1940s-60s
1940s
Anna Bell Briggs Johnson, BSN ’48, of Mountain Brook, AL, established the Anna Bell Briggs Johnson Endowed Scholarship in Nursing, a Hord Challenge Scholarship, to support students in the Louise Herrington School of Nursing.
1950s
Peggy Hardcastle, BS ’53, of Vernon, TX, established the Peggy Rodgers Hardcastle Endowed Scholarship, which supports students majoring in nutrition sciences.
Gene Anderson, BA ’54, MA ’58, and Nancy Baker Anderson, BA ’55, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary June 30, 2021. The couple never met while attending Baylor but became acquainted after they both had graduated and were teaching in Hawaii. Gene went to Honolulu in 1956 to teach at the Hawaii Baptist Academy, a newly established school founded by missionaries returning from China. He was informed of the school while working in the Alexander Hall dining room with Kiyo Itokazu, a former graduate of the academy. Gene was an active member of Honolulu’s Olivet Baptist Church, where he was a teacher, an organist and a deacon. Nancy arrived in Hawaii in 1957 after two years teaching in Fort Worth, her hometown. She was placed at Leilehua Intermediate and High School in Wahiawa, about 25 miles from Honolulu. She was an active member of the Wahiawa Baptist Church, serving as church recorder, leader of the junior department in Sunday school and choir member. Gene and Nancy met for the first time that next spring when several Baptist churches joined in a choir festival at Olivet. After three years of courtship, they married in Wahiawa in 1961.
Fred L. Adams, BA ’59, celebrated his 60th anniversary of ordination in the church Nov. 14, 2021, at Second Baptist Church in St Louis. He earned a master’s degree from Southern Baptist Seminary and doctorate from McCormick Seminary in Chicago. Adams has served 40 years of ministry as pastor, campus minister and associate executive for American Baptists in Missouri. He and his wife Fran recently celebrated 62 years of marriage.
Rev. Allen C. Liles, BA ’59, former editor of The Baylor Lariat, authored Daniel 6: Surviving the Lion’s Den [Positive Imaging LLC, 2021], a classic Bible chapter book. More information is available at classicbiblechapters.com. Contact at reval@aol.com.
1960s
R. Wayne Cessna, BA ’61, of Jacksonville, FL, established the R. Wayne Cessna Excellence Fund for Baylor Athletics.
The nursing school at Campbellsville University in Harrodsburg, KY, was named in honor of Sandra Bailey DeFoor, BSN ’62, in July 2021. DeFoor’s career included teaching at the university level and in hospital nursing schools. She retired as director of nursing at Harrodsburg’s Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital after years of various hospital positions. DeFoor has been a member of the Mercer County Board of Health since 1986, and she continues as chair of the board. Her husband W. Robert DeFoor, BA ’64, retired in 2007 after 28 years as pastor of the Harrodsburg Baptist Church. He has been a frequent writer for GC2 Press (formerly BaptistWay Press) of Texas. Sandy and Bob, who have three children and seven grandchildren, live in Harrodsburg.
Dr. L. Ralph Rohr, BA ’64, authored The Revelation of Jesus Christ—Comfort or Confusion? The Blessing of Symbolic Interpretation [Global Summit House, 2020], a 450-page verse-by-verse commentary on the book of Revelation, available at multiple online booksellers. It is a refreshing scriptural explanation of God’s revelation of His Son, favorably reviewed by Kirkus Indie. Rohr additionally authored Resolving the Age of the World Argument: A Biblical Solution [Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021], a brief 88-page book that is an insightful and believable alternative to the arguments over this issue; available only via Amazon. Rohr, a retired medical doctor, writes about Bible topics at sowhatistruth.com, a web blog, and he welcomes communication and feedback via the blog. Contact at rarohr@infowest.com.
Christina Andrews, BA ’66, JD ’73, of Fort Worth established the Christina Andrews Endowed Scholarship in Law, which supports law students and the 19th Amendment and Beyond Fund for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives at Baylor Law.
Alice P. Brunson, BS ’66, of Houston established the Alice Praisnar Brunson Endowed Scholarship, which supports students who graduated from Premont [TX] High School, or other Texas residents, who are pursuing an environmental science degree.
Gloyce Fulmer, BBA ’67, and Rebecca Fulmer, BA ’67, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in August 2021.
Richard “Rick” DuBroc Jr., BA ’68, celebrated 50 years as a Texas pastor in September 2021. A special worship service was held Sept. 26 as DuBroc retired after 42 years as pastor at First Baptist Church in El Campo, TX. Contact at larid@ykc.com.
Jim Styles, BA ’68, authored Through the Glass Darkly and The Loves of a Lifetime. Both novels were published by Covenant Books.
Don Welch, BA ’69, published Opening Thoughts on Everyday Living: Digging Deeper, Looking Farther, his sixth book, in September 2021. Welch retired from Vanderbilt University and enjoys volunteering in the nonprofit world and writing.