs. In 1980, he became president of the American Field Service (AFS), which sponsors exchange students to and from the U.S. to other countries. He also served as president of St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD. Among his survivors is his wife of more than 64 years, Dr. Edie (Colvin) Dyal, BA '49.
Robert Brown Rector, BBA '49, of Houston, died Dec. 6, 2014, at age 92. He served in the Air Force during World War II and worked for Humble/Exxon Oil for 33 years, retiring as a financial advisor in the controllers department. He was honored as a Deacon Emeritus of Houston Second Baptist Church in 2002. Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Dorothy Bagley Rector, and their family, to five generations.
Leta Frances (Beene) Woodfin, BA '49, of Fort Worth, died Jan. 26 at age 86. She pursued graduate study in history at North Texas and TCU. Although Fort Worth was her permanent home for most of her adult life, she and her husband of 65 years, Dr. Yandall C. Woodfin III, BA '49, also lived in Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Liechtenstein and Libya. They had four children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Ralph Storm, BA '49, died Jan. 7 in California. He was 86. He was married to Jean Morgan, BA '49, and they made their home in Corpus Christi, where Ralph served as vice president of production for the C.G. Glasscock Drilling Co. from 1953-58. In 1959, he formed the Storm Drilling Co., and in 1976, he and Lev Prichard III founded the Storm-Prichard Co. for exploration of oil and gas. Storm served Baylor as a Trustee and Regent for 27 years and was very involved in the University as a member of the Medallion Fellowship, Old Main Society, Heritage Club, Development Council, Baylor Bear Foundation, Friends of Truett Seminary and the Endowed Scholarship Society. The Storms endowed The Ralph and Jean Storm Professor of Mathematics. Ralph was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Baylor in 1978 and was awarded the Herbert H. Reynolds Award for Meritorious Service to Students in 1985. In 2007, Baylor presented the Founders Medallion to Ralph and, posthumously, to Jean. The Storms also were leaders at First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi and in their community. Storm worked quietly behind the scenes on the big issues for Baylor, FBC-Corpus Christi and the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Among his survivors are his daughters, Susan Guyton, BA '71, MS '73, and Kathy Sley, BS '74, MSEd '75, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary.
1950s
Ruth (Hutcherson) Baker, BA '50, of Houston, formerly of Dallas, died Jan. 4 at age 85. Baker taught kindergarten at Second Baptist School and River Oaks Baptist School in Houston. She also taught in Garland, Waco and Orange County, CA. While on staff at First Baptist Church of Dallas she established the women’s ministry. She later worked as an executive assistant at the University of Texas at Dallas. Ruth married David L. Fort in 1950, who passed away in 1975. In 1984, she married Rev. Bo Baker, BA '45, MA '46, pastor of Plymouth Park Baptist Church in Irving, where she served in various capacities. The Bakers were later missionaries in Germany and Argentina.
Mary Ann (Gill) Gilchrist, BBA '50, of Houston, died Feb. 6 at age 85. She married her late husband, Dr. Ralph Gilchrist, in 1955, and they enjoyed more than 40 years together. Among her survivors is her daughter, Gayle Doraine, BBA '77, and grandchildren Stephanie Stakes, BSEd '05, and Alex Dornfeld, BS '10. Memorials may be made to Baylor University.
Bernice St. John, BM '50, of Grand Prairie, TX, died Jan. 11. She taught school for over 40 years and had a long career singing opera and in churches. St. John was married to Marshal Loyd Owens, BM '50, who preceded her in death. Among her survivors are her daughter Rebecca Hildabrand, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Marcia (Wooten) Drake, BA '51, formerly of Tyler, TX, died Jan. 2 in Yukon, OK. She was 83. Drake married Arnold Drake in 1955 and taught English for more than 40 years in Midland, Lubbock, San Angelo, Irving, Monterey, CA, LaMarque, and Hays, KS, before teaching in Tyler from 1981-94.
Frank Dean McCown, LLB '51, of Arlington, TX, died Dec. 18, 2014, at age 87. He began practicing law in the Texas Panhandle. In the 1960s, he served as district attorney for the 69th Judicial District. At the time, he was the youngest district attorney in the state. In 1972, President Nixon appointed him U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. McCown later returned to private practice, opening an office in Fort Worth. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Snellings McCown, his children, and his grandchildren. Contact his son, Scott McCown, at smccown@law.utexas.edu.
William A. Thornton, BBA '51, of Overland Park, KS, died Dec. 31, 2014, at age 85. He served in the Air Force and later had a 36-year career with General Motors in Arlington, TX, Detroit, MI, and Kansas City. Thornton volunteered 10 years with the United Community Services in Kansas City as budget review co-chairman for United Way. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gwen (Groner) Thornton, BA '52, and two children.
Judson Lattimore Porter, BBA '53, of Chicago, formerly of Winnetka, IL, died Nov. 22, 2014. He was 83. Porter was a longtime and active leader in the Chicago business community and served on numerous boards. Survivors include his wife, Peggy (Mesaros) Porter, BA '53, four sons, six grandsons, and one great-grandson.
Bruce R. Coltharp Jr., BA '54, of Rockwall, TX, died Nov. 23, 2014, at age 83. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was a retired colonel. Coltharp was a chaplain and member of Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall. He is survived by his wife, June Coltharp, four children, brother Arthur Coltharp, BA '61, 11 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Robert H. "Bob" Bolen, BBA '55, of Waxahachie, TX, died Nov. 29, 2014, at age 86. Bolen started his business career with Baylor Dental School in Dallas before working for the Southern Baptist Convention, the University of Corpus Christi, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and Dallas Baptist University. He later had a private accounting practice. Bolen was a longtime member of Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Dallas. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, LaVerne Hanks, BSN '55; three children: Robert "Sam" Bolen, David Bolen, BBA '81, and Susan (Bolen) Bolgiano, BS '83; six grandchildren, including Lauren Bolen, BA, '13; and one great-granddaughter.
Allen B. Cluck, BA '55, BBA '57, of Austin, died Jan. 5 at age 81. In addition to Baylor, he held degrees from South Texas College of Law and the Harvard Business School AMP. Cluck served in the U.S. Army and on the city council of Hedwig Village, TX, where he also was mayor pro tem. He practiced law after working in the oil and gas industry. Among his survivors are his wife, Bette Jo (Jordan) Cluck, BBA '59, two daughters, four grandchildren, and a brother, Elwood Cluck, BA '50, LLB '50. His brothers William Cluck, BA '54, and Charlie Cluck, BA '49, are deceased.
David William Crews, BA '57, LLB '57, died Feb. 8, in Conroe, TX. He was 81. He held a law practice for over 50 years and served four terms in the Texas House of Representatives. He introduced important legislation including the first motorcycle helmet law, photo identification on driver's licenses, the change of the minimum driver's license age from 14 to 16, and the creation of the George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University. Crews served as Texas counsel for Western Waste Industries and legal counsel for the Montgomery County Hospital District. He was also an attorney for the Montgomery County Housing Finance Corp. Among his survivors are his children, Kelly Kolodzey and Matt Crews, three grandchildren, his former wife and close friend Becky Chapman, BA '57, and his siblings, Nonie Kendrick, Doris Puryear, BA ’54, and Pat Crews, BBA '57. Memorials may be made to The David W. Crews Endowed Scholarship Fund at Baylor Law School.
Mona Gail (Rogers) Burchette, BS '58, of Denver, CO, died Jan. 20 at age 77. She was married to her husband for 57 years, C. Ray Burchette Jr., BA '57. Ray pastored a number of churches in Texas, with his longest tenure (1965-90) as senior pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church in Austin. They had a son, Matthew Rogers Burchette, BS '89, MA '98. Following Ray's retirement as director of the Baylor Alumni Association, the couple moved to Denver. The Burchettes enjoyed museums and studying numerous artists.
Jim Raymond Doolittle, JD '58, of Caldwell, ID, died Feb. 2 at age 86. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War and married Wanda Gene Nicholas in 1952. They had five children. Doolittle practiced law for 15 years until his appointment as a District Judge of the Third Judicial District, a position he held until retiring in 1993. After his wife's death in 1990, Doolittle married Lynn Martin in 2001.
Warren Lewis Keith, BA '58, died Nov. 20, 2014, in Southlake, TX. He was 80. Keith earned a Baylor tennis scholarship and served in the Army as a 1st lieutenant. He worked for Allstate Insurance from 1963-96 as a claims adjuster and then for Lowery Claim Services. Survivors include three daughters, five grandchildren including DeAnn Leigh, BA ’04, three great-grandchildren, and a brother, Tom Keith, '57.
Johnnie Boyd Brown, BS '59, MS '64, died in Houston on Feb. 10. He was 77. Brown was a geologist in Houston, San Antonio, Albany, and Midland, TX, where he lived most of his life. There he served as president of the West Texas Geological Society and helped found Cornerstone Church, where he served as an elder. Brown is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda Wilcox Brown, BA '60; his sons, John Mark Brown, BS '85, and Craig Brown, BA '92, five granddaughters, and his sister, Jamie Snowden, BA '57.
Donald Joseph Czarnecki, BA '59, of Greensburg, PA, died Nov. 11, 2014, at age 77. He was part owner of Nuclear Components in Greensburg from 1959 until his retirement, when he spent many years working at Target. Czarnecki was a member of the Army National Guard and served in the Army and Air Force. He was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. Among his survivors are his wife of 52 years, Mary Lou Czarnecki, three daughters, and their families.
James Roy Tipps, BBA '59, of Safety Harbor, FL, died Jan. 24 at age 77. He served in the U.S. Army before beginning a long career with the JCPenney Co. Tipps spent his last 12 years as the manager of the Countryside Mall store. He is survived by wife of 54 years, Carol Tipps, two children and five grandchildren.
1960s
David Truett Strong, BS '60, of Fort Worth, died Aug. 25, 2014, at age 79. He attended Southwestern Theological Seminary and pastored churches in Ohio and Everman, TX, before a career in commercial real estate in Fort Worth. He became a professional artist and photographer in the early 1990s. Among Strong's survivors are wife of 56 years, Trilby, two sons Steven, BBA ’82, JD ’86, and Scott, '84, and their families. Contact Steven at steve@ stronglegal.com.
Stuart Williamson, BA '62, of Bedias, TX, died Feb. 6 at age 74. He served in the Peace Corps in the Philippines and as a chaplain's assistant in Vietnam before earning a master's degree from Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest. Williamson worked as a corrections officer, a grant writer, and a purchaser for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He founded Walker County Habitat for Humanity and helped to start the Thoreau Woods UU Church in Huntsville. Among his survivors is his wife, Norma Beth (Drake) Williamson, BA '62. Contact her at 794A Round Prairie Rd., Bedias, TX 77831 or betwil62@live.com.
Ralph Wayne Hatfield, BBA '65, of Caldwell, TX, died Dec. 27, 2014, at age 86. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950-54, becoming a staff sergeant. Hatfield worked in the community banking industry from 1946-99, including stints as senior vice president at banks in Bellmead, Lake Jackson, Freeport, and Caldwell. He was a member of the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs. Among his survivors are his sons, Scott and Jeffrey Hatfield, three grandchildren, and a brother, George Hatfield, BBA '50.
Andrew Parrish Shipp, BM '66, of Hewitt, TX, died Dec. 26, 2014, at age 71. He spent his career in music ministry and education, serving several churches in Texas and Georgia. Shipp is survived by his wife, Gayle (Holton) Shipp, BA '66, two daughters, Tonya Paschalis, BSEd '90, and Keren Campbell, BA '97, and six grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Baylor Singing Seniors.
Carl Frank Thorne, LLB '67, of Dallas, died Jan. 9 at age 74. He graduated from the University of Texas and was editor of the Baylor Law Review. Thorne joined SEDCO Inc., an energy service company founded by William P. Clements Jr., the former governor of Texas. Thorne worked in the Middle East and Europe from 1971-84, retiring as president in 1986. In 1987 he co-founded ENSCO International Inc., which grew into a multi-billion dollar enterprise and one of the world's preeminent energy service companies. He retired in 2007. Among his survivors are his wife of 50 years, Rosella, son Mark, daughter Shawn Gray, grandson Austin Carl Gray, and brother Jim Thorne. Memorials may be made to The Thorne Family Scholarship at Baylor Law School.
1970s
Jerry S. Armstrong, BBA '70, of San Antonio, died Dec. 17, 2014, at age 67. He earned a master's degree from St. Mary's University and married Kathryn Major in 1982. He was a teacher in Edgewood ISD, North East ISD, MacArthur High School and was an adjunct history professor at San Antonio College. For years, the Armstrongs led travel groups to England and Ireland. He was a longtime supporter of the Bear Foundation.
Travis Earl Doss, BBA '70, of Austin, died Jan. 12. He was 82. Doss worked for Merck Pharmaceuticals and retired after 32 years. He then began a second career with New World Medical of California. Doss traveled Texas and Oklahoma for 11 years and retired for the second time in 2011. He was a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church. Doss was married to Willie Perry for 54 years. They had two children, Darryl Doss and Karen Lee, and three grandchildren.
David Hayse Goodrum, BBA '71, of Granbury, TX, died Dec. 20, 2014. He was 65. At Baylor he was active in the Kappa Omega Tau fraternity and worked for then-President Herbert Reynolds and as the bookstore accountant. Goodrum served in the Navy Reserves and became vice president for Joe Melton Drilling Company in Midland. He also owned Goodrum Oil & Gas Production Accounting. In 2000, he also became office manager for Midland oilman Joe Parsley. He and his wife Freida retired in 2007. Memorials may be made to Baylor Athletics.
Harold "Hal" John Laine Jr., JD '72, of Beaumont, TX, died Jan. 30 at age 71. He was a criminal defense attorney for almost 50 years in Port Arthur and Beaumont. Laine graduated from Penn Morton College and served in the Navy Reserve. Laine was a member of Calder Baptist Church in Beaumont. Among his survivors are his wife of 46 years, Shirley Ann Laine; two sons, Bryan and Kevin Laine, BA '92, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Bernadette "Dusty" Young, BA '73, of Manchaca, TX, died Dec. 16, 2014, in Austin. She is survived by her husband John Young, son Barry Young, and daughter Amanda Young.
Dr. Wayne Bert Sorensen, MHA '79, of Austin, died Feb. 18 at age 72. Sorensen served in U.S. Army as a Medical Service Corps officer and colonel, serving in Vietnam and in several medical units. In the 1980s, Sorensen was an associate professor and director at the U.S. Army-Baylor University Graduate Program in Health Administration. His last assignment in the Army was as the executive officer to the chief of clinical services, 7th Medical Command in Heidelberg, Germany. He retired in 1992 and began a second career as a consultant and university professor. He consulted for the Association of University Programs in Health Administration and the Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education and was on faculty for 17 years at Texas State University before becoming the director of Health Care Administration for Concordia University in 2010. Among his awards are the Army Legion of Merit and the Gold Medal Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives. Among his survivors are his wife, Genie, and three daughters.
1980s
James "JJ" Jordan Jr., BBA '81, of Jefferson, TX, died Dec. 21, 2014, at age 61. He ran track and field at Baylor. Jordan worked with the Texas Department of Public Safety for 38 years, serving as corporal for 16 years. Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Jocelyn Jordan, and daughters Jennifer Jordan Washington, BA '99, MSW '01, LaVatia Plummer and LaKasha Smith.
1990s
Shannon (Pratt) Gleditsch, BSHE '90, died Nov. 17, 2014, at age 46. She was a child life specialist and in the family advocacy and language services departments at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston for nearly 25 years. She earned a master’s degree from Ohio University in 2014. She and her husband, Doug Gleditsch, BFA '87, attended Grace Presbyterian Church in Houston, where Doug is on staff. Other survivors include their three children: Ashby, a Baylor senior, Corin, a Baylor freshman, and Jamesyn. She is also survived by her parents, Robert and Ginger Pratt, BBA '59, her siblings, Greg Pratt, BBA '85, and Ryan Pratt, BBA '97, and sisters-in-law, Susan Pratt, BSEd '85, and Heather Pratt. Memorials may be made to The Shannon Pratt Gleditsch Endowed Scholarship at Baylor.
Stacey Dawn (Hill) Walvoord, BA '98, died Nov. 15, 2014, at age 37. Also a graduate of Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, she was a trial lawyer and managing partner of Vaughan, Ramsey and Walvoord in Grand Prairie, TX. Her son, Adam, and her husband of 14 years, David Laux Walvoord, BA '97, survive her, along with her father, Willard Hill, brother, Steven Hill, BA '97, and his wife, Stephanie Hill, BS '97; sister-in-law Leanna (Walvoord) Bond, BA '91, and husband, Dr. William K. Bond; and parents-in-law, Dolores (Mohler) Walvoord, BM '59, and retired judge Al Walvoord, BA '59.
2010s
Charles Walton Jones, JD '13, of Midland, TX, died Jan. 30 at age 27. Born and raised in Waco, Walton worked as a landman. He was part of Vanguard College Preparatory School, Sigma Phi Epsilon at the University of Texas at Austin, and Calvary Baptist Church. Among his survivors are his father, Charles D. Jones, BA '75, JD '78; mother, Becky Jones, BA '77, MBA '78; and sisters, Lauren Jones, BBA '06, and Jana Jones Rundle, BA '07.
Dr. Madalene R. Barnett, of Newville, PA, died Feb. 11 at age 95. She served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Barnett taught speech pathology at Ohio University from 1963-67 and at Baylor from 1967 until her retirement in 1985. She belonged to Big Spring Presbyterian Church, Newville, and the American Speech and Hearing Association.
Dr. Richard "Dick" Chewning, of Fayetteville, AR, died Feb. 17 at age 81. Chewning graduated from Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, and the University of Washington, and did post-doctoral study at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He taught at the University of Richmond for 25 years and held The Harry and Hazel Chavanne Chair of Christian Ethics in Business at Baylor for 15 years. Chewning served on a number of boards and chaired several of them. He served twice as the Moderator of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod and once as the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in America. He published over 100 articles, essays, and reviews and authored and edited seven books. Survivors include his wife, Shirley, three children, and their families.
Edith Allen George, of Houston, died Jan. 4 at age 97. Her freshman year at Baylor was halted when she contracted typhoid fever. Instead, she graduated from Tyler Junior College and married Wiley R. George in 1939. They were involved in the greater Houston community. George served as a nursery director of South Main Baptist Church for 52 years. She was a Baylor Alumna by Choice and part of the BU Women's Association of Houston. Among her survivors are daughters, Emily George Tinsley, BA '61, Betsy George Pyle, BS '67, and Nancy George Doss, BA '72, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Malcolm Hart, of Waco, died Feb. 17 at age 88. He graduated from Texas A&M and was a longtime State Farm Insurance agent. Hart was a supporter of Baylor through the Bear Foundation and 1845 Society. He was active in Masonic and Karem Shrine and transported children to Texas Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Dallas and Houston. Among his survivors are his wife of 66 years, Nell Hart, and their two children and families.
Donald Wayne Hodges, of Dallas, died Jan. 21 at age 80. A stockbroker, he became president of Rauscher Pierce Refsnes in Dallas before co-founding Dallas-based Hodges Capital Management with his son, Craig, later to be joined by Craig's siblings. Hodges served his church and on many boards, including the W.A. Criswell Foundation and West Texas A&M University Foundation. He received the Russell H. Perry Free Enterprise Award and also supported Baylor. Among his survivors are his wife, Freddie Hodges, and children, Craig Hodges, BBA '86, Clark Hodges, BBA '89, and Camille Hodges-Hayes.
Doris "Dosie" (Bissett) Myers, of San Antonio, died Feb. 3 at age 91. A high school graduate by age 15, she married Warren Myers in 1942 and graduated from Incarnate Word. Myers taught 6th grade for 20 years at Cambridge Elementary School. Charter members of Trinity Baptist Church, the couple adopted Baylor, becoming Alumni by Choice and season ticket holders for many years. Warren died in 2009.
Anita (Ward) Rolf, of Waco, died Dec. 30, 2014, at age 84. She graduated from Alabama College and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Rolf was a deacon, teacher, and mentor of youth and college students at First Baptist Church Waco. She served on the boards of the First Baptist Foundation and Midway ISD. Rolf also was an officer of the Baylor Women's Round Table and served through United Way, Camp Fire and the McLennan County Historical Association. Among her survivors are her husband of 53 years, Dr. Howard Rolf and their children, Dr. Jim Rolf, BS '85, Jennifer Dietze, BBA '86, JD '92, Stephanie McClintock, BS '88, and Rhonda Rolf, BA '90. Memorials may be made to The Howard and Anita Rolf Mathematics Scholarship at Baylor.
Erma (Varnell) Skaggs, of Dallas, died Jan. 13 at age 94. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma and taught at Dundee School. She taught training conferences for the Southern Baptist Convention, and she and her husband, Jay Skaggs, started an endowed scholarship fund at Baylor. Erma was an avid birdwatcher and outdoorswoman. The Skaggs backpacked the Grand Canyon and the Appalachian Trail and traveled to all of the 48 contiguous states in their RV. She read biographies of every president and visited their homes. Among her survivors are her daughters, Virginia Ann Jennings, BA '70, and Mary Lynn Kapner, BA '72, MS '73, and their families.
Hilda Ruby (Schulz) Smith, of Waco, died Feb. 21 at age 99. She was a lecturer for 30 years in the art department at Baylor. Smith received the Retired Faculty Award and was a "Top 10" faculty member, as voted by students. She taught classes such as ceramics, pottery, oil painting, and weaving. Smith founded the Waco Porcelain Arts Guild in 1959.
Jean Flake (White) Streetman, of Waco, died Dec. 24, 2014, at age 87. In 1947 she married Hassel V. Streetman. They were married until his death in 1995. Jean participated in many activities at Baylor and at her church. Her survivors include her sons, Lee Streetman and his wife, Peggy, and Dean Streetman.
Martha Ann (Williams) Walls, of Houston, died Dec. 2, 2014, at age 87. She was the widow of newspaper entrepreneur B. Carmage Walls and was chairman of the board of Southern Newspapers Inc. of Houston. The company, founded by Mr. Walls and managed by the couple for more than six decades, operates 14 newspapers in Texas and Alabama. The Walls established journalism scholarship funds at Baylor University and several other universities.