1970s
William H “Bill” Smith, BA ’70, is president of the John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Arlington, VA. He and his wife Judith “Judy” Bracewell Smith, BSHE ’70, live in Charlottesville, VA. Their oldest son Jason William Smith, BA ’93, is surgical director of heart transplantation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Their middle son Luke Benjamin Smith, BA ’97, is in his 10th year as pastor of Linden Heights Baptist Church in Staunton, VA. Their youngest son is a hospital consult psychiatrist at the University of Virginia.
Gordon D. Utgard, BA ’70, completed the second edition of his non-fiction book The Powers That Be (ISBN# 978-1-4120-6565-8). The book covers his working and living in Saudi Arabia for two assignments, each lasting approximately three years. The major difference between the first edition published in 2005 and the second edition published in 2018 is the final chapter: “Afterwords.” This final chapter is based upon his relationships and interactions with members of the Saudi Royal Family, specifically Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud, and details Utgard’s views and opinions regarding the assassination of The Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Bonnie Plume Morris, BSN ’71, and David Morris, BS ’70, celebrated 50 years of marriage July 18. The celebration included their daughter Rachel Morris, BA ’99, BSN ’01, their son Joel Morris and his wife Mary, parents of Kaitlyn Morris, BA ’19. The couple live in Carrollton, TX, where they continue to enjoy treasured friendships with lifelong Baylor friends.
Jimmy Dorrell, BA ’72, retired April 1 from Mission Waco after 28 years. He continues as pastor of Church Under the Bridge (Waco) and as co-director of the Texas Christian Community Development Network. Commonwealth: Transformation through Christian Community Development (Baylor Press), his newest book, was released in September. Contact at jimmymdorrell@gmail.com.
John E. Shepelwich, BA ’72, retired Feb. 20 from American Electric Power (AEP) after 40 years as a communicator for the electric power industry. He was earlier in broadcast news and management in several U.S. markets. Shepelwich lives near Asheville, NC, with his wife Katie. The couple previously lived on Italy’s Almalfi Coast when the pandemic forced them stateside in March.
Pat Adams, BA ’74, retired from USAA Savings Bank in San Antonio in April. She spent the last 23 years with several large banks in management and audit-compliance roles. After graduating from Baylor, Adams worked in magazine publishing and graphic arts in Arizona and Texas for 18 years. Contact at 3993 County Road 319, LaVernia, TX 78121 or pkadams54@hotmail.com.
Dr. Ronald E. Bowles, BMEd ’74, MA ’77, retired from Christian higher education and local church ministry after a 45-year career of full-time service. He most recently served on the faculty of Dallas Baptist University for 15 years, serving as dean of the College of Fine Arts since August 2006. In that role, Bowles provided leadership to the departments of communication, music and the visual arts. He also provided guidance and instruction to future worship leaders in his capacity as director of church music and worship studies in the DBU Department of Music. Prior to his service at DBU, Bowles served in local church music and worship ministry for 30 years, most recently as minister of worship and communications at First Baptist Church of El Paso for 22 years. He previously served in similar positions at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church of Amarillo, TX, and First Baptist Church Waco. During his student days at Baylor, Bowles directed the Baylor Religious Hour (BRH) choir and the BSU choir, founded the Newsong vocal ensemble and was a director with the Continental Singers. He and his wife Suzanne Higgins Bowles, BM ’75, MM ’81, have been married for nearly 35 years and live in Dallas. In retirement, he plans to adjunct teach at DBU and is available for worship consultation and local church music supply and interim service. Contact at rebsebowles@gmail.com.
The family of William E. Mendoza, BS ’74, established the William E. Mendoza Endowed Premedical Scholarship Fund in his memory. This fund provides scholarships for students pursuing a premedical career.
Marilea Lewis Whatley, BA ’75, is a partner at the Dallas-based family law firm Duffee + Eitzen. She was recognized as a Top 50 female Super Lawyer and Top 100 DFW Super Lawyer for 2019, a LawDragon Top 500 Leading Family Lawyer for 2020, and a Best Lawyer in America in family law, family law mediation, and mediation for 2020. Whatley is also co-director of the SBOT Firearms Conference: 9th Annual Firearms Law: What Every Texas Lawyer Needs to Know. Contact at 4311 Oak Lawn Ave., Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75219 or marilea@d-elaw.com.
Bill Shaw, PsyD ’76, and Catherine Jarvis Shaw, PsyD ’75, have retired from careers in clinical psychology. Catherine served eight years in the U.S. Air Force and achieved the rank of captain. She was head of the Tinker Air Force Base Mental Health Clinic in Oklahoma City. After the Air Force, Catherine was director of the Combined Substance Abuse Treatment Program at the VA Medical Center in Oklahoma City for nearly 30 years, and she was assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC). She held many offices in the Oklahoma Psychological Association (OPA), including president. Bill was also an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at OUHSC and the OU School of Education, and he was an instructor in criminal justice at Oklahoma City University. He was director of mental health services for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and finished his career as chairman of behavioral medicine at the Oklahoma City Clinic for 28 years. Bill held offices in the OPA, including president, and was the Oklahoma representative to the American Psychological Association (APA) Council of Representatives. He was chair of the Oklahoma Board of Examiners of Psychologists by appointment of the governor. Catherine and Bill both received OPA and APA awards for distinguished service and contributions to the practice of clinical psychology. Contact at 2720 NW 58th Place, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 or dr.billlshaw@gmail.com.
Dr. D. Timothy Simpson, BA ’76, with Potter Minton PC, was elected to membership in the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation. Election is a mark of distinction and recognition of Simpson’s contributions to the legal profession. Each year, the top one-third of 1 percent of Texas attorneys are invited to become Fellows. Once nominees are selected, they must be elected by the Texas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees. The Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably funded bar foundation. To date, the Texas Bar Foundation has distributed more than $20 million throughout Texas to assist nonprofit organizations with a wide range of justice-related programs and services. For more information, contact the Texas Bar Foundation at www.txbf.org.
Henry R. Cox, BA ’78, found success blazing his own path in life, whether by being the shortest NCAA Division I hurdler on the nationally ranked Baylor track team or becoming the first attorney from a larger firm to pursue complex civil rights cases against Fortune 100 companies. A prolific legal educator, Cox was selected to the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and Super Lawyers of Kansas and Missouri. He earned Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent Pear Review Rating status for 25 years, and he is one of six attorneys selected to the Kansas City Business Journal’s Best of the Bar for 15 years. Cox authored Deceit of the Soul: Saving the World Before the Pandemic, a conspiracy thriller available Sept. 5.