Dr. Allen Verhey Looks at Relevance of Prayer, Attention to God

Hardin-Simmons University welcomes Dr. Allen Verhey, professor of Christian Ethics at the Duke University Divinity School, as lecturer for the seventh annual T.B. Maston Christian Ethics Lectures at HSU’s Logsdon School of Theology.

This year’s lectures, scheduled for 2 Apr at 7:00 p.m. and 3 Apr at 9:30 a.m. in Logsdon Chapel, explore themes related to the relevance of the practices of reading scripture and prayer to dying well and to caring for the dying. The first lecture, “Reading Scripture and Caring at the end of Life,” will attend to the narrative of cross and resurrection and to the Christian hope for resurrection. It will suggest that without such hope the resistance to death can grow sometimes desperate. It will suggest that the Christian narrative calls people to courage and patience and to care for people as embodied, communal, and spiritual beings. The second lecture, “Praying and Caring at the End of Life,” will ask how dying and caring for the dying may be formed by attention to God, or prayer. It will examine prayer as invocation, as confession, as thanksgiving, as lament, and as petition, asking how these different forms of attention to God can re-form our living and our dying.


Dr. Verhey

Dr. Verhey's work has focused on the application of Christian ethics, especially in the area of medical and health practice. He has published widely, the author, editor or co-editor of 12 books, Reading the Bible in the Strange World of Medicine, is his latest. Verhey was director of the Institute of Religion at the Texas Medical Center for 2 years and served as the Blekkink professor of religion at Hope College for 10 years prior to his position with Duke Divinity.

The T. B. Maston Christian Ethics Lectures series, named for Dr. T.B. Maston who taught Christian ethics at Southwestern Seminary for over forty years, explores the application of the Christian faith to life. Dr. Maston was known for his pioneering writing and teaching in The areas of biblical ethics, race relations, family life, the Christian and vocation, church and state, and character formation. One of the highlights of the lecture series will be the presentation of “Young Maston Scholars” from Texas Baptist universities.

Both lectures are free and open to the public.

Posted by Dave Coffield · March 29, 2007 9:48 PM · Comments (0)

Graduates and individuals associated with our University make up a significant part of its identity as a great institution. To honor those whose service and distinguished accomplishments exemplify the values and character of Hardin-Simmons University, the HSU Hall of Leaders was established in 2001 as a permanent reminder of who we are as an institution.

Made possible by the generosity of Doyle and Inez Kelly, of Houston, Texas, the facility includes a first-floor circular corridor where the likenesses and contributions of these remarkable people are on perpetual display. Inductees, guests, and families will attend a luncheon in their honor at noon, March 30, then the city of Abilene is invited to join in the induction of these great leaders at the award ceremony in Logsdon Chapel at 12:45.

After careful consideration, HSU announces five inductees for 2007 whose distinctive accomplishments elevate the ideals of the University.

George Anderson

George S. Anderson was born on October 18, 1871, in Salado, Texas, the fourth of seven children to Captain Vachel and Malvina Anderson. He traveled with his father and older brother in a covered wagon to Fisher County, where his father was a partner in the establishment of the town of Roby.

In 1888, Anderson was hired as a printer’s apprentice for The Fisher County Call, performing various duties such as mixing tubs of ink and fetching type in the newspaper office. Over the next two years, he advanced to typesetter, assistant pressman, ad salesman, and then became co-owner of the paper.

In the summer of 1894, Anderson joined the staff of the Abilene Reporter, a weekly newspaper published by Abilene Printing Company. In 1895, the Abilene Printing Company was placed in receivership with Anderson acting as receiver. In 1896, he increased the Reporter’s publication rate from weekly to daily, and it became the Abilene Daily Reporter. Anderson soon sold his receivership and became business manager, and later editor, of the newspaper and the printing business.

In 1902, upon the incorporation of Abilene Printing Company, Anderson became its president, until 1932, when he stepped aside and became secretary of the corporation. In 1920, the newspaper part of the business was separated from the job plant and manufacturing end, and in 1924 was incorporated as the Abilene Printing and Stationery Company, of which became president and general manager.

At the time of his death in 1964, George Anderson continued to serve as chairman of the First National Bank board of directors, chairman of the board of directors of The Reporter Publishing Company, and president of Abilene Printing and Stationery. Additionally, he was at that time senior trustee and executive committeeman of Hardin-Simmons University, serving the longest term of any HSU trustee, 61 years. Anderson had long supported Hardin-Simmons both financially and with his time, and in 1957, shortly after the death of his wife Minnie, the men’s dorm, Anderson Hall, was named in their honor.

Dr. Thorn

Dr. William Ernest Thorn, a McAlester, Oklahoma, native served Baptists throughout the nation since his first pastorate in Panhandle, Texas, in 1951. He enrolled at Hardin-Simmons University in 1941, but joined the U.S. Navy to serve during World War II. Thorn returned to the Forty Acres in 1946, and became part of the 1948 Cinderella football team that played in four bowl games in one year. Vice president of his freshman class and president of the Baptist Student Union, he graduated in 1948 majoring in Bible. He served in several Texas Baptist churches until, in 1964, he became pastor of the large congregation at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Wichita, Kansas, a church his father, founded.

In 1976, Dr. Thorn became president of Dallas Baptist University, where he served until 1979.
He served as vice president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and was a member of its Executive Board. He was president of the Kansas Convention of Southern Baptists, a trustee of Buckner Baptist Benevolences, and a member of the Southern Baptist Mission Board (now International Missions Board) and the Board of Development of Dallas Baptist University.

A prominent public speaker, he and his wife Jessie traveled extensively, sometimes making over 300 appearances a year. Bill has authored over 23 books, including Dairy Queen Think Tank, and Wake Up, Make Up, and Go.

At Hardin-Simmons, Dr. Thorn has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Greater Hardin-Simmons Expansion Program, the Board of Development, and the Lettermen’s Association for football. In 1972, he was awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree from his alma mater, and in 2004, was named a Distinguished Alumni. He holds a total of four honorary doctorates, has received five presidential commendations, and in 2001, he received the Texas Baptist Elder Statesman Award.

He and his wife, Jessie, have four daughters: Jenny Boyko, Martha Popplewell, Becky Baker, and Karen Morris.

Dr. Hemphill

A dynamic Baptist leader, Dr. Lee Hemphill had a significant impact on the growth, development and stability of Hardin-Simmons University. The late Dr. Hemphill, vice president emeritus at HSU, came to the University from a pioneer ranching-banking family in Coleman, Texas. In 1943 he was called as pastor to First Baptist Church of Littlefield where he served for 16 years. While serving as a pastor, he was elected by the Baptist General Convention of Texas to serve as a trustee at Wayland and Howard Payne universities.

He returned to HSU in 1959 to accept a position as the University’s first Vice President for Development. Dr. James Cantrell, former president of the Baptist Foundation of Texas, Dallas, credited Dr. Hemphill with leading HSU as it became the first Baptist institution to organize a full development department. He served in this position until 1968 and as Vice President for Deferred Giving until 1975.

Dr. Hemphill was a member of the executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and served as second vice president of the BGCT. He was vice chairman of the Texas Baptist Children’s Home at Round Rock, president of Baptist District 9, the Plains Baptist Assembly and the Texas Baptist Development Officers Association. Dr. William Pinson, former executive director and CEO of the Baptist General Convention of Texas says, “Dr. Hemphill through his long-time significant roles in Hardin-Simmons University and the Baptist General Convention of Texas enabled a host of persons to become effective leaders in churches, associations of churches, Convention entities, and on mission fields throughout the nation and the world.”

He received honorary doctorate degrees from two universities, Howard Payne University in 1952 and Hardin-Simmons University in 1958. He was the 1968 recipient of the Alumni Association’s Keeter Award. Dr. Hemphill played a major role in the establishment of the HSU Board of Development, the Board of Young Associates, the Academic Foundation, the Cowboy Band Foundation, the School of Music Founation, and the HSU President’s Club.

Dr. Hemphill and his wife, Lunelle Nix Hemphill, were major contributors to the construction of Nix Hall. In 1966, they endowed “The Cornerstone Series” Bible lectures in honor of his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Hemphill of Coleman. In 1986, the Hemphills furnished the Business Reading Room in the Richardson Library. Following Lunelle’s death in 1987, an endowment was established by the Hemphill family to honor her and to provide an opportunity for students to be involved in mission outreach projects. He later married Koreen Willcox Logsdon and the couple made the major naming gift for the Lee Hemphill Music Building.

Dr. Flamming

Dr. Peter James Flamming, son of a Baptist pastor, came to Hardin-Simmons University on a football scholarship in 1951. President of the senior class, he met Shirley Northcutt, the daughter of the former pastor of First Baptist Church in Abilene. They were married in 1955, shortly after Jim’s graduation. Dr. Flamming heard the call to ministry during his college years and the newlyweds began their ministry in Eastland, Texas, at Bethel Baptist Church. While serving at Bethel, Dr. Flamming earned the bachelor of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth in 1959, and in 1963, his doctor of theology degree.

After serving as the director of the Baptist Student Union and as a Bible teacher at Texas Women’s University in Denton, he became associate pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church and then Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas, before accepting the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Abilene in 1966. Dr. Flamming remained as pastor of FBC Abilene for 17 years, serving on the Board of Trustees for HSU and Hendrick Medical Center, and as chairman of the executive committee for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, preaching the annual convention sermon in 1972. Elected as a vice president of the BGCT, he also served as a member of the Foreign Mission Board.

In 1983, the Flammings were called to First Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 1780 during the Revolutionary War, it remains a vibrant historical inner-city church. After serving the congregation and community of Richmond for over 23 years, he retired as pastor of First Baptist Church of Richmond on December 31, 2006.

He served on the Board of Trustees for Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University, and the Baptist World Alliance General Council, preaching for the Baptist Hour on radio and television. His books include The New You, God and Creation, Poking Holes in the Darkness and Other Sermons You Can’t Sleep Through.

In 1981, Dr. Flamming was named as one of the ten most influential leaders in Abilene, the only clergyman chosen. His other awards include an honorary doctorate from HSU, the Distinguished Alumni Award, also from HSU, the W.T. Conner Award as Outstanding Student in the School of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the 2001 Humanitarian Award presented by the National Conference for Community and Justice.
He and Shirley are the parents of three children: J.D., Dave (who passed away in 1991 of leukemia), and Doug.

Dr. Fletcher

Jesse Conrad Fletcher, a San Antonio native and Texas A & M graduate with both master and doctor of divinity degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, served 15 years with the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention beginning in 1960. During his tenure at the board, he traveled extensively gaining insight into personnel and missions needs.

Dr. Fletcher assumed office as the 12th president of Hardin-Simmons University in 1977. He served as president until 1991, as chancellor from 1991 to 2001, and president emeritus since 2001. During his fourteen years as president of Hardin-Simmons University, the second longest in history, Fletcher led the institution to reorganize into a university academic structure and to establish and endow schools in education, theology and nursing. Other highlights include adding seven new facilities and numerous renovations, quadrupling endowments, significantly increasing faculty salaries and enrollment. During his 10 years as chancellor, Fletcher has held a professorship in the Logsdon School of Theology, aided development efforts, and represented the University in numerous academic and community roles.

A recognized Baptist historian, Fletcher has written 10 books chronicling Baptist histories. Among them is Bill Wallace of China, which came out in 1963, went into 10 hardback printings, numerous foreign editions and paperback, before being filmed as a movie 1968. In 1994, Fletcher’s history, The Southern Baptist Convention, was published to mark that denomination’s sesquicentennial.

Dr. Fletcher has served as a trustee of Golden Gate Baptist Seminary, and was elected to the General Council of the Baptist World Alliance. He was named a distinguished alumnus of Southwestern Seminary, and was elected to preach the convention sermon at the 1978 Southern Baptist Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. In August of 2002, he received the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ George W. Truett Award for Religious Freedom.

Jesse has been president and campaign director of Abilene’s United Way; vice chairman and founding director of the Community Foundation of Abilene; co-chairman of Abilene Choosing Tomorrow Now (a city planning group); chairman of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce; vice chairman of the Military Affairs Committee; was twice interim director of the Grace Museum as well as chairman of its board and currently is immediate past president and a founding director of the Abilene Psychiatric Center. Jesse and Dorothy have two children, Jordan Scott of Lubbock and Melissa Dupree of Abilene. The Fletchers have five grandchildren.

Posted by Dave Coffield · March 28, 2007 10:56 AM · Comments (1)

“Hi! And Welcome to ‘Mind Your Business Junior!’ I’m Damaris, and today I want to talk to you about saving money,” said seven year-old Damaris Almon as Abilene got a glimpse of a potential future broadcast celebrity. As family watched, she tossed her hair, smiled at the camera, and confidently began a short talk on the importance of putting money in the bank.

Damaris Almon on camera

Senior Leadership Seminar Students from Hardin-Simmons University worked with children from the HSU Friendship House after-school program to develop an educational television news segment for children that will be broadcast on KTAB in the near future.

Students worked with the children to teach basic principles of market economics, success skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and business ethics. The principles were incorporated into a script the children practiced and then presented at a special taping in the KTAB studio last Saturday. Senior Leadership Seminar student, Julie Teague noted, “The project is great exposure for these children, and gives them first hand experience with one of the many opportunities they can have if they embrace education.”

The venture allowed the children to present information they learned in a creative and exciting environment, while presenting leadership students with an opportunity to invest in the lives of children who will be the future of the community and whose education needs to be seen as a high priority.

Shelby Bailey takes a turn in the anchor's chair

Five children, ranging in age from seven to 12 years, presented their segments on the actual broadcast set for KTAB News with lights up and cameras running. There were a few miscues and a persistent case of the giggles, but the sense of accomplishment, and a good measure of relief, were clearly evident on the faces of the young broadcast talent as they joined their families for a tour of the studios once their time in the news anchor’s chair was over.

Posted by Dave Coffield · March 26, 2007 3:40 PM · Comments (0)

Hardin-Simmons University Departments of Political Science, Legal Studies, and Criminal Justice present the first annual Ethics in Public Service Forum, March 29, from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. in Moody Center, Room 233, on the HSU campus. The event is open to the general public at no charge and will be of considerable interest to students and public servants from all walks of life.

John Coleman, assistant professor of Criminal Justice, assembled an impressive line-up of influential public leaders; individuals who face difficult choices daily, and whose ethical underpinnings must be impeccable. This panel of Texas statesmen will discuss significant ethical issues that challenge them in their work and take prepared questions from pre-professional students preparing for careers in the public eye.

Judge Solis

The Honorable Judge Jorge Solis joins the inaugural forum as United States District Judge appointed by President George H.W. Bush to the Northern district of Texas in Sep 1991. He attended McMurry University, earning a bachelor of arts degree in 1973, then earned his doctor of jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1976. A native of San Ygnacio, Texas, Judge Solis previously practiced law as assistant district attorney in Abilene, as a criminal district attorney, as a special prosecutor with the narcotics task force, and in private practice, before being appointed as judge of the 350th District Court in Abilene. Judge Solis is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Dallas Bar Association, serves on the board of directors for McMurry University, on the U.S. Judicial Advisory Council for the national Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and previously served on the governor’s task force on drug abuse.

Sheriff Dee Anderson

Sherriff Dee Anderson joins the panel as Sherriff of Tarrant County, a metropolitan area of over 1.6 million people and 37 municipalities. He is a native of Tarrant County and attended Tarrant County Junior College and the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in journalism. He worked at various area newspapers as a reporter and editor before entering law enforcement. A member of the Arlington Police Department since 1980, he worked in a number of capacities including patrolman, field-training officer, fatality accident investigator, and media relations coordinator.

During his 15 years as spokesman for the department, Anderson appeared on national network
News shows, and all three major network morning news programs. Anderson is co-founder of the AMBER Plan, a cooperative effort between law enforcement and the media to instantly alert the public of suspected child abduction. The AMBER Plan has received state and national acclaim, and given Anderson the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. to testify before Congress on behalf of the program. He received numerous accolades during his career, including the Pinnacle Award for Excellence and a Medal of Merit.

Larry Gilley

Larry Gilley comes to the group as city manager for the City of Abilene since June 2002. Previously, Mr. Gilley served as city manager for San Marcos, Bovina, and Panhandle, Texas. He is a member and past president of the Texas City Management Association, a member of the International City Management Association, and has served on the MPA Advisory Council at Texas State University.

Mr. Gilley received a bachelor of arts degree in Political Science from Texas Tech University and a master of public administration degree from Texas State University. He received the professional service award for in-service training from the International City Management Association and was named as Professional Administrator of the Year by the Cen-Tex chapter of the American Society of Public Administration.

Billy Edwards

Billy John Edwards rounds out the group as district attorney for Jones and Shackelford counties. A Jones County native, he attended Texas Tech University before entering the University of South Carolina School of Law, obtaining his degree in 1972. Mr. Edwards served as assistant district attorney for Abilene, before entering private practice with Whitten, Price, Wagener, and Edwards, and later Price and Edwards. In 1981, Mr. Edwards was appointed district judge for Taylor County until 2001, when he became senior district judge. In 2004 he re-entered private practice in Anson, Texas.

Posted by Dave Coffield · March 23, 2007 2:15 PM · Comments (0)

Hardin-Simmons University will host the 10th annual “Meeting of the C.S. Lewis & Inklings Society” March 23-24 in the Johnson Building multi-purpose room. The Inklings were a small circle of 20th-century British writers who met informally to discuss ideas and read drafts of their works to each other. C.S. Lewis was a the center of this group of friends which included J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, Hugo Dyson, Humphrey Havard, and Lewis’ brother, Major Warrant Lewis.

The C.S. Lewis & Inklings Society is a professional organization of teachers and scholars with a common interest in these writers. Members meet annually to hear scholarly papers presented about the works, authors, and their contributions to literature and culture.

Given the recent re-awakening of interest in Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, the theme, “The Inklings and the Spiritual Journey,” and the theological beliefs of the Inklings, the conference should attract more than Lewis scholars, “Pastors, English teachers, and casual readers will all enjoy part or all of this conference,” says Dr. Larry English, “Each of these writers saw life as a journey toward reality, toward truth, and ultimately, toward God and eternal life. In many of their works, characters pursue journeys that take them closer to spiritual reality or self-discovery. We’ve invited papers on this topic, and our key speakers are addressing this theme. I often hear pastors quote (and misquote) Lewis in their sermons. This conference can only deepen their understanding of his thought and lead them to Lewis titles or authors they may not be aware of.”

White Witch of Narnia

Dr. Fink was able to bring a number of leading Inklings scholars to the conference. Dr. Thomas Howard has written several books about the works of Lewis, Williams, and T.S. Eliot, as well as books about his own long in interesting spiritual journey. Dr. Rolland Hein, is America’s foremost George Macdonald scholar. George MadDonald was an early fantasy writer whose books influenced Lewis and Tolkien. Dr. David Neuhouser is the Director of The Center for Study of C.S. Lewis & Friends at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. Dr. Kerry Dearborn is a theologian at Seattle Pacific University. She recently published an important book on MacDonald’s theology and is a dynamic and poipular speaker at conferences and spiritual retreats.

The conference begins Friday morning and the four main talks, panel discussion, and a play by Charles Williams (performed by the HSU Theatre Department) are

open to the public at no charge. On Friday, Dr. Neuhouser will speak at 9:00 a.m., Dr. Hein will talk at 12:15 p.m., Dr. Howard’s presentation begins at 7:15 p.m., followed by the play, “The House by The Stable” at 8:00 p.m. Saturday morning, Dr. Dearborn will present at 8:30, and the conference will close with a panel discussion at 11:30.

Posted by Dave Coffield · March 5, 2007 3:22 PM · Comments (0)