1940s-50s

1940s

Fred Herold Jr, BBA ’47, of Dallas, May 21. Clairene Stevens Herold, BBA ‘47, of Dallas, June 17. Fred and Clairene, who met at Baylor, were married for 71 years.

Frances L. Rummage, BA ’47, Oct. 10 in Waco.

John D. Tillery, BBA ’47, Aug. 18 in Longview, TX.

Billy L. Bradford, BA ’48, Aug. 2 in Corsicana, TX.

Ida P. Jones, BA ’49, July 23 in Denton, TX.

James R. Leasley, BBA ’49, Sep. 17 in Fort Worth.

Emil Ernest “Dutch” Schroeder Jr., BS ’49, died Oct. 2, 2020, in Clifton, TX, at age 96 after a life filled with many friends and Baylor University. Schroeder was born Jan. 26, 1924, in Austin to Emil and Katherine Schroeder. He had three younger brothers: Vernon, Clarence and Marvin. Schroeder graduated from Austin High School, where he was class president, and he played freshman baseball at the University of Texas at Austin. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Schroeder volunteered for the U.S. Navy and was a quartermaster on vessels in the South Pacific during World War II. On the day of the Japanese surrender, his ship joined hundreds others in Tokyo Harbor as the peace agreement was signed. Schroeder was discharged from the Navy in 1946. After another semester at Texas in the fall of 1946, he found his way to the two loves of his life: Betty Lou Swan and Baylor, where he played baseball. Dutch and Betty were married in June 1948. Their honeymoon was scheduled around the NCAA Baseball Tournament that year. After graduating from Baylor, Dutch played baseball for the Temple Eagles of the Big State League, and Temple [TX] ISD hired Schroeder to teach and coach baseball. In 1953, he was hired to coach the new Travis High School baseball team in Austin; he led Travis to a state championship the following year. In 1958, Baylor hired Schroeder as baseball head coach, a position he held through the 1973 season. After leaving coaching, Schroeder taught in Baylor’s physical education department until his retirement in 1999. While he was blessed to live long enough to see his life’s work recognized on so many occasions, it was the relationships he cultivated that meant the most to him. Until well into his 90s, Schroeder never forgot a student or player. He was inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame in 2014 and was a Baylor Wall of Honor inductee in 2007. He considered his greatest accomplishment as being one of the original organizers and lead fundraiser for the Baylor “B” Association, which was created to honor former Baylor letterwinners and keep them in touch with each other and the University. Schroeder traveled in the early ’70s to raise funds for the first “B” room at Floyd Casey Stadium and quickly became the gameday host and front-door greeter. He also served as “B” Association secretary, president, executive vice president and, in later years, executive vice president emeritus. In 2001, Baylor Baseball letterman Rick Hawkins, BBA ’69, MBA ’70, donated money to honor his former coach by creating Dutch Schroeder Plaza, which connects various athletics facilities along University Parks Drive. After his retirement, Schroeder remained a fixture at Baylor Athletics events, dressed in green and gold with Betty by his side. They cheered loudly for all Baylor sports teams. Dutch and Betty were faithful members for more than 60 years at Waco’s Seventh and James Baptist Church, where he was chairman of the board of deacons and taught Sunday school classes.

1950s

Josephine A. Brister, BA ’50, MS ’68, July 30 in Waco.

Charles H. DuLaney, BS ’50, Sep. 27 in Valley Mills, TX.

Howard A. Freund, BS ’50, MS ’52, Aug. 31 in Waco.

Robert M. Ives, BA ’50, died Oct. 10, 2020, in Waco. Ives was born May 11, 1926, in Brooklyn, NY, the first child of Robert and Donna Ives. His love for cruising began in 1932, when he spent his sixth birthday on a ship transiting to Texas. He spent his elementary and middle school years in Houston near his mother’s family. When the 36th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army was activated during World War II, the Ives family moved to various locations throughout the U.S. so the family could stay together. During his high school years, Ives was active in Boy Scouts of America and reached the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated high school in Palestine, TX. Ives was a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was part of the Army’s occupation forces in Japan. He enrolled at Baylor following his discharge from the Army. In 1947, he sat behind a cute brunette, Billie Wedgeworth, in Spanish class. The two courted during their years at Baylor and married in Baytown, TX, in 1951. They settled in Houston, where they raised three children. Upon graduation from Baylor with a degree in chemistry, Ives began his career with Humble Oil and Refining Co., which later became ExxonMobil. The majority of his 45-year career was spent working in the coatings division of Exxon Chemical Co. Bob and Billie joined Houston’s Tallowood Baptist Church in 1963. He served on many committees during his 57 years at Tallowood, but his passion was missions. Bob and Billie made many trips to Acuna, Mexico, in the Rio Grande Valley. He enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and abroad. His most treasured trips were those spent with family and friends hiking many trails in Rocky Mountain National Park. Later in life, he enjoyed cruising, as it was an ideal way to combine his love of family and travel.

Laverne Longino Stanley, BA ’50, Sep. 7 in Cedar Park, TX

Gerald D. Tekell, BBA ’50, MS ’51, Sep. 29 in Corsicana, TX.

Harriette P. Cummings, BBA ’51, Sep. 21 in Montgomery, TX.

Ruth W. Donner, BA ’51, Aug. 31 in Saint Louis, MO.

James A. Hale, BS ’51, of Amarillo, Oct. 26.

Thomas C. Brunson, BBA ’52, Oct. 10 in Dallas.

Colleen P. Dement, BA ’52, Aug. 4 in San Antonio.

Eleanor P. Henderson, BBA ’52, Sep. 19 in Woodway, TX.

Marvin E. Oliver, BA ’52, Oct. 2 in Hewitt, TX.

Paul F. Patterson, BBA ’52, Aug. 2 in Abilene, TX.

Patsy Ruth Vaughan Pentecost, BBA ’52, marched into heaven Wednesday morning, July 29. She was born in Pottawattamie County, OK, to Otto and Francis Vaughan. She lived most of her childhood and teenage years in New London, TX, following the New London School explosion in 1937. There, Patsy fell in love with music and band, serving as a majorette; she remained close to her fellow classmates (’48) throughout her life. Patsy attended Baylor University and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1952. Her times at Baylor were some of her dearest memories. She participated in the Baylor University Golden Wave Marching Band as part of the first group of “Golden Girls” in 1948. She stayed an active supporter and encourager of the band all her life, later laying the foundation for the Donald I. Moore Scholarship and alumni band. The day after graduation, she married L.V. “Jerry” Pentecost. She and Jerry served as ambassadors for Baylor both officially and unofficially throughout their life, “flinging their green and gold afar.” She did secretarial work for several companies including Shell and Humble while living in Houston and San Antonio. When the couple settled in Galena Park, TX, she became actively involved in First Baptist Church. The couple adopted a daughter and a son in 1961 and another daughter in 1967. In 1970 they moved to Port Lavaca, TX, where she became a member of FBC, Port Lavaca helping to start the children’s choir program and girls’ GA’s. She also served as an organist at First Baptist Church Galena Park and Port Lavaca and continued to twirl with the Baylor Alumni Band into her 80s. Many attending Baylor football games would recognize her as the tiniest twirler on the field. Independently, she taught piano and twirling; she served as a substitute teacher in the Calhoun County Schools, reporting that she was “having a ball. Those kids know I love them.” Following a family accident, Patsy manned the Calhoun County crisis hotline for many years in service to her community. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Jaqueline Vaughan Barton. Patsy is survived by her husband of 68 years, Dr. L.V. “Jerry” Pentecost, her son, Gerald Guy Pentecost, and daughters Dr. Joyce Hnatek (Joe) and Cheryl Smith (Brian). Those blessed to have called her “Grandma” are Sarah Brown (Colin), Joshua Hnatek, Caleb Hnatek, Samuel Hnatek, Chye Harabis (Bailey) and Kelyn Smith. She was very proud of the newest member of her family, great-grandson, Simeon Brown. Patsy loved Jesus, Jerry and her family, and people (especially children), Baylor and music; she wanted to share those loves with everyone else, so that they could experience the joy and fun that she had. Patsy’s life was a testament to the great redemptive love of Christ, and we, her family, pray that God would be glorified in her death, as He was in her life.

Byron E. White, BA ’52, July 24 in Euless, TX.

Charles M. Allbritton, BBA ’53, Oct. 13 in Helotes, TX.

Carolyn W. Goelzer, BA ’53, July 21 in New Braunfels, TX.

Mary Beth K. Walker, BA ’53, Sep. 22 in Denton, TX.

William J. Williams, BA ’53, MS ’58, on Oct. 5.

Betty L. Halff, BSN ’54, Sep. 9 in San Antonio.

David Carl Tyssen, BA ’54, March 22, in Clifton, TX.

Harold D. Coleman, BA ’55, Aug. 8 in Rock Hill, SC.

Glynda G. Greenlee, BBA ’55, Oct. 2 in Mansfield, TX.

Thomas I. Lowry, BS ’55, MD ’58, Aug. 1 in Austin.

Thurman Oliver McDaniel, BBA ’55, June 29, in Haddonfield, NJ.

Bill P McReynolds, BBA ’55, of Houston, July 12.

Doris H. Carter, BA ’56, Oct. 3 in Ridgeland, MS.

James O. Roberson, BA ’56, Sep. 15 in Sun City, AZ.

Wayne C. Smith, BA ’56, Oct. 8 in Lamesa, TX.

Patricia Ann Pritchard Alexandar, BBA ’57, July 7 in Livingston, TX.

Lee J. Brookshire, BA ’57, JD ’65, July 19 in Fort Worth.

Mary L. Burrus, BA ’57, Oct. 13 in Houston.

Thelma Cooper, BM ’57, MM ’59, died Oct. 14, 2020. She was born Nov. 14, 1936, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and lived a full, creative life as a disciplined student and an inspiring teacher. Cooper’s parents were Baptist missionaries to Brazil, as were her grandparents William and Anne Luther Bagby, for whom a Waco street is named. Cooper completed high school in Brazil while being guided by her uncle Albert Bagby in piano performance. She and William F. Cooper, BA ’54, MA ’59, were married Dec. 24, 1959, while he was a doctoral candidate at Indiana University Bloomington. After moving to Indiana, Thelma completed certification as an elementary teacher. She gave birth to son Richard two weeks before the family moved to Argentina, where a Fulbright Grant funded Bill’s research in Latin American Philosophy. Thelma was able to return for a few months to her home in Porto Alegre and introduce her parents and many friends to her infant son. Soon after the birth of their second son Jonathan in July 1965, the family moved to Waco when Bill accepted a faculty position at Baylor. Their daughter Dorisanne was born in November 1969, a few years after Thelma began her career teaching piano in the Baylor School of Music. Her Baylor career was structured around a demanding teaching schedule; deep devotion to her many students; a good many years of duo piano recitals with Leta Horan, BM ’66, MM ’72, PhD; the development of the Piano Laboratory Program; and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. She also continued musical studies in Chautauqua, NY, during summers. One of the great joys of Thelma’s life was playing the piano for worship and children’s choirs at Seventh and James Baptist Church, a community that nurtured her faith and guided and comforted her in her pilgrimage through life’s many demands. Her delight through every stage of life was hosting people at the family table, serving chicken spaghetti or lasagna and Bill’s homemade bread to countless friends and family members.

Max E. Dunks, BA ’57, Sep. 7 in Kerrville, TX.

Joe B. Gough, BS ’57, MS ’62, Sep. 6 in Waco.

William M. Hughes, BA ’57, Sep. 20 in Tyler, TX.

Richard A. Jurek, BA ’57, MS ’60, Aug. 4 in Mustang, OK.

Matt Smallman Miller, BBA ’57, died Nov. 6, 2020, in Houston, surrounded by family and caregivers. Miller was born Sept. 13, 1934, in Waco to Matt Smallman Miller Sr. and Velma Cantrell Miller. He was a 1953 graduate of Waco High School. Miller was a pitcher on Baylor’s baseball team. He met his wife Dorothy Abernathy at Baylor, and they were married Aug. 29, 1959. He began his professional career in the Houston office of Ernst and Young and was granted his CPA certificate Jan. 30, 1961. After rising to the level of audit senior, Miller spent 25 years as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Houston’s Coca-Cola foods division and two years as Coca-Cola’s director of corporate real estate in Atlanta. He finished his business career as senior vice president and CFO for Houston’s Maryland Club Foods. While maintaining an exhaustive business schedule, he always found time to give back to his community. Miller provided loyal and generous support to Houston’s Memorial Church of Christ, Baylor, Houston’s Tallowood Baptist Church and the Memorial Hermann Foundation. He served dutifully and joyfully on the board of Memorial Hermann Healthcare Systems for many years. Miller’s true passions were simple: his faith, his family, his friends and Baylor. He is a past president and board member of the Baylor “B” Association and the Baylor Bear Foundation, and he served on the Baylor Alumni Association and Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business advisory boards. Miller was the true definition of exemplary — in his faith, as a husband, as a father and as a friend. He is survived by wife Dorothy, BBA ’57; daughter Michelle, her husband John Chambers and their sons Andrew, Thomas and James; son Mark, his wife Alison and their daughter Alyssa; and two younger brothers, George Miller and Todd Miller, and their many children and grandchildren.

Sandra Roberts Smith, BS ’57, Oct. 18 in Wichita Falls, TX.

Bob R. Taylor, BA ’57, Oct. 21 in Mount Juliet, TN.

Charles G. Williams, BBA ’57, Sep. 11 in Waco.

Carla S. Garrett, BA ’58, Oct. 11 in Tyler, TX.

Fletcher H. Meier, BBA ’58, Sep. 22 in Kerrville, TX.

Floyd D. Slaton, BA ’58, Aug. 3 in Amarillo, TX.

Marcia S. Dingler, BSN ’59, Aug. 1 in Arlington, TX.

Earle V. Guthrie, BA ’59, Aug. 22 in Waco.

Oran Lonny Sinclair, BA ’59, MA ’61, July 22 in Conroe, TX.