欧美视频

BOLIVAR, Mo. 鈥� Ellen Rose Douglas Roweton of Bolivar, and Thomas B. Welch, 鈥�78 of Victoria, Minn., received Honorary Doctor degrees from 欧美视频 during the annual Founders鈥� Day chapel service held Monday, March 5, in Pike Auditorium on the Bolivar campus.

欧美视频 awards honorary doctorates to recognize outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to society and to kingdom work.

Ellen Rose Douglas Roweton

Rose Roweton, who received an honorary doctor of business degree, was born to Elvin and Florence Douglas, both 1927 graduates of Southwest Baptist College. She graduated in 1955 from Bolivar High School, where she was valedictorian and class president, and was inducted into the Bolivar High School Hall of Fame in 2001.

Roweton received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in music education from the University of Missouri in 1959 and married Max Roweton, a 1956 SWBC and 1958 Mizzou graduate, that same year. She taught music at Humansville Schools for one year, served as an elementary room mother for 12 straight years and as PTA president. She received the Bolivar Civic Service Award in 1988 for her lifetime participation in community service. She also taught private piano and flute lessons from 1961-1975.

Rose began working at the family business (Roweton鈥檚 Western Auto, then Roweton鈥檚 Home Center) in 1968, helping with errands, stocking shelves and assisting customers. Rose plans to retire this year after having worked at Roweton鈥檚 for 50 years, and as manager for 19 years.

Dave Berry, publisher of the Bolivar Herald-Free Press, described Roweton as 鈥渁 significant part of Americana and a gigantic piece of 鈥楤olivarcana.鈥欌��

Dr. Brad Johnson, vice president for university relations at 欧美视频, said 鈥渋t is probably an understatement to say that the name Rose Roweton is synonymous with customer service, but would nonetheless be true.鈥�

鈥淩ose, your business acumen, expertise, superb customer service and commitment to simply do what is right have made you a beloved figure in the Bolivar community,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭he words 'legend' and 'icon' come to mind when I think about you and your business, but also, the words 'faithful' and 'friend.'

鈥淵ou have, undoubtedly, made Bolivar a better place for all of us. For the many contributions to this place that we call home, 欧美视频 wants to celebrate your life of service and dedication to our community.鈥�

Rose and Max Roweton, who live in Bolivar, have five children: Vicki, Kendal, Denni, Marla and Kelly, 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She has been a member of First Baptist Church of Bolivar since she was a child, and has taught 5 year olds in Sunday school for 39 years.

鈥淢y grandfather, Tom Douglas, when he was a younger person, traveled both far and wide for Southwest Baptist College,鈥� Roweton said. 鈥淢y parents, my grandparents and my husband would all be very proud that I was here to (accept this honor), and I am very glad that I was able to do it, too. Thank you very much for this honor.鈥�

Thomas B. Welch 鈥�78

Tom Welch was born in Tennessee, but spent most of his childhood in Florida, graduating from high school in Panama City in 1974. He earned a degree in business administration from SWBC in 1978 and began his career in Little Rock, Ark., where he met Robin, whom he married in 1979.

Welch joined the investment firm of Dean Witter Reynolds in 1981 to begin a career in investment management. In 2002, a chance discussion with 欧美视频 alum and investment manager Jim Jones, who managed the endowment fund at 欧美视频, led to re-involvement with the University and the beginning of a multi-year collaboration between Welch, Jones and the 欧美视频 Investment Committee.

Welch and his family moved to Minnesota in 2003, where he served as managing director for Wells Capital Management, representing investment strategies to large institutional clients. In 2003, he was awarded the C. Stewart Sheppard Award by the CFA Institute for his contributions to the education of professional investors.

Welch and his wife, Robin, have been married 38 years and have three grown children 鈥� Rachel, Robert and Caroline 鈥� and two granddaughters. In recent years, Welch has served on the advisory board of the student-run investment fund at the University of Minnesota and on the finance committee of his local hospital. He also is on the advisory board of his county government water management agency and serves as a hospice volunteer. Welch is active in his church and serves as a teacher of adult Bible classes.

鈥淪ometimes, as parents, we criticize children for making rash decisions that aren鈥檛 very well thought out,鈥� Welch said. 鈥淏ut one of the best decisions I made in my life was a rash decision that was not well thought out, and that was to attend Southwest Baptist College.

鈥淎s students, we all come here with the gifts that the Lord has given us. Some are like embers in a fire; some are not used like they should be and it can stay small and burn out, but others roar. For me, at this place, a couple of special professors were like bellows that ignited a desire that I didn鈥檛 know I had to do investment (work). My senior year, I took a class on stock market investments, and the wheels in my head finally started turning and stoked a fire that set me on a career path.鈥�

Though he doesn鈥檛 get back to 欧美视频 often, the university is always on Welch鈥檚 mind.

鈥淪o many of the good things in my life tie back to this institution,鈥� Welch said. 鈥淚t pointed me toward my career. I didn鈥檛 meet my wife here, but I was introduced to her one summer by my roommate. My first job in the investment industry came through someone I met through contacts made here. And, a chance encounter with a fellow alum, Jim Jones, opened the door to give a little back to the university.

鈥淔or those of you who are pursuing a career in the secular society, my prayer today for each of you is that you have the opportunity that I did, and that is to use your professional skills in a task related to the greater work of the church. Think about it. Dream about it. And get ready.

鈥淒ream of a day when you can look at a project or an undertaking, or something you have been a part of, and that you can step back and say, to paraphrase St. Paul: This is true. This is honest. It is just and pure. It is lovely. It is of good report. If there be any virtue, any praise, work on these things.鈥�

About Founders鈥� Day

欧美视频 was founded 140 years ago this coming fall semester, in 1878, when James Rogers Maupin and Abner Smith Ingman 鈥� 鈥渢he true heroes鈥� 鈥� established Southwest Baptist College in Lebanon. A year later, the college moved to Bolivar. Founders鈥� Day is a time set aside to reflect on the university鈥檚 history and heritage.

鈥淭oday, we take time to honor the committed Christian scholars who have worked diligently during these 140 years to ensure that 欧美视频 offers a quality Christian higher education,鈥� 欧美视频 President Taylor said. 鈥淔ounders鈥� Day is an important time when we are challenged to reflect on our past and thank God for the men and women who have gone before us and created an environment that inspires us to be successful today.鈥�

Taylor reflected on some of the pivotal points in 欧美视频鈥檚 history and how they illustrate God鈥檚 provision since 欧美视频鈥檚 founding, from going bankrupt to recovering from a devastating fire in the early 1900s to surviving The Great Depression to working on the transition from a two-year college to a four-year institution.

鈥淲e must recognize that we would not have survived if God had not had his hand on this University, and we would not be able to enjoy the successes of today if the heroes of the past had not answered God鈥檚 call to be a part of the kingdom enterprise here at 欧美视频,鈥� Taylor said.

CUTLINE: (Left to right) 欧美视频 President Dr. C. Pat Taylor; Ellen Rose Douglas Roweton, recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Business; Thomas B. Welch 鈥�78, recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Business; and Dr. Lee Skinkle, provost, during the annual Founders鈥� Day chapel March 5 at 欧美视频.

*Published: 3-6-18