I will begin with the news that First Baptist, Taft, has a new Pastor by the name of Chuck Smith. He will begin his work June 1. I will finish out the month of May, and also bring the Baccalaureate sermon May 29.
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We visited College Station for a wedding. It was a beautiful one as Ann Carolyn Arth and Ben Williams married at A.& M. United Methodist Church across from the campus of Texas A.& M..
We stayed with our long time friends, Marge and Don Williams. (No kin to the groom) Marge is recuperating from her bout with a copperhead snake. Seems he bit her TWICE! She is doing nicely, considering such an event. Don is an AGGIE of the first order! His blood runs maroon. He asked me to go to A.&M. Legacy Society Celebration held in the indoor track facility of the school. This is a gathering for recognizing donors to the school. These aren't nickel and dime folks! The list begins with those having given $5,000,000. +. It also includes corporations and trusts. The names are listed in the program. The second group is $1,000,000.00 to $4,999,999.00. The next listed donors are those having given from $500,000.00 to $999,999.00. 250 thousand to 500 thousand followed. The 100 to 250 thousand group were the last listed. Below that you simply have to give more to get your name in the book. There I sat at a table with my host who was among those givers, but across the table with, who knows who, who gave who knows what. I waited and prayed I would not be singled out by that frightening question, "And when were you in A&M?" or "What kind of vocation have you followed to make it to this hallowed table?"
The people were too gracious to ask something like that. I met a graduate of Refugio High School, in the fifties, who went on to play for Bear Bryant while he was with the Aggies. The Society gave me a brown canvas bag with "A&M Legacy Society" printed on it. I think I am supposed to fill it with money and bring it to the next meeting. I have enough coins already saved to make it a pretty good load.
Think about it! These folks have given multiple millions to help kids have a wonderful place to learn and become productive citizens. Most of the students will never meet them. That doesn't really matter. This kind of giving is multiplied a thousand times over across the land, through Universities and Churches and Hospitals; people blessed with resources, giving back to places that are meaningful to them. It was a treat to be in such a gathering. They even got me in that line where folks are leaning and singing a funny song that stops real quick. I was just getting warmed up!
