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John Ray Godfrey (’68) is carried off the court by fans after setting a single-game scoring record in the first basketball game played in Moody Coliseum in 1968.

Full Circle: Iconic domed home of the Wildcats turns 50

Though he was its leading man, he had never seen the film. Until this week when the stunningly vivid images of him and his teammates racing up and down Moody Coliseum’s revolutionary rubberized floor in the first game ever played there leapt off the screen. For a moment, John Ray Godfrey felt 41 again. “It … Continued
April (Bullock ’89) Anthony, Dr. Barry Packer (’78) and Kay (Coleman ’62) Skelton

Anthony succeeds Packer as chair, Culpepper and Wilburn added to board

When historians look back on the tenures of Abilene Christian University board chairs named Packer, the list of accomplishments will be significant. At meetings this past weekend, the role as chair of ACU’s Board of Trustees changed hands, from Dr. Barry Packer (’78) to April (Bullock ’89) Anthony. Packer and his dad, the late Dr. … Continued

Tom Craig’s farewell to Sing Song marked by memories

With their blue shirts covered in silver duct tape numbers, a small group scattered from Moody Coliseum back to the newsroom to wrap up the Sing Song issue of The Optimist. The year was 1989. Tom Craig and the other seniors on the newspaper staff participating in the class act, “The Cowboys Are Dead,” sang … Continued

ACU Remembers: Betty Whiteside

Ruby Beatrice “Betty” (Tomkins) Whiteside, who served as administrative assistant to four Abilene Christian University presidents, died Jan. 31, 2018, in Abilene, Texas, at age 89. She was born May 1, 1928, in London, England, and graduated at the top of her Pitman Business College class at age 15. At age 20, Betty’s mother encouraged … Continued

Don Conder running

ACU Remembers: Don Conder

Former longtime Abilene Christian University trustee Donald Richard Conder (’56) died Jan. 29, 2018, at age 82 in Lubbock, Texas. He was born April 12, 1935, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and graduated in 1952 from Little Rock High School, where he excelled in track and field, winning numerous state titles. He met Sue Hufstedler (’59) … Continued

Eagles still look to Wilbert in NFL playoff crunch time

It’s been 37 years since the Philadelphia Eagles turned to an Abilene Christian University football legend to help them reach the Super Bowl. Two weeks ago, they did it again. Both moves turned out pretty well. Wilbert Montgomery (’77) was one of the honorary captains – along with Brian Dawkins – chosen by the team … Continued

Members of ACU's Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization recently toured Q1 Media in Austin to hear the inside story of the startup business. Photo: Q1 Media.

ACU’s CEO named 2017 Global Chapter of the Year

Abilene Christian University’s chapter of Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization was named 2017 Global Chapter of the Year for the third year in a row at the CEO Global Conference and Pitch Competition in Tampa, Florida. The Global Chapter of the Year award is given to a CEO chapter that demonstrates excellence in organizational development and the … Continued

ACU NEXT Lab

NEXT Lab focuses research on solving global problems

Abilene Christian is the highest-ranking university in Texas in a U.S. News and World Report benchmark focused on student success. Here is a look at some of the people and programs that make our student experience exceptional. A box of Morton’s salt sitting on a table and mention of a Crock-Pot makes visitors to ACU’s … Continued

Dr. Rusty Towell

Rusty Towell: Innovative scholar, down-to-earth teacher

Remember the adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover” when meeting Dr. Rusty Towell (’90) for the first time. More to the point, don’t pre-judge Towell based on the cover of his scholarly books, publications and presentations. Don’t let titles like “Recent Measurements With the NIFFTE Fission TPC and the Potential to Advance Thorium … Continued

Record number of Wildcats named to Southland Conference Honor Roll

Abilene Christian athletics Tuesday lifted its number of Southland Conference Commissioner Honor Roll awardees for the fourth consecutive year as a school record 123 student-athletes were named to this distinguished list. ACU led all Southland schools last year with 104 honorees and in year’s prior finished with 90 (2015), 84 (2014) and 54 (2013) honor … Continued