Dear Fellow Pioneers:
Elsewhere in this newsletter, you'll find a story about one of the nicest people I've ever known - basketball coach Joe Lombard.
It also happens that Joe is being inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn. this weekend and Carolyn and I, on behalf of the Association of Former Students, will be there to host a luncheon for Joe, many members of his family and former players.
In 38 years of coaching, he has compiled an astounding record of 1,200 victories and just 108 defeats, winning six state championships at Nazareth and 12 more - including the past three years - at Canyon. He ranks as one of the top three winningest coaches ever in Texas.
Several of his former players - including Shawna and Shayla Monreal and Aubrey and Ashton Pedigo - have played for the Queens in the past several years.
A member of the Texas Basketball Hall of Fame and recipient of the Harley Redin Coaching Award from Wayland, he also received the Outstanding Alumni Service Award in 2006.
Joe is an outstanding Christian gentleman and as our Athletic Director Rick Cooper said, "Joe's everything you'd want a Wayland alumnus to represent."
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Please mark your calendars for Sept. 16-17, Homecoming and Parents Weekend at Wayland. The weekend includes honoring distinguished alumni in chapel on Friday, followed by the Legacy League Luncheon for graduates of 50 years and longer, a cookout, a play and a pep rally. Saturday's events include a brunch for parents, the Athletic Hall of Honor inductions and a football game with Howard Payne at 2 p.m.
Watch for more details in future newsletters.
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You'll likely be hearing from the Advancement staff about Impact 2020, a $14 million capital campaign over the next five years to renovate the Moody Math and Science Building, renovate Owen, Ferguson and Fleming-Mays Tower women's dorms, replace the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for Gates Hall, replace the main sewer line, repair campus parking lots and repair or replace the concrete expanse between the Mabee Learning Resources Center and the Math and Science Building.
Some of these projects are basically "taking care of the house" but are vitally needed.
I hope you'll pray about what you as a proud alumnus of Wayland can do to financially support this effort as we "pay it forward" to a new generation of students.
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Hope you have a great summer,
