Newsmakers, March 2009

NAMED: Jackie Halstead, president-elect of the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Halstead is an assistant professor and chair of marriage and family therapy at Abilene Christian University in Texas. Mark McInteer, chief executive officer, 21st Century Christian, Nashville, Tenn. McInteer is associate minister for the Brentwood Hills church, Nashville. Kevin McDonald, chief executive officer of Medina Children’s Home, Medina, Texas. Curt Linge, director of the Church of Christ Student Center, SAC Campus, San Antonio. Linge is an elder of the Northside church, San Antonio.
HONORED: Ralph and Betty Nance for 50 years of service to Natchez Trace church, Nashville, Tenn.

AWARDED: Marcus Nelson, the Morlan Medal Award by Abilene Christian University for outstanding
teaching and leadership in education.

SELECTED: Douglas Edwards, 2009 Alumnus of the Year by the Ohio Valley University Alumni Association, Vienna, W.Va. Edwards is director of development for Camp Manatawny in Douglassville, Pa.
NEW MINISTER: Tim Pyles, Broken Arrow, Okla., church.

ANNIVERSARIES: 64th: Dean and Gene Martin, Sherman, Texas. 60th: Lewis and Clara Beth Knight, Dallas.
PASSAGES: Mary Onezima Ralph Bradley, 85, Jan. 5, author, teacher, secretary and member of churches in middle Tennessee and North Carolina. Walter Burch, 81, Jan. 29, minister in Texas and California, first full-time preaching minister for the Richland Hills church in North Richland Hills, Texas. J.P. “Jake” Coppinger, 90, Feb. 3, longtime minister in central California, member of Tulare, Calif., church, made mission trips to Ghana, helped launch World Bible School of Tulare County. Katie Deal, 89, Oct. 24, minister’s wife, served churches in Missouri, Arkansas, Virginia and Ghana, member of Maplewood church in Cahokia, Ill. Mary Lou Fant, 94, Jan. 6, a founding member of the East Capitol Street church in Washington. Norman H. Gabbard, 89, Dec. 27, independent contractor for NASA for 50 years, elder of churches in Texas and California. Gary Weir Hill, 67, Jan. 17, all-American basketball player for Oklahoma City University, director of alcohol and drug treatment program for 22 years, member of the Dale, Okla., church. Neal Milam, 83, Feb. 1, elder of the Memorial Parkway church in Huntsville, Ala., for 41 years. Mary Belle Shipley, 78, Feb. 5, longtime member of the Sunset church in Carlsbad, N.M. George F. Wachter, 78, Jan. 26, longtime minister in Tennessee and Alabama, deacon of the Memorial Parkway church in Huntsville, Ala. John W. Wright, 86, Dec. 14, minister for more than 60 years Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, Washington and Panama, member of Rayville, La., church.

• Feedback
  It was wonderful to see Ralph and Betty Nance honored. Ralph baptized me 40 years ago at the Berry’s Chapel Church of Christ in Franklin, Tennessee. I still have the Bible that was given to me following my baptism.

  David Willis

  Tafuna Church of Christ

  Pago Pago, American Samoa
  American Samoa

  June, 2 2009