Howard Payne University will celebrate eight individuals for accomplishments and service during Homecoming on October 18-19. The university’s Homecoming weekend, presented by Citizens National Bank, also features Family Weekend and Yellow Jacket Preview.
The honorees for 2024 are Lauren (Teel) Browning, Outstanding Young Graduate; Rev. Robert Cuellar, Dr. José Rivas Distinguished Service Award; Steve and Carla Evans, JAM Faithful Servant Award; Loretta Houston, Coming Home Queen; Wilbert Rogers, Medal of Service; Kathy Strawn, Distinguished Alumna; and Dr. Joe Young, Grand Marshal.
The honorees will be recognized at the Alumni Banquet on Friday, October 18, at 5:00 p.m., in the Beadel Dining Hall of HPU’s Mabee University Center. They will also be included in the Homecoming Parade on Saturday, October 19, at 10 a.m. and during the halftime show of the football game versus University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at Gordon Wood Stadium. The parade will travel through downtown Brownwood on Center Avenue to Fisk Street via E. Depot Street and pass through the HPU campus.
Kathy (McCaleb) Strawn ’70, Distinguished Alumna
Kathy (McCaleb) Strawn ’70 credits HPU with preparing her for the calling God placed on her life.
Strawn graduated from HPU with a bachelor’s degree in education and a minor in English. She met her husband, David, at HPU and they married soon after graduation. Strawn went on to earn a master’s degree from the University of Houston.
In 1978, she began writing Sunday School curriculum for Lifeway Christian Resources, known then as the Baptist Sunday School Board. Strawn has continued to write curriculum for the past 46 years which has been distributed to more than a million children. Along with writing Sunday School and VBS curriculum, Strawn helped develop and write TeamKid and Bible. She also wrote children’s studies to go along with Beth Moore’s studies of Jesus, the One and Only, Beloved Disciple, and The Quest; Priscilla Shirer’s Bible study The Armor of God and the children’s Bible study, Defined, to accompany the movie “The Overcomer” by the Kendrick brothers.
Alongside writing, she has trained children’s leaders across the nation and world. She and her husband formed the nonprofit organization, Ministry of Education, where they co-lead international trips
Strawn and her husband have a daughter who attended HPU, a son and four grandchildren.
Mary Loretta (Jones) Houston ’74, Coming Home Queen
Mary Loretta (Jones) Houston ’74 says that HPU gave her an excellent background in oral communications and outstanding training in interpersonal and intra-personal relationships.
Houston graduated from HPU with a bachelor’s degree in oral communications and speech and drama. During her time as a student, she was involved in the HPU Choir and the National Forensic Speech League. After graduating from Howard Payne, Houston received a Master of Arts in English Teaching from Tarleton State University and a Master of Social Work Administration and Gerontology from the University of Texas at Arlington.
She has been dedicated to education throughout her career. At her church she is a youth director, pianist and Sunday school teacher. She is the president of the American Association of University Women, a member of the Women’s Business League, a member of 100 Black Women of Atlanta, a member of Circle of Sister, executive director of Light Forces, Inc. and a published author.
Houston currently resides in College Park, Georgia. She and her late husband, Cecil, have four children and eight grandchildren.
Lauren (Teel) Browning ’10, Outstanding Young Graduate
Lauren (Teel) Browning ’10 is from Canton and graduated from HPU with her bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science. During her time at HPU she was a student in then Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom (now Guy D. Newman Honors Academy) and a recipient of the Sumners Foundation scholarship. She competed in Moot Court and Student Speaker Bureau and was the student body vice president for two years. She also studied abroad at Uganda Christian University.
After HPU, Browning attended Baylor Law School where she competed in Moot Court, was an editor of the Baylor Law Review and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
In 2014, Browning was commissioned in the United States Army where she has served in Germany, Georgia, Washington D.C. and Virginia. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband, baby, two stepdaughters and their dog.
In 2022, Browning was promoted to rank of Major. In May 2023, she received a Master of Laws degree in Military Law from the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School where she graduated as a Superior Graduate. She currently leads several soldiers and advises the 16th Military Police Brigade Commander.
Dr. Joe Young, Grand Marshal
Brownwood ISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Young is a dynamic and seasoned educator who has brought strong leadership to the Brownwood community since he began in 2016. He is an experienced and successful administrator in all facets of school leadership. He has demonstrated experience in several educational occupations and in schools with varying demographics and sizes allowing him to understand multiple approaches to solving today’s complex educational issues. Dr. Young was recognized as Superintendent of the Year by the Texas High School Athletic Director’s Association in 2024 and was Texas Superintendent of the Year for Region 15 in 2023 and 2020.
Prior to his leadership in Brownwood, Dr. Young was Deputy Superintendent for Corsicana ISD from 2008-2016, a high school principal in Grapeland ISD, and a coach and high school teacher in Cypress Fairbanks ISD and Conroe ISD. Dr. Young has a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas Wesleyan University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Texas A&M University as well as Texas Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent Certifications.
Dr. Young and his wife, Chandra, make their home in Brownwood with their three children. They are active members of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church.
Wilbert Rogers ’75, Medal of Service
Wilbert Rogers ’75 graduated from HPU with a bachelor’s in education and psychology. During his time at HPU he was a member of the Swinging Stingers marching and concert band, traveled to Europe as an ambassador of the Southern Baptist Convention, was a university yell leader, a member of the HPU acapella choir, senior class treasurer, a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and musician and director for the Mt. Zion Baptist Church traveling choir. His experience at HPU prepared him to spend 44 years as minister of music in the United Methodist Church.
After graduation, Rogers received a Master of Education from the University of North Texas, a Master of the Theological Studies from Texas Christian University and a Master of Educational Leadership from Tarleton State University.
Rogers spent 23 years as a regional director with the Texas Youth Commission and 17 years as a teacher, high school administrator and evaluation specialist.
Rogers is one of the founding members of HPU’s African American Alumni Association, which has established an endowment fund dedicated to offering scholarships to students in need of financial assistance.
Rev. Robert Cuellar, Dr. José Rivas Distinguished Service Award
During his time at Howard Payne College in the 1970s, Rev. Robert Cuellar found encouragement from the faculty and met many friends who have left a lasting blessing on his life. He has faithfully served the Lord in ministry for 53 years in the communities of Robert Lee, Friona, San Antonio, Dallas and San Angelo, where he currently serves.
He completed his bachelor’s degree from Dallas Baptist University. Cuellar has been the senior pastor at Primera Church in San Angelo for 28 years. He has been married to his wife, Olga, for 54 years and they have one son.
Steve ’77 and Carla (Vandiver) ’77 Evans, JAM Faithful Servant Award
Steve and Carla Evans have faithfully served as missionaries with the International Mission Board for 42 years. In 1981, while Steve was serving as director of HPU’s public relations, news and information office, they surrendered to the mission field and were sent out by First Baptist Church of Brownwood that year. They have served in media and communication ministries, advocacy and mobilization ministries, strategy coordination, Orality and Bible Storying ministries, Bible translation for bibleless oral people groups, and in the coaching and mentoring of national pastors, evangelists, and missionaries. The Evans’ have lived in several places around the world, primarily in Africa. They currently serve in central Africa.
While students at HPU, Steve pursued a degree in journalism and Carla pursued a degree in social sciences through the Academy of Freedom. Steve was co-editor of the newspaper and of a literary and fine arts magazine as well as a writer and photographer for the HPU public relations office. During their time at HPU, the couple not only found academic preparation but also a place where they could build their spiritual foundation that helped shape their Christian character and worldviews.
The Evans were married in 1974 while they were students at HPU. The couple has three grown children and eight grandchildren.
To register to attend Homecoming events on the HPU campus, visit www.hputx.edu/homecoming or call the Office of Alumni Relations at 325-649-8007.