Editor’s Note: For now over 75 years, The Baylor Line has been publishing vivid storytelling from across the Baylor Family. I don’t think our archives full of deep, inspirational features should live solely on shelves, so we are bringing them back to life in BL Classics. In this Spring 2002 Classic article, readers share with The Baylor Line about their personal heroes. And now I ask you: Who’s your hero?
May 5, 1980, is the day my family’s life changed forever. It began like any other normal Monday. Daddy went to work at our local grocery store. Mom was at home with my baby brother, and my two sisters and I went to school. I was in the fifth grade, and this was the day my class was scheduled to visit the junior high building to go through our orientation for next year. Suddenly, I heard someone shouting my name. Two men from church and Daddy’s work quickly came to take me home. Something was terribly wrong. This was the day my strong, loving, precious daddy died from a heart attack at the age of thirty-eight. Tragedy had struck our family, and we would never be the same.
I was ten, and my sisters and brother were seven, six, and four years old. Mom was a thirty-year-old widow with four children and a baby on the way. (Matthew, our sweet gift from God, was born the following January).
Mother had always been at home to raise her children, but three years after Matthew was born she went to work at our local post office. She was a city carrier with a nine-mile walking route. I can remember her getting up each morning at 4:30 to be at work by 5:00. She worked hard to provide for her young family’s needs. Her strong work ethic was handed down to us by her example.
Mother also began working on her college degree, taking classes at night. She knew it would take several years to complete her degree, but her determination spoke volumes to us about her value of education. I’m not exactly sure when she had time to study and complete her assignments, but she always managed to provide a secure, happy home and childhood for us. We always missed Daddy, but we knew that Mother’s love and protection for us was strong. As our family drew closer to one another, we gained renewed strength from Mother’s faith in God. Her prayer each night was that Jesus would be close to us the following day.
As an honor to her determination and can-do spirit, all five of her children have attended college. Four of us have our degrees now, and Matthew is currently a junior.
A hero, to me, is someone you look up to and try to emulate. When I tell my children about their grandparents, I want them to know about the morals and values that they stood for and practiced. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Mother is a hero who unselfishly cared for her family when tragedy struck. Her unyielding trust in God sustained us each day. What a wonderful example of faith in God she provided for us. “Her children rise up and call her blessed.” She is our hero!
Alicia Bullinger Mitchell ‘90
Wolfe City
A hero is a leader who by self sacrifice takes people to a higher level than they could have achieved on their own. Another characteristic of a true leader is that he or she doesn’t care about personal glory for the work that was performed. Sometimes a hero’s action receives immediate response, and other times the victory is found in the quiet realization that occurs with time. A firefighter saves a life, a mom raises children, a soldier defends his country, and leaders train new leaders.
When I was about to graduate from Baylor in 1978, I wondered if there really was a place in the business world for a Christian. My main thought was, “Can a person actually live out what he believes and still operate in the business world?” I had other questions, such as, “Could a person in business have personal integrity and honesty? Could a person deal fairly with people and be known by his peers as a man of character and principals? Would men lay aside their principals for personal gain?”
After graduation, I moved to Dallas and landed a job as a commercial real estate broker with The Hank Dickerson Companies. Hank Dickerson was a Baylor graduate (the Golden Toe place kicker), and he gave me a chance with his firm even though he did not know me. Hank’s was a place where literally dozens of the elite in the commercial real estate field received their start. It was a great place to be, and when I joined his firm, he had more than forty brokers.
What I soon found out was that it was not an accident that I had ended up there. Hank would take all these young men and women and train them up in the real estate business. It was more than just the business training; it was the personal mentoring by the example that he set. I guess you could say his style was leadership by example. He was a great coach, for he knew when to encourage you and when to motivate you by other means. He would give you advice like, “The three most important things that you have are your time, knowledge, and reputation.”
He subtly spread his influence on us in many ways. For example, he would invite all of us young pups to a weekly Bible study that he attended. And he took us to breakfasts, lunches, and ball games, investing in the lives of young people. It made a difference.
For me, the biggest change in my life happened at one of our Monday morning office meetings. Instead of inviting one of our clients or a real estate professional to speak, he had invited his friend Bill Bright, from Campus Crusade for Christ. Although I did not know anything about Dr. Bright, he had some very interesting things to say, and one thing in particular caught my attention. He had made a comment about sin. (Didn’t he know this was a business setting?) He said that even though our sin separates us from God, that no one could go too far to be forgiven for their sins. He said that you may even have grown up in a church background, knowing right from wrong, but you have a question because you don’t know if Jesus would forgive you. You keep trying to get back into God’s grace, but you keep falling short.
It was as if no one else was in the room and Dr. Bright was talking directly to me. After the meeting, Dr. bright came to my office and we prayed for assurance together, and I never worried about my eternal place after that time.
Hank died of cancer a few years ago. About six months before his death, a group of former employees held a luncheon in his honor, and several hundred people showed up to express their love and appreciation for their former boss.
One of the most important things that I learned over the years and still reflect on is this: First of all, Hank had his life in order. Through this discovery, I realized that my own personal priorities had been backwards. I was failing to live a good life and, in many ways, I was falling in my search for happiness. And Hank was the opposite. It was because of his inner peace that he lived out his convictions, which resulted in his life being filled with joy, success, and a certain type of confidence
We never know how deeply our influence may go, but we do have a choice about how we influence others. There are many great books that have been written recently about leadership, influence, and impact; but as good as some of these authors are, for me, none will be able to come close to the man who took the time to invest in the lives of others by his Christian example.
D. Randall Potts ‘78
Dallas
Many people are admired for their exploits, applauded for their success, emulated for their accomplishments, and often proclaimed heroes as a result of the circumstances that thrust them into the limelight. They were in the right place at the right time, so to speak. My heroes, however, are not “accidental heroes.”
To me, a hero is someone who decides to put aside his or her own well-being, desires, plans, or even life for the sake of another. History and literature are filled with such people: soldiers who have served their country, mothers who have sacrificed their careers for their children, spouses who have pawned possessions in order to give to their beloved. The Bible speaks of such heroes, too. “Great love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13)
In my own life there have been heroes—parents, husband, friends, and teachers who have sacrificed their time, financial resources, and their own dreams because they loved or cared for me. But there have been others who did not know me personally, whose courage and sacrifice to a cause beyond themselves have made the world a better place in which to live and have given me the rights and freedoms I enjoy.
Perhaps their heroism was for only a particular time (Raoul Wallenberg during World War II) or perhaps it was a lifestyle (Dr. Paul Brand, hand surgeon and leprosy physician). A lot of my heroes are career missionaries who daily give up a comfortable environment, the fellowship of family, the security of home, and the financial rewards of their education.
My friend, Lynda Bethea, was such a hero. Lynda loved being a pastor’s wife, a quiet, behind-the-scenes minister to her family and community. Gift-giving was her “love language,” and today there are dozens of friends and parishioners who cherish the handmade crafts they were given by Lynda. Lynda was a “homebody” who challenged her own reserve to participate in short-term mission trips. Trained as a registered nurse, Lynda could not ignore the physical and spiritual needs she saw in Africa and Asia. So, after years of prayer and personal struggle, Lynda and Ralph Bethea were commissioned as Southern Baptist missionaries to Mombasa, Kenya, in 1984. Lynda’s ministry to her four young children and the continuous stream of Kenyans that patiently waited on her front porch, day and night, was not that different from her work in Tulsa, Oklahoma. However, as her boys outgrew their school in Mombasa, Lynda agonized over the life-changing decisions to send them off to boarding school hundreds of miles away.
Ironically, Lynda and Ralph were on their way to the Rift Valley Academy to pick up their children for a holiday when Lynda was brutally beaten to death beside the road on March 27, 1991. It is not the circumstances of her death, however, but rather her daily sacrifice and obedience to the cause of her Lord Jesus Christ that makes Lynda Bethea my hero.
Janice Lane Byrd ‘69
McKinney
Perhaps she is an unlikely hero. Certainly not famous, she is the one person on earth after whom I should like to pattern my life. And that, to me, is what makes someone a hero. She has modeled her life after the One who lived a life of quiet, selfless, loving service to others. She has served.
Never calling attention to herself, she has served others in countless ways without fanfare or publicity. The widows in her community—many younger than she—understand her quiet generosity. When Mrs. Poole needed groceries, she supplied them. When Mrs. Srader couldn’t afford vitamins, she furnished them with firm instructions to “take these daily and don’t skip any!” While dispensing those vitamins, she detected the faint odor of natural gas from the old free-standing gas stove; a new one was delivered the next day. Providing warm rides home and home-cooked meals, she ministered to Dave, the town outcast, because she believes that everyone is a person of worth to God. Walking quietly, she has served.
Without consideration of herself, she has served unselfishly. A gifted musician, she taught many young people to play the piano and then shared the bench with them in order that they might learn to accompany, not just perform. Although not a school employee, she volunteered her time to accompany band students’ competition solos. Offering her music as praise for worshippers, comfort for mourners, and joy for newlyweds, she served without remuneration for more than sixty years as church pianist. A music major at Baylor, she quietly stepped aside after her sophomore year in order that two brothers could attend Baylor Medical School. Did she resent having to leave Baylor? “Why, no! I didn’t have to leave. I chose to leave.” Walking selflessly, she has served.
Always putting their needs before her own, she defined love as she served her family. For fifty-two years, she made her home an oasis of love for her husband. Never demanding “equal rights,” she involuntarily put herself on a pedestal in the eyes of her family. Knowing that true love requires discipline, she mixed love with equal parts laughter, labor, and parental authority and reared two fine sons. Their character, integrity, and honor are a tribute to her. That they now serve others in Christ’s love is the greatest testimony of her life. Defining love by living love, she introduced her sons to her Lord, who is love. She then drew her daughters-in-law into her circle of love. That circle has grown to embrace grandchildren and great grandchildren, all of whom hold her in highest regard. Walking in love, she has served.
Her life mirrors Christ’s self-portrait when he washed his disciples’ feet. That Christ-like spirit of quiet, selfless, loving service is what makes her my hero. Having her as my example has challenged me to emulate not only her but also her Lord. She has lived her life as a representative of her Lord Jesus Christ; I pray I may do the same. She is my mother-in-love, Gladys Marguerite Williamson Bedwell, my hero.
Mollie Carpenter Bedwell ‘65
Sunray
Who is a hero in my eyes? An individual who can make a difference in the lives of others. This person brings joy, love, and laughter, which eventually blossom into deep, lasting friendships. Such an individual can bring a smile to the face of a baby or a child or hold a delightful conversation with an elderly person. This person makes a difference with his or her presence, being there to listen, care, and share.
This hero is an individual who can make a difference with the innovation and creation of something. Consider all the inventions in the world today. Life is easier because of the inventions we so enjoy. Unlike our ancestors, we read at night by a light bulb rather than by candlelight. We have the convenience of sending a letter by Federal Express rather than by pony express. We have the cell phone rather than a telegraph. Each invention was sparked by the creative mind of one individual. Each invention led to another invention. What a difference an individual will make in the development of inventions in the future.
Such a hero is an individual who can make a difference by developing his or her God-given talents and using them for the common good. Someone who encourages others to use their skills can make a great difference. The gifted writer makes a difference with words. The talented pianist makes a difference with music. The caring hospital worker makes a difference by saving a life. The kind volunteer who spends time at a community agency, at a local thrift store, or at the zoo makes life better for another in this world. Yes, what a difference an individual can make! Yes, this hero could very well be you!
Dana Lee Haines ‘85 MA ‘90
Waco
My former piano teacher, Dr. Ruth Pitts, is my hero. Dr. Pitts has taught piano in Waco for many years, a job that may not seem all that significant. However, her teaching is remarkable for many reasons. To begin with, she was born with physical challenges that make teaching piano a very unlikely profession. She has only five fingers—two one one hand and three on the other. Yet she effectively teaches students with ten fingers how to play an instrument with eighty-eight keys. She also performs beautifully on the same instrument; she was the pianist for my wedding in June 2000.
This alone would be enough to make her a hero in my mind, but it’s not the most important thing about her. Her attitude toward her students and teaching are her most notable qualities. Dr. Pitts teaches in the music department at McLennan Community College. Then, after working all day at the collegiate level, she returns home to teach private piano lessons for several hours into the evening.
I studied piano with Ruth Pitts for more than eight years. During that time, I cannot remember one lesson where she seemed unhappy to be teaching. I remember her being sick and teaching anyway. I remember her husband bringing her a snack because she had not had time to eat dinner. I remember being her last lesson Friday evenings, when surely she was ready for the work week to be over. Yet she always greeted me cheerfully, and the quality of her teaching never diminished. I remember her disappointment when I did not practice enough, and I remember her disappointment when I did not practice enough, and I remember her always pushing me toward success. With a positive and encouraging spirit, she always made it clear that she expected my best.
Even as a high school student, I was impressed with Dr. Pitts as a teacher. Her love for her work inspired me to be a piano teacher as well. After receiving a degree from Baylor in piano, a master’s degree, and much encouragement from my former teacher, I am proud to say that I am in my second year as a private piano teacher.
As I try to establish myself as a piano teacher, I am constantly developing an even greater appreciation for Ruth Pitts. I, too, have a college-level job two days a week, and when I return home to teach private lessons, I realize how tired she must have been. When there is just one student remaining for the day, I recognize the determination she must have had to give every student the very best of herself. I enjoy teaching, but I must concede that it is much harder than she made it seem. So I am reminded again of what an amazing woman she is.
Webster’s Dictionary defines a heroine as “a woman admired and emulated for her achievements and qualities.” In my life, I can think of no person more deserving of that title than Dr. Ruth Pitts.
Amy Meppen Neal ‘98
Longview
A hero is someone who gives themselves to others unselfishly, asking nothing in return. My dad, Mike Laird, is my hero. He is someone who has faithfully given all of his life to his family, his church, his friends, his work, and others who have been in need.
He is constantly searching for ways to serve others. He has always been one of those people who think of Jesus first, others second, and himself last (if at all). He has spent his life serving his church and the people there by coaching youth basketball, teaching R.A.’s, teaching youth and senior adult Sunday school classes, serving as a deacon, and being a sponsor on many youth trips. He is one of the most faithful and dedicated men you will ever meet.
Having him as a hero and role model has stirred in me the desire to give to others, just as he always has.
Lesa Laird ‘93
Lewisville
