With a community that spans a history of nearly 100 years and includes more than 64,000 members, the number of accomplishments, awards, recognitions and honors are countless and cover a myriad of fields. Recognizing those who are going the extra mile and exemplifying Christian service is a timeless tradition and one that continues as part of the University’s community of mission. This year’s alumni award recipients continue the trend for excellence.
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Elijah Anthony[/caption]
Distinguished Alumnus
Elijah Anthony (’68) has been preaching since the age of 16. He conducts gospel meetings, family seminars, and workshops on religious and educational topics, designing much of his teaching to assist young people in navigating the race relations maze.
“I have always had a love for learning, teaching and counseling,” Anthony said. “I am able to serve others by teaching that contributes to salvation and lifelong learning, therefore fulfilling the mission of the church to make disciples and my calling to preach the word.”
Anthony is currently pulpit minister for Roosevelt City Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama. He previously served in minister positions in New York and Pennsylvania. In addition to his ministerial duties, he has taught and counseled at the high school and post-secondary levels for the past 45 years.
Anthony is one of the first two African-Americans to graduate from Harding.
He has been recognized by Outstanding Young Men of America several times during his career, as well as by the Alabama Community College System Chancellor’s Award of Excellence as Administrator of the Year for outstanding contributions in the development of a new student orientation program in 2011.
In 2016, Anthony was a panelist for the American Studies Institute Distinguished Lecture Series presentation, “Exploring Race Relations: An Honest Conversation.”
He and his wife, Violet Tyree, have two sons and seven grandchildren and live in Pleasant Grove, Alabama.
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Jay and Erin Brogdon[/caption]
Outstanding Young Alumni
Jay (’04) and Erin Kemp (’03) Brogdon possess what one might call gumption. Jay currently serves as the managing director in the investment banking division of Stephens Inc., serving clients on more than $15 billion of successful transactions. Erin is a partner at Wright Lindsey Jennings law firm and recently managed her father Dan Kemp’s successful statewide campaign for Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court.
They both hold a deep passion for their jobs and for ministry, and their success reflects the importance and value of combining the two concepts.
“For several years now, we have encouraged one another to allow our work to be part of our worship,” the Brogdons said. “This approach helps remove the typical burdens of a job. It’s sort of a Matthew 11:28-30 concept. The Message version says, ‘Walk with me and work with me … Learn the unforced rhythms of grace … Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.’”
Jay and Erin are both heavily involved in the community. Jay is a deacon at Sylvan Hills Church of Christ and a board member for Spark of Life, a nonprofit focused on grief recovery. Jay also continues to use the athletic skills he portrayed on the basketball court as a Bison to coach both basketball and baseball for numerous youth teams. Erin recently served as executive director of City Connections. She has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2013 and was recognized as one of 28 “Women to Watch” by Little Rock’s Soiree Magazine in 2017. She is a member of Central Arkansas Christian School’s board, Harding’s College of Business Administration advisory board, and the national advisory board for IF:Gathering, a women’s discipleship movement.
Jay, Erin and their three sons live in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Dave Adams[/caption]
College of Allied Health
Dave Adams (’93), DPT, has been practicing physical therapy in the Mississippi Delta since August 1997. He is co-owner of Hands On Rehab Services in McGehee, Arkansas. He has provided physical therapy in multiple service settings over the years — inpatient, outpatient, home health, pediatric, geriatric and burn center. Adams was the area manager for Therex/Kindred Healthcare and was responsible for director duties, as well.
“I was always attracted to the medical fields,” Adams said. “My Aunt Lorna arranged a job shadowing opportunity at a local physical therapy clinic. I fell in love with it that very day.”
He has been a volunteer for Partners in Progress, Nicaragua Missions and Delta Center Stage, has been a football coach at the local YMCA, and currently serves as a deacon at South Main Church of Christ. He was honored as Outstanding Rehab Director in 2014 during his time as area manager at Kindred Healthcare. He has also worked as a staff therapist for Delta Regional Medical Center and Bolivar Health and Rehab Center before opening his own business two years ago.
“I have the opportunity to serve God with every patient encounter I have during the day,” Adams said. “When people come to see me (or I, them), they are usually in pain or are facing some large health obstacles. They are fighting for hope, for relief of pain, to regain freedom and function. I have the honor of being the hands and feet of Jesus bringing healing and hope to those who really need it.”
Adams and his wife, Shannon Black (’94), have three children and live in Greenville, Mississippi.
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Randy Gill[/caption]
College of Arts & Humanities
Born with a passion for music, Randy Gill (’76) knew what he wanted to study when he came to Harding, but he did not expect the path his career would take upon graduation. His more than 40 years in the field of music involves organizing, teaching, leading, writing and producing music for churches around the world.
“I believe music is transformative, and worship music in particular has a unique power to change people’s lives,” Gill said. “For 40 years I have had the pleasure of working with gifted and committed musicians and ministers, and I have had the incredible honor of having my songs sung by people all over the globe. I am amazed every day at what God has been able to do with my life, and I am grateful for the way Harding has helped shape that life.”
During his time at Harding, Gill developed relationships with his professors in and out of the classroom. Cliff Ganus is one such faculty member, and the two are still friends.
“Randy Gill transferred to Harding with a charismatic personality, uncommon musical talent, performance ability, commitment to growth and energy,” Ganus said. “Just the type of student that makes professors look good! His career has taken different paths, all chosen by and centered in his musical skills and his devotion to God.”
Gill is worship minister at Otter Creek Church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a founding member of ZOE group and has been involved in producing, arranging and writing music for their 21 CDs. Several of those songs, including “Shout Hallelujah,” “Magnificat,” “Deep Calls to Deep” and “At the Name of Jesus,” have found life in churches around the world. Gill also has served as music faculty at Pepperdine University, Oklahoma Christian University and Rochester College.
He and his wife, Lajuana Case (’75), have one son and live in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Doyle Kee[/caption]
College of Bible & Ministry
Ministry has defined the life of Doyle Kee (’62), and his 60 years of experience are a testament to his service. He and his wife retired to Searcy
in 2017 after a full career serving in French world missions.
While in school, Kee preached for a church in West Point, Arkansas, and worked in campaigns in the northeast U.S., even spending a year preaching for a church in Sitka, Alaska. His first full-time preaching ministry was in Clarendon, Arkansas. From 1963-69, Kee preached for a church in Syracuse, New York, where he had the opportunity to work with French-speaking campaigns in Montreal and Paris.
In 1970, Kee and his family moved to Geneva, Switzerland, to begin a church plant. While there, Kee initiated several new ministries, including publications, evangelistic and medical campaigns, and follow-up work and church planting across Europe, Asia and Africa.
His mark on French world missions is extensive and includes editing, translating and publishing more than 36 books, countless newsletters and webpages in French as biblical resources. He helped establish the Center of Biblical Formation in two locations, World Bible School offices in 15 French-African countries, the Hilton Terry Bible School, and a camp and retreat center for children and French-European churches.
“I get to serve God and others as a teacher through the spoken and printed word of God,” Kee said. “Seeing God at work, first in Geneva and then throughout the French-speaking world has been so rewarding.”
He and his wife, Barbara Ethridge (’58), have four children (one deceased) and 11 grandchildren and live in Searcy.
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Lindy Ingram[/caption]
College of Business Administration
Lindy Lunceford Ingram (’84) is the co-owner of Lone Star Behavioral Health, a psychiatric hospital and the Houston area’s largest behavioral health partial hospitalization and outpatient program.
Ingram earned her B.B.A. in business systems analysis as well as her MBA at the University. Upon graduation, Ingram started her career and her family. She moved to Texas and pursued a career in accounting, working as the controller for a banking technology company before she and her husband, Nathan (’84), opened Lone Star Behavioral Health.
Lone Star specializes in treating mental health issues, alcohol abuse and drug abuse. The program utilizes equine-assisted psychotherapy in its programs, so Ingram says she got her start in the industry as a certified horse professional. She currently serves as the chief operating officer and chief financial officer for Lone Star Behavioral Health and the Ingram’s other companies.
In addition to her administrative duties, Ingram is a certified medical compliance officer and a certified instructor in nonviolent physical crisis intervention. She donates her time as a member on several community and charitable organizations.
Ingram and her husband live in Magnolia, Texas, where they are members of Woodland Oaks Church of Christ, and Nathan serves as an elder. They have three children who attend Harding and nine grandchildren.
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Michael and Abigail Drayton[/caption]
College of Education
Michael (’99) and Abigail Drayton (’00) Stone have dedicated themselves to careers in education since the completion of their degrees at Harding. Michael has served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal at the elementary school level. He also has served as director of federal programs and an adjunct professor at the college level. He is currently executive director of student and equity services for the North Little Rock School District.
“The work I do is rewarding yet difficult at most times,” Michael said. “I often work in difficult situations where parents, staff and students are upset, angry or mad. I get to show God through how I handle each case or situation with kindness, understanding, fairness, consistency and love.”
Michael has been PTA teacher of the year, PTA administrator of the year, and on the superintendent honor roll. He has served as a church leader at West Pleasure Church of Christ. He initiated and ran an elementary basketball league with the North Little Rock School District, initiated and supports the elementary flag football and volleyball leagues, and serves as a member of a juvenile crime prevention coalition in Pulaski County.
Abigail holds a master’s degree in elementary administration and currently serves as an assistant principal for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Her previous roles include special education resource teacher, first-grade teacher, fourth-grade teacher, literacy instructional facilitator for kindergarten through second grade and third through fifth grade, and principal.
“My professors and classes prepared me to bloom wherever I was planted,” Abigail said. “I felt that I was ready to work with high risk students; therefore, I gladly accepted my first job as a special education teacher. I see my job as a mission field.”
Abigail has been nominated for the district teacher of the year award three times and has been PTA administrator of the year and on the superintendent’s honor roll. She is involved with the Unity Health Auxiliary, Ronald McDonald House, Jacob’s House and Arkansas Christian Ensemble singing group. She has also been a preschool Sunday school teacher, ladies’ Bible class teacher and Ladies’ Day speaker.
Michael and Abigail have three children and live in Sherwood, Arkansas.
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Rhonda Finnie[/caption]
College of Nursing
Rhonda Finnie (’02) was led to the field of nursing after spending time at Arkansas Children’s Hospital upon the diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor in her 2-year-old son. With full support from her family, Finnie enrolled in Harding’s nursing program. She is now a nurse practitioner with Baptist Health Neurosurgery Arkansas and the Baptist Health neurology/stroke program.
“Nursing is a calling, I believe,” Finnie said. “The ability to use your knowledge, skills and education to help people is a blessing. The fact that I get to do that with great clinicians who have great faith and belief in their own calling is an encouragement to me. We are here to care for others in the most vulnerable times. I have been inspired by patients and families who are facing death bravely and confidently in their faith in God.”
Finnie felt that encouragement during her time at Harding, too, where many faculty members impacted Finnie in her faith and taught her the importance of taking care of herself as well as others. One such faculty member is Jackie Harris, assistant professor of nursing.
“Leadership has always been one of Rhonda’s defining characteristics, and that has been consistent throughout her professional life,” Harris said. “Her intellectual curiosity and positivism in combination with her compassion and Christ-like servant attitude has contributed to her ongoing success and achievements in nursing.”
Finnie was a nominee and finalist for Nurse of the Year in 2018 presented by Arkansas Business. She also was a nominee for Compassionate Nurse in 2018 presented by Publishing Concepts Inc. She is the first chair of the Advanced Provider Committee at Baptist Health and also works with the Stroke Process Improvement Committee.
She and her husband, Chris, have two daughters and live in Judsonia, Arkansas.
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Fred Massey[/caption]
College of Sciences
Fred Massey (’59) has used his gifts as an oncologist with a specialty in women’s health to aid in his calling to ministry. While much of his career was spent serving in the U.S. Air Force and operating a private practice, his experience also includes many medical mission trips to Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Guatemala and Mexico.
“I wanted to do mission work, and I thought I could best do that as a doctor,” Massey said. “I found that the gynecologic oncology training was excellent preparation for medical mission work.”
Massey served as a general medical officer for the U.S. Air Force from 1961-81, serving at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and Wilford Hall Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He was promoted to chief of gynecologic oncology at Wilford Hall. From 1981-2010, Massey had his own private practice in San Antonio, Texas.
“In the office of my private practice, I kept a stack of pamphlets on ‘how can I be saved?’” Massey said. “Over the years, hundreds were taken. I also was able to serve others doing surgery in third-world countries where people had no access to medical care.”
Massey has received numerous awards for his service, including the Meritorious Service Award from the U.S. Air Force, Award of Honor from Nigerian Christian Hospital in 2016, and the Henry Farrar Award from the International Christian Hospital Foundation in 2017. He served as president for the Felix Rutledge Society and is a member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology.
Massey and his wife, Peggy Ann Robertson (’59), live in Helotes, Texas. They have five children — Karen Stork (’80), Christopher (deceased), Terry (’84), Jon (’84, deceased), and Patrick (’91).
