December 8, 1999

The sun never sets on university alums
___As a graduate of Howard Payne University, I appreciate the rich heritage of my alma mater.
___I often read about the history of HPU, hoping to gain insight into the

Rick Gregory President, Howard Payne University

lives of those individuals who made this university what it is today. I have read statements by former presidents that express the heart of HPU.
___One of my favorite quotes is from the late Thomas H. Taylor, who once remarked, "The sun never sets on Howard Payne."
___Two thoughts come to mind as I reflect on his words.
___First, our administration, faculty and staff will seek God's wisdom and strength as we face the global challenges of education in the new millennium.
___Second, as we look toward the future, Howard Payne will stay true to its mission of preparing graduates who are willing to be a light in this world.
___HPU has prepared countless students for missions service.
___A favorite room for many on the HPU campus is the Yantis Prayer Room.
___A large world map--displayed on the wall--is covered with the names of HPU alumni who serve in missions. Some are close to home, while others sensed a call to foreign missions, serving in such places as Japan, Colombia, Chile, Mozambique, Kenya and Israel.
___During homecoming in October, alumni were once again inspired by the presence of Lola Mae Daniel, a member of the class of 1926, who sat atop a convertible in the parade while waving her blue and gold pompom to an admiring crowd.
___Ms. Daniel, who lives in Austin, made missions her life. She has "unretired" more than once, not satisfied to sit back and let someone else do the work.
___Each time I visit with her, she speaks of the importance her alma mater played in her call to missions.
___Last summer, HPU's School of Christian Studies joined with the Brown Association to establish a missionary-in-residence program.
___The goal of the program is to increase missions awareness among our students and in surrounding communities.
___Scott and D'Lisa McIntosh, Howard Payne University graduates and missionaries to Scotland, served as the first missionaries-in-residence.
___My prayer is that HPU will never lose sight of its calling to prepare Christian servants.
___As I viewed the map in the prayer room, I noticed that pins with names of alumni covered the width of the map.
___The thought struck me that, even during those hours at night when the sun isn't shining in Brownwood, it is shining somewhere in this world where a Howard Payne graduate is busy serving our Lord.
___Dr. Taylor was right.
___

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