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RANGE RIDER | SPRING-SUMMER 2018
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Why We Give
By Dr. Kyle Keeter
Dr. Guy ’55 and Jo Anne (Yarbrough) Keeter ’55
Dr. Kyle ’81 and Carolyn Keeter
With more than 20 family members
attending HSU over a span of 100+
years, it should be no surprise that
Hardin-Simmons is in our family’s
blood. My grandparents, parents, some
aunts, and uncles, cousins, one brother,
and two nieces all attended our beloved
university.
While I’m not one to live in the past,
family legacy is important to me. When
my uncle John died in World War II
in 1942, my grandparents established
an award at HSU in his memory. Since
1943, the John J. Keeter Jr. Alumni
Service Award, the highest alumni
honor, has been bestowed upon an HSU
alumnus or alumna annually.
While the Keeter Award has much to do
with our name recognition, it’s just part
of our family legacy at Hardin-Simmons.
After all, if it weren’t for HSU, I wouldn’t
have been born. My grandparents met at
HSU, and my father’s roommate, Chick
Tiger ’54, set him and my mother up
on a blind date. They dated their junior
and senior years and married three
months after graduating. Mom then
taught school while Dad attended dental
school. I followed in his footsteps, also
becoming a dentist.
HSU provided a solid educational
foundation for us. Mom was well-
prepared for her teaching career. Dad
and I were both ready for dental school,
as much as – if not more than – our
classmates who graduated from large
state universities. Professors cared
about us, not just as students, but as
individuals. Two of my professors, Dr.
Taylor Rankin and Dr. George Newman,
helped me prep for dental school
interviews. I was deeply honored when
I was asked several months ago to serve
as a Trustee of the university, especially
since the board is currently chaired by
Dr. Newman.
Mom was a P.E. major, and one of her
favorite teachers was Billie (Shirley)
Martin. Amazingly, more than 60 years
after graduating, Mom and Mrs. Martin
still talk on a routine basis. Mrs. Martin’s
late husband, Dr. J. G. Martin, was the
advisor for my fraternity, Alpha Phi
Omega, and one of my favorite faculty
members.
Dad served on the inaugural board
of the Young Associates, and he later
joined the Board of Development. I
served on the Student Foundation,
which was a great experience. One of our
duties was interacting with prospective
students, encouraging them to make
HSU their choice. Student Foundation
was also involved with the Phone-athon
fundraiser. Later, when I was on the
receiving end of those phone calls as an
alumnus, I gladly gave.
Continuing the family tradition is one
reason my parents, my wife and I started
giving several years after graduating
from HSU. While Carolyn attended
elsewhere, she wholeheartedly joins me
in supporting the university.
Mom, Dad and I were all blessed by
our time as students – the relationships
we formed with faculty, the lasting
friendships we made, the opportunities
for leadership, and the quality education
we received. Because of those things,
it’s only natural to give back, especially
to help others who couldn’t attend HSU
without receiving help. I also want to
make HSU proud of our family and
make our family proud of Hardin-
Simmons.
ADVANCEMENT