Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a
private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
university in
Abilene, Texas
Abilene ( ) is a city in Taylor and Jones Counties in Texas, United States. Its population was 125,182 at the 2020 census, making it the 27th-most populous city in the state of Texas. It is the principal city of the Abilene metropolitan statis ...
. It was founded in 1906 as ''Childers Classical Institute''. ACU is one of the largest private universities in the Southwestern United States and has one of the 200 largest university endowments in the United States. Affiliated with
Churches of Christ
The Churches of Christ is a loose association of autonomous Christian congregations based on the ''sola scriptura'' doctrine. Their practices are based on Bible texts and draw on the early Christian church as described in the New Testament.
T ...
, the university is nationally recognized for excellence in service learning, undergraduate research, and undergraduate teaching.
History
Abilene Christian University grew from an idea held by A.B. Barret and Charles Roberson to form a school in
West Texas
West Texas is a loosely defined region in the U.S. state of Texas, generally encompassing the arid and semiarid lands west of a line drawn between the cities of Wichita Falls, Abilene, and Del Rio.
No consensus exists on the boundary betwee ...
. The Churches of Christ in Abilene agreed to back the project. J.W. Childers sold Barret land and a large house west of the town, and lowered the price with the stipulation that the school would be named in his honor. Childers Classical Institute opened in the fall of 1906, with 25 students. It initially included a lower school starting in the seventh grade.
When Jesse P. Sewell became president of the institute in 1912, the school began using Abilene Christian College on all its printed material. In 1920, the school paid the Childers family $4,000 and formally changed the name.
''The Optimist'', the university's student-produced newspaper, was founded in 1912. The ''Prickly Pear'', the school yearbook, was founded in 1916. The campus literary-arts magazine (now ''The Shinnery Review'', formerly ''The Pickwicker'') has been in production since 1933.
In 1927, with the help of a $75,000 contribution from the city of Abilene, the board of trustees purchased northeast of Abilene. In addition, residents donated of adjoining land. The new campus opened in the fall of 1929.
![AbileneChristian](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/AbileneChristian.JPG)
From the time of its founding to the present, the university has been governed by a board of trustees made up of members of the
Churches of Christ
The Churches of Christ is a loose association of autonomous Christian congregations based on the ''sola scriptura'' doctrine. Their practices are based on Bible texts and draw on the early Christian church as described in the New Testament.
T ...
.
Abilene Christian College first received
school accreditation
Educational accreditation is a quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated and verified by an external body to determine whether applicable and recognized standards are met. ...
in 1951, when it became an accredited member of the Commission on Colleges of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is an educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This agency accredits over 13,000 public and priv ...
.
[ ources: John C. Stevens, _No Ordinary University_, p. 248; John C. Stevens, "Abilene Christian University," Texas State Historical Association, https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kba01./ref>
]Amberton University
Amberton University is a private Evangelical Christian university in Garland, Texas. It began as part of Abilene Christian University as an extension campus from 1971 until 1982 and was initially located in Mesquite, Texas, moving to Garland i ...
, previously Amber University, was created as an extension campus of Abilene Christian University. It was launched in Mesquite, Texas
Mesquite is a suburban city located east of the city of Dallas, Texas, in the United States. Most of the city is located in Dallas County, though a small portion extends into Kaufman County. As of 2019 census estimates, the population was 140 ...
, in 1971, moving to Garland, Texas
Garland is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located northeast of Dallas and is a part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is located within Dallas County except for small portions located in Collin and Rockwall Counties. At the ...
, in 1974. It became a separate institution as Amber University in 1982, and was rechristened Amberton University in 2001. Like Abilene Christian University, Amberton remains affiliated with the Churches of Christ.
On February 22, 1976, the name of Abilene Christian College was changed to Abilene Christian University. The university celebrated its centennial in the 2005–06 school year. In July 2015, the university signed a lease for an expansion campus located in Addison, Texas
Addison is an incorporated town in Dallas County, Texas, in the United States. Addison is situated to the immediate north of the city of Dallas, with a 2020 census population of 16,661. Addison and Flower Mound were the only two Texas municipaliti ...
. Called ACU Dallas, the new campus began offering several new graduate programs, including an MBA and Ed.D. in organizational leadership.
The school established an NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
station, KACU
KACU is an FM Public radio station that serves the Abilene, Texas, area. The station is owned by Abilene Christian University. KACU is an NPR affiliate station. KACU is the only public radio station in Abilene as well as the only station that ...
, in 1986. Initially, the community was concerned that the school might use the station for proselytizing
Proselytism () is the policy of attempting to convert people's religious or political beliefs. Proselytism is illegal in some countries.
Some draw distinctions between ''evangelism'' or '' Da‘wah'' and proselytism regarding proselytism as invol ...
, and for the station's first ten years, an advisory board composed of community members served to monitor the station against this possibility.[Brian Bethel]
"Local NPR station turns 20, looks to hi-tech future,"
''Abilene Reporter-News'', June 2, 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-19. The JMC Network, a converged student media operation, was created in 2008 to produce all student-led news media. On October 18, 2008, the school hosted a live broadcast of Minnesota Public Radio's long-running ''A Prairie Home Companion
''A Prairie Home Companion'' is a weekly radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor that aired live from 1974 to 2016. In 2016, musician Chris Thile took over as host, and the successor show was eventually renamed ''Live from He ...
'' radio show from the campus' Moody Coliseum.["Austin360 bets" (upcoming events column), ''Austin American-Statesman'', September 3, 2008: "Garrison Keillor and 'A Prairie Home Companion' are coming to Abilene in October for a live performance. Tickets are now on sale and expected to sell quickly. Public radio station 89.7 KACU, AbilenePublicRadio and Abilene Christian University are hosting the event ... ."][Archived recording of October 18, 2008, ''A Prairie Home Companion'' broadcast from ACU's Moody Coliseum](_blank)
/ref>
On Wednesday, August 23, 2017, the NCAA Board of Directors voted to pass ACU through to full Division I status, thus making them eligible for postseason play.
Discrimination
The university was officially segregated, for white students only, until 1962, when Billy Curl became the first black student to enroll. The university currently bars employees, but not students, from dating people of the same sex. In 2016 the university recognized an LGBT student association.
Presidents
*Allen Booker Barret (1906–08)
*H. C. Darden (1908–1909)
*Robertson Lafayette Whiteside (1909–1911)
*James F. Cox (1911–1912)
*Jesse Parker Sewell (1912–1924)
*Batsell Baxter
Batsell Baxter (November 17, 1886 – March 4, 1956) was one of the most important leaders and educators in the Churches of Christ in the first half of the 20th century.
Biography
He received his early education from David Lipscomb and Jame ...
(1924–1932)
*James F. Cox (1932–1940)
*Don H. Morris (1940–1969)
*John C. Stevens (1969–1981)
*William J. Teague (1981–1991)
*Royce Money
Royce Lynn Money (born July 13, 1942) is an American academic administrator who served as president of Abilene Christian University) from 1991 to 2010, whereupon he became Chancellor. He was succeeded as president by Phil Schubert. Education
Aft ...
(1991 – May 31, 2010)
* Phil Schubert (June 1, 2010–present)
Accreditation
ACU is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is an educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This agency accredits over 13,000 public and priv ...
. ACU's business programs are professionally accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, also known as AACSB International, is an American professional organization. It was founded as the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business in 1916 to provide accreditation to ...
(AACSB International), the Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
The ABET (incorporated as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.) is a non-governmental organization that accredits post-secondary education programs in applied and natural sciences, computing, engineering and engineering ...
, the Social Work programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is a nonprofit national association in the United States representing more than 2,500 individual members, as well as graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. Founded in 19 ...
, the Education programs are accredited by Teacher Education Accreditation Council
A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching.
''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...
and the Marriage and Family Therapy programs are accredited by Commission on the Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. The ACU School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is a nursing education accrediting agency in the United States. The CCNE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
CCNE accreditation is a voluntary, self-regulatory process, and the ...
(CCNE). ACU Graduate School of Theology is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) is an organization of seminaries and other graduate schools of theology. ATS has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
History
It was founded in 1918. The associ ...
(ATS).
Traditions
* ''The Prickly Pear''. Beginning in 1916, this was the title for Abilene Christian University's (formerly Abilene Christian College) yearbook. The name was taken from ''Opuntia
''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...
'', a species of cactus native to the Abilene and West Texas area, commonly referred to as "prickly pear". ''The Prickly Pear'' ceased publication in 2009.["The Prickly Pear, Yearbook of Abilene Christian College, 1916"](_blank)
"The Prickly Pear, 1916", 1916
* Sing Song. Since 1956, this annual competition in mid-February has featured student groups of 30–100 people, singing themed ''a cappella
''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...
'' medleys
Medley or Medleys may refer to:
Sports
*Medley swimming, races requiring multiple swimming styles
* Medley relay races at track meets
Music
* Medley (music), multiple pieces strung together
People
*Medley (surname), list of people with this na ...
, usually satirical
Satire is a genre of the visual, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of shaming or e ...
. Originating as a fundraiser
Fundraising or fund-raising is the process of seeking and gathering voluntary financial contributions by engaging individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. Although fundraising typically refers to efforts to gathe ...
for the school, the modern event has developed into a major show for which each group assembles costume
Costume is the distinctive style of dress or cosmetic of an individual or group that reflects class, gender, profession, ethnicity, nationality, activity or epoch. In short costume is a cultural visual of the people.
The term also was tradition ...
s related to their act's theme, such as Peter Pan, the British Royal Guard, Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta ...
, Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve, according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions, were the first man and woman. They are central to the belief that humanity is in essence a single family, with everyone descended from a single pair of original ancestors. ...
, or forest fire
A wildfire, forest fire, bushfire, wildland fire or rural fire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire ...
s. Often the costumes involve a mid-performance quick-change to a second costume—such as the 1987 acts in which grape
A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters.
The cultivation of grapes began perhaps 8,000 years ago, ...
s turned into raisin
A raisin is a dried grape. Raisins are produced in many regions of the world and may be eaten raw or used in cooking, baking, and brewing. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia, the word ''raisin'' is reserved for the d ...
s or banana
A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus ''Musa''. In some countries, bananas used for cooking may be called "plantains", distinguis ...
s peeled to reveal Carmen Miranda
Carmen Miranda, (; born Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha, 9 February 1909 – 5 August 1955) was a Portuguese-born Brazilian samba singer, dancer, Broadway actress and film star who was active from the late 1920s onwards. Nicknamed "The B ...
—or elaborate choreography within the risers, as when the 1983 freshman class act recreated a ''Pac-Man
originally called ''Puck Man'' in Japan, is a 1980 maze action video game developed and released by Namco for arcades. In North America, the game was released by Midway Manufacturing as part of its licensing agreement with Namco America. Th ...
'' screen and manipulated their costumes so that the character appeared to move around the screen.[No author. "Seniors' Sing Song to unite work, fun," ''The Optimist'' (Abilene, Texas), Vol. 73, No. 38, Ed. 1, February 7, 1986, page 1.] The men of Galaxy and the women of Sigma Theta Chi currently hold the records for most wins of a men's club and women's club, respectively.
* Summit. Referred to as Lectureship until the 2008 school year. Begun in 1918, this annual program gathers thousands of attendees for lectures and workshops on religious topics connected with a biblical theme that changes each year. After many years of following directly after Sing Song, the lectureship moved in 2006 to a September event, in part to spread out the events that bring the most visitors to campus and also to take advantage of the more stable autumn climate, as winter storms and rain had hindered attendance on multiple occasions.
*Wildcat Week. Formerly called Welcome Week, this event for the integration of incoming first-year and transfer student
Transfer credit, credit transfer, or advanced standing are the terms used by colleges and universities for the procedure of granting credit to a student for educational experiences or courses undertaken at another institution. This is a subset of ...
s provides small-group study programs, social activities, and information fairs in the week preceding the beginning of the fall semester.
*Homecoming. Like most residential U.S. universities, the campus hosts a celebration each fall for alumni
Alumni (singular: alumnus (masculine) or alumna (feminine)) are former students of a school, college, or university who have either attended or graduated in some fashion from the institution. The feminine plural alumnae is sometimes used for grou ...
to return for a parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, float (parade), floats, or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually ce ...
, class-year and organizational reunions, and musical theater
Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...
.
*Chapel. ACU is one of the few Christian colleges that maintains daily required chapel for all undergraduate, full-time students. Chapel is a 30-minute praise and worship time, usually with a featured speaker. Typically, no classes or meetings are scheduled during this half-hour. There are, however, opportunities for chapel exemptions that allow students to need less than the standard 55 chapel credits per semester.
*School colors. The colors purple and white have long been the colors of ACU, standing for the royalty and purity of Christ, respectively.
Abilene Christian University Press
ACU is one of only seven faith-based institutions with a press. ACU Press, founded in 1983 to print books about Churches of Christ
The Churches of Christ is a loose association of autonomous Christian congregations based on the ''sola scriptura'' doctrine. Their practices are based on Bible texts and draw on the early Christian church as described in the New Testament.
T ...
theology, is now a member of the Association of American University Presses
The Association of University Presses (AUPresses) is an association of mostly, but not exclusively, North American university presses. It is based in New York City. Until December 2017, it was known as the Association of American University Presses ...
, printing books about Christian Higher Education
Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after completi ...
, West Texas History and Christian Living as well as theology
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...
. Along with its trade imprint, Leafwood Publishers
Leafwood Publishers (founded in 2000) is an imprint of Abilene Christian University Press located in Abilene, Texas.
History
Leafwood Publishers was founded in 2000 by C. Leonard Allen in Orange, California. By 2004, it was moved in Siloam Sp ...
, the press publishes an average of 36 titles per year. Among its notable authors are Rubel Shelly
Dr. Rubel Shelly is an author, minister, and professor at Lipscomb University. He is the former president of Rochester University .
Life
Shelly began as an instructor in the department of Religion and Philosophy at Freed-Hardeman University in 19 ...
, Rick Ostrander
Richard Ostrander, known as Rick Ostrander, is an American historian and higher education leader. He serves as Vice President for Research & Scholarship at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.
Career
After earning a PhD in history ...
, Darryl Tippens
Darryl Tippens is an American academic administrator and University Distinguished Scholar of Faith, Learning, and Literature (retired) at Abilene Christian University (ACU). He was provost of Pepperdine University from January 2001 until July 2014, ...
, Edward Fudge
Edward William Fudge (July 13, 1944 – November 25, 2017) was an American Christian theologian and lawyer, best known for his book ''The Fire That Consumes'' in which he argues for an annihilationist Biblical interpretation of Hell. He has been c ...
, Larry M. James and Walt McDonald.
Rankings
In the 2022/2023 ''U.S. News & World Report'' ranking of American colleges and universities, ACU was one of only 19 U.S. institutions ranked in the top 50 nationally in both Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects and Undergraduate Teaching. US News ranks ACU the following among all colleges and universities:
National rankings:
Service Learning: #5 nationally
First-Year Experience: #8 nationally
Learning Communities: #9 nationally
Senior Capstone: #22 nationally
Undergraduate Research: #28 nationally
Study Abroad: #35 nationally
Undergraduate Teaching: #41 nationally
Technology and mobile learning
On February 26, 2008, ACU announced that all incoming freshman
A freshman, fresher, first year, or frosh, is a person in the first year at an educational institution, usually a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of post-secondary educational institutions.
Ara ...
classes would receive a free Apple
An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus domestica''). Apple fruit tree, trees are agriculture, cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus ''Malus''. The tree originated in Central Asia, wh ...
iPhone or an iPod Touch
The iPod Touch (stylized as iPod touch) is a discontinued line of iOS-based mobile devices designed and marketed by Apple Inc. with a touchscreen-controlled user interface. As with other iPod models, the iPod Touch can be used as a music pl ...
. This decision was the result of a study to find out the viability of iPhone and iPod for academic purposes. ACU was reported as the first university in the nation to embrace this opportunity to further education through the use of the new generation of smartphone technologies. In February 2009, ACU hosted more than 400 academics and technologists from 31 states and 8 countries for its first ConnectEd Summit on mobile learning. Attendees representing more than 90 schools participated in workshops designed to foster mobile learning programs on their own campuses.
In August 2008, ''Campus Technology'' magazine named ACU "Innovator of the Year" in the mobile learning category for this "ACU Connected" initiative. On February 27, 2009, ACU received the award for Institutional Excellence in Information Communications Technology from ACUTA and on March 4, 2009, Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel–Lucent S.A. () was a French–American global telecommunications equipment company, headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. It was formed in 2006 by the merger of France-based Alcatel and U.S.-based Lucent, the latter being a su ...
named ACU a Dynamic Enterprise Award winner and awarded ACU with its first Analyst Choice Award for its ACU Connected initiative. On June 13, 2009, the New Media Consortium presented ACU with one of three Center of Excellence awards at its annual summer conference for ACU's efforts in mobile learning.
In August 2022 the ACU applied to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a construction licence for a molten salt research reactor for which it plans to achieve criticality by December 2025.
Athletics
Formerly a charter member of the Division I Southland Conference
The Southland Conference, abbreviated as SLC, is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the South Central United States (specifically Texas and Louisiana). It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it pa ...
, Abilene Christian joined the Lone Star Conference
The Lone Star Conference (LSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. Member institutions are located in the southwestern United States, with schools in Tex ...
(LSC) of Division II of the NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...
in 1973, but have since rejoined the Southland Conference . In 2007, the conference included 33 ACU current and former student athletes in its 75-member all-sports team commemorating the conference's 75th anniversary.["Wildcats lead way as LSC honors all-time top performers,"](_blank)
''ACU Today'', Summer 2007, p.32. Retrieved 2008-09-22. Through 2009, ACU is fourth in NCAA history in team national championships won with 57, trailing Division I schools UCLA, Stanford, and USC, and tied with Division III school Kenyon College.
In 2012 Abilene Christian had received NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...
permission to compete in NCAA Division I, Division I FCS and was under consideration for reattachment to the Southland Conference
The Southland Conference, abbreviated as SLC, is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the South Central United States (specifically Texas and Louisiana). It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it pa ...
. On August 25, Abilene Christian's board of trustees
A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit organiz ...
accepted Southland's invitation to rejoin the Conference effective with the start of the 2013 academic year.
* The men's track and field program has won 32 NCAA National Track and Field Championships: 19 NCAA outdoor and 13 indoor.
* The women's track and field program has won 22 national championships: 12 indoor and 10 outdoor.
* The Wildcats were NAIA national football champions in 1973 and 1977.
*Before the NCAA invalidated its 2007 season, nine ACU football players were included in the LSC's 75th-anniversary list of top players in conference history. The school's 2007 victories were vacated by the NCAA in 2009. The NCAA charged "two assistant football coaches helped a pair of players find an English correspondence class to take, enroll in the same course, allowed them to use the coaches' school computers for writing papers and paid to mail the assignments." The school had scored more than 40 points in 11 of its 13 games and more than 50 points in 7 games and 70 or more points in two games including a 73–76 three overtime loss to Chadron State in the second round of the NCAA playoffs.
* In 2008, the Wildcats "set a record for points in an NCAA (football) playoff game, beating West Texas A&M 93-68 in the second round of the Division II playoffs."
* Ove Johansson kicked the longest field goal in college football history (69 yards) in 1976, 5 yards longer than the current NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
record. it remains the longest field goal ever kicked in any level of football competition and is an unbroken world record.
* Olympic athletes from ACU include Bobby Morrow
Bobby Joe Morrow (October 15, 1935May 30, 2020) was an American sprinter who won three gold medals at the 1956 Olympics. He has been called "the dominant sprinter of the 1950s" and "the most relaxed sprinter of all time, even more so than his ...
, three-time 1956 gold medal winner; Earl Young, 1960 Olympic gold medalist in the 4x400 relay; Billy Olson
Billy Richard Olson (born July 19, 1958) is a retired American Olympic pole vaulter who held several world records, including the first 19-foot indoor pole vault.Al Pickett"Abilene has produced more than its share of stars," ''Abilene Reporter-N ...
, who made the 1980 and 1988 U.S. teams but did not compete in 1980 due to President Carter's decision to boycott the Games; Yolande Straughn, who competed in 1988 for Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estimate). ...
; and James Browne, 1988 competitor for Antigua
Antigua ( ), also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the native population, is an island in the Lesser Antilles. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Bar ...
.
* ESPN
ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...
and NFL Network
NFL Network (occasionally abbreviated on-air as NFLN) is an American sports-oriented pay television network owned by the National Football League (NFL) and is part of NFL Media, which also includes NFL.com, NFL Films, NFL Mobile, NFL Now and NFL ...
analyst and author Sean Adams
Sean Patrick Adams is an American academic and author. He is the Hyatt and Cici Brown Professor of History at the University of Florida
The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Fl ...
is a former NCAA All-American athlete for ACU.
Social clubs
The school has a number of student organizations called "social clubs" that are equivalent to a fraternity
A fraternity (from Latin language, Latin ''wiktionary:frater, frater'': "brother (Christian), brother"; whence, "wiktionary:brotherhood, brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club (organization), club or fraternal ...
or sorority
Fraternities and sororities are social organizations at colleges and universities in North America.
Generally, membership in a fraternity or sorority is obtained as an undergraduate student, but continues thereafter for life. Some accept gradua ...
on other college campuses; chapters of national Hellenic societies, however, are not permitted. The main goal of these social clubs is to help in service to the surrounding communities and the school itself. Clubs also participate in intramural sports and Sing Song. There are a total of fourteen social clubs for both men and women.
Notable people
Alumni
* April Anthony, CEO of Homecare Homebase and Encompass
Encompass, the Enterprise Computing Association, was the original computer user group for business customers of Hewlett-Packard. Encompass's history began with DECUS, founded in 1961, for customers of the Digital Equipment Corporation, which was a ...
Home Health & Hospice chair of the ACU Board of Trustees
* Ben Avery, producer of the Tim Dillon Show podcast
*Gordon Bethune
Gordon M. Bethune (born August 29, 1941) is a retired US airline executive. He was the CEO of Continental Airlines from 1994 until his retirement at the end of 2004. He formerly served on the boards of Honeywell and Prudential Financial.
Bethune wa ...
, former CEO
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
of Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines, simply known as Continental, was a major United States airline founded in 1934 and eventually headquartered in Houston, Texas. It had ownership interests and brand partnerships with several carriers.
Continental started o ...
* Bill Blakeley
Billy Buie Blakeley (June 13, 1934 – October 27, 2010) was an American basketball coach. He coached at the high school, college, and professional levels.
Coaching career High school (1957–1966)
Blakeley served as the head basketball coach ...
, former basketball coach at the interscholastic, intercollegiate, and professional levels; ACU Sports Hall of Fame (1992–93)
* Jeffrey S. Boyd, Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas (SCOTX) is the supreme court, court of last resort for civil matters (including juvenile delinquency cases, which are categorized as civil under the Texas Family Code) in the U.S. state of Texas. A different court, the ...
, 2012 –
* Kent Brantly
Kent Brantly is an American doctor with the medical mission group Samaritan's Purse. While treating Ebola patients in Liberia, he contracted the virus. He became the first American to return to the United States to be treated for the disease.
Li ...
, doctor with the medical mission group Samaritan's Purse; while treating Ebola patients in Liberia, he contracted the virus
* James Browne, Olympic long jumper from Antigua
Antigua ( ), also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the native population, is an island in the Lesser Antilles. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Bar ...
* Nelson Coates, Emmy-nominated film production designer;[Nelson Coates]
in Internet Movie Database first alumnus to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motio ...
[Sara Morris. "Christian perspective and talent help ACU grad excel in Hollywood," ''Abilene Reporter-News'', July 22, 2009, page Z-5.]
* Randall "Tex" Cobb
Randall Craig "Tex" Cobb (born May 7, 1950) is an American actor, martial artist, and former professional boxer who competed in the heavyweight division. Widely considered to possess one of the greatest chins of all time, Cobb was a brawler wh ...
, professional boxer, actor
* Chris Christian
Chris Christian (born Lon Christian Smith on February 7, 1951 is an American songwriter, record producer, and a record label executive. His songs have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Olivia Newton-John, Hall and Oates, Natalie Cole, Sheena East ...
, record producer, recording artist, songwriter
* Charles Coody
Billy Charles Coody (born July 13, 1937) is an American professional golfer, best known for winning the 1971 Masters Tournament.
Coody was born in Stamford, Texas and raised in Abilene, Texas. He attended Abilene Christian University before tran ...
, professional golfer, winner of the 1971 Masters Tournament
* Bonnie Curtis, film producer
* Jody Dean
Jody Dean (born 1959) is an American journalist and author and a member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. During his career, Dean has worked with, interviewed, or performed with thousands of public figures, actors, musicians, authors, artists, and ...
, news anchor
A news presenter – also known as a newsreader, newscaster (short for "news broadcaster"), anchorman or anchorwoman, news anchor or simply an anchor – is a person who presents news during a news program on TV, radio or the Internet. ...
of KTVT-TV, Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
, Texas
* Holly Dunn
Holly Suzette Dunn (August 22, 1957 – November 14, 2016) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Dunn recorded for MTM Records between 1985 and 1988, Warner Bros. Records between 1988 and 1993, and River North Records between 1995 ...
, country music artist, painter
* Ronnie Dunn
Ronald Gene Dunn (born June 1, 1953) is an American country music singer-songwriter and record executive. Starting in 2011, Dunn has worked as a solo artist following the temporary dissolution of Brooks & Dunn. He released his self-titled debu ...
, singer and songwriter; one half of Brooks & Dunn
* Grant Feasel, former center in the NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
for the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 ...
, Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansion ...
and Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 as ...
; ACU Sports Hall of Fame (1994–95)
* Greg Feasel, former offensive tackle in the NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
for the Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...
and San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
; Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer for the Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fie ...
; ACU Sports Hall of Fame (2004–05)
* Tracey M. Ferguson, editor of '' Jet'' (2017–) and ''Ebony
Ebony is a dense black/brown hardwood, coming from several species in the genus ''Diospyros'', which also contains the persimmons. Unlike most woods, ebony is dense enough to sink in water. It is finely textured and has a mirror finish when pol ...
'' (2017–)
* Don Finto
Don Finto (born April 18, 1930) is a figure in the movement among evangelicals to support the evangelism of the Jewish people.
Life
Don Finto started his ministry as a missionary in Germany. Upon return to the United States, he began teaching Ger ...
, pastor and author in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
* Edward Fudge
Edward William Fudge (July 13, 1944 – November 25, 2017) was an American Christian theologian and lawyer, best known for his book ''The Fire That Consumes'' in which he argues for an annihilationist Biblical interpretation of Hell. He has been c ...
, theologian
* Taylor Gabriel
Taylor James Gabriel (born February 17, 1991) is a former American football wide receiver who played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football at Abilene Christian, he signed with the Cleveland B ...
, professional football player for the Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine NF ...
* Jim Gash
James Allan Gash (born 15 March 1967) is an American legal scholar and academic administrator who currently serves as the president of Pepperdine University.
Education
Gash received his Bachelor of Arts in finance from Abilene Christian Universi ...
, eighth president of Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University () is a private research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California. Pepperdine's main campus consists of 830 acres (340 ha) overlooking the Pacific Ocean and t ...
* Janice Hahn
Janice Kay Hahn (born March 30, 1952) is an American politician serving as the member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from the 4th district since 2016 and Chair of Los Angeles County since 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, sh ...
, member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (LACBOS) is the five-member governing body of Los Angeles County, California, United States.
History
On April 1, 1850 the citizens of Los Angeles elected a three-man Court of Sessions as their first ...
; former member of the United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
; former Los Angeles City Councilwoman
* James Hill, professional football player for the Seattle Seahawks
* , singer and songwriter
* V. E. Howard
Verna Elisha Howard (September 29, 1911 – September 28, 2000), known as V. E. Howard, was an American minister and radio evangelist based in Texarkana, Texas, who founded the ''International Gospel Hour''.
Family background
Howard w ...
, Church of Christ clergyman who started the radio ''International Gospel Hour'', based originally in Texarkana, Texas
Texarkana is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States, in the Ark-La-Tex region. Located approximately from Dallas, Texarkana is a twin city with neighboring Texarkana, Arkansas. The Texas city's population was 36,193 at the 2020 census.
...
*Billie Hughes
Billie Keith Hughes (April 4, 1948 – July 3, 1998) was an American recording artist, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is best known for his successful artist career in Japan, lead vocalist of his band Lazarus and his collaboratio ...
, recording artist and songwriter
*Robert Dean Hunter
Robert Dean Hunter (June 25, 1928 – February 11, 2023) was an American politician and academic administrator. He served as vice president at Church of Christ-affiliated Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, and as a Republican Party ...
, vice-president emeritus of ACU; member of the Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Texas Legislature. It consists of 150 members who are elected from single-member districts for two-year terms. As of the 2010 United States census, each member represents abou ...
, District 71, (1986–2007)
* Ove Johansson, Swedish-born American football fieldgoal record setter, father of Annika Johansson
* Daniel Johnston
Daniel Dale Johnston (January 22, 1961 – September 11, 2019) was an American singer, musician and artist regarded as a significant figure in outsider, lo-fi, and alternative music scenes. Most of his work consisted of cassettes recorded a ...
, singer and songwriter – attended ACU in his first year of college
* Robert Kelley, 11th president of the University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota (also known as UND or North Dakota) is a public research university in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It was established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of ...
* H. Jeff Kimble
Harry Jeffrey Kimble (born April 23, 1949), was the William L. Valentine Professor and professor of physics at Caltech. His research is in quantum optics and is noted for groundbreaking experiments in physics including one of the first demonstrat ...
, William L. Valentine Professor and Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech or CIT)The university itself only spells its short form as "Caltech"; the institution considers other spellings such a"Cal Tech" and "CalTech" incorrect. The institute is also occasional ...
* Johnny Knox, former professional football player for NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
team Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine NF ...
* John Layfield
John Charles Layfield (born November 29, 1966), better known by the ring name John "Bradshaw" Layfield (abbreviated to JBL), is an American retired professional wrestler and football player. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on ...
, professional wrestler
* David Leeson
David Leeson (October 18, 1957 – April 16, 2022) was a staff photographer for ''The Dallas Morning News''. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography in 2004, together with Cheryl Diaz Meyer, for coverage of the Iraq War. He als ...
(1978), co-winner of 2004 Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prizes for 2004 were announced on April 5, 2004.
The ''Los Angeles Times'' won five journalism awards, the most that the newspaper has ever won in a single year and second only to ''The New York Times'' in 2002 for the most won in a ye ...
(previously nominated in 1986, 1990, and 1995)[Jay DeFoore]
"Leeson, Diaz Meyer Of DMN And LAT's Cole Win Photo Pulitzers,"
''Photo District News'' Online, April 5, 2004. Retrieved Aug. 6, 2007. and winner of the Edward R. Murrow
Edward Roscoe Murrow (born Egbert Roscoe Murrow; April 25, 1908 – April 27, 1965) was an American broadcast journalist and war correspondent. He first gained prominence during World War II with a series of live radio broadcasts from Europe fo ...
and National Headliner Award
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, ce ...
s[ACU press releas]
"Pulitzer Prize-winning alumnus David Leeson wins Murrow, Headliner awards,"
July 19, 2004. Retrieved Aug. 6, 2007.
* Clint Longley
Howard Clinton "Clint" Longley, Jr. (born July 28, 1952) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) with the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers. He also was a member of the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadia ...
, former NFL quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers
* Max Lucado
Max Lucado (born January 11, 1955) is an American author
"Lucado set a record by concurrently placing seven differe ...
, best-selling Christian author
* Dale Martin, New Testament scholar, Professor Emeritus at Yale University
* Danieal Manning
Danieal LaCraig Manning (born August 9, 1982) is a former American football safety. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Abilene Christian.
High school career
Before colleg ...
, former professional football player for Chicago Bears, Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals
* Stephen Mansfield
Stephen Lee Mansfield (born 1958) is an American author who writes about history, modern culture, religion and men's issues. His books have appeared on the New York Times best-seller list.
Life and career
Mansfield was born in Columbus, Georgia, ...
, author who writes about men's issues, leadership, history and modern culture; has appeared on the ''New York Times'' best-seller list
* Barry McCarty, national radio host and former President of Cincinnati Christian University
Cincinnati Christian University (CCU) was a private Christian university in Cincinnati, Ohio. CCU was supported by the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, which are part of the Restoration Movement. The university was accredited by the ...
* TJ McCloud, singer-songwriter; former member of Stephen Speaks
* Lindy McDaniel
Lyndall Dale McDaniel (December 13, 1935 – November 14, 2020), known as Lindy McDaniel, was an American professional baseball pitcher who had a 21-year career in Major League Baseball from 1955 to 1975. During his career, he witnessed approxim ...
, former major league relief pitcher
* Cleo Montgomery, former professional football player
* Wilbert Montgomery
Wilbert Montgomery (born September 16, 1954) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for nine years with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. He was also the running ...
, former professional football player
* Bobby Morrow
Bobby Joe Morrow (October 15, 1935May 30, 2020) was an American sprinter who won three gold medals at the 1956 Olympics. He has been called "the dominant sprinter of the 1950s" and "the most relaxed sprinter of all time, even more so than his ...
, Olympic sprinter, winner of three gold medals in the 1956 Games
* Billy Olson
Billy Richard Olson (born July 19, 1958) is a retired American Olympic pole vaulter who held several world records, including the first 19-foot indoor pole vault.Al Pickett"Abilene has produced more than its share of stars," ''Abilene Reporter-N ...
, Olympic pole vaulter (1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...
, U.S. team for boycotted 1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics (russian: Летние Олимпийские игры 1980, Letniye Olimpiyskiye igry 1980), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad (russian: Игры XXII Олимпиады, Igry XXII Olimpiady) and commo ...
); held several world records, including the first 19-foot indoor pole vault; vaulted for Abilene High School and ACU[Ted Dunnam]
"Coaching by Hood vaulted ACU over top,"
''Abilene Reporter-News'', June 25, 2000.[All-Time U.S. Rankings — Men's Pole Vault](_blank)
, ranked #1 in the world for 1982.[Frank Litsky]
''The New York Times'', February 22, 1982, page C6, column 1 (late city final edition).[Al Pickett]
Abilene Reporter-News, December 24, 1999.
* Cline Paden (1947), Church of Christ missionary
A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...
, founder of Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock
Lubbock ( )
is the 10th-most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of government of Lubbock County. With a population of 260,993 in 2021, the city is also the 85th-most populous in the United States. The city is in the northwe ...
* Gerald S. Paden, Church of Christ missionary and minister, younger brother of Cline Paden
* Billy Gene Pemelton
William Eugene "Billy Gene" Pemelton (born September 5, 1941, in Mercedes, Texas) is a retired American track and field
Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is ...
, Olympic pole vaulter
* Johnny Perkins
John Eugene Perkins (April 21, 1953 – April 25, 2007) was an American football wide receiver in the National Football League who spent his entire career with the New York Giants. Perkins was born in Franklin, Texas. He played college football ...
, former professional football player
* Robert L. Pitman
Robert Lee Pitman (born 1962) is an American attorney and jurist who serves as a United States federal judge, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas and former United States Attorney fo ...
, lawyer, former United States Attorney; former United States Magistrate Judge; United States federal judge
* Ted Poe
Lloyd Theodore Poe (born September 10, 1948) is an American politician who represented Texas's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2005 to 2019. Poe was the first Republican to represent the 2nd district. ...
, former Harris County, Texas, judge; member of the United States House of Representatives
* Jack Pope, lawyer, judge, and Supreme Court of Texas
The Supreme Court of Texas (SCOTX) is the court of last resort for civil matters (including juvenile delinquency cases, which are categorized as civil under the Texas Family Code) in the U.S. state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of ...
Chief Justice, 1982–1985
* Big Pokey
Milton Powell (born November 29, 1977), better known by his stage name Big Pokey, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. Pokey is associated with chopped and screwed music, and is one of the original members of the Screwed Up Click.
Rap ca ...
, rapper
* Raymond Radway, Former professional football player and national champion on the track team
* Daryl Richardson
Daryl Lashay Richardson (born April 12, 1990) is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at Abilene Christian.
College career
Richar ...
, former professional football player
* David Sampson, President and CEO of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America
* Bernard Scott
Bernard Scott (born February 10, 1984) is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Abilene Christian. His brother Daryl Richardson i ...
, former professional football player
* Jack Scott, California state senator; chancellor, California Community College System
* Joe Shirley
Joe Shirley Jr. (born December 4, 1947) is a Navajo politician who is the only two-term President of the Navajo Nation. He served as president from 2003 to 2011. He lives in Chinle, Arizona, and is Tódích'íi'nii, born for Tábaahá.
Person ...
(1978), President of Navajo Nation
* Jeev Milkha Singh
Jeev Milkha Singh (born 15 December 1971) is an Indian professional golfer who became the first player from India to join the European Tour in 1998. He has won four events on the European Tour, becoming the most successful Indian on tour. He ...
(1996), professional golfer from India["Carry on, Jeev,"](_blank)
''The Telegraph'' (Calcutta, India), November 4, 2006. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
* Monty Taylor, cloud computing
Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage ( cloud storage) and computing power, without direct active management by the user. Large clouds often have functions distributed over mul ...
executive, co-founder of OpenStack
OpenStack is a free, open standard cloud computing platform. It is mostly deployed as infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) in both public and private clouds where virtual servers and other resources are made available to users. The software plat ...
*Merritt Tierce
Merritt Tierce is an American short-story author, story editor, essayist, activist, and novelist. Tierce was born in Texas and attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop, receiving her MFA in Fiction in 2011. She previously taught at the University of Io ...
, short-story author, story editor, essayist, pro-choice
Abortion-rights movements, also referred to as pro-choice movements, advocate for the right to have legal access to induced abortion services including elective abortion. They seek to represent and support women who wish to terminate their pre ...
activist, novelist, and television writer.
* Hugh M. Tiner, second president of Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University () is a private research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California. Pepperdine's main campus consists of 830 acres (340 ha) overlooking the Pacific Ocean and t ...
* Gilbert Tuhabonye, Burundian Championship runner, genocide survivor, and author
* R. Gerald Turner
Robert Gerald Turner (born November 25, 1945) is the President of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas. One of the most highly-compensated university presidents in the United States, Turner has been hailed as a "transformational" f ...
, president of Southern Methodist University
, mottoeng = "The truth will make you free"
, established =
, type = Private research university
, accreditation = SACS
, academic_affiliations =
, religious_affiliation = United Methodist Church
, president = R. Gerald Turner
, prov ...
* Thomas B. Warren, minister, restoration theologian, and religious philosopher
* Aaron Watson
James Aaron Watson (born August 20, 1977) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since 1999, Watson has recorded several independent albums in his career. His 2015 album '' The Underdog'' reached No. 1 on Top Country Album ...
, country music singer
* Charcandrick West, professional football player for the Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
The tea ...
* Zane Williams
Zane Williams (born 1977) is an American country music singer. He is best known for his song "Hurry Home", covered by Jason Michael Carroll.
Career
Zane Williams is an anomaly in today's country music scene, a modern-day “throwback” who is ...
, country artist
* Allen Wilson, football coach
* Earl Young, 1960 Olympic gold medal winner in 4x400 relay
* M. Norvel Young
Matt Norvel Young (October 5, 1915 – February 17, 1998), known as M. Norvel Young, was an American academic administrator. He served as the president of Pepperdine University from 1957 to 1971 and as its chancellor from 1971 to 1985. He wa ...
, third president of Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University () is a private research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California. Pepperdine's main campus consists of 830 acres (340 ha) overlooking the Pacific Ocean and t ...
Faculty
* Everett Ferguson, Patristics scholar and noted author
*Douglas A. Foster
Douglas A. Foster (born August 30, 1952) is author and scholar known for his work on the history of Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement.
Life
Douglas A. Foster was born in Sheffield, Alabama. He grew up in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Upon completing his ...
, Professor of Church History, editor of the ''Stone-Campbell Encyclopedia''
* Michael A. O'Donnell, former Professor of Family Studies; founding executive director of the Southwest Center for Fathering
Campus
File:Abilene Christian University June 2019 16 (Zona Luce Building).jpg, Zona Luce Building - original 1929 school house, now home of the Nursing department
File:ACUPolice.JPG, ACU Police Headquarters on Campus Court
File:Abilene Christian University June 2019 13 (Sewell Theatre).jpg, Sewell Auditorium - built in 1929, original home of daily chapel
File:Abilene Christian University June 2019 10 (University Church of Christ).jpg, University Church of Christ on EN 16th St
File:Abilene Christian University June 2019 09 (McDonald Hall).jpg, McDonald Hall for freshman women
File:Abilene Christian University June 2019 08 (Nelson Hall).jpg, Nelson Hall for freshman women
File:GardnerHall.JPG, Gardner Hall for freshman women
File:ACU SikesHall.JPG, Sikes Hall for freshman women
File:Abilene Christian University June 2019 47 (Williams Performing Arts Center).jpg, Williams Performing Arts Center, built in 2003
File:Abilene Christian University June 2019 26 (Moody Coliseum).jpg, Moody Coliseum, home of daily chapel and Sing Song, as well as sporting events and concerts
File:Abilene Christian University June 2019 20 (Brown Library).jpg, Brown Library
File:TowerofLight.JPG, ACU Tower of Light and Bible Building Atrium
Notes
* When James Cox's wife became ill, his brother, Alonzo B. Cox, filled in for him to finish the term.
References
Bibliography
* Stevens, Dr. John C., ''No Ordinary University: The History of a City Set on a Hill'', Abilene, Texas
Abilene ( ) is a city in Taylor and Jones Counties in Texas, United States. Its population was 125,182 at the 2020 census, making it the 27th-most populous city in the state of Texas. It is the principal city of the Abilene metropolitan statis ...
: Abilene Christian University Press
Abilene Christian University Press, also known as ACU Press, is an Abilene, Texas-based university press that is connected with Abilene Christian University. Since being formed it has released or acquired 456 titles and the press releases, on a ...
, 1998. .
External links
*
{{Coord, 32, 28, 10, N, 99, 42, 29, W, type:edu_scale:10000_region:US-TX, display=title
Universities and colleges in Abilene, Texas
Private universities and colleges in Texas
Protestantism in Texas
Seminaries and theological colleges in Texas
Schools in Taylor County, Texas
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
Education in Taylor County, Texas
Educational institutions established in 1906
1906 establishments in Texas
Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Universities and colleges affiliated with the Churches of Christ