Family Tree

Alumni often say that the Lyon College community feels like family. In some cases, it is more than just a feeling. Families like the Hances, Mosers and Crawfords have multiple generations linking their legacies to Lyon.

Maggie Hance, ’13, was the third generation in her family to attend Lyon. She was preceded by six family members: her grandfather, Clyde Orville Hance, ’53; her grandmother, LouAnn Hance, ’52; her uncle, Eric Hance, ’78; her father, Paul Hance, ’81; her aunt, Ellen Terrell Case, ’82; and her aunt, Heather Ericson Terrell, ’96.

Maggie Hance even met her husband, Drew Nolley, ’14, while at Lyon.

“I attended out of a mix of chance and inspiration by family members,” Hance said. “I never really thought about the connection to family until I attended Honors Day with my parents.”

Her father discussed his experience and shared some of the stories connected with each building, like Spragins Hall. She later talked with her grandmother about the possibility of attending Lyon.

“She disclosed to me the importance Lyon/ Arkansas College has had on my family, which made Lyon even more attractive in my selection process.”

Earvin Moser, ’73, originally came to Arkansas College in 1962 to play basketball under Coach R.C. “Dick” Winningham. His father had died his senior year of high school, and Moser couldn’t afford to continue college after his freshman year. When he later began working at White Rogers, the company offered to pay for him to finish his college

education as long as he took business-related classes and maintained all A’s and B’s.

“I worked full-time and went to class full-time,” said Moser, who worked at White Rogers for 35 years. His daughter-in-law, Shelly Moser, ’97, later graduated from Lyon, and her son, Payne Moser, is a current student and a pole vaulter for the track team.

“It feels good to see my grandson here,” Earvin Moser said. “It happened naturally.” Shelly Moser’s father attended Lyon for a year. Her sister and brother-in-law, Chastity, ’03, and Greg Manry, ’01, are graduates. “Shelly didn’t want to leave Batesville, and athletics drew in Payne,” Earvin

said. “They’re both elders in the Presbyterian Church, so Lyon’s ties to the church helped, too.”

For the Crawfords, their family practically began on campus. Terri Crawford, ’91, and her husband, Gene Crawford, ’85, met through their Lyon connections.

Gene Crawford actually met his future motherin-law, Ruth Pellow, ’87, first in their sociology class. “My mom had suffered a severe illness,” Terri Crawford said. “When she came through that, she decided to go back to college as a nontraditional student.”

Terri’s sister, Pam Hipp, ’89, followed a few years later, and Terri decided to attend Lyon as well since it was close to home. She joined Circle K International as a sophomore and met her husband, who had recently joined the Batesville Kiwanis Club. “Gene and I never overlapped at Lyon. He was already out and working, and we didn’t date until two years after we met.”

“Lyon changed the trajectory of my life,” Gene Crawford said. “How would I know the woman

who sat in front of me in sociology would be my mother-in-law?” As luck would have it, their oldest son, Will Crawford, ’19, would later meet his wife, Lauren Gunderman, ’16, at Lyon College. “She was a senior when I was a freshman,” Will Crawford said.

“She would hang out with the older brothers in my fraternity, so we became friends over the years.”

Terri Crawford had chosen Lyon because it was close to her hometown, Heber Springs. Will Crawford had a connection from visiting his grandparents in Batesville. Terri Crawford’s mother majored in psychology, and her sister majored in English. Terri majored in biology.

“Everyone in the family was so good at arguing,” said Will Crawford, who majored in political science and history. “I needed to be just as good, so I came to Lyon.”

Lyon College changed a lot between the different generations’ time on campus.

“The size of the college, and even the name,

have changed!” Earvin Moser said, laughing.

Maggie Hance said that Honor and Social Council weren’t around during some of her family’s time on campus, and big events, like Chapel Walk and Bid Day for Greek Life, seem to be much different from how they were in the past. “It sounds like they’re much tamer,” she said, laughing.

Will Crawford said the layout of campus is probably the biggest change that happened between his parents’ time at Lyon and his own. Gene Crawford noted how different the student union is from his time on campus.

Still, family traditions unite their experiences at

Lyon. Greek Life at Lyon/Arkansas College was the same for almost everyone, Maggie Hance said, noting her grandmother was a member of Kappa Kappa Alpha. Her father, uncle and husband were all members of Kappa Sigma. Her aunt, Heather, was a member of Alpha Xi Delta, and Maggie Hance was a member of Phi Mu.

“While we each had different stories, we all agree that Greek Life at Lyon was a big part of our experience,” said Maggie Hance, who, like her aunt, cheered at Lyon College.

Greek Life was also an experience Terri Crawford shared with her family. She, her sister and her mother were all members of Alpha Xi, and Will Crawford was a member of Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT). Terri Crawford also spent time in Australia as part of the Honors International Program, and it was important to her that her son, Will, travel overseas.

Earvin Moser said it has been fun to go from playing on the basketball court as a Scot to supporting Payne Moser at track meets.

“We used to come to sporting events to watch some relatives who played basketball at Lyon,” Earvin Moser said. “We’ll keep coming for Payne.”

Maggie said the Hances are still heavily involved with the Lyon community.

“We are close to many of our friends who graduated or attended with us, and the majority of my family still attend the Scottish Festival or other Lyon events throughout the year,” Maggie Hance said. She and Drew invited several Lyon faculty

and staff to their wedding, and she kept in touch with Director of Counseling Diane Ellis while attending graduate school.

Since moving back to Batesville a few years ago, Gene and Terri have served as “Community Friends” for Lyon’s international students. Will Crawford often visits campus for Scottish Festival and ZBT events. “I think it’s important for young alumni to stay involved,” Crawford said. “We find we’re very protective of Lyon,” Gene said. “Lyon changed my life.”

Earvin Moser said the family hopes his granddaughter, Julianna Moser, will be the next Scot on the track team.

“We hope she follows in Payne’s footsteps,” Earvin Moser said.