Baylor Mourns Passing of Founders Medal Recipient, Former Regent Ralph Storm

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WACO, Texas (Jan. 13, 2015) — Baylor University is mourning the passing of Ralph Storm, a distinguished alumnus, former Trustee/Regent and Founders Medallion recipient, who with his late wife, Jean, lived a life devoted to God, each other, their family and alma mater. Ralph Storm died Jan. 7 in California.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi, 3115 Ocean Drive, with private burial at Seaside Memorial Park.

"Ralph Storm's life reflected the heart and soul of Baylor University," said Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr. "He and his beloved wife, Jean, were shining examples of servant leadership, embracing their faith and humbly serving their church, city and alma mater in countless ways. As loyal alumni, they exuded Baylor ideals in a way that ignited a love of the university in those around them. The Storms adored young people, and together, they made a Baylor education possible for generations of students. We are immensely grateful for Ralph's years of dedicated service and the enduring legacy he and Jean have left at Baylor."

Soon after earning their bachelor's degrees from Baylor in 1949, Ralph and Jean married and made their home in Corpus Christi, where Ralph served as vice president of production for the C.G. Glasscock Drilling Co. from 1953 to 1958. In 1959, he formed the Storm Drilling Co., and in 1976, he and Lev Prichard III founded the Storm-Prichard Co. for exploration of oil and gas.

Ralph served Baylor as a Trustee and Regent for 27 years and was very involved in the life of the university as a member of the Medallion Fellowship, Old Main Society, Heritage Club, Development Council, Baylor Bear Foundation, Friends of Truett Seminary and the Endowed Scholarship Society. The Storms were avid Baylor football fans and rarely missed an opportunity to cheer for their Baylor Bears.

Ralph and Jean's love for Baylor and its students was one and the same. They supported Baylor financially through endowed scholarships and served as shepherds to numerous Baylor students. The Storms also endowed a professorship in the department of mathematics, the Ralph and Jean Storm Professor of Mathematics.

In recognition of his service to Baylor, Ralph was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Baylor in 1978 and was awarded the Herbert H. Reynolds Award for Meritorious Service to Students in 1985. In 2007, Baylor presented the Founders Medallion – one of the university's highest honors – to Ralph and, posthumously, to Jean for the Storms' service and devotion to the university through the years.

In addition to their devotion to Baylor, the Storms also were known as leaders at First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi and in their community. Jean served in ministry to the sick and homebound of First Baptist Church and served on numerous committees, at the church recreation center and as a Sunday school teacher.

Over the years Ralph faithfully served the church in nearly every capacity, from helping Jean to serving as a Deacon and Sunday school teacher, and he worked quietly behind the scenes on the big issues for Baylor, First Baptist Corpus Christi and the Baptist General Convention of Texas. In recent years, Ralph served as president of the Corpus Christi Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, moderator of BaptistLife.com, chair of the Board of Trustees for Palmer Drug Abuse Program and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce.

"One of life's greatest gifts to me was my friendship with Ralph Storm. I have known no other person who was more faithful to his Lord, his family, his church and his pastor," said Hulitt Gloer, Ph.D., professor of Christian Scriptures and The David E. Garland Chair of Preaching at Truett Seminary and the Storms' former pastor at First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi.

"His love for his beloved Jean and their children and grandchildren was the stuff of legend. His love for his Lord and his Lord's church was simply beyond measure. While always true to his convictions, he was the epitome of grace and generosity. If you were in need, Ralph would do everything in his power to meet that need. While I had the privilege of serving as his pastor, his affirmation and support were monumental as has been his love and support of Baylor through the years. Ralph Storm 'bled green and gold' and was a phenomenal part of 'that good old Baylor Line,'" Gloer said.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Wash and Virginia Storm; his cherished wife, Jean Morgan Storm; his brothers, James, Wash, Bob, Jack and Walter Storm; and his sister, Ann Reagan.

Ralph is survived by his daughters, Susan Guyton of Durham, North Carolina, and Kathy Sley of Santa Clara, California; grandchildren, Morgan and Julia Guyton, Sarah Lundgren, David and Mary Elisabeth Sley; six great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to First Baptist Church, 3115 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 78404 or Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University, One Baylor Place #97050, Waco, Texas 76798-7050.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.