1950s

Philip Martin, BA ’52, of Waco celebrated his 100th birthday May 4. He is a Baylor Professor Emeritus of German, which he taught for 32 years. His wife Dr. Janya Martin, BA ’63, has served a German professor at Baylor for more than 50 years.

Robert Lopez Flynn, BA ’54, MA ’57, of San Antonio is the recipient of a 2019 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for “career longevity and unwavering excellence.” Contact at rflynn@earthlink.net.

Baylor Law School dedicated The Charles E. Wallace Family Courtyard at the Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center April 26 in the memory of distinguished Waco lawyer Charles “Chuck” Wallace, BBA ’55, JD ’60. The Wallace Family Courtyard was named in appreciation for a $2 million gift from Sherri W. and Robert “Bobby” L. Patton Jr. of Fort Worth in memory of Sherri’s father and in honor of her mother, Sandra Stoesser Wallace. In addition to enhancements to the courtyard, The Charles E. Wallace Endowed Fund for Legal Writing supports programming in Baylor Law’s Legal Writing Center and the Baylor Law Review. The Sherri W. and Robert L. Patton Jr. Endowed Fund for Pro Bono Clinics and Programs provides overall support for the award-winning pro bono clinics and initiatives at Baylor Law. Wallace had a distinguished legal career as a partner in the Waco law firm Wallace and Smith, which later became Wallace, Fisher and Neville. Charles was a businessman and served as an adjunct professor at Baylor Law and in the Hankamer School of Business. He also was involved in numerous civic and charitable causes. Sherri Wallace Patton, BS ’84, retired from a successful career in law that included serving as an assistant district attorney in Dallas. The Pattons are involved in many joint business ventures, including being part owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have two children: Robert and Rachel Patton.

Virginia DuPuy, BA ’56, MA ’62, who served as Waco’s mayor from 2005 to 2010, was presented with the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce’s Legacy Award. DuPuy was the first woman to serve as chair of the chamber. Her family has long operated DuPuy Oxygen & Supply. She served a two-year term on the Waco City Council and co-founded Prosper Waco.

Greta Chodorow Kost, BA ’56, of Holliston, MA, writes, “I transferred to Baylor from the University of Texas since it was my brother’s turn to go out of town for his schooling. I loved Baylor. The faculty were very gracious to me and my family (Nate, my father Max, and Jack Chodorow were well known and appreciated). I will always deeply appreciate Baylor’s care and concern for my welfare. The faculty were superb.”

The Waxahachie [TX] ISD Board of Trustees voted to name a district elementary school after Max Simpson, BA ’56, MSEd ’58. Simpson served from 1958 to 1967 as a teacher and a principal for Waco [TX] ISD. He moved to Waxahachie in 1970 to be an assistant superintendent for Waxahachie ISD. He retired as the superintendent of personnel and instruction in 1991.

Joseph Cudd, BBA ’58, resides at 24822 Packsaddle Trail, San Antonio, TX 78225. Contact at jcudd8@gmail.com.

Drayton McLane Jr., BBA ’58, Temple, TX, businessman and Regent Emeritus at Baylor, was appointed chairman of the Texas Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors by Gov. Greg Abbott. The corporation’s goal is to help market Texas as a place for businesses to grow and prosper. McLane is chairman of the McLane Group.

Kendall Gardner, BBA ’59, writes, “My childhood home was 2922 S. 3rd St. in Waco. I spent three years in the U.S. Army, beginning in 1959, before opening Fort Bend Muffler Shop in Rosenberg, TX, while living in Richmond, TX. I enjoyed having my own business, thanks to my Baylor education. I’m 81 and have had a wonderful life.” Gardner and his wife reside at 6454 E. Ptarmigan Circle, Wasilla, AK 99687.

Robert Medcalf, BA ’59, writes, “My wife Judy [Hunt], ’61, and I had our first trip to Baylor last November with one of our sons. We enjoyed watching football and volleyball games and reminiscing; it was our first time back to Waco since 1959. We are ever grateful for the education, fun, friendships and memories. Our years since Baylor have been spent in Indiana and California, pastoring Baptist churches.” Contact at 2493 Presidential Dr., Tulare, CA 93274 or bob.medcalf@icloud.com.

Thomas Wedel, BS ’59, was a Baylor AFROTC member. He performed seven years active duty flying (mostly) tankers. Wedel was a United Airlines pilot for 30 years and retired in 1997. He now restores pre-settlement flora on a southwest Wisconsin farm. “A great way to live,” he writes. Contact at 446 Richmond Lane, Village of Lakewood, IL 60014 or tomneva@sbcglobal.net.