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For immediate release
July 15, 2003
Rex Leach, ACU graduate of 1971, doesn't even remember losing his wallet. But thanks to renovations in Mabee Residence Hall, he'll soon be reunited with the wallet he last saw when he was a college sophomore in 1968.
"I'm sure it was a big deal to lose my wallet at the time, but right now I don't even remember it,” Leach said. "I'm not too concerned about having lost any money though because I know it never had money in it."
While tearing through a bathroom wall Monday afternoon to renovate the plumbing in Mabee Hall, Carroll Massey, a contracted plumber with Batjer & Associates, came across the wallet – which was, as Leach predicted, free from any cash. Massey turned the artifact over to ACU's physical resources office, and the worn brown leather wallet eventually made its way to the ACU Police who took on the job of finding and reuniting it with its owner.
The owner's name was easy to come by thanks to the draft card, cafeteria punch card, receipts and other papers in the wallet, and in less than 24 hours Jimmy Ellison, ACU's chief of police, was on the phone with the wallet's owner in McAllen, Texas.
Leach, who doesn’t remember losing the wallet but is anxious to see it again, said reminders of his college days have been coming at him from all directions during the past few days.
On Sunday night, while watching television, Leach overheard a name he recognized -- Landy Blair, also ACU class of 1971.
"It jumped out at me because I'd never met anyone else named Landy," Leach said.
Sure enough, Leach's old classmate Blair was on MSNBC being interviewed about his job as an ocean lifeguard in Honolulu. But the ACU connections didn't end there.
Monday evening while watching a History Channel special on drive-in restaurants, Leach saw Dick Hailey, yet another classmate from the class of 1971, being interviewed on national television.
Upon hearing Tuesday about the discovery of his college wallet, Leach said he wonders what ACU connection Wednesday will bring.
"It's been a twilight zone kind of week," Leach 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, media relations coordinator.
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