Category: Alumni News
ACU Remembers: Don W. Hood
Don Wade Hood (’55), former Abilene Christian University track and field head coach whose athletes won national championships, set world records and achieved Olympic success, died Feb. 9, 2024, in Abilene, Texas, at age 90. Visitation with the family is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 15, from 6-8 p.m. at Elliott Hamil Funeral Home (5701 U.S. … Continued
ACU Remembers: Barbara Bates
Longtime benefactor and former Abilene Christian University trustee Barbara Jo Allan “Barbie” Bates (’61) died Jan. 6, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas, at age 85. A Celebration of Life service will be held Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Park and Funeral Home, followed by a reception. She was born Dec. 19, 1938, … Continued
Revelation’s horses featured in Diaz’s upcoming Abilene exhibit
His largest painted mural is in Abilene, and his largest canvas, too. So it made sense to Rolando Diaz (’79) to bring his most popular retrospective exhibit from Dallas to his alma mater’s hometown as well. The latter happens Jan. 12 through Feb. 24, 2024, when “The Horses of Revelation,” an exhibit by the internationally … Continued
Barrow inducted into Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame
As an Abilene Christian student, Lance Barrow (’77) would leave on the weekends to cover NFL games and golf tournaments with legendary broadcaster Pat Summerall, and then he would have to race back to Abilene to be back on campus for his classes on Mondays. Before he even crossed the Commencement stage, Barrow had already … Continued
ACU Remembers: Landon Saunders
Beloved evangelist Dr. Landon Brady Saunders (’23 L.H.D.) of Norwich, Vermont, the namesake of a new academic center at Abilene Christian University, died Nov. 14, 2023, at age 86. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2024, at Light of the World Church of Christ in Dallas. He was born … Continued
ACU Remembers: Ray Hansen
Longtime ACU trustee Ray Victor Hansen (’53), 91, died Oct. 29, 2023, in College Station, Texas. A funeral service took place there today. A burial service is scheduled for Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. at Abilene’s Texas State Veterans Cemetery (7457 W. Lake Road, Abilene, Texas 79601). He was born March 5, 1932, in Stamford, … Continued
31st annual Gutenberg celebration set for homecoming weekend
The 31st annual Gutenberg celebration for the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the Hunter Welcome Center on the campus of Abilene Christian University to honor outstanding alumni of the department. This year’s recipients are: Preston Watkins (’12), Sales Director at WebMD in New York … Continued
ACU announces $25 million gift, first named college in its rise as a national research university
A Houston family’s long legacy of philanthropy and service to Abilene Christian University culminated in a $25 million gift announced this week from Kay Onstead. Her generosity marks the fifth largest single donation in the university’s history, and Kay and her late husband, Robert, have given more than $59 million to Abilene Christian over their … Continued
ACU awards honorary doctorate to David D. Halbert
As part of Commencement exercises Saturday, May 13, Abilene Christian University presented David D. Halbert with an honorary doctorate. Halbert is the chairman, founder and CEO of Caris Life Sciences, a pioneering precision medicine company that helps patients receive better quality care through access to individualized medicine. With more than 40 years of experience, and … Continued