Landry Award Recipient and Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church

Landry Award Recipient and Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in

Plano Dr. Jack Graham (left), along with Landry Dinner Honorary Co-Chairs

(from left to right) Alicia Landry, Dr. Kenneth Cooper, and Millie Cooper.

The DBU Report is a bi-monthly publication of Dallas Baptist University. DBU Report, 3000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75211-9299.

President-Dr. Gary Cook; Director of Development-John Clem; Editor-Blake Killingsworth. Phone: (214) 333-5168; E-mail: [email protected].

allas Baptist University hosted

the second annual Tom Landry

Leadership Award Dinner on

Monday evening, March 18. The gala

event, with over 500 in

attendance, recognized

the lasting legacy of one

of Dallas’ most famous

citizens, Tom Landry, as

it named Dr. Jack Graham

as the recipient of the

Tom Landry Leadership

Award.

As the coach of the ac-

claimed Dallas Cowboys

for 29 years, Tom Landry

and “America’s Team”

became the stuff of which

legends are made. Their

success came because

of character and a com-

mitment to excellence.

In Landry’s mind, the

credit for all this success came from

his faith, management strategies, and

leadership style.

Tom Landry’s life epitomized the

most exceptional leadership and char-

acter qualities DBU strives to instill in

its students every day. His faith in God,

devotion to family, and dedication to

integrity and service to

others make Landry a

real role model.

For this reason, the

Tom Landry Leadership

Award Dinner was

inaugurated to ensure

that Landry’s legacy

would live on and serve

as an example to DBU

students and to others

in Collin County. The

Landry Leadership

Award is given to those

individuals who use

their God-given talents

and abilities to excel

in their chosen ﬁeld

of work, who provide

Ron Harris, chair of the Tom Landry Leadership Award Dinner and DBU

assistant professor of communication, served as the master of ceremonies

for the evening.

Dr. Jack Graham and his wife, Deb

and exhibit exceptional leadership,

who are committed to serving

others in their community, and who

demonstrate integrity in their personal

lives. In addition, the proceeds raised

from the dinner

go to provide

scholarships for

DBU students in

Collin County.

This year Ali-

cia Landry, Dr.

Kenneth Coo-

per, and Millie

Cooper served

as the honorary

co-chairs of the

event, and Ron

Harris served as

the dinner chair-

person. During

the dinner, DBU

alumna and na-

tionally known

speaker and ven-

triloquist Amy

Jones provided

entertainment

with her friend,

Rusty. In addition, DBU President Dr.

Gary Cook gave a special welcome

from the University and took the occa-

sion to personally thank so many who

had prayed for his recovery from leu-

kemia.

Landry Leadership Award Recipi-

ent Jack Graham serves as senior pas-

tor of Prestonwood Baptist Church,

one of the nation’s largest, most dy-

namic congregations.

With more than 28,000 members,

Prestonwood continues to grow with

four weekend worship services, a mid-

week service, Bible Fellowship classes

and multiple outreach and community

ministries that reach thousands. Near-

ly two years ago, the church opened

a second location—Prestonwood

North—in a burgeoning area 20 miles

north of Plano. Prestonwood North

currently meets in a high school while

construction continues on a new facil-

ity in Prosper.

Dr. Graham has served two terms

as president of the Southern Baptist

Convention and as president of the

SBC Pastors’ Conference. He contin-

ues to be an active member of SBC

leadership, currently serving on the

SBC Executive Committee.

He is a noted author of numerous

books, including You Can Make a Dif-

ference, Lessons from the Heart, A

Hope and a Future, Life According to

Jesus, and Courageous Parenting, co-

authored by wife,

Deb, and based

on their experi-

ences as parents.

His most recent

book, Are You Fit

for Life?, was re-

leased in January

2008.

Graham’s

ministry is also

heard and seen

across the country

and the world on

PowerPoint Min-

istries. Through

broadcasts, on-

line sermons, and

e-mail messages,

he addresses rel-

evant, everyday

issues that are

prevalent in our

culture and that

strike a chord with audiences world-

wide.

Dr. Graham was ordained to the

ministry in 1970 and has received

both a Master of Divinity degree and

a Doctor of Ministry degree from

Southwestern Baptist Theological

Seminary.

He and Deb live in Frisco. They

have three children, Jason (married to

Toby), Kelly, and Joshua (married to

Kaytie), and one grandson, Ian James

Graham.

Dr. Jerry Carlisle (far left), pastor of First Baptist Church of Plano, and his wife, Dedi,

along with Dr. Jim Denison (far right), teaching pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church in

Dallas, and his wife, Janet.

DBU Alumna and Trustee Amy Jones provided

entertainment for the evening with a special appearance

from her friend, Rusty.

Members of the DBU Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Steve Holcomb, performed a special

medley of patriot songs for the evening, ending with a stirring rendition of the song, “Here I Am

Lord,” which describes a willingness to serve the Lord through whatever avenue He may call.

DBU Report