Founders Day Observance on April 12

(Abilene, Texas) The 79^th Founders Day Observance will be held April 12 in Logsdon Chapel beginning at 9:30 a.m. 

The service pays tribute to some of the earliest leaders and benefactors of HSU, including Dr. and Mrs. James Simmons; their son, Dr. Robert Simmons; Dr. and Mrs. O.C. Pope; and Dr. and Mrs. J.D. Sandefer. It will be presented by members of student government.  

The observance will conclude with a rendition of “Taps.” The first Founders Day observance, held in April 1938, was broadcast by radio station KRBC.

The event will also honor the Class of 1966 who will be on campus celebrating their 50-year reunion.

The guest speaker for the event will be Dr. Wes Black ’66. Black graduated from Hardin-Simmons with a Bachelor of Music degree and later completed the Master of Arts in Religious Education and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Black served 29 years on the faculty at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in range of roles including professor of student ministry, chair of the student ministry department, Jack and Barbara Terry Chair of Religious Education, associate dean for PhD studies, and acting dean of the School of Church and Family Ministries. He retired from the faculty of Southwestern Seminary in 2012 and began a new phase in his ministry. He is current serving as Minister with Legacy and Senior Adults at Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.