Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ and The Grace Museum will host visiting Chinese artists and dignitaries from Jan. 15-17 for collaborative exhibitions, a public dialogue and a live painting experience, all part of an intercultural project conceived by Robert Green (’79), department chair and professor of art and design at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½.

The show in Ä¢¹½´«Ã½’s Shore Gallery, titled ¡°Boundless: A U.S.-China Collaborative Exhibition,¡± features works by Chinese artists: Zhai You, Gao Yun, Fan Lei, Shao Lian, Wang Ping and Wei Dong, alongside American artists: Dallas-area artist Bonny Leibowitz; Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ adjunct instructor of art and design Hollie Brown; Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ art and design professor Kenny Jones (’82); Abilene artist Polly (Compton ’82) Jones; and Green. A smaller companion exhibition entitled ¡°Boundless: Origins¡± will be in the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Brown Library, featuring works by Green and Chinese artist Sheng Dongqiao. Zhai, Gao, and Fan will be in Abilene for the openings and events. In addition, Chen Chunmei, minister-counselor for cultural affairs for the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington, D.C., will attend the opening of these exhibitions on Jan. 17.

Three main events are planned:

• Public Dialogue: A public dialogue between American and Chinese artists, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 15 at The Grace Museum. A piano recital by Hanqiu Xu, visiting college assistant professor of piano and collaborative arts at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, will follow at 8 p.m. in the Williams Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.
• Opening Reception: The opening reception for ¡°Boundless: A U.S.-China Collaborative Exhibition,¡± 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Jan. 17, at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½’s Shore Gallery. This event will include a poetry reading by Dr. Steven Moore, professor of language and literature at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½; a musical performance by Austin-based actor Ryan Chu (’24); and opening statements by Green and Zhai. Zhai is vice president and secretary general of the Jiangsu Chinese Painting Society.
• Collaborative Live Painting: A public collaborative painting experience where Chinese and American artists will create two works together from 2-4 p.m., Jan. 17, at The Grace Museum.
  

All events are free and open to the public.

Green¡¯s project ¨C ¡°Boundless: An Intercultural Exhibition and Dialogue¡± ¨C centers around exhibiting Chinese and American art, along with public dialogue, in both China and in the U.S. The Chinese exhibition, ¡°Connecting Hearts Through Art: A China-U.S. Artistic Exchange¡± took place in May and June at the Yuan Contemporary Art Museum in Nanjing, China. Green and Kenny Jones traveled to China for the opening of the show. They were joined by Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ alumnus Allen Smith and Chinese-American artists Kiki Liu (a ceramicist from Los Angeles), Zhao Jianmin (from San Francisco), and Wang Qingxiang (from Brooklyn, New York). Two other American artists¡¯ works were included in the exhibition ¨C Leibowitz and Abilenian Jingyi Teng, although they did not make the trip to China.

¡°The greatest benefit of this exhibition is that it appears in China and America,¡± Green said. ¡°Though it will speak differently in each setting, it will amplify the importance of cross-cultural dialogues and creative initiatives on both sides of the Pacific.¡±

The concept for this project emerged about two years ago when Green connected with Sheng to discuss shared interests in Chinese art, and their conversations sparked the idea of exhibiting works together.?

¡°I was motivated to reach out to him because our paintings were indebted to traditional Chinese landscape painting styles that date back to the 18th century and beyond,¡± Green said. ¡°It seemed to us that as we were in dialogue with one another, so, too, were our works. Our paintings carried on a conversation with the past and with each other.¡±

The two collaboratively planned both events, developing a catalog of works and agreeing on exhibition titles.?

¡°We were also convinced that having the artists attend the exhibition, come to the opening reception, sit for a public dialogue with local audiences and include interactive elements were necessary to promote mutual understanding and respect,¡± Green said. ¡°The public dialogue will allow us to discuss our different approaches to artmaking and the things that we admire in the art of our respective cultures. Additionally, it will emphasize a theme of respect between Chinese and American people during an era marked by distrust and sometimes demonization.¡±

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The inaugural event will take place October 19-21, 2026. The three-day tournament will feature nine men¡¯s and nine women¡¯s golf teams with three rounds of stroke play at the new Halbert National in Granbury, Texas. Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ will host the tournament with both the men¡¯s and women¡¯s teams competing annually in the field alongside some of the country¡¯s top collegiate golf programs.

Early commitments on the women¡¯s side include 2025 NCAA semifinalist University of Oregon in addition to Baylor University and Purdue University. Initial teams on the men¡¯s side feature Southern Methodist University, University of Houston and Texas A&M University.

Located 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth on 170 acres along Lake Granbury, Halbert National is a private 18-hole golf course in Granbury, Texas, owned by medical biotech entrepreneur and founder of Caris Life Sciences David D. Halbert and designed by legendary golf designer Tom Fazio. Halbert, an Abilene native and Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ alumnus opened the 7,542-yard, par-72 course in 2025.

¡°Partnering with Golf Channel and competing at one of Texas¡¯ most remarkable courses gives us an incredible opportunity to showcase college golf at its highest level. We¡¯re proud to launch an event that we believe will grow into one of the sport¡¯s premier traditions,¡± said Zack Lassiter, Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ vice president for athletics. ¡°This tournament highlights the national profile of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, the excellence of our student-athletes and the power of collaboration with our partners at Halbert National. It¡¯s a celebration of what¡¯s possible when vision and commitment come together, and we¡¯re excited to see it become a signature moment on the college golf calendar.¡±

Golf Channel will present live coverage of all three rounds of the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate from October 19-21.

¡°We¡¯re thrilled to partner with Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ and HNS Sports Group to present the inaugural Abilene Christian Intercollegiate at Halbert National live on Golf Channel in 2026,¡± said Glenn Grimshaw, Golf Channel vice presidnet for programming and partnerships. ¡°Golf Channel has introduced viewers to future PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour stars through our comprehensive college golf coverage for more than a decade. We¡¯re proud to add the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate to our robust college golf portfolio as we continue to showcase the stars of the future.¡±

The event will honor the late Johnny Perkins, a Granbury native and standout wide receiver at Abilene Christian from 1974-76, where he became the program¡¯s all-time leader in receiving yards and earned All-American honors. His record-setting career at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ helped launch him to the NFL, where he was drafted by the New York Giants in 1977 and went on to play seven seasons. As a member of the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Sports Hall of Fame and the university¡¯s All-Century Team, Perkins remains one of the most celebrated athletes in Wildcat history.

¡°I¡¯m honored to host the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate at this premier golf course. The event unites the innovative spirit of Caris Life Sciences with my Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ heritage, all while celebrating my friend and Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ classmate, Johnny Perkins,¡± Halbert said. ¡°I look forward to welcoming the Golf Channel and a national TV audience to experience competitive collegiate golf at Halbert National.¡±

HNS Sports Group, an Ohio-based event management LLC specializing in golf, will manage the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Intercollegiate.

For more information on the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate, please visit: . For the latest news and updates on social media, follow the Intercollegiate on Instagram at and on .

ABOUT ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Competing at the NCAA Division I level as a proud member of the Western Athletic Conference, Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ fields 17 varsity sports and has built a strong tradition of athletic and academic excellence. The Wildcats are known for championship performances, competitive spirit, and a commitment to developing student-athletes who excel in the classroom, in competition, and in life. The Wildcats boast 62 team national championships and 226 conference championships.

Abilene Christian serves a diverse student population of about 7,200 with world-class teaching in a Christ-centered community. Founded in 1906, this Carnegie Research 2 university is nationally recognized for undergraduate teaching and undergraduate research. Students choose from 90 baccalaureate majors that include more than 186 areas of study, 77 areas of study in master’s degree and specialist programs, and five doctoral programs. Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s mission is to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.

Learn more at or .

ABOUT GOLF CHANNEL¡¯S COLLEGE GOLF COVERAGE
Golf Channel is the television home for college golf, currently providing live coverage of 11 college golf championships throughout the spring and fall seasons. Golf Channel deploys its comprehensive portfolio of news, digital and social media coverage year-round in covering collegiate golf, including season preview shows, signing day specials, regional and national qualifying coverage, serving as the exclusive media partner of PGA TOUR University and exclusive annual coverage for the Haskins and ANNIKA Awards Presented by Stifel.

Following its announcement in 2013 as the exclusive television provider of the NCAA Golf Championships, Golf Channel has provided live coverage of the men¡¯s NCAA Championships since 2014 and the women¡¯s NCAA Championships since 2015, which are hosted at the same venue in consecutive weeks at Omni La Costa, San Diego, Calif. Golf Channel also annually televises the three-day East Lake Cup at historic East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia; the Western Intercollegiate Presented by Titleist, one of the longest-running college tournaments in the U.S. taking place at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Califfornia; the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate Presented by Principal Financial at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, S.C.; the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship; the Jackson T. Stephens Cup; the NB3 Match Play at Twin Warriors; the St Andrews Links Collegiate and the Folds of Honor Collegiate at American Dunes in Grand Haven, Michigan.

Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Jennifer Kupcho, Rose Zhang and Maria Fassi are just a few of the professional golfers who appeared on Golf Channel while competing in college.

ABOUT CARIS LIFE SCIENCES
Caris Life Sciences is a leading, patient-centric, next-generation AI TechBio company and precision medicine pioneer that is actively developing and commercializing innovative solutions to transform healthcare. Through comprehensive molecular profiling (Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing) and the application of advanced AI and machine learning algorithms at scale, Caris has created the large-scale, multimodal clinico-genomic database and computing capability needed to analyze and further unravel the molecular complexity of disease. This convergence of next-generation sequencing, AI and machine learning technologies, and high-performance computing provides a di erentiated platform to develop the latest generation of advanced precision medicine diagnostic solutions for early detection, diagnosis, monitoring, therapy selection and drug development.

Caris was founded with a vision to realize the potential of precision medicine in order to improve the human condition. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris has offices in Phoenix, New York, Cambridge (MA), Tokyo, Japan and Basel, Switzerland. Caris or its distributor partners provide services in the U.S. and other international markets.

ABOUT HNS SPORTS GROUP
HNS Sports Group is well positioned to assist companies that find value in the golf industry and build and execute comprehensive golf branding or sponsorship strategies. E ectively understanding the golf marketplace today is a significant challenge, and the HNS Sports Group team possesses over 125 years of collective experience that is applied to lead companies in their e orts to maximize value from golf sponsorship and event participation. To learn more about HNS Sports Group, visit .

MEDIA CONTACT
Ashley J. Grimmer
Communications Manager, HNS Sports Group
agrimmer@hnssports.com
(513) 349-3389

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He was born Aug. 13, 1931, in Western Grove and grew up in Rogers and various towns across northwest Arkansas. He was editor of?The Optimist?student newspaper in 1952-53, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1953, the same year he wed classmate?Audrey Kitchens (¡¯55).

He began his professional career with Cities Service Oil Company in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.?In 1964,?Clark and Audrey returned to Abilene, where they worked for their alma mater until their retirement in 1993.

For nearly three decades, most of the images students, alumni, donors and other friends saw of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ were through Potts¡¯ camera lens. While he was a graphic designer and editor, he was the university¡¯s chief photographer most of that time, and in the pre-video, pre-digital era of communications, Potts¡¯ carefully edited multi-projector 35mm slide shows and motion-picture films were staples of student recruiting and fundraising events and campaigns.

He managed photographic services while curating an extensive collection of images for public relations and communications. He also won awards for his photography from the American Advertising Federation and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, many through his work on?Horizons?and?Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Today?magazines.

Potts taught on the journalism faculty from 1964-68, was faculty advisor of?The Optimist in 1965-66 and?Prickly Pear?yearbook in 1967-68, and Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s Outstanding Staff Member of the Year in 1977. While university editor?in 1993, he received Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s Excellence in Mass Media Ministry award.

He served on the Centennial Photography Archivists Team for several years leading up to the university¡¯s 100th school year in 2005-06. During the Centennial, Potts was one of 17 recipients of a?John and Ruth Stevens Historical Hashknife Award for pioneering preservation of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ history.

A gifted writer and Bible school teacher, he authored?Catch the Dream, a 1989 Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Press compilation of inspirational messages he created each week for Hillcrest Church of Christ, where he and Audrey were longtime members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clinton M. and Mary Suzette Clark Potts, and Audrey, his wife of 48 years.

Among survivors are sons?Avery Potts (¡¯77)?and?David Potts (¡¯87); daughter?Shannon (Potts ¡¯81) Jones; grandsons?Bryan Potts (¡¯06), Taylor Potts, Brenham Potts and Hayden Potts; great-grandchildren Kaylyn Ard, Kynzie Ard, Ryann Potts and Nolan Potts; and a brother,?Terry Potts (¡¯61).

— Ron Hadfield
June 16, 2025

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Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ awarded 810 degrees May 9, 10 in three Commencement ceremonies at Moody Coliseum.

The Friday, May 9, ceremony at 7 p.m. awarded 216 master¡¯s and 34 doctoral degrees. On Saturday, May 10, 560 bachelor¡¯s degrees were presented in two ceremonies ¨C 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.?

Undergraduate degree candidates from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; the College of Biblical Studies; and the Onstead College of Science and Engineering participated in the 10 a.m. ceremony. Undergraduate degree candidates from the College of Business Administration, the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Health and Human Services, the College of Leadership and Professional Studies, and the College of Learning and Development participated in the 2 p.m. ceremony.?

Dr. Stephen Johnson, chief executive officer of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Dallas, gave the charge to the graduate class at the Friday ceremony. Shannon Wilburn, a 1992 alumnus of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ and the co-founder and brand ambassador of Just Between Friends consignment franchise, gave the charge to the undergraduate class at both ceremonies on Saturday.

All three ceremonies will be livestreamed; visit acu.edu/commencement for more information.??

Outlive Your Life Award

In both Saturday ceremonies, Olympian Earl Young (¡¯62) was awarded the Dale and Rita Brown Outlive Your Life Award. A standout student-athlete for the Wildcats, Young won Olympic gold for the U.S. in Rome in 1960, running a 45.6-second lap on the second leg of the 4¡Á400-meter relay to help the American team win. He also finished sixth in the finals of the 400-meter dash and, at 19, was the youngest gold medal winner on the U.S. team in Rome. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in June 1961.?

In 2011, Young found himself in the race of his life when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and needed a blood stem cell transplant. Out of millions of potential donors in the registry, only one was found to be a genetic match ¨C a woman he had never met from Germany ¨C and he underwent a successful bone marrow transplant. From that experience, the idea for Earl Young¡¯s Team was born, and today, the organization travels around the country raising awareness and locating potential bone marrow donors. The organization partners with nonprofit DKMS to hold registration drives, primarily at college campuses, to encourage people to take a cheek swab test and be added to the registry as a potential match. Young¡¯s efforts have resulted in more than 150 donor matches, including 28 from Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, as of April 2025.?

The Outlive Your Life Award is named for its first recipients, Dale and Rita Brown, and for the book by Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ alumnus Max Lucado, Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make a Difference. The award recognizes all types of servant leadership exhibited by friends or alumni of the university.

— Wendy Kilmer
May 12, 2025

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Bestselling author and minister

Lucado is the teaching minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. He¡¯s been dubbed ¡°America¡¯s Pastor¡± by Christianity Today, and ¡°The Best Preacher in America¡± by Reader¡¯s Digest. His books have sold more than 150 million copies in over 50 languages worldwide.

At the President¡¯s Circle Dinner, Lucado shared how his life changed 50 years ago as a 20-year-old Abilene Christian student, through relationships with faithful friends and faculty mentors and an encounter with God¡¯s grace during a sermon at Highland Church of Christ.

¡°I heard a preacher do for me what I¡¯m attempting to do for you: describe the grace that is greater than sin. When, at the end of the message, he asked if anyone would like to come forward and receive this grace, iron chains could not have held me back,¡± Lucado said.

¡°That was 50 years ago. In the intervening years I have failed Christ, but he has never failed me. I found a forgiveness that is too deep to be plumbed, too high to be summited. I have never been more or less saved than the moment I was first saved. Not one bad deed has deducted from my salvation. No good deed, if there are any, has enhanced it. My salvation has nothing to do with my work and everything to do with the finished work of Christ on the cross.¡±

Lucado earned two degrees from Ä¢¹½´«Ã½: a B.A. in 1977 and an M.S. in 1983. He moved to Miami, Florida, took a position as an associate pastor at a small church, and met his wife, Denalyn (Preston ¡¯79), also a graduate of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½. Together, they lived in Miami and then spent several years in Rio de Janeiro, helping plant churches. He has preached at Oak Hills Church since 1988, and he and Denalyn have three grown daughters, three sons-in-law, and four grandchildren.

Also at the dinner, Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ president Dr. Phil Schubert (¡®91) reflected on the blessings and accomplishments from the past year, including Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s recognition from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as a Research 2 university, the new Bullock Brothers Ballpark renovated baseball venue, $300 million raised through the Higher Ground comprehensive campaign, continued enrollment gains, and the addition of several graduate and undergraduate degrees, residential and online.

Schubert also encouraged attendees to consider how Lucado¡¯s experience continues to be lived out through the mission of the university.

¡°Max Lucado didn¡¯t come to Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ with his sights set on becoming a bestselling author. But he found people here ¨C friends and mentors who believed in him, who saw something in him that he didn¡¯t see in himself. And because of their willingness to journey with him, he allowed God¡¯s grace to define him,¡± Schubert said. ¡°There are more Max Lucados out there. ¡­ They¡¯re waiting for someone to lead them, to say ¡®God is calling you into His plan for the world. You are essential to His plan for the world. And you are enough. What you have is enough. He will use you to change the world.¡¯ I believe that happens every single day here. Thank you for believing it too and being willing to invest in helping us lean into the open doors of opportunity that God is creating for us.¡±

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He was born Jan. 6, 1932, in Sweetwater, Texas; wed classmate?Betty Bell (¡¯53)?in 1952; earned a B.S. degree in business administration with minors in psychology and Christian education, and was a member of the undefeated 1950 Wildcat football team.

A memorial service is planned for 3 p.m. on?March 29, 2025, at St. Andrew Methodist Church (5801 West Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas 75093), with a reception to follow.

He began his professional career with Wyatt Food Stores, managing supermarkets in Fort Worth and including roles as personnel director, vice president of operations and president while the company expanded to 122 locations in nine states. In 1988, he sold the company to become owner and CEO of Muns Enterprises L.P., a venture capital and investment firm specializing in real estate and related projects.

Muns devoted much of his life to public service in Plano, Texas, serving on its City Council (1981-87) and as mayor (1992-96). He was director of the North Texas Commission, a trustee of Presbyterian Hospital Foundation, and board chair of Presbyterian Hospital Plano. He and Betty were named Plano¡¯s Co-Citizens of the Year in 1995.

Named his alma mater¡¯s 1999 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year, Muns was an Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ trustee (1981-2002) who co-chaired the record-setting To Lead and To Serve campaign in the mid-1990s, and served on the National Development Council and on the Hope for the Future campaign steering committee. He was an elder at Walnut Hill Church of Christ in Dallas and Pitman Creek Church of Christ in Plano.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elvie Muns and Claude Muns; Betty, his wife of 71 years; and a great-grandchild. Among survivors are children?Katharine ¡°Kathy¡± (Muns ¡¯76) Spencer,?Marla Muns (¡¯77),?Greg Muns, M.D. (¡¯80), and?John Muns (¡¯82); 11 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s?Exceptional Scholarship Fund?(Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132 or).

— Ron Hadfield
March 26, 2025

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She earned a B.A. degree in mass communication and married classmate?Don Skelton, D.D.S.?(¡¯63). She coached speech and debate teams at Abilene Cooper High School until Don entered Texas A&M College of Dentistry. They lived in Denver, Colorado, while he was serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, then returned to Texas where Don began a dentistry practice.

An avid volunteer in the Denison community, she coached a T-ball team and in 1984, became the first woman to serve as president of the school district¡¯s athletics booster club. She taught Bible classes for nearly five decades at Park Avenue Church of Christ, and led a highly popular women¡¯s study group for years.

At Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, Skelton was a trustee for 15 years (2006-21) and a member of the University Council. She was recognized with the state¡¯s Friend of Education award by the Texas State Teachers Association and received a similar honor for the Red River area by international education society Phi Delta Kappa. She was founding president of the Denison Education Foundation and served seven years on the Texoma Health Foundation, including two terms as president.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son,?Mark Skelton (¡¯92); and a sister,?Nancy (Coleman ¡¯66) Blair. Among survivors are Don, her husband of 62 years; a son,?Scott Skelton (¡¯89); three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ann and A.M. ¡°Tonto¡± Coleman Endowed Scholarship or the Mark Skelton Endowed Scholarship, both at Abilene Christian (Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132 or ).

Ron Hadfield
— March 17, 2025

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Although Black History Month is February, for Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ alumna Regina L. Burns (¡¯83) it has become a year-round passion.?

Her fascination with key figures in Black history was sparked in the 1990s, while she served as news director for a country music station in Memphis, Tennessee. She was asked to produce a radio documentary about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which later won an award in the News/Public Affairs category from the National Association of Black Journalists.?

Since then, her interest in both journalism and history have interwoven and continued to grow.??

After earning a bachelor¡¯s degree in mass communication from Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ in 1983, Burns went on to earn two master¡¯s degrees ¨C one from the University of Memphis in journalism administration (1995) and one from the University of North Texas in history (2024).

Her master¡¯s thesis for her history degree was about the nation¡¯s first African American barber college chain, which was founded in Tyler, Texas. She is currently working on a book about the chain and its founder, Texas millionaire Henry Miller Morgan.

Learn more about Burns¡¯ life and career in this Q&A:

What has been your career path since you graduated from Ä¢¹½´«Ã½??

My career has principally focused on multimedia journalism, entrepreneurship and higher education. My news media background spans radio, television, newspapers and magazines, as well as The Associated Press in two states. Moreover, I have international exhibition marketing and agency publicity experience. I served as the community relations director for a Memphis advertising agency, Sossaman and Associates¡¯ client the Imperial Tombs of China exhibition. It provided travel to Hong Kong, Beijing and Xi¡¯an, China, prior to the exhibitions¡¯ 1995 opening in my native Memphis. My higher education career spans a range of positions such as adjunct professor and writing consultant.

What are you currently working on??

I am continuing to research the topic of my University of North Texas master¡¯s thesis: ¡°Texas African American Millionaire Henry Miller Morgan¡¯s Social Justice Crusade: Tyler Barber College Chain, 1933-1974.¡± I plan to write a book about Tyler Barber College Chain, the nation¡¯s first African American barber college chain founded by Texas millionaire Henry Miller Morgan.

You¡¯ve combined your journalism experience with delving into historical research ¨C how have the fields complemented each other???

Very well. They both require accuracy, attention to detail, critical analysis, interviewing and effective storytelling. Being an award-winning multimedia journalist helped me during my history graduate coursework because I was already familiar with research, writing and shaping narratives. What history taught me was how to leverage primary sources, how to conduct oral history interviews, as well as how to construct an evidence-based original argument using primary sources. Additionally, as an emerging historian and journalist, I have a deeper appreciation for what my late parents, Rowena and Prince Whiting Jr., experienced in terms of Jim Crow segregation, discrimination and racial violence in Memphis.

What first sparked your interest in African American history?

This started in Memphis during the early 1990s when I was the news director at a country music radio station, WGKX-KIX 106 FM. Our station was held accountable for some racist on-air comments about Dr. Martin L. King Jr. The then-general manager, John Bibbs, asked me to research and produce a radio documentary about Dr. King. At the time, I was a one-woman news department with temporary high school/college interns. I asked for a budget and I hired an amazing researcher-writer named Dawnelle Hurd. Together, we crafted a 32-minute program called ¡°Dr. Martin L. King Jr.: The Man, The Movement, The Momentum.¡± Our engineer was Leon Griffin and he mixed the interviews I did into a powerfully rich documentary. Bibbs had that program broadcast on several Memphis radio stations simultaneously and the local National Public Radio affiliate, WKNO-FM, also rebroadcast it. The King documentary relied on primary source material from the Memphis Sanitation Workers¡¯ Strike and other information at The University of Memphis¡¯ Hooks Institute Collection. This program won a second-place award in the News/Public Affairs category from the National Association of Black Journalists in 1990 in Los Angeles. I went on to produce two other award-winning KIX 106 radio documentaries: ¡°Faces of Memphis¡± and ¡°A Way Out.¡±

Tell me about your research on the first Black barber college chain, which began in Texas. Any other special topics of interest you¡¯ve explored??

During my graduate study at the University of Texas at Arlington and at the University of North Texas, I found additional Tyler Barber College Chain graduates and gathered their information through oral histories. I included some of this material in my master¡¯s thesis. The barber college closed in the 1970s and I am having trouble locating business records. I also want to interview more of Morgan¡¯s family members and learn more about the chain¡¯s impact across the nation.

I am deeply interested in the role of academic mentors and graduate students of color. I certainly benefited from these types of connections. Looking back, I realized my mentoring started in junior high school in Memphis. My then-guidance counselor, Viola O. Cole, helped me get accepted into a prep school program, now known as REACH Memphis. I was selected to attend a six-week summer experience at Phillips Academy Andover, in Andover, Massachusetts, just before starting the 10th grade in high school. I am the product of a working-class and impoverished background, and attending a prep school demonstrates mentoring¡¯s power and possibilities.

Any notable people you¡¯ve met during your career??

Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ alumna Martha (Colglazier ¡¯78) Avance?was the first reporter I ever met when I was a freshman. One day she was on campus with a videographer working on a story. My legs could not move fast enough to reach her. I had to find out what I had to do to get a TV news job. Martha worked at KRBC-TV at the time, and her advice led to my being hired in a reporter/photographer role (now called multimedia journalist or MMJ). I sold a story to CNN while I was working at KRBC. Later after I graduated from Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, I landed on-air news jobs at Memphis gospel radio station WLOK-AM and country music radio station WGKX-KIX 106. I conducted news interviews back in the day with country music superstars The Judds and Charley Pride, Roots author Alex Haley, Danny Thomas of St. Jude Children¡¯s Research Hospital, powerhouse vocalists Nancy Wilson and Lou Rawls, and iconic actors Cybill Shepherd and Dennis Quaid. I met then-ABC News anchor Peter Jennings in November 2003 while I was working on a news gig at Dallas¡¯ WFAA-TV and that was a magical moment.

What publications have you written for??

I was a freelance journalist through my agency, Harvest Reapers Communications, in Memphis and published in magazines and newspapers. I have bylines in the Tri-State Defender, Memphis Health and Fitness Sports magazine, Black Enterprise, The Commercial Appeal and Memphis Woman magazine. I worked for The Associated Press in and , and some of my AP work was published in and , among others. I also reported for The Dallas Morning News¡¯ Metro Plus section.

What inspired you to go back to school and earn a second master’s degree?

I wrote a profile of Terrell, Texas, for Texas Highways magazine in December 2020 at the behest of my then-editor Matt Joyce. This assignment led me to interview one of Terrell¡¯s legendary entrepreneurs, Edmund Morrow, who is Oscar and Grammy winner Jamie Foxx¡¯s former barber. Morrow graduated from Tyler Barber College Chain in 1962. When I told Dr. Charlie Marler (¡¯55) (the late chair of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication) about my article, he ¡°ordered¡± me to go back to graduate school. ¡°There aren¡¯t enough African American historians. I want you to go back to graduate school and get a degree in history. You can make a difference in your community,¡± he said during a phone conversation that December. He told me he had taken an African American History course during his doctoral studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia and there was only one Black professor, . I attended University of Texas at Arlington, thanks to two scholarships from Dallas historian and history professor Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney, who is also an administrator at the African American Museum of Dallas. I received support from other Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ connections, including longtime friend Susan Perry (¡¯77). Dr. Cheryl (Mann ¡¯76) Bacon introduced me to Dr. Tracy (McGlothlin ¡¯80) Shilcutt, professor emerita of history and global studies, and she provided a wealth of insight. I certainly received wonderful support from my former classmate, Dr. Doug Mendenhall (¡¯82), associate professor of journalism at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½.

You were a guest presenter for Dr. Doug Mendenhall¡¯s Race and Media Colloquium at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½? What was that experience like? What were some of the highlights you talked about?

Yes, that happened in Fall 2024. Teaching history and journalism to the Colloquium¡¯s students was a fantastic experience. Dr. Mendenhall provided an open invitation and encouraged me to do what I do best ¨C connect journalism and history. I prerecorded video interviews (done via Zoom) with two Abilene cosmetology-school and barber experts. One of them was Joyce Ayers, who owns and operates NeeCee¡¯s Barber and Cosmetology College, and the other was barber/entrepreneur and Cooper High School college advisor Gerald Wilkerson (¡¯92) of Wilkerson’s Barbershop. I played these videos during the weekend course to provide context about the history of the barbering industry, Jim Crow segregation and discrimination. I also did a live in-person interview with Floyd Miller, owner and publisher of The West Texas Tribune, and his family. These interviews provided students with firsthand connections to history and helped them with their video and essay assignments.

Tell me about your time as a student at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½. Were there any particularly influential professors or memorable experiences??

My parents did not have the financial means nor the wherewithal to take me to Abilene, so I rode a Greyhound bus from my native Memphis to Abilene, and the trip paid off. Attending Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ provided the media training necessary to have a dynamic broadcast journalism career. Coming from an impoverished background, I brought scholarships from the Memphis chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the NAACP, and Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s Betty Whiteside provided resources for me to get a loan and other funding to pay for my Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ education.?

My first broadcast ¡°job¡± was working as a KÄ¢¹½´«Ã½-FM DJ. Some of the professors who influenced my career, directly and indirectly, were Dr. Marler, Dr. Jeff Warr (¡¯72), Dr. Cheryl (Mann ¡¯76) Bacon, Dr. Paul Faulkner (¡¯52) and Dr. Carl Brecheen (¡¯52).?

Additionally, I had a student job working in the maintenance department with Ross Blasingame (¡¯58). A few years ago, I wrote another magazine profile about Abilene and Ross.?

Many, many other names come to mind, including Dewby (¡¯50) and Amos Ray, Earline Perry (¡¯48), and her daughter, Susan (¡¯77). I am especially grateful to Phillip Morrison and his late wife, Mary Margaret, who gave my late mother, Rowena Whiting, a ride from Memphis to Abilene for my 1983 graduation. Their son, Jim Morrison, M.D., also graduated that same year.?

I recall how generous some of the students were who also lived in the then-McDonald Hall. When I did not have the funds to purchase a meal ticket or needed clothes, several students donated their meal tickets and extra clothing items to me.?

Lastly, I will always cherish the memory of the home economics professor who gave me a pair of state-of-the-art scissors for her sewing class. My parents did not have the resources to pay for such luxuries.

¨C Robin Saylor

Feb. 25, 2025

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Both recipients will be honored at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s annual on March 30.

Outstanding Alumnus of the Year: Greg Feasel
The Outstanding Alumnus of the Year award honors timely recognition of lifetime achievement that brings honor to the university through personal and professional excellence and service to the university, church or community.

Greg Feasel came to Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ in 1976 as a transfer student. Initially struggling with college life and academics, he was guided by Dr. Dwain Hart, then-professor and chair of health, physical education, and recreation. Hart¡¯s advice to sit in the front row and commit fully to his studies ignited his drive to excel, academically and athletically.

The newfound diligence paid off as he became a standout offensive lineman, earning All-America honors in 1979 and forming a legendary tandem with his brother Grant (¡¯83) on the Wildcat offensive line. His success continued in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers.?

Today, Feasel is the president and chief operating officer of the Colorado Rockies and is in his 30th year with the club. In this role, Feasel oversees both the baseball and business functions of the organization. Before joining the Rockies in 1996, he served as the division director of sales and marketing for Coca-Cola Enterprises in Colorado. Feasel is also a former educator in Texas and Colorado.

Beyond his work with the Rockies, Feasel is actively involved in the Denver community. He sits on the executive committee for VISIT DENVER and holds board positions with the Denver Police Foundation and the Colorado Rockies Baseball Club Foundation.?

Feasel credits his achievements to his time at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ and remains a dedicated advocate for his alma mater, maintaining close relationships with many Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ alumni, coaches and professors who inspired him. He and his wife, Lynn, are members of the President¡¯s Venture Council at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, and they have one daughter, Zola.

Young Alumna of the Year: April Farris
The Young Alumna of the Year award recognizes professional achievement and/or distinguished service to Ä¢¹½´«Ã½. To be eligible, a recipient must not be over 40 years of age at the time of selection.

Justice April Farris was appointed to the 15th Court of Appeals by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in June 2024, effective Sept. 1. She previously served on Texas¡¯ First Court of Appeals after being appointed in 2021 and elected in 2022. The new Fifteenth Court of Appeals was created by the Texas Legislature to have intermediate jurisdiction over certain appeals involving disputes by or against the state and its officers, and challenges to the constitutionality of a state statute. It will also review judgments from Texas¡¯ business courts.

Before joining the court, Farris was a partner at Yetter Coleman LLP, where she handled appellate litigation for energy, technology and government clients. While in private practice, she was recognized in appellate law by Law360, Best Lawyers in America and Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers.

Farris previously served as an assistant solicitor general for the State of Texas, where she handled appeals for various Texas agencies. She also clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She is a member of the American Law Institute and an adjunct instructor at the University of Texas School of Law.

After graduating from Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, Farris earned a law degree from Harvard Law. In 2019, she was awarded a Gutenberg Award by Ä¢¹½´«Ã½’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. She is married to Ben Farris (’06), and they have two children. She is proud to be a third-generation Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Wildcat.

— Wendy Kilmer
Feb. 4, 2025

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Former Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ first lady

A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 at University Church of Christ (733 E.N. 16th St., Abilene, Texas 79601), with family visitation immediately afterward. The service will also be available to .

She was born Nov. 10, 1943, in Richmond, California, and earned three degrees from Ä¢¹½´«Ã½: a B.S.Ed. and M.S.Ed. (1967) in elementary education, and a master¡¯s in marriage and family therapy (1986).?

A month after graduating in three and a half years, she wed classmate Dr. Royce Money (¡¯64) on Jan. 23, 1965, in San Antonio, Texas, and they lived in Silver Spring, Maryland; Montgomery, Alabama; Springfield, Missouri; and Waco and Dallas, Texas, while he served in various ministry roles.?

Along the way, she taught preschool and kindergarten, and first and second grade. Later, she taught part time as an adjunct instructor in Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s Department of Teacher Education ¨C including as a supervisor of student teachers ¨C and as adjunct professor in the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry.?

They moved to Abilene in 1981 when Royce joined Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s Marriage and Family Institute faculty. He became director of the ministry program in Bible (1984), then director of the Doctor of Ministry program, chair of graduate Bible and ministry, and provost.?

When Royce was inaugurated as their alma mater¡¯s 10th president in 1991, they were the first U.S. university president and first lady to be licensed marriage and family therapists. She was a clinical member and he was previously an approved supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

She also served on the Abilene boards of Hendrick Health Hospice Care, Serenity House and Global Samaritan Resources Inc.

¡°Pam found ways to blend her experience and education into all the roles she embraced at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½,¡± said Dr. Cheryl Mann Bacon (¡¯76), professor emeritus of journalism and mass communication. ¡°As an educator and counselor she brought professional insights to the often delicate role of university first lady. She tenaciously guarded Royce¡¯s time with their family ¨C summer sabbaticals to Vermont were sacred. Yet? she embraced with enthusiasm and a smile her de facto roles of ambassador, hostess and friend to alumni and colleagues.¡±

They are namesakes of the Royce and Pam Money Student Recreation and Wellness Center, a campus focal point and student-centric venue opened in 2011 that includes the Weber Medical and Counseling Care Center and is the home of a dynamic intramural program.?

She and Royce hosted annual Walk With Money events to raise funds for Women for Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ scholarships and projects; were presenters at the annual National Family Conference hosted by Herald of Truth; hosted ¡°Fit to be Tied¡± marital preparation seminars, and ¡°Positive Parenting¡± and ¡°Divorce Recovery¡± workshops; spoke at the Pepperdine University Lectures on ministering to families in crisis, and at Abilene¡¯s first ¡°Saving Our Families: Family Outreach Training Seminar.¡±

The couple¡¯s marital relationship was front and center in their daily life, careers and in their unique joint ministry of Christian higher education.

¡°Royce and Pam were students with me at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ in the early 1960s but I really came to know and appreciate them when they became president and first lady in the 1990s. They were a dynamic team and ideal partners to lead our alma mater, said Don Crisp (¡¯64), chair of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½¡¯s Board of Trustees from 1992-2007. ¡°Pam took her role seriously, devoting much of her time to serving the university and was one of Royce¡¯s most valued consultants. She loved Abilene Christian and contributed countless hours to its advancement.¡±?

¡°One of our goals in a marriage is to help each other get to heaven,¡± Royce told The Optimist student newspaper in February 1992. ¡°Pam is a true spiritual partner, and we are committed to helping each other on our spiritual pilgrimage. We pray together each night. It¡¯s the last thing we do before we go to sleep.¡±

¡°We took a long time deciding and we both knew what we wanted,¡± Pam said of her relationship with Royce. ¡°And we were dedicated to making a good marriage. We would do whatever it took to make it work. I like that we talked about everything ¡­ good, bad and ugly. We knew each other well. He knows what I need and when I need encouragement. I married my best friend.¡±

Their two daughters remember Pam as a strong and smart marriage partner for Royce.

¡°They brought out the best in each other,¡± said Jennifer (Money ¡¯93) Crisp. ¡°Mom saw people¡¯s hurt and needs, and was a fearless advocate for what she thought was important. Dad trusted her intuition and acted to help create solutions.¡±

¡°She connected with and made everyone feel important, and was quick to offer encouragement, friendship, empathy or a word of advice,¡± said Alison (Money ¡¯91) Elliott. ¡°She opened her home and heart to people from all walks of life around the world, especially her grandkids as they came through Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ as students. She leaves a great legacy of family and friends who know what God¡¯s love looks like from her words and actions.¡±

Pam eventually changed her focus from classroom education to her private practice at Child and Family Guidance clinic in Abilene, then to her relationships with college students, mentoring hundreds of young men and women. She eventually allowed her licensing credentials to expire, but not her work.

¡°I just didn¡¯t abruptly stop my practice, I just didn¡¯t add any new clients,¡± she said. ¡°Now I talk to a lot of kids about their relationships. Instead of problem-oriented, it¡¯s more solution-oriented. I act like a road map and help them decide where they want to go. I think my gift is mercy, and God lets me use that gift through counseling. It fits me. Some people long for service or evangelism. I¡¯m a mercy person. My heart rules my head. I¡¯ve learned how to combine the two ¨C what my thoughts say and what my heart feels.¡±

Shell?i (Braddock ¡¯93) Presley is one Pam¡¯s grateful mentees.

¡°Her advocacy and humble service for those in need was inspiring. She lived in kindness with a pure intent to honor God and people well, intentionally focusing on the younger generation,¡± Presley said. ¡°I am one of many shaped by the time she poured into me and by her love. I cherish her friendship and example and will always thank God for her profound influence on my life.¡± ?

The Pam Money Endowed Scholarship for Teacher Education was established ?in 2010 at ?A?bilene Christian?,? where she also served on the President¡¯s Council for the Centennial and was a member of Women for Ä¢¹½´«Ã½.?

The couple¡¯s last collaborative academic venture with students was in the 2010-11 school year, when they served as visiting faculty in Fall 2010 in Oxford, England, and Spring 2011 in Leipzig, Germany. During the latter, they led a weeklong excursion to visit sites of the ¡°Seven Churches of Asia¡± mentioned in the Bible¡¯s Book of Revelation, and scattered throughout modern-day Turkey.

¡°Pam was blessed with unique professional and people skills that complemented Royce perfectly,¡± said Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ president Dr. Phil Schubert (¡¯91). ¡°They especially modeled what it looked like to be a couple lovingly involved in the lives of our students. Their years in pastoral ministry helped them form a highly effective team committed to Christian higher education and our highest spiritual values.¡±

She was preceded in death by her parents, James Handy and Eula Handy Pruett; and a sister, Darlene (Handy ¡¯65) Voss.

Among survivors are Royce, her husband of ?59 years; daughters Alison (Money ¡¯91) and husband Nino Elliott (¡¯92) of North Richland Hills, and Jennifer (Money ¡¯93) and husband Dr. Brad Crisp (¡¯93) of Abilene; grandchildren David Elliott (¡¯18), Elizabeth (Elliott ¡¯20) and husband Carson Cheek (¡¯21), Andrew Elliott (¡¯23), Jon (¡¯20) and wife Kendall (Bosse ¡¯19) Crisp, and Caleb Crisp (¡¯22); and great-grandchildren Carter Crisp and Cameron Crisp.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pam Money Endowed Scholarship for Teacher Education (Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132 or).?

– Ron Hadfield
Nov. 26, 2024

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