TXWES Giving Days March 2023

Were A Success

Great things are happening at Texas Wesleyan – increasing freshman admissions, thriving and expanding programs and facilities, and continuing advancements in and around our community. And it isn’t possible without the generous support of our alumni and friends.

As cliché as it sounds, it’s really true – every gift counts. So, we want to say “THANK YOU” to everyone who participated in TXWES Giving Days on March 8 and 9! We had over 145 alumni, current students, friends of the university and faculty/staff participate in this event, culminating in $56,748 being raised! This important initiative provides funding to the areas of most immediate need to support our students and programs.

Missed giving days? Your gift can still positively impact Texas Wesleyan and our students at any time. Give at txwes.edu/alumni

Stay Up To Date With Alumni

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Call 817-531-6548 or email us at alumni@ txwes.edu to stay up to date on all alumni news and events.

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1960s

Roy Bowen ’67 published his book, Let Me Tell You A Story, and held a local booksigning this past October.

1970s

Kerry Getter ’77 announced his retirement during a board meeting with Balcones Resources. Getter founded Balcones in 1994 and served as CEO until his announcement. Throughout his career, Getter spent nearly four decades in the recycling industry and revolutionizing singlestream recycling in the state of Texas.

Willie R. Hargis ’78 recently published his book, Going Postal

1980s

Rex Renan Williams III ’80, DDS, and his son wrote and published Letters Home: A Journey Into Recovery released this past March on Amazon and Kindle.

1990s

Jan Pettigrew Wilde ’94 is in her seventh year of retail and currently the senior team lead at Rally House in Southlake, Texas.

Bob Mills ’95 received his master’s in management and leadership from Liberty University in 2018 and was just reelected the York County treasurer in Maine and was reelected to the Biddeford City Council. Bob and his wife, Heather, are the proud parents of six boys.

Jeri Simons Chipman ’97 was recently named director of alumni relations at Texas Wesleyan University.

2000s

Darrell Bartell ’00 has three books published with Rising Phoenix Press, including Ten-Five: You’re Going Home, Marine! ; Barry and the Vampire in the Rosedale Encounter; and The Corona Monologues: Auditioning monologues based on the COVID-19 pandemic

Nick Davis JD ’08 graduated in May with his master’s in public service and administration from the Bush School of Government & Public Service.

2010s

Paul Packard DNAP ’12 was inducted as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology during the AANA’s recent Annual Congress in Chicago earlier this year.

Melondy Doddy-Muñoz ’12 was selected to lead The Ladder Alliance in March.

Kristin Henderson DNAP ’18 was inducted as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology during the AANA’s recent Annual Congress in Chicago earlier this year.

Jerry Chism (1953-2023)

Jerry Chism was born on Aug. 12, 1953, at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Fort Worth. He was adopted at birth by Leroy and Louise Chism of Colleyville who preceded him in death. He grew up in North Richland Hills and Colleyville where he graduated from Grapevine High School in 1971. Soon after graduating high school, he met the love of his life, Elizabeth, and they married in 1976. Jerry attended Tarrant County Junior College and later transferred to Texas Wesleyan University, where he graduated with a bachelor's in religious studies. He then attended Southern Methodist University and earned a Master of Divinity.

We want to know what you’ve been up to since graduation. Class notes are published twice a year. Don't forget to email your updates on new jobs, awards, marriages and baby announcements to alumni@txwes.edu.

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After completing seminary, Jerry became an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. In the 1970s Jerry was a youth pastor at William C. Martin United Methodist in Bedford and Saginaw United Methodist Church. Jerry's first appointment as senior pastor was at St. John's UMC on University Drive in Fort Worth. In 1982 Jerry was appointed senior pastor of Benbrook UMC.

In 1983 Jerry and Liz had their first and only child, Daniel Chism, who they always loved and adored. In 1985 the Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church asked him to launch a new congregation in the growing suburbs of southwest Arlington. Jerry was the founding minister at St. John the Apostle UMC in Arlington and oversaw construction of the church.

While at St. John the Apostle, Jerry earned his first doctorate from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, focusing on ministering to children.

In 1993 Jerry became senior pastor at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Haltom City, where he served for nine years. While at Saint Luke, Jerry earned his second doctorate from Oxford University in England through the Graduate Theological Seminary Foundation. Around that time, he began his 20-year tenure on the board of trustees at Texas Wesleyan University. It was also around that time that he began to serve as a trustee for the Harris Methodist system of hospitals.

In 2002, Jerry was appointed senior pastor at Arlington Heights UMC in Fort Worth. Jerry joined the faculty of Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University where he taught Methodist doctrine and polity for nearly a decade. Eventually, he was appointed to William C. Martin UMC in Bedford, which would be the final church where he would serve as senior pastor. In 2015, Jerry received his third and final doctorate from Oxford through the Graduate Theological Seminary Foundation. His thirst for knowledge and love of the academic setting lasted until the final days of his life. Jerry retired from full-time ministry in 2017.

Alumni Association Board Of Directors

Don Boulware ’64

Patricia Castillo ’97 MBA ’08

Branigan Contreras ’15

Teri Flores ’97

Jennifer Harrison ’20

Jen Hilton ’02

Mark Husband ’95

Terri Kane MHS ’99 DNAP ’15 GPNA Representative

Kathryn Keaton ’04

Jill Kersh ’92

Margi Kluck ’79

Veronica Martinez ’81 Secretary

Julie Dugan McCurley ’06 Treasurer

Eric Montoya ’07 M.Ed. ’15 President

Xavier Sanders ’09

Karen Surita ’01 Vice President

Jorge Vivar ’76

Immediate Past President

Brandon Weaver ’00 MBA ’00

Dan Whitsell ’73

Ram Club Representative

Vernon Wright ’93

Office Of Alumni Relations Staff

Jeri Chipman ’97 Director of Alumni Relations

Reagan Cooper Assistant Director of Alumni Relations