Howard Payne University will recognize eight outstanding alumni and friends of the university during Homecoming weekend, October 8 and 9.
The awards will be presented during the 2010 Alumni Awards Banquet on Friday, Oct. 8 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Beadel Dining Area of the Mabee University Center.
Tickets for the Alumni Awards Banquet are $12 for members of the Alumni Association and $14 for the general public. All tickets can be purchased by contacting the Alumni Office at (800) 950-8465 or 649-8006 or by visiting https://mitdil1.dream.press/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/RoyRobb.jpg” height=”220″ width=”175″ />Roy K. Robb ’67 – Distinguished Alumnus
A 1967 graduate of Howard Payne University, Roy Robb dedicated his life and career to social service across Texas. While at Howard Payne, he was a member of the Yellow Jacket football team and met his wife, Kay. Following graduation, he spent two years in May, Texas, where he taught, coached and served as principal at the junior high school.
In 1969, Mr. Robb went to work at the Gatesville State School for Boys, where he began his career in social work. For 14 years he worked to establish a probation system for Coryell, Hamilton, Bosque and Comanche counties. Overseeing adult and juvenile services, Mr. Robb built satellite offices in three counties and directed their development. During this time, he also earned his Master of Criminal Justice degree from American Technological University.
Mr. Robb then went on to serve as director of juvenile probation services for Tom Green County, Texas (San Angelo) for 10 years where he built the first Juvenile Detention Center in that part of Texas. During this time, he coordinated a large volunteer program, created numerous community correction programs and developed an early intervention program for at-risk youth. He was then named director of adult and juvenile probation services for seven west Texas counties.
Mr. Robb retired as director of probation services in 1998 and then went to work as a secure program specialist for the Texas Youth Commission for seven years. In recognition of his outstanding leadership and service, a community correctional facility was named The Roy K. Robb Post Adjudication Facility.
Mr. Robb and his wife have two sons and two grandchildren. They make their home in San Angelo.
Coffey Anderson ’02 – Outstanding Young Graduate
Born and raised in Bangs, Texas, Coffey Anderson came to HPU to play basketball for the Yellow Jackets. During his time on campus, the 2002 graduate began playing the guitar and realized his dream to become a musician. Having the opportunity to open for MercyMe as a student during HPU Fest was a great beginning for the aspiring singer and songwriter. He then began writing songs, recorded an album and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career. Mr. Anderson auditioned for Season 2 of American Idol, advancing to the Hollywood round as one of 75 finalists.
Making YouTube videos for his growing fan base proved to be an instant success, as he showed how to play pop songs, praise songs and his original music as well. Within seven days of his first posting, he had 63,000 views.
In 2008, Mr. Anderson auditioned for Nashville Star and was one of the final three contestants on the show. This helped boost his fame and popularity throughout the U.S.
He has played with and opened for a diverse range of artists including Chris Tomlin, Boyz II Men, John Michael Montgomery, Blake Shelton, Chris Cagle, Trace Adkins and Leeland.
After years of hard work and almost 100,000 sales on his own, on April 30, 2010, Mr. Anderson signed his first record deal with Dream Records. The self-titled album was released on September 28th. He is now on the road touring worldwide to thousands of people.
He is married to Criscilla and has one daughter.
Jeremy Courtney ’01 – Outstanding Young Graduate
A business major and 2001 graduate of HPU, Jeremy Courtney could not have foreseen that nine years after his graduation he would be working to save the lives of children in Iraq. As president and CEO of Preemptive Love Coalition, Mr. Courtney coordinates program fulfillment, strategy, partnership development, recruitment and research for the company. All of this work gears toward their main objective: providing lifesaving heart surgeries to children in Iraq in pursuit of peace between communities that are at odds.
During his time at HPU, he was involved in Gamma Beta Phi, Student Activities Council, the Chapel praise band and was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
In 2004, he earned his Masters of Divinity degree from Baylor University, and in 2007, he and his wife, Jessica Bond Courtney, moved to Iraq to work for Millennium Relief & Development Services. During that time, they became increasingly aware that congenital heart defects were affecting more than 20,000-30,000 children in that country.
The couple joined with friend Cody Fisher to sell hand-made shoes from the local people through the business Buy Shoes. Save Lives. in an effort to raise money to fund heart surgeries for the children. In February 2008, the team began the Preemptive Love Coalition as a means of furthering their impact and providing more resources to the families of children seeking heart surgeries.
The Courtneys have two children.
Dr. Clinton Stewart – Medal of Service
A lifelong educator, Dr. Clinton Stewart has remained committed to Howard Payne University for many years since his retirement as dean of the School of Education. The HPU professor emeritus chose to remain close to the university following retirement so that he could remain involved in campus activities.
Dr. Stewart holds four degrees from Baylor University: a bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees and the Doctor of Education degree. He taught in public education within the Vega, Valley Mills and Meridian Independent School Districts before beginning his higher education career at his alma mater, Baylor University. Dr. Stewart also taught at Texarkana College, HPU and Sul Ross State University.
While a professor at HPU, Dr. Stewart worked under the administrations of Dr. Guy D. Newman, Dr. Roger Brooks and Dr. Don Newbury. He has traveled on several international trips with HPU including tours of Europe and Israel.
A strong civic leader, Dr. Stewart has served as president of the Lion’s Club in Alpine and Meridian. He has also served as a deacon in his churches in Alpine, Meridian and Brownwood. He is a member of several honor societies including Alpha Epsilon Delta, Beta Beta Beta, Alpha Chi and Phi Delta Kappa.
Dr. Stewart has served three terms as a member of the HPU Board of Trustees since 2002. His faithful service to Howard Payne through teaching, involvement and leadership has had a great impact upon the university.
Dr. Leonard Underwood – Medal of Service
Retired owner and manager of Underwood’s Bar-B-Q in Brownwood, Dr. Leonard Underwood has been a longtime supporter of HPU.
Growing up in Brownwood, Dr. Underwood graduated from Brownwood High School before attending Texas A&M University and earning a degree in business administration. After serving for two years in the U.S. Army as an officer in Air Defense Command at Fort Bliss, he returned to Brownwood to manage the family restaurant.
Dr. Underwood has been very involved within the community, serving on the board of directors for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Brownwood Regional Medical Center, Good Samaritan Ministries, as past president of the Chamber of Commerce and a deacon at First Baptist Church of Brownwood.
He has served on HPU’s Board of Trustees continually since 1991, including two years as chairman. Dr. Underwood has also served on the Board of Directors for the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom for the past 23 years. Dr. Underwood and his family have been generous donors to the university throughout the years, establishing several scholarship endowments, funding the HPU Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Award and contributing to numerous capital campaigns.
Dr. Underwood was awarded HPU’s highest honor, the Doctor of Humanities degree, in 1996. That year, he was also the Grand Marshal in the Homecoming parade.
The Underwoods have two sons and daughters-in-law and four grandchildren.
Molly Ross Embrey ’58 – Coming Home Queen
Molly Embrey entered Howard Payne College in 1949 as a freshman. She attended school for two years before she married her late husband, Jodie, and worked as a bookkeeper for a Brownwood accounting firm. Later, she re-entered HPC and graduated in 1958 with a degree in elementary education.
While at Howard Payne, Mrs. Embrey was inducted into the Theta Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi and Alpha Chi honor societies.
Teaching elementary school was her lifelong passion, and she retired after 28 years of service in public education. Eighteen of those years were spent teaching fifth grade at Woodland Heights Elementary School in Brownwood. Mrs. Embrey looks fondly upon her years of teaching, working alongside talented principals, fellow teachers and students.
Upon retirement, Mrs. Embrey became very involved in the Brown County Retired Teachers Association. This past May she was recognized for 40 years of service and membership in the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. She also is very active as a volunteer through her church, First Baptist Church of Brownwood. She is the volunteer coordinator for Meals on Wheels, sings in the church choir and is the prayer leader for her Sunday school class.
Mrs. Embrey has two children, four grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Leo ’50 and Jane Black Lacey ’52 – Grand Marshals
Leo and Jane Black Lacey are dedicated supporters of Howard Payne University. The Laceys were classmates at Howard Payne College in the late 1940s, but it was not until 1988 that they were married.
Mr. Lacey retired from a 39-year career with Texaco, Inc. (now Chevron-Texaco) in 1990. During his career he worked in West Texas, New Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia and Africa. Mrs. Lacey has worked as a secretary for the Texas Youth Commission, a teacher for the job training program for the U.S. Labor Department, adjunct professor at Abilene Christian University and a vocational office education coordinator at Abilene High School.
Upon both of their retirements in 1990, the couple became very involved in civic and community events. They have dedicated numerous hours of service to the alumni and advancement offices over the past 22 years. Active members of the HPU Alumni Association, Mrs. Lacey has served on the Board of Directors. The couple frequently attends and assists with area alumni events. They are also very involved in the Athletic Alumni Chapter and HPU Letterman’s Club.
Mr. Lacey was awarded HPU’s Medal of Service in 1998. Mrs. Lacey was named HPU’s Coming Home Queen in 2001 and the HPU Woman’s Club Yellow Rose Recipient for 2009.
The Laceys make their home in Goldthwaite, Texas. They have four children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
