Dear Fellow Pioneers:

I have recently felt as if I were back at The Plainview Herald after writing a lot of stories for the latest edition of Footprints alumni magazine. (By the way, if you're not getting the print version, please e-mail me at andrewsd@wbu.edu and we'll get you on the list or you can access back issues at wbu.edu, Alumni, Footprints.)

I told several people I was afraid I'd get carpel tunnel syndrome just from writing retirement stories.

Hank Williams Jr.'s "All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down" has been swirling through my cranial Ipod as I contemplate the departure of some dear friends - President Dr. Paul Armes, Dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences Dr. Estelle Owens, Dean of Students Tom Hall, University Store Manager Eddie Turner, religion professor Dr. Glyndle Feagin, and Coordinator of Accounts Payable Lena Morphis.

Come to think of it, none of them are very rowdy but they are some of the best people I know. Of course, I'll see one of the retirees pretty often - my wife, Carolyn, who has been Dr. Armes' assistant his entire 15 years at Wayland.

With a combined 185 years of service, all of them have enriched this university in many and unique ways and will be greatly missed.

Congratulations to Dr. Bobby Hall on his selection as 13th president of Wayland. We pray God's blessings as he continues his long legacy of service to this University. He and his wife, Laurie, are both Wayland graduates.

The Advancement Office is launching "Impact 20/20," a capital campaign for several much-needed campus improvements.

It's pretty sobering to me that all buildings but the Laney Center, Jimmy Dean Hall and Davis Women's Dorm are 35 years and older - many of them quite a bit older.

There's nothing fancy in this $14 million campaign, just a lot of areas that need replacing, remodeling or updating. You'll be getting more details soon.

We're simply asking all Wayland alumni, faculty, staff and friends to prayerfully consider what you can do within your family budget - perhaps giving more by spreading your gift out over three to five years, if necessary.

A total of $28 a month - about the cost of two people eating out these days - over three years is $1,004. That's a pretty nice gift that a lot of alums can make - maybe through a monthly credit card debit. Some can do much more, some can't hit that mark but all can do something. And all gifts are appreciated.

It's time to "pay it forward" and provide better facilities for a new generation of students.

I'm on board and hope you will be, too. We look forward to hearing from you.