My claim to fame at ACU was ...
I remember going to chapel when the ACU Board of Trustees gave my grandfather, J. C. Reese, its annual award for contributing history on the 50th anniversary of the university. How special it is to have his grandson, Dr. Jack Reese, be a vital part of the Bible staff for many years, especially during its centennial year. I was at an ACU family banquet around 1989 with my mother, Ruth Reese Holden, my wife and my twin daughters, Karen and Karla Holden ('91). The speaker mentioned that my grandfather was instrumental in moving the school to its present location. Barbara Mandrell's son, Matt Dudney, served us coffee. In the late 1990's I saw Martha Holden's (my sister) classmate and friend Dr. Royce Money at my home church. I showed him a picture of my 7 grandkids and said "Royce, this is what happens when you send your daughters to ACU. They marry Christian young men and give you seven grandkids in four years!"
Dwayne Holden '66
Fort Worth, Texas
I love ACU because...
If you read my memories, you can see how special ACU is to me. Every thing from my grandfather helping move the school to its present location to my twin daughters marrying Christian guys they met here then giving me seven grandkids in four years. Even had Barbara Mandrell's son serve us coffee. At the beginning of that year my wife and I each took a daughter to get supplies. Karla recognized Barbara in Wal-Mart even while wearing sun glasses. Karen went to a banquet with Matt, have a picture that I suppose Barbara does. Matt invited her to fly to Nashville where his dad would meet them in his helicopter then fly them to the estate. Karen asked who would pay for the airline ticket, which seemed to end the romance.
Other memories ... my dad worked his way through ACC by laying the sidewalks. He later preached on Sundays in nearby areas and had to hitchhike to the town. He knew J.C. Reese was prominent, even had the big house on Cedar Creek on 13th Street. He decided he could date his daughter when he heard Brother Reese make a speech that included "my kids are as common as pig tracks in an orchard." They married and came back to Abilene during WW II where my dad was a civilian chaplain at Camp Barkley. They built a new house on the hill that my cousin Jim Reese now owns. "ACU Today" magazine mentioned things that I sent in when they had a big article about chaplains.
A more current memory is when my wife and I went to our youngest granddaughter's kindergarten graduation from Midland Christian. We stopped by to see my aunt and uncle, Leon and Iris Reese. We ended up taking the triplets and sister home the next day. We surprised my uncle and aunt at Taylor Elementary's 50th anniversary. Jack and Jeanene were also there, just missed his brother Randy. Jack saw us. It was so funny to see Jack, the orator, have to repeat to his dad that I was there.
Dwayne Holden '66
Fort Worth, Texas
