For immediate release
April 17, 2003

Abilene Christian University presented its ninth Change the World award to ACU alumnus and Abilene native Jack Pope at a surprise birthday celebration Wednesday.

Dr. Royce Money presented the award in Austin in conjunction with a surprise party honoring Pope’s 90th birthday this Friday. The ACU Change the World Award honors individuals who touch lives in a positive way and make a difference in their communities.

Pope graduated from Abilene High School, enrolled in Abilene Christian College, served as president of his junior class and president of the Students’ Association, and earned his B.A. degree in 1934.

After graduating from the University of Texas School of Law, he became an attorney and served in the U.S. Navy.  At the age of 33 he became the youngest district court judge in the State of Texas, marking the beginning of a judicial career that included service as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas.

His other awards and professional honors include ACU’s Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award in 1964 upon his election to the Supreme Court of Texas.

“Judge Pope has served diligently and faithfully as a member of the ACU Board of Trustees since 1954,” Money said.  “For nearly 50 years he has devoted his time and shared his wisdom with this governing body of our university, including his current valuable service on the board’s Purpose Committee.”

The Board of Trustees established the Pope Fellows program at ACU to train public servants for communities, states and the nation and to honor Pope for maintaining the highest standards of integrity during his remarkable career.

The purpose of ACU’s Change the World Award is:

• To recognize individuals or groups who are touching lives in a positive way and making a difference, in large ways or small.

• To tie directly to ACU’s mission of educating students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.

• And to allow ACU to demonstrate in a visible, consistent way that we want to Change the World in a positive way – and not simply let the world pass us by.

 “‘Change the World’ is an important theme at ACU because we believe our faculty, staff, students and alumni do change the world through their Christian service and leadership,” Money said.

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If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact Wendy Kilmer, university news coordinator.