2010-2011 Alumni Award Winners
John J. Keeter, Jr. Alumni Service Award
The Alumni Service Award is the highest alumni honor HSU can bestow. It is presented to the former student(s) who has contributed the most in his or her field of endeavor toward the betterment of HSU or who has rendered the greatest service to the university. Awards are selected by a committee whose members are established by a campus leadership role.
Dr. Fred E. Aurbach
BA 1966
Dr. Fred Aurbach, who retired from his Dallas, TX, dental practice in 2003, has faithfully served his alma mater since his graduation in 1966. He was an early member of the HSU Board of Young Associates, served on the Board of Trustees from 1996 to 2005, and has been a member of the Board of Development since 2005.
Dr. Aurbach continues to be an active leader in the HSU Dallas Alumni Chapter and serves the university as a recruiter and volunteer.
In 2009 he established the Patricia Aurbach Church Music Award in memory of his late wife, Trisha (Cates B69). Dr. Aurbach was instrumental in HSU’s acquisition of the Tandy Bible Collection, comprised of more than 76 pieces including a first edition 1611 King James Version.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
The Distinguished Alumni Award, given since 1970, is presented to alumni whose personal and professional accomplishments are exemplary of the ideals and aims of the University and thus bring honor to HSU. Awards are selected by a committee whose members are established by a campus leadership role.
This award will be presented during the Alumni Awards Banquet on Thursday evening, October 15, 6:30 p.m., Abilene Civic Center Conference Hall; $30.
Dr. Ruth Schleifer
BA 1982
Ruth Schleifer is a solo medical practitioner, specializing in Obstetrics & Gynecology. In 2000, she opened her West Hartford, CT, private practice, WomanCare.
Dr. Schleifer was the first female elected to the PHO Board of Directors at St. Francis Hospital and is currently serving her third term. She is also on the peer review committee for Women and Infants. She served her residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford 1990-1994.
More recently, Ruth attended the University of Connecticut School of Law, 2000-2004, and passed her Bar Exam (on the first try) in 2005.
She has two medical publications to her credit, and has participated in four Surgical Mission trips to the Dominican Republic with Medical Missions International.
While a student at HSU, Ruth was active in Delta Zeta Chi social club, among other organizations.
Mr. Marv Knox
BS 1979
Marv Knox is editor of the Baptist Standard, newspaper of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, a position he’s held since January 1999 after serving for three years as associate editor.
Mr. Knox’s writing and editing have been honored with awards from the Dallas Press Club, the Religious Public Relations Council and the Baptist Communicators’ Association. He is past chairman of the board of directors of Associated Baptist Press; past president of the Whitsitt Society, a Baptist heritage organization; and past chairman of the HSU media relations advisory board.
In 1996, he was named a distinguished alumnus of the HSU’s Logsdon School of Theology, and he was awarded the honorary doctor of humane letters degree from DBU in 2004.
At HSU, he was Brand editor for three years, and was president of both Alpha Phi Omega and Student Foundation.
Marv and his wife Joanna (Jarchow ’79) have been active in the HSU Alumni Association since graduation.
Major General Jose S. Mayorga
MBA 1989
Major General Mayorga became the 50th Adjutant General for the State of Texas in April, 2009.
He is responsible to the Texas Governor for providing ready trained forces of the Texas Army Guard, the Texas Air Guard, the Texas State Guard, and the Adjutant General’s Department, better known as the Texas Military Forces, in support of state operations.
The general is also responsible to the President of the United States for providing ready trained forces in support of federal missions.
Jose earned his B.S. degree in 1977 from Texas A&I, Kingsville. He served four years on active duty with the Regular Army, before accepting a Reserve commission. He joined the Texas Army National Guard in 1982.
He is a registered Professional Engineer and, prior to becoming Adjutant General, had a 27-year civilian career with the Railroad Commission of Texas.
OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI
Recognizing Alumni who have attained outstanding achievements in their field of endeavor, community, state or nation. This award was created by the Board of Young Associates and was first presented in 2004.
This award will be presented during the Outstanding Young Alumni Awards Banquet on Friday evening, February 11, 7 p.m., Hardin-Simmons University- Johnson Building; $18.
Ms. Terri Hendrix
Award-Winning Musician
Music, 1990
Terri Hendrix’s “Cry Till You Laugh,” released June 22, 2010, is proving to be one of the best-received albums of the award-winning Texas songwriter’s career. But the record was only the beginning.
That “Cry” is the 14th release (in as many years) that Terri has put out on her own Wilory Records label suggests that she also knows a thing or two about how to maintain a “DIY” music career. A veritable pioneer in the running-your-own-label revolution sweeping the music industry, she’s also one of very few artists who can lay claim to having always owned all of her master recordings.
This past fall, Terri wrapped up her first book, a companion piece to the album called “Cry Till You Laugh — The Part That Ain’t Art.”
As an HSU music student, Terri waited tables to put herself through school. She was also a campus adviser to incoming freshmen.
A classically-trained vocalist and deft multi-instrumentalist (guitar, mandolin, and harmonica), Terri weaves folk, pop, country, blues and swinging jazz into an eclectic style all her own that plays like a lovingly compiled mix-CD.
Terri, who co-wrote a Grammy-winning instrumental (“Lil’ Jack Slade”) on the Dixie Chicks’ 2002 “Home” album, had a very eventful 2010. She was inducted into the South Texas Music Walk of Fame in Corpus Christi, joining such Lone Star luminaries as Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, and all four original Texas Tornados. She also received the Art of Peace Award from St. Mary’s University in her hometown of San Antonio.
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HSU was the perfect place to begin my higher education. It’s the right size with the right people including kind-hearted and genuine teachers.
Mr. Todd Gentzel
Business Strategist
BBS 1995
Todd Gentzel is Chief Strategist at Yaffe Deutser, a Houston-based management consulting firm that specializes in the integration and alignment of organizational strategy, culture, and communication.
As one of the firm's two principals, he manages each of the company's three consulting practices (strategic services, organizational services, communication services). His sector experience includes healthcare, education, retail, aviation, financial services and not-for-profit.
At HSU, Todd was a member of Theta Alpha Zeta and the National Model U.N. Team. During those years, he helped start Young Life Wylie, served as Youth Minister at First Baptist Stamford, and as Youth Worship Leader at Calvary Baptist.
After graduating from Hardin-Simmons, he clerked for the Department of Justice and worked for the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.
He then transitioned to consulting where he has, over the course of the previous ten years, served as an advisor to a broad range of clients in the aviation, oil and gas, healthcare, education and retail sectors.
Todd is a strategist, a futurist, a designer and a social scientist. His work has produced more than fifty regional and national awards and has yielded tens of millions of dollars for his clients.
He conducted graduate work at the University of Oxford Said School of Business. He earned a Specialized Master of Science degree in consulting and coaching for change from HEC Paris (École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Paris).
Todd is a member of both the Academy of Management and the European Academy of Management. He is also a member of HSU’s Board of Development.
Todd and his wife Claire (Canon ’93 BA) live in Houston.
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It would be hard to overstate the impact the University has had on my life. So much of how I view the world was shaped at Hardin-Simmons. When I think about the success that has been achieved by my classmates, when I look at the impact the school and its graduates have had on the world, I am reminded of what makes Hardin-Simmons so special.
Mr. Leighton Flowers
Youth Ministry Executive
BBS 1997
Leighton Flowers is the Youth Evangelism Director for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. In this position he directs a statewide youth leadership training camp called Super Summer impacting thousands of Christian teenagers with in depth Bible study and discipleship training.
Super Summer of Texas began in 1974 as a training opportunity for Christian young people who were interested in advancing their personal spiritual growth and wanted to know more about how to share Christ with others. Super Summer is not just another camp, but a week of structured and focused training—a week which is also a lot of fun.
Leighton also directs the Youth Evangelism Conference reaching anywhere between 5 to 7 thousand Texas teenagers with the gospel of Christ each year.
In addition, he assists in the oversight of such ministries as Hot Hearts and See You At The Pole impacting students not only in Texas but all around our world.
Before coming to the BGCT in 2003, Leighton served 10 years in the local church and was the founder of Cornerstone Evangelistic Ministries as he traveled speaking around the globe sharing the good news to lost teenagers in need of hope.
As a student at HSU, Leighton was Baptist Student Missions Freshman President (1993) and Baptist Student Missions Freshman Council President (1994). He received the Presidential Scholarship for highest GPA of any seminary-bound graduate to attend SWBTS.
Leighton and his wife Laura (Leavenworth ’95 BA) have four children (Colson, Cooper, Esther, and Caden). They live in Princeton, Texas, just outside of Dallas. Leighton serves weekly at his local congregation through preaching and teaching.
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Hardin-Simmons University was more than a place for me to get a great education. It was a turning point. It was the place where I established the foundation for the rest of my life.
It was the place I built lifelong friendships. It was the place I met the love of my life. It was the place from where God launched my family, my ministry career and my life’s journey. Because of this, HSU will always have a special place in my heart.
ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
The Athletics Hall of Fame honors former athletes and coaches who made a significant contribution to HSU and the athletics program. They are selected at least 10 years after completing their HSU playing career (after five years for coaches), by a committee including current and former HSU athletes from various sports. Nominations are accepted year-round.
Friday, October 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Johnson Building on the HSU Campus; $25.
Mr. Pete Murray
BBA ’57/ MPT ’63 Football & Basketball
Murray was a two-sport star for the Cowboys from 1952-57, playing football in 1952, 1953, and 1956, and basketball in 1954-57. As a senior, he was one of the few Division I athletes in history to play in both a football game (HSU 41 vs. TTU 14) and a basketball game (HSU 84 vs. MSU 69) on the same day. His outstanding play as a middle linebacker led to his being named to the All-Border Conference football team as a center on offense and a middle linebacker on defense. In the 1955-56 basketball season, he was one of three players scoring over 200 points. That same year, he was named as HSU’s Most Outstanding Athlete.
Dr. Melanie Forster Muhr
BS ’00 Soccer
Muhr played at HSU from 1996-99 and was a four-time all-ASC selection, helping lead the Cowgirls to four consecutive conference championships. The Cowgirls were 34-1 against ASC opponents in Muhr’s four years. In 1997 and 1998, Muhr was named to the GTE Academic All-America team and, in 1998, was also selected as the ASC West Division Player of the Year. In 1999, she was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete All America team. Following her fourth season, Muhr was third on the career goals list with 60. Today, she remains first on the career list in games started, shots attempted, and game winning goals.
Miss Kathryn Otwell
BBS ’99 Basketball
Otwell is one of the top women basketball players in school history and is the all-time leader in four career categories. A member of the Cowgirls from 1997-2000, Otwell helped lead HSU to national prominence at the Division III level. She is the non-scholarship era all-time leader in points (1,778), scoring average (16.9), free throws made (522) and free throws attempted (666). She is the single season leader in free throws made with 170 during the 2000 season. Otwell was named as the ASC Most Valuable Player in 1999 and 2000. She was a first-team all-region and All American selection in 2000 when the Cowgirls advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III Basketball Tournament.
Mr. Lynn Turner
BA ’90 Baseball
Turner set numerous school records while playing for the Cowboys from 1985-88 when HSU was a member of the Trans-America Athletic Conference and NCAA Division I. An outfielder, Turner played on three consecutive TAAC West Division Championship teams. In 1986, the Cowboys set school records with 38 wins in a season and a .681 winning percentage. Turner was named All-TAAC in 1986, 1987 and 1988. He holds Division I era career records at HSU: most runs scored (170), career games played (224), hits (277), home runs (39), at bats (670). He holds single season Division I era records at HSU: runs batted in (77) and doubles (20).