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In MemoriamNancy Chinn
(May 17, 2009)
My last graduate seminar at Baylor was a study of Willa Cather; it was
Nancy's first semester to teach this course, one that became much
sought after by English graduate students. The seminar was rigorous,
demanding, and exhilarating, and I finished the class with the
conviction that this course was exactly what a doctoral seminar should
be and that Dr. Chinn realized it with grace and good humor.
Months later, she took me and fellow students to Red Cloud, Nebraska,
to read at the annual Cather conference there. In the afterglow of that
trip, I realized I had found my role model: a woman of vigorous
intellect who consistently exercised quiet kindness, a teacher
thoroughly prepared for every class meeting but who asked more
questions than she lectured on the answers, and a scholar who edited
her work tirelessly until it met her highest standard of quality.
Behind and between the markers of my progress through a degree, Nancy
mentored me and cared for me. I still remember sitting at her dining
table and feeling like I had just graduated to the adult table from the
kids' at Thanksgiving.
What astounds me is that I am the rule among Nancy's students, not the
exception. Truly countless others could relate such a narrative about
her: her selfless investment in her students; her excellence in the
classroom; her life's commitment to poetry, ideas, narratives, and
their creators. Generously, Nancy invited me into her rich world of the
mind and of her family.
Kirsten Escobar, PhD '03
Robinson
Olga Fallen
(May 8, 2009)
Olga joined Baylor in 1956 as assistant professor of HPER. With other
professors, she prepared female HPER majors for contests with co-eds
from other universities when schools scheduled "play days." Competition
became important, and schools began having coaches for their sports.
Olga was coach for many of Baylor's "Bearette" teams.
Baylor entered team and individual sports when the Association of
Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was organized, and Olga became the
coach for team sports. Her 1976 and 1977 basketball teams earned bids
to the national tournament, ranking fifth and seventh. From 1974 to
1979, her win-loss record was 143-50, and during that same time period
her teams scored at least one hundred points on thirty-two separate
occasions.
When the NCAA took control of women's sports, Baylor moved the women's
division into the athletic department. Olga coached one more year
before returning to the HPER department, retiring in 1999 with
forty-three years of service to Baylor. That same year, she was
inducted into Baylor's Athletic Hall of Fame. Five of her former
players join her there.
E. E. "Dutch" Schroeder '49
Waco
Burnie Battles '65, MSPE '66
(June 20, 2009)
Burnie Battles was my friend, teacher, and colleague for thirty years.
I knew him as a simple man—not without intelligence, but rather focused
on what really matters. For him, that was loving God, loving his family
and friends, and serving the world. Baylor University was very much at
the center of his world.
I first came to know him as a a student in his racquetball class. I
instantly felt his warmth, compassion, and competitive spirit—he did
not like to lose!
I next knew Burnie as a mentor and colleague. While a graduate student,
I was assigned to teach backpacking, something I'd never done, so I
picked his brain for everything I could learn. He was a strong advocate
for making sure our students had not only "head knowledge" but could
actually do something well.
There was something about being with Burnie that made me feel safe—his
confidence, immense skill, and experience. Oh, and I remember how he
loved that Svea 123R stove that you poured fuel over and lit. He was
fiercely loyal to it, even after "new and improved" stoves hit the
market. I always felt that same loyalty from him as a friend.
In bicycling, "drafting" is when riders take turns, with one rider in
front and the other riding closely behind. The rear rider spends less
energy than the leader. When we rode bikes together, Burnie told me he
didn't like to ride in the back, so I drafted him a lot over the years!
There are many of us who drafted him in some way. I hope we can honor
his legacy by taking what we have learned and riding well in front for
a while.
Dr. Dale Connally '83, MSEd '84
Baylor associate professor of HHPR
Paul McCoury '85
(June 25, 2009)
Paul led one of the most prolific Bible study "DIG" groups at Penland
Hall during the 1980s, and his tenacious commitment to Christ set the
standard for Christian conduct on campus. His Baylor friends recall
having to schedule time with him weeks in advance due to the demand for
his time. A classic "Paulism" was to convert a casual encounter into a
deep and intensive counseling session where the listener would be
challenged to grow and cultivate God-given talents. Paul's "brass tacks
on the table" approach to life made him a bit of an enigma. He didn't
have time for small talk; he was about the business of people.
Paul had the ability to be comfortable and effective with people of all
ages. He was a unique blend of intelligence, perceptiveness, and drive.
In the business world, this enabled Paul to quickly rise from a bank
teller to an executive vice president of Chase Bank. He was truly a
great leader and peacemaker among men. Those who met Paul will never
forget him.
Ron Frank '87
Houston
"In Memoriam" provides members of the
Baylor family the opportunity to remember the lives of Baylor faculty,
alumni, and friends. Send your contribution (no more than three hundred
words; please include your name, address, and class year if applicable)
to Lisa@BaylorAlumniAssociation.com or to the Baylor Line, One Bear Place #97116, Waco, TX 76798-7116. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity.
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