Colonel Glenn D. Bratcher, USMC (Ret.)
 BBA 1957

Trustee Glenn Bratcher has rendered invaluable service to Hardin-Simmons University as an active Alumni leader, both on campus and in the D.C. area.

Glenn is a member of Cowboy Club, has served as a class reunion organizer, and is a former member of HSU’s Board of Development. During his student days, Glenn served on Student Congress and was a cheerleader and class officer. He was also in Alpha Psi Omega and a staff member for the Bronco.

Professionally, Glenn retired as a Colonel from the U.S. Marine Corps.  During his 32 years of commissioned service, he performed duties in six Military Occupational Specialties.  He saw duty in the USA, Japan, and Vietnam.  His final assignment was as Assistant Chief of Staff, Aviation Logistics Division, HQs, FMF, Pacific.

Glenn now lives in McLean, VA, where he is a leader for the Missions Ministry of the First Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.  He also has served as a Deacon, Chair of the Diaconate, and Church Council Member.

Past Recipients

Dr. Patricia L. Blanton
BA 1962

Patricia Blanton has led a distinguished career in dentistry dating back to her first faculty appointment in 1967. Most recently, she became president of the American College of Dentists in October 2011 and first vice president of the American Dental Association that same month.

The first female president of the Texas Dental Association, she received her PhD in anatomy from Baylor University in Dallas and her DDS from Baylor College of Dentistry.

Patricia has spent most of her professional career at Baylor College of Dentistry where she is currently a professor emeritus in the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

Among her many honors are a nomination to the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame for health and research, the Baylor College of Dentistry Distinguished Alumni Award, and the Commanders Award from the Europe Regional Dental Command.

Pat is a member of HSU’s Ex-Cowgirls, is a founding member of Tri Phi, and has served on the University’s Board of Development.

In addition to her numerous academic positions and professional appointments, Patricia practices periodontics and implantology full-time in Dallas.

Mrs. Paula (Turney) Edwards
BM ’77/MM ’78

Paula Edwards has been choral director at her alma mater, Robert E. Lee High School, in Midland, TX, since 1989.

As a student at Hardin-Simmons University, she was involved in Student Foundation and Sigma Alpha Iota. Studying with conductor Dr. Loyd Hawthorne, she earned degrees in Music Education and Conducting.

Paula began her career teaching all-level music in Brandenburg, KY. She returned to Texas to become choral director at Madison High in San Antonio. During her nine years at Madison she served as Fine Arts Chair, All-State Section Leader and Region Vocal Chair.

While at Lee, Paula has served in many leadership roles for the TMEA All-State Choir program including Mixed Choir Organizer. She frequently hosts Area Auditions, UIL Contests, and Region Clinic and Concert events.

During Paula’s tenure at Lee, the choirs have received consistent “Sweepstakes” ratings at UIL contests, sung four times at TMEA, and participated in numerous overseas concert tours.

Paula is married to Phillip Edwards ’76. They have two children, Clare and Elizabeth.

Col. James L. Furgerson, MD
BS ’88

An ROTC scholarship helped make it possible for James Furgerson to attend Hardin-Simmons, where he ran varsity cross-country, worked in the biology lab, and served as cadet commander of the ROTC detachment.

After graduation, James attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine (’92), entered active duty as an intern at Brooke Army Medical Center in 1992, and completed a residency in internal medicine in 1995.

He became a member of the teaching faculty at Brooke and served as CCU medical director and asst. chief of the cardiology service before becoming the fellowship program director in 2004, the position he holds today.

In 2007, James was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, where he served as an attending cardiologist and intensivist at the 28^th Combat Support Hospital.

Highly-decorated, James is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, and cardiovascular computed tomography. He is an Asst. Professor of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

James is married to Teresa K. Lee ’89. They live in near San Antonio with their children Jase (19) and Meredith (17).

Past Recipients

Michael W. Daggs Jr.
Excellence Consultant
BBS 1996 / ME 2000

As co-owner of the professional consulting firm, Tutt and Daggs, Mr. Daggs makes presentations, facilitates webinars, and leads special sessions to help prepare and equip individuals to lead where they are. Michael has been recognized recently as a top business person under 40 in Abilene.

Dr. Dan Munton, MD
Physician
BS 1991

In private practice since 2000, Dr. Dan Munton is a board-certified physician in the fields of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine with subspecialty fellowship training in Sports Medicine and Interventional Spine Care. In 2006, he became the physician for HSU’s football team. As his practice grew, he became the founder and managing partner of Texas Sport & Spine in Abilene. Dan is also owner and operator of Munton Sports Complex.

Dr. Emily Prevost
Leadership Developer
BA 2000 / MA 2002 

As director of Leadership Development at East Texas Baptist University, Dr. Emily Prevost oversees the curricular and co-curricular leadership development program for students. Emily is known for her extraordinary skills for relationships, visionary leadership, practical ministry, and strategic planning.

Past Recipients

Darren Allman
BBS '94

Darren Allman was among the first recruited players during the resurrection of HSU Football. As a safety and captain on three Cowboy teams, he recorded 178 career tackles and 10 interceptions. He received All-Conference honors three times and was twice named Conference Player of the Week. The 1993 HSU team reached the National Semi-Finals with Allman serving as defensive backs coach. He graduated from HSU with a B.A. in education and was awarded the HSU Distinguished Alumni Award in 2010.

Ted Edmondson
BS '59

Ted Edmondson, Cowboys tackle from 1957 to 1959, was considered among the best to ever play that position at HSU, excelling on both defense and offense. Ted made All-Border Conference his junior and senior years and Honorable Mention All-American player his senior year. HSU Coach Sam Baugh tabbed Ted as the finest tackle in the Border Conference his senior year. The coaches named him as the best defensive player in 1959. He was one of the leaders of the team that won the Border Conference in 1959, and was runner-up for the Most Valuable player in the Sun Bowl against the University of Wyoming. Drafted by the Chicago Cardinals, he was heavily recruited by the New York Titans, who were coached by his college coach, Sam Baugh. Ted married HSU ex, Georgie Bohannon, and they have two children, Cathey and Teddy, and five grandchildren.

Tim O'Leary
BEd '83

A native of Long Island, NY, Tim O’Leary came to HSU in 1978 and quickly raised the expectations of the Division I program. He holds pre-Division III era records for most goals in a season (26) and in a career (50). In l980 he was first team all-conference in the Trans America Athletic Conference while earning academic awards in the Irvin School of Education. He was named MVP in 1982. In 1983 O’Leary started the boy’s soccer program at Waco Midway where he has won over 500 games, including the 2002 UIL State Championship. In 2009 he was named Super Centex Coach of the Year, and Regional and State Coach of the Year, leading Midway to a 23-2-1 record. In 2010 Midway advanced to the regional semifinals. In 2012 they posted a 27-1-1 record. O’Leary has also been a strong re- cruiter for HSU and the Men’s Soccer program.

Meredith Hare Stone
BA '01/MA '06

In the three full seasons Stone played at HSU, she was named an All-American each time. She was also named the 1998 NCAA Division III Freshman of the Year, had five career tournament victories, and 18 top-ten finishes. In 1998-99, Stone led one of HSU’s best golf teams to win the first ASC Championship in women’s golf and finish 4th at the NCAA Division II/III championship. Stone’s best individual finish at nationals was 4th in 2001. She was also a two-time Academic All-American and three-time academic all-ASC.

Past Recipients