THE END

Dean Grissom made a living of being an outstanding orator and writer. I had things to say, but could never do it her way, so I didn't.

As a Dean of Students I thought the worst thing I could do was be unknown to students. Overseeing the RAs, advising student government, and running the student conduct boards gave me a running start. The Dean of Students Half Marathon Challenge was another way to meet groups of students as was the Grief Group. I also had endless encounters with students going through highs and lows and built many strong and lasting relationships with the as they are now alumni.

I wanted something else, though. So I started by writing columns in the Trinitonian. Dr. Grissom once made a remark about them that made me think she didn't like them. I think it may have been my writing skills, but some things are better left alone, so I never asked.

I did several TV shows on Tiger TV including The YASR Show and Who Sole That Train. The former a live call in show, still in the era of landlines. (Somewhat relatedly, for the future though, I recorded video interviews with several Trinity elders. I hope these are uncovered one day in the bowels of University Archives -- currently their whereabouts are unknown.) 

I felt like I hit my stride with the Dean's List blog. I could tell the Trinity story my way, and informally. Perhaps when another volume tome of Trinity University is written (probably by a robot) the blog will provide some unique and unofficial perspectives. After retiring, I did some writing for parent publications and have preserved those as well

So, I have archived my Trinitonian posts, my blog, parent articles, some pieces related to my departure, and even my resume, in four separate volumes, which I have for now. (Two volumes gifted to me by my staff when I retired, a third volume that includes missed posts and parent articles, and a fourth with my Trinitonian columns and glory pieces (about leaving). These will go to my son Nathan one day, and maybe, if anyone else cares, to the Trinity University library. He'll know what to do.

I am grateful to the presidents and vice presidents (save one) who allowed me the freedom and space to write about hat I wanted to, the way I wanted to. I am grateful to my staff, who offered abundant technical support. I owe much to my many friends and colleagues who proofread my posts (some ultimately not published as a result, and some seriously altered.) I am forever grateful to my wife Donna, a journalism and english savant. Like Dr. Grissom, I am not sure she loved me doing this and laying myself (and my family and others) bare with transparency, vulnerability, and authenticity. She never let me off the hook with her opinions and told me what I didn't want to hear on many occasions. As with everything else in our relayionship, she knew what I needed. She saved me from myself.

Finally, I want to acknowledge everyone who let me write about them and their stories - most often about  resilience and redemption. Professor Bob Blystone, on his retirement once responded to some glowing statement I made about Trinity University. He said "What is Trinity University? It isn't real. It's the people here that are real and make this place what it is." 

Thank you, Trinity University.