Wednesday, May 30, 2007
The line of those who could speak words of praise for Herbert H. Reynolds literally is endless, but my own place somewhere in that line has at least one important distinction:
Herb Reynolds believed in me before I believed in me.
Fifty-four years ago our paths first crossed in a Quonset hut that housed the Baylor Air Force ROTC detachment. Herb was my instructor for three courses required of those in the Baylor ROTC program.
The idea of military service was not particularly appealing to me, and all I was really looking for was a way to beat the draft. Imagine my surprise when a man of the caliber, intelligence and authentic capacity for leadership that characterized Herb Reynolds walked into the classroom — and into my life.
From that day forward, he took what seemed like an inordinate interest in my future and my career.
He became president of Baylor long after I had left the university to pursue a journalism career in New York. But Herb never came to Manhattan without calling or dropping by for a visit. I had nothing to offer him, and still he always offered to me the kind of interest in others that is an increasingly rare commodity in human friendships.
When the Baylor Board of Regents finally shook off the myopia that had prevented it from allowing anyone who lived outside the state of Texas to serve as a regent, it was Herb who put my name before the regent committee. The nine years I served on the board were made most memorable and significant for me because of his presence and clear vision.
In more recent years, my association with the Council for America’s First Freedom in Richmond, Va., was enhanced by Herb’s unflinching willingness to work behind the scenes in our efforts to build the center in Richmond. The center will celebrate America’s first establishment in law of the principle of religious freedom: Thomas Jefferson’s 1786 statute for religious liberty in Virginia.
Herb understood perfectly how critical this freedom is for every American. He knew how to find those who were able to support the work of the council.
When my wife, Paula, and I moved to Santa Fe, N.M., 15 months ago, one of the many attractions of living in this beautiful part of the country was the prospect of spending more time with Herb and Joy while they were in residence at their summer home in Angel Fire.
I will feel cheated for the rest of my life at having the experience of Herb as a near neighbor taken away too soon.
He kept in almost constant touch after I told him I was going to New York City for major surgery last fall. On the day of my first consultation with the physician, Herb remembered the date. He called while I was sitting in the doctor’s office. On the day of and immediately after the surgery he called again. He simply wanted me to know of his concern and to share in the good news of my successful recovery.
It is certainly no longer a news flash that there are serious and profound differences among the Baylor family today over the focus and direction of the university. Whatever the disagreements, there is not a person alive familiar with the word “Baylor” who does not owe — whether they can acknowledge it or not — a deep debt of gratitude to Herbert Reynolds for his gift of leadership, discernment and vision at the moment when Baylor needed it most.
He will be long remembered and rightly credited for taking the necessary steps to ensure that Baylor had a chance to be not just a Baptist school but also a real university that knows how to honor the pursuit of learning.
Not long after his death, John Kennedy was memorialized in a score of books, none more personal and moving than one titled Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye.
The book friends of Baylor could write today, either in print or across the pages of their hearts, would say: Herb, Thank God We Knew You.
And loved you, and love you still.
Hal Wingo is former senior editor of Life magazine and a founder of People magazine.
Comments
By Rick Stamps
Jun 12, 2007 7:31 PM | Link to this
Dr. Reynolds was President when I attended Baylor. I will always be grateful for his protecting Baylor against Baptist extremists. Today, Baylor enjoys its high academic reputation because of Dr. Reynolds.
By Kris Bolcom
Jun 10, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this
Yes, Reynolds could be a good man and had some good qualities. But he could also be ruthless and unethical. He ruined his legacy by conspiring against those who support Baylor 2012. He used his training to wage an almost anonymous psychological war through the internet (baylorfans), and bullied people through unkind correspondence and phone calls. He admittedly kept an "asbestos file" to use against his enemies. We, the new generation of Baptist leaders, need to do better than this. Unethical means can never be justified.
By Dr. Maggie B. Thomas, Class of 66
Jun 8, 2007 3:07 AM | Link to this
Dr. Herb Reynolds and I talked less than seven weeks before his sudden death on the day he delivered the eulogy at the funeral of former Baylor trustee Judge Joe E. Briscoe.
Dr. Reynolds was gracious as I approached him to express my appreciation for his eloquent words praising the many contributions Judge Briscoe and his wife, Gene Aubrey Briscoe, made to Baylor in time, energy, and scholarships.
On a personal note, I told him that my uncle, Dr. Walter J. Williams, was a former chair of the math department at Baylor and my cousin, Lucille W. Brigham, also taught in the math department for many years. Dr. Reynolds had delivered the eulogy at the funeral for my cousin when she died suddenly and unexpectedly.
I also told him my Baylor roommate was Judge Briscoeıs daughter, Dr. Harriet B. Harral, and I am a second-generation Baylor graduate.
Upon hearing the personal connections, Dr. Reynolds began telling personal stories about his experiences with my relatives and the Briscoe family.
His ability to make personal connections, amid all the responsibilities he had through the years, was a distinctive part of his personality and character that I appreciated.
As Baylorıs leader, Dr. Reynolds had to be ıtoughı quite often to function effectively. I admired his skillful and innovative ways of protecting Baylor from the conservative element in the Baptist denomination. I also was favorably impressed by his caring ways of maintaining personal relationships with people.
?ıAnd now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.ı
1 Corinthians 13:13
By John Hewett
Jun 1, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this
In a world filled with religious politicians, he was a statesman. His courage, integrity and personal strength were an inspiration to many, and to me personally. We are all diminished by his passing.
By Dale Connally
May 31, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this
My admiration for Dr. Reynolds started when I was a Junior at Baylor and we interacted at BSU functions. After graduation, he was the President who hired me onto the faculty of the university we both dearly loved. As a faculty member I attended myriad luncheons where he was present. I donıt think I ever heard a topic from Physical Education to Physics come up that he didnıt chime in, I was reading about that the other day, and ı.
After his retirement we have regularly shared the balcony of First Baptist Church. I was always challenged by his copious notetaking during every sermon and his singingıa lifetime participant in worship, not a spectator. Thanks to the Reynolds family for sharing him with us.
By Michael Fallon
May 30, 2007 7:17 PM | Link to this
Although I did not know Dr. Reynolds very well, My father Frank Fallon, was a life long friend, and he performed my father's eulogy,in May of 2004. My father always spoke highly of Dr. Reynolds, as he had my Dad come to work at Baylor full time in 1981. He did as much to move the Baylor name to new horizons in Education, as my father did to promote Baylor Athletics onto the national scene in broadcasting. He will be sorely missed. God Bless his memory, and his family.
By Bronnie McNabb, Jr. - BBA '73
May 30, 2007 6:05 PM | Link to this
Claremont, California
May 30, 2007
I am experiencing a profound sadness at the passing of Herbert Reynolds. Dr. Reynolds came to Baylor during my first year there as a student. He and Abner McCall made quite a team, really complementing one another in the most effective manner. I never really got to know him personally as so many who have posted comments here, but I respected him as an intelligent, open-minded, progressive and faithful leader of Baylor University.
His son Kevin lived a few doors down from me in Penland Hall and observing Kevin's film career from here in California I have always been reminded of those days at Baylor. Dr. Reynolds became President several years after I graduated and although he remained far more conservative that I personally would have liked, without him and his visionary leadership I believe that the value of my Baylor education in the eyes of the broader national community would be measurably de-valued.
Herbert Reynolds was a voice of reason and intelligence throughout the Presidential debacle that followed his term of office. All through that difficult time, his obvious love for Baylor led him to continue to strive for the best that Baylor could be; faithful to its Baptist roots, but looking to a future that was more mindful of globalization, diversity of people and less inwardly focused. Frankly, I wonder who will be able to fill his "shoes" in the days to come. This accounts for some of the sadness I feel at his passing.
The Board of Regents continues to reflect an inconsistent and quite troubling pattern of leadership, at least for those of us who would hope that Baylor would indeed someday become a world-class educational institution. The counsel of Herbert Reynolds will be sorely missed for those who would lead Baylor in the next five to ten years. But for now, we can all be thankful for what he did accomplish for Baylor and gives thanks for his life and offer our deepest sympathy to the Reynolds family.
By Dr. Jim Moshinskie
May 30, 2007 2:03 AM | Link to this
Almost 20 years ago on Father's Day when I was the Executive Director of Daniel EMS in Waco, I answered the ambulance call to Dr. Reynold's home when he suffered his first heart attack. I am so thankful that God gave me the skills then to quickly diagnose Dr. Reynold's problem and treat me correctly. He graciously thanked me many times "for saving his life" that day, and I was most honored. But it was in his years since his heart attack that impressed me. He volunteered so much of his time to promote the American Heart Association, live a healthy lifestyle, and execise often. I can remember seeing Dr. Reynolds and Joy walking together on the Bear Trail. Everytime he visited my funeral home for a visitation, he would thank me for taking care of him that day, but today, I want to thank him for taking care of us. He will be missed. Dr. Mo
By Laurie Miller Smith
May 29, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this
My heart skipped a beat when I opened the e-mail from Baylor enews re: Dr. Herb Reynolds' sudden death today. I am personally devastated by this news. Growing up in a Baylor Family, as the daughter of Bob Miller & Ann Miller, I have interacted with Dr. Reynolds & his family from the earliest parts of my life. Herb Reynolds has been a rock for my parents as long time faculty, for myself, my husband, Pat Smith, as a student, my brother, Robert Miller and for Baylor over the years and years of his "touch". He nurtured the "family" of Baylor University and helped to create & maintain "the best" of Baylor University in my view. He could be counted on during the great times or during the stormiest weather imaginable.
My mother and father, as professors at Baylor owed so much to Herb Reynolds. He was always an anchor in a storm. We send our love to Joy, Kevin, Kent and Rhonda. We will miss knowing Herb Reynolds is "there" at Baylor, making a difference. Baylor is a far better place for Herb Reynolds' tenure, tutelage and love. Herb's death will leave a void in the heart of Baylor for a long long time.
Laurie Miller Smith
By Steve Swinney
May 29, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this
I first met Dr Reynolds in 1965 when he served in the Air force with my Dad at Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, New Mexico. His son Kevin and I went to 8th grade together. Five years later I was offered a football scholarship to Baylor University. I was also considering some other schools at the time. On my recruiting visit I asked if I could speak to Dr Reynolds. He took time out of his busy schedule to spend an hour with me telling me why he thought Baylor was my best choice. We talked about the education I would recieve but also about the importance of a Christian institution and the influence it would have on my life. We talked about what it would some day mean to be part of the Baylor family. Lastly we talked about his vision to see Baylor compete for a championship in the Southwest Conference After our talk I committed to Baylor and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I am prayerfully thankful for Dr Reynolds and the influence he had on my life and the friendship we developed over the years. His love and compassion for people and his ability to respect the dignity of all men regardless of their positon was a lesson I have always remembered and tried to immulate. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Reynolds family as we all share your loss.
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