Around the State_111504

Posted: 11/12/04

Around the State

Stephen Von Wyrick, professor in the College of Christian Studies at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, has been elected president of the American Schools of Oriental Research, Southwest Region. The organization supports and encourages the study of the peoples and cultures of the Near East, from the earliest times to the present.

Dottie Parker has been named the recipient of Hardin-Simmons University's Keeter Alumni Service Award. A 1942 graduate, she serves as chaplain of the alumni association' board of directors, and is a member of the Ex-Cowgirls. She also has served on the school's board of development. She is a member of First Church in Abilene.

Grace Temple Church in Dallas recently honored Betty Hatfield for 50 years of service as pastor's secretary and financial secretary. Beginning in 1954, the first pastor she worked with was Buel Crouch. During her tenure, she has served with seven pastors and six interim pastors. She has no plans to retire. She also is a Sunday school director and sings in the choir.

Juanita Reeder has been named layperson of the year by Abilene Baptist Association. She is a member of South Side Church in Abilene and served as administrative assistant to former Hardin-Simmons University President Jesse Fletcher before retiring from the university.

The Baylor University Alumni Association has honored five recipients with the W.R. White Meritorious Service Award. The award was presented to Merrie Beckham, David Lacy, David Maddox, Fred Norton Jr. and James Vardaman. The award is named for a past Baylor president and is given to individuals who have rendered outstanding service to the university and expressed continued interest in and loyalty to the school.

Jim Webb, East Texas Baptist University professor of kinesiology, has been awarded the Bobby Fox Outstanding Alumni Coaches Award by Texas A&M University-Commerce. Webb coached basketball at ETBU from 1972 to 1978 and from 1980 to 1990, leading his teams to 218 victories.

Howard Payne University honored 14 alumni during homecoming festivities. Robert Cloud and Louis Purvis received the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the university's highest honor. The Medal of Service Award was presented to Charles Richardson and Bernice Porter. Dan Murray was named Outstanding Young Graduate. Sisters Dorothy McIntosh and Doris Allen were named Coming Home Queens. Former HPU administrator Paul Butler and his wife, Virginia, were named grand marshals of the homecoming parade. Sylvestre Ayala was given the Distinguished Service Award by the university's Hispanic Fellowship. Frank Barnett, Stanley Owen, Norman McCanlies and Myka Johnson were named to the school's Sports Hall of Fame.

Lucindra Campbell, associate professor of nursing at Houston Baptist University, has received her Ph.D. from Texas Woman's University.

Events

Tickets are on sale for The Heights Church in Richardson's Christmas program “Holiday at the Heights–An Evening with Larnelle Harris.” Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec 9 and 10. All seats are reserved. The two-hour program will feature Harris and the church's 100-voice choir and full orchestra. Tickets are $10 each, with a group rate available for parties of 15 or more people. Free childcare is available for children 3 years old and younger with advance reservations. Call (972) 231-6047, extension 292, for more information. Gary Singleton is pastor.

Artist Thomas Kinkade will unveil five original paintings he completed during a mission trip to Latvia at a benefit reception at First Church in Richardson Nov. 27 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Kinkade will share his experiences in Latvia and sign lithographs purchased at the event. Proceeds will benefit Bridge Builders International's charitable work in Latvia, including partnerships to serve orphans, train youth leaders and start churches. First Church's Nehemiah Project, which is funding constuction of a recording studio for Christian music, also will benefit. A reception and auction beginning at 8 p.m. requires purchase of a $12 ticket. A VIP reception will follow for participants who donate $1,000 or more. For more information, call (541) 929-5627. Brian Harbour is pastor.

Anniversaries

Lynn Long, 10th, as pastor of Sweet Street Church in Tahoka, Nov. 13.

Glen Godsey, 10th, as associate director of missions in Caprock Plains Baptist Area, Nov. 14.

Mario Hernandez, fifth, as pastor of Parkway Drive Iglesia Hispana in Lubbock, Nov. 14.

Charles Conklin, fifth, as pastor of First Church in Buckholts.

Deaths

Joe Haynes, 75, Nov. 4 in Dallas. He was retired from the Southern Baptist Convention Sunday School Board, now LifeWay. He was a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University and Southwestern Seminary. He was the author of “Ministering to Young Adults Away,” “Outreach Ideas for Young Adults” and “Secrets of Sunday School Success for Ministers of Education.” He also served as secretary-treasurer of the Southern Baptist Religious Education Association. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Virginia Ann; daughters, Kathy Tracy and Karen Sistare; sister, Marlene Vorhees; and four grandchildren.

Jeff Pritchard, 83, Nov. 6. He was pastor of Clarendon Drive Church in Dallas, which later became Sunny Glen Church, 33 years. He also preached at Arcadia Park Church in Dallas 13 years. He had a major role in the Oak Cliff dry movement in 1956 and was a member of the Oak Cliff Civic and Moral League in 1960. He was a member of the board of trustees of Decatur Baptist College, which later moved to Dallas and is now Dallas Baptist University. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Laura; son, John; daughter, Lora Tennison; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Dale Jones, 68, Nov. 6 in Houston. Jones was a Dallas resident, but died after suffering a head injury. A retired vice chairman of Halliburton Company, he completed nearly a decade of service on the Baylor University board of regents last May. He also served as a member of the board of trustees of Baylor Health Care System, Baylor University's Sesquicentennial Council of 150 and on the advisory board of the university's Hankamer School of Business. He was a deacon and trustee at Park Cities Church in Dallas. He is survived by his wife, Anita; daughters, Lee Anna Lackey and Leisa Winters; and five grandchildren.

Ordained

Jake Porter to the ministry at First Church in Mont Belvieu.

Rusty Harris and Danny Foster as deacons at Fairy Church in Hico.

Mason Bullard, Garry Diaz, Jon Mark Jester, Bryan Lightfoot, Johnny Slough and Jim Summers as deacons at First Church in Hamilton.

Jason Bynum as a deacon at Colonial Hill Church in Snyder.

Rufus Martinez as a deacon at Primera Iglesia in Marlin.

Jerry Heitman and Jerry Henson as deacons at First Church in Cameron.