Seven ACU employees honored for 30-plus years of service For Immediate Release April 17, 2000 At Abilene Christian University's annual Faculty/Staff Appreciation Dinner Friday night, seven people where honored for their long careers at ACU with 30-plus years of service. They include: 30 years Dr. Sally Reid, Department of Music Reid is an accomplished, world-famous composer. She served as Music Department chair for 11 years and was the editor of the International League of Women Composers for 4 years. She is president of the International Alliance for Women in Music and serves as site administrator for the IAWM Web site. She has received countless honors, including annual ASCAP awards since 1987. Currently, one of her works, "Jesus, Redeemer, Messiah," is now featured on the Vatican Jubilee 2000 Web site. Dr. Paul Schulze, Department of Physics Schulze has been instrumental in developing an enviable physics program for ACU. Along with producing and publishing volumes of research, he did research for the Johnson Space Center in Houston in 1983. He has served as chairman of the Physics Department, and most recently, he was elected president of the Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers. Sam Sparks, Board of Trustees, Santa Rosa Sam Sparks is chairman of the B&P Bridge Company, which operates the International Bridge at Weslaco. He is director of the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc., in Santa Rosa and the Rio Grande Valley Partnership in Weslaco. He is also president of Rio Farms, Inc., an agricultural research facility. Sam and his wife, Seanne, have four children and 10 grandchildren. Warlick Thomas, Board of Trustees, Amarillo While at ACU Warlick Thomas was a member of the A Club and was captain of the basketball team. He has been an attorney in private practice since 1957, but he retired in 1998. He is past president of the Amarillo Bar Association. He and his wife, Jo Ann, have five children and eight grandchildren. 35 years Dr. Preston Harper, Department of English English has been Harper's life … before coming to ACU 35 years ago to teach English, he taught the same subject in the Austin public school system. He has been a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Modern Language Association and the Texas Joint Council of Teachers of English. He has presented and published many of his scholarly research conclusions, and he has been an active presenter at the Southwest Conference on Christianity and Literature. Dr. John Robinson, Department of History Robinson has been part of the backbone of ACU's History Department for 35 years. He is the author of several books and articles for academic journals, and he has extensively researched Latin American history and Far East history. Before coming to ACU, the Robinsons served as missionaries in the Philippines. Robinson is a regular resource for the media and public to help evaluate historic significance and impact of current events. 45 years Dr. Charlie Marler, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication When Marler was editor of the Prickly Pear as a student, the theme of his book was "The Singing College." In the realms of journalism and mass communication, Charlie has been making ACU sing for the past 45 years. He has served in many capacities, both on the staff and faculty. He was chairman of the Journalism and Mass Communication Department for 10 years and division director before that. Along with his involvement and leadership in numerous professional organizations, Dr. Marler is an accomplished editor. He served as editor for Dr. John Stevens' "No Ordinary University." Along with his many writing and teaching awards, his students consistently earn all-American honors for their student publication work. Archived News Releases - Current ACU News and Events If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact Tom Craig, director of media and community relations, at craigt@acu.edu or call 915-674-2692 (cell phone: 665-5469). Last update: April 12, 2000 This page is maintained by Tom Craig, craigt@acu.edu. http://www.acu.edu/events/news/000412-star.html