Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University President Dr. C. Pat Taylor and First Lady Judy Taylor were surprised during the SBU Board of Trustee’s luncheon on Tuesday, October 11, with a program of celebration for their 15 years of service at the University.
President and Mrs. Taylor have served SBU since October 21, 1996. Those honoring the Taylors with commendations, resolutions and letters of congratulations during the luncheon included:
Dan Wadlington who presented a personal letter and U.S. Congressional Record of commendation on behalf of U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (Senator Blunt is an SBU alumnus and a former president of SBU.)
Allen Palmeri who presented a letter from the Missouri Baptist Convention President Jay Hughes (Palmeri is a senior reporter from the MBC newspaper, The Pathway.)
Mike Stephens who presented a resolution on behalf of Missouri Sen. Mike Parson’s Office (Stephens is owner of Stephens Pharmacy in Bolivar, Mo.)
Diana Leslie who presented a letter on behalf of the Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce (Leslie is executive director for the Chamber)
Rep. Shane Shoeller who presented a resolution on behalf of Rep. Sue Entlicher (Schoeller is also an SBU alumnus. Entlicher represents District 133 which includes Bolivar.)
Jordan Taylor who presented a letter on behalf of the SBU Student Government Association (Jordan Taylor is president of the SGA.)
Dr. William Brown who presented a resolution on behalf of the SBU Faculty Senate (Dr. Brown is SBU’s provost.)
Stella Cunningham who presented a resolution on behalf of the SBU Staff Council (Cunningham is staff council president.)
Trustee Mark Rains who presented a humorous and an “official” resolution on behalf of the Board of Trustees (Rains is Chairman of the Board.)
Trustees Rick Moore and Don Fahrni also presented letters to Dr. Taylor.
Sandra Maupin honored Judy Taylor with a gift on behalf of the SBU Women’s Club (Maupin is club president).
Several additional congratulatory letters, notes, and cards from SBU Trustees, college presidents, and other officials were presented to the Taylors in a purple portfolio.Biography of President Dr. C. Pat Taylor
Dr. C. Pat Taylor was selected as the 24th president of Southwest Baptist University by the board of trustees on Aug. 20, 1996, after a seven-month nationwide search. He assumed his duties as president on Oct. 21, 1996.
Prior to becoming president of SBU, Dr. Taylor served as chief academic officer at Oklahoma Baptist University for 10 years. As senior vice president and provost, Dr. Taylor was responsible for OBU’s five colleges and schools as well as student development, admissions, religious life, library services and athletics.
Dr. Taylor previously served as associate vice president for academic affairs at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., from 1979-86. From 1975-79, he was an assistant professor of education at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. While at Belmont, he served as head resident of Pembroke Hall, a men’s dormitory housing 150 men. His experiences also have included community college and high school teaching and coaching.
A native of Salem, Kentucky, Dr. Taylor received his doctor of education degree with emphasis in history and philosophy of education from Memphis State University. He received a master’s degree in history from Western Kentucky University and a bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education from the University of Tennessee-Martin.
Dr. Taylor and his wife, Judy, have been married since 1968 and have two children, Marijo and Charla. Marijo is a 1994 OBU graduate and in 2000 received an Executive MBA from the University of Missouri. She is a criminal investigator for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement of Homeland Security. Marijo is married to Tom Gronewold who also is a criminal investigator for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement of Homeland Security. Charla, also an OBU graduate, completed her master’s degree in physical therapy from SBU in 2001 and her doctorate in physical therapy in 2007. Her husband, Adam Austermann, is a 1999 SBU graduate. He earned his master’s degree in physical therapy from SBU in 2001 and his doctorate in physical therapy in 2006. Dr. Taylor and Judy have two grandsons, Drew Charles Austermann and Luke Taylor Austermann.
Biography of First Lady Judy Taylor
Judy (Couch) Taylor received master’s degree in counselor education from Western Kentucky University and a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from the University of Tennessee-Martin. Mrs. Taylor taught in elementary school from 1968 to 1976 before becoming the dean of woman at Belmont College. She began her university teaching carrier in 1980 as an instructor of education at Oklahoma Baptist University and served as an assistant professor of education from 1986 to1996.
Through her career Mrs. Taylor has taught English as a second language in China, Hungary, Russia, and Brazil. From 1997-2006, Mrs. Taylor served as an assistant professor of education at Southwest Baptist University. She is faithful and dedicated to SBU and continues to serve the university in numerous ways, including overseeing landscaping across campus.
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PHOTOS:
SBU Trustee Mark Rains (right) congratulates Dr. Taylor on his achievements at the Trustee luncheon surprise program.
SBU Trustees Jim Evans (left) and Mark Rains presented President Taylor with an extra large, bright red St. Louis Cardinals' jacket with a "history."
SBU First Lady Judy Taylor (left) with Sandra Maupin who presented her with a gift.
Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.
SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.
