Wayland Baptist University

Wayland Baptist University (WBU) is private Baptist university based in Plainview, Texas. Wayland Baptist has a total of 14 campuses in five Texas cities, six states, American Samoa, and Kenya. It was originally chartered in 1908 and currently has a total enrollment of approximately 5,000 students.[2]

This article is about the university in Texas. For the university in Anchorage, Alaska, see Wayland Baptist University (Alaska).

Wayland Baptist University (WBU)
Main building on Plainview campus
MottoGo Ye into All the World / Let There Be Light
TypePrivate
Established1908
Religious affiliation
Baptist General Convention of Texas
Endowment$83.5 million [1]
PresidentBobby Hall
Administrative staff
500
Students5,068 (all campuses 2016)
1,478 (main campus 2016)
Undergraduates3,821 (2016)
Postgraduates1,247 (2016)
Location
Plainview
,
Texas
,
United States
CampusSuburban, 155 acres (0.63 km2)
ColorsBlue, Gold
         
AthleticsNAIA – SAC
NicknamePioneers
Flying Queens
MascotPioneer Pete
Websitewww.wbu.edu

History

In 1906, the Staked Plains Baptist Association purposed the creation of a school. Dr. and Mrs. James Henry Wayland offered $10,000 and 25 acres (100,000 m2) of land in Plainview if the Staked Plains Baptist Association and the citizens of the city would raise an additional $40,000.[3] In 1910, the school offered its first classes despite the administration building not yet being fully built. A total of 225 students were taking classes in primary education through junior college levels during the school's first term. After a public school system was well established in Plainview, the elementary grades were discontinued. Wayland Baptist gained membership to the American Association of Junior Colleges in 1926 and would later be approved as a senior college by the Texas Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Texas Education Agency for teacher education training.[3]

The school is the oldest institution of higher education in continuous existence on the High Plains of Texas due to the leadership of Dr. George W. McDonald, the fifth president of the school. When a run on the banks during the Great Depression threatened to close the school, the administration and faculty agreed to forgo pay to continue the task of educating students, trusting God to supply their needs.[4]

In 1951, a black teacher approached the college asking if she could fulfill continuing education requirements at the college. Dr. James W. "Bill" Marshall, the school's sixth president, led the college to take the historic step to admit black students to the college, making Wayland the first four-year liberal arts college in the former Confederate states to integrate voluntarily.[5] This action came three years before the Supreme Court's decision to ban school segregation, Brown v. Board of Education.

The Malouf Abraham Family Arts Center on the Wayland campus was endowed by the family of the late State Representative Malouf Abraham, Sr., and his son, Malouf Abraham, Jr., a retired allergist and active art collector from Canadian, the seat of Hemphill County in the northeastern Texas Panhandle.

A musical scholarship has been established at Wayland in honor of Sybil Leonard Armes, a Christian writer and alternate poet laureate of Texas in 1969, who was the mother of Wayland President Paul Woodson Armes.

In 1979, the Hawaii campus opened as Wayland's first outside of Texas. Twelve satellite campuses are now located throughout the US.[6]

In May 2008, entertainer Jimmy Dean, a Plainview native, announced that he was making the largest ever gift to Wayland.[7]

In 2013, Wayland was ranked as the #72 university in the West Region by US News.[1]

In 2014, Wayland was recognized as having some of the most affordable online degree programs in the United States.[8] They have the most affordable online nursing degree program in the country, as well as the 12th most affordable online education degree program.

Athletics

Wayland Baptist teams, nicknamed athletically as the Pioneers are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Sooner Athletic Conference.. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, dance, football, golf, soccer, track and field, and wrestling; women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, dance, golf, soccer, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. Until 2018, Wayland Baptist was the only college in Texas to offer a wrestling program.

On April 1, 2010, Wayland Baptist announced its intention to bring back the football program and join the Central States Football League in 2012. On December 8, 2010, the Pioneers introduced Jeff Lynn, former head coach of New Mexico Military Institute, as the first head coach in over 70 years. On April 24, 2011, Lynn stepped down from head coach because of family reasons. He would be replaced by former Lubbock Coronado High School coach Butch Henderson.

The cross country and track and field program have won a total of 14 national championships. The programs compete at notable track meets and cross country events such as the Cowboy Jamboree, Texas Relays, Drake Relays, and the Micheal Johnson Classic. In 2012, Wayland's men's track team won the NAIA National Championship by a margin of 38 points, which was the largest margin of victory in 23 years. Four Wayland athletes won individual championships, in addition to Wayland winning the 4x400 relay championship.[9]

Women's basketball

Wayland's women's basketball program, The Hutcherson Flying Queens, has the distinction of being the winningest team in women's collegiate basketball history. On November 30, 2017, during the 2017–18 season, the Flying Queens posted their 1,600th win, 300 plus more wins than any other women's collegiate basketball team in USA history. By the end of the 2016–17 season, Tennessee who leads all NCAA DI schools, had 1,252 wins, followed by Louisiana Tech with 1,199 and Connecticut with 1,118.[10] Wayland had 1595.[11][12][13][14]

The Wayland women's basketball team has also distinguished itself in the following ways:

  • The Flying Queens are the only team in collegiate basketball history (men or women) to record a 131-game consecutive winning streak (1953–1958).[15] In 2013, the 1953–58 teams were honored as "Trailblazers of the Game" by the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame for the 131 game-winning streak.[16] The team is featured in a documentary entitled Flying Queens: A Basketball Dynasty, directed by Kellie Mitchell and produced by Aperture Art Productions.[17]
  • From the 1948–49 season through 2017–18 season the Flying Queens posted 1622 wins against 562 losses for a winning percentage of .743. In this 69-year period, the Wayland Team averaged 23 wins per season.[11]
  • The Wayland Team has won 19 National Championships.[11]
  • The Flying Queens' program has had eight individuals inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee.[11]
  • Members of the Wayland Hutcherson Flying Queens have received 212 All-American Awards from various organizations, excluding NAIA Scholar Athletes and a COSIDA Academic Award.[11]

Since the 1948–49 season, when Wayland began keeping official statistics on the Queens, the Wayland Team has had the following affiliations:

  • AAU (Amateur Athletic Union): Between the 1948–49 season through the 1976–77 season, Wayland competed in AAU women's basketball and was one of only a few colleges to compete in this league, as teams were primarily industrial and basically professional. The Wayland Team won 10 National AAU Championships, placed second 9 times, and third 3 times. Wayland Team members received 88 AAU All-American Awards.[11][18]
  • NWIT (National Women's Invitational Tournament): The NWIT was initially sponsored by the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce. Wayland administrators had presented the idea to them because of Wayland's strong desire to have a national tournament limited to college teams. The NWIT was one of the first two national basketball tournaments for college women, coincidently starting one day apart. The Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics Tournament held in West Chester, PA, March 20–24, 1969[19] and the NWIT in Amarillo, Texas, March 21–24, 1969.[20] Wayland competed in the NWIT for 9 years (1969–1977), winning 9 consecutive NWIT National Championships and receiving 23 NWIT All-American Awards.[11][18] The NWIT faded in prominence when the NCAA and NAIA assumed governance for women's basketball and was discontinued in 1996. In 1998, Triple Crown Sports resurrected the tournament as the Women's National Invitational Tournament (Women's NIT).[21]
  • AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women): Wayland competed in the AIAW play-off structure for nine years, 1974–1982. During that period the team made it to the Final 4 three times finishing third in 1976 and fourth in 1978 and 1982. In both 1974 and 1975 they won the Consolation bracket.[11][18]
  • NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics): The Wayland Team has competed in NAIA Division I basketball from 1983 through 2018. They have qualified for the National Tournament 25 times garnering 38 NAIA All-American Awards, one COSIDA Academic All American, and 39 NAIA Scholar-Athlete Awards.[11]
  • FIBA (International Basketball Federation): Between 1953 and 1975, Wayland was represented on all seven of FIBA's Women's World Championship Teams. Nineteen Flying Queens have played in FIBA World Championships.[11][18]
  • Pan American Games: Between 1955 and 1979, Wayland was represented on all seven USA Pan American teams. Twenty-seven Flying Queens competed in these games. Wayland coaches coached the USA's teams to first place victories in 1955 and 1959 and second place in 1971.[11][18]
  • USA All-Star Teams: Between 1958 and 1978, eighteen Flying Queens were selected for basketball tours that were part of the State Department's Intercultural Exchange Program to enhance relations between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. In 1959, eight Wayland players and a coach participated in the first women's basketball game ever to be played in Madison Square Garden. Russia won, 42–40. Also, to foster international goodwill, Wayland hosted national teams from Russia, The Republic of China, and Mexico on the Wayland's Plainview campus. Wayland teams made a number of trips to Mexico City to play both Mexican national teams and Mexican independent teams.[11][18] Other Organizational Honors: In addition to the 149 All-American Awards previously mentioned, members of the Wayland Team garnered 63 other All-American Awards: Hanes Underalls (6); National Scouting Association (6); Street & Smith Preseason (9); Kodak (18); American Women's Sports Federation All Star Team (14); American Women's Sports Federation All American Freshman Team (7); and, JC Penny All-American Five (1).[11][18]

The Wayland women's team has had 13 coaches:[11][22][23][24]

  1. Sam Allen (1947–48 through 1950–1951; 1952–53). Record: 71–28
  2. Hank Garland (1951–52). Record: 30–10
  3. Caddo Matthews (1953–54 through 1954–55). Record: 52–0 (52 games of the 131 game winning streak)
  4. Harley Redin (1955–56 through 1972–73). Record: 429–63 (79 games of the 131 game winning streak)
  5. Dean Weese (1973–74 through 1978–79). Record: 190–30 (Left Wayland to coach the Dallas Diamonds in the Women's Professional Basketball League)
  6. Cathy Wilson (1979–80 through 1982–83). Record: 80–50
  7. Dave Ketterman (1983–84 through Dec 1985–86 season). Record: 65–17
  8. Floyd Evans (January 1985 – 1986 through 1988–89). Record: 106–21
  9. Sheryl Estes (1989–90 through 1995–96). Record: 183–62
  10. Johnna Pointer (1996–97 through 2002–2003). Record: 151–84
  11. Will Flemons (2003–04 through 2006–07). Record: 53–65
  12. Tory Bryant (2007–08 through 2012–13). Record: 96–89
  13. Alesha Robertson Ellis (2013–2014 through present). Record from 2013–14 through 2017–18: 114–43

The women's team also has a rich history. Wayland's first women's basketball game was in 1910–11, the same year that Wayland opened for classes. Women played club sport basketball against high schools from the 1910–11 season through the 1947–48 season when the Wayland women's team played its first game against another college, beating Texas Tech. The Wayland Team played its first AAU competition in 1948–49, which is also when Wayland began keeping official game statistics. The Wayland Team played its first International Competition in 1949–50 against Mexico. Beginning with the 1950–51 season, the Wayland Team became the first women's basketball team to fly to all away games, as Claude and Wilda Hutcherson, owners of Hutcherson Flying Service, picked up sponsorship of the team and flew the team to away games in Hutcherson Flying Service planes. This tradition of flying resulted in the team being named the "Hutcherson Flying Queens".[18][25] In the early 1950s, Wayland became the first 4-year collegiate program in history to provide 13 full scholarships annually to a women's collegiate team. [19, 20] The Wayland Team attracted 40 to 50 women to Plainview each year for tryouts.[18][25]

The mascot for the women's team is the Flying Queens. The original team name was the Wayland Lassies, but in 1948, a local company, Harvest Queen Mill provided uniforms for the team, so they became the Harvest Queens.[26] Before the 1950 season began, the team had a chance to play a game in Mexico City. A Wayland grad, Claude Hutcherson, was persuaded to fly the team to Mexico. Hutcherson became enamored with the team, and became a major sponsor, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on the team.[26] When Hutcherson Air Service became a full sponsor of the team, they began calling the team the Hutcherson Flying Queens.[27] Hutcherson provided three sets of uniforms, plus traveling attire, and flew the team about 9,000 miles a year to games.[28] To this day, Hutcherson Air Service continues to provide travel for the women's road games.

Ironically, the strong support of Claude Hutcherson created problems for the school. Wayland considered dropping the team because the scholarships threatened their accreditation.[29] In 1961, the Wayland board of trustees voted unanimously to eliminate women's basketball. The school had difficulty funding the academic programs. The accrediting organization, the Southern Association of Colleges, was not interested in AAU championships. No plans were made to eliminate the men's scholarships, only the women's scholarships.[30] The local citizens did not accept the decision. Local businessmen, under the leadership of Claude Hutcherson, raised money to privately fund scholarships for a year. The trustees voted to reverse their position.[31]

The team was coached from 1955–56 through 1972–73 by Harley Redin. Redin served in the Marine Air Corp in WWII, logging 50 combat missions over the South Pacific. After the war, he became the athletic director of Wayland Baptist, and the coach of the men's basketball team. The men's teams were very successful, making the NAIA postseason tournament three separate years.[32] However, he became the coach of the women's team in 1955, and was even more successful—in 1954, under Coach Caddo Matthews, they began a winning streak that would stretch to 131 games, including four consecutive AAU national championships.[33] The winning streak would eclipse a prior winning streak of 102 games, held by Hanes Hosiery, which ended in 1954.[34] For 18 years under the coaching leadership of Redin, the team won 431 games against only 66 losses. The team won six national AAU championships, and finished second six other times.[32] Redin went on to coach the USA Women's Pan American Team in 1959 and 1971.[32] He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.[35] In 2018, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame presented Coach Redin the Bunn Lifetime Achievement award.[36] Outside of enshrinement, this award is the most prestigious presented by the Hall of Fame. Wayland Baptist teams from 1946 to 1982 were later announced to receive enshrinement on April 6, 2019.[37]

Schools

School of Math and Sciences

The School of Mathematics and Sciences at Wayland Baptist University administers all mathematics and science courses taught on the Plainview campus and also those taught online. Degrees are offered in math, math education, biology, molecular biology, chemistry, and geology, along with several preprofessional service course areas such as prenursing and pre-engineering. Currently, the school has 15 faculty members; 6 math and 9 sciences, with three emeritus faculty.[38] The School serves over 400 students each semester. On average, 20 to 30 students graduate with degrees from the school each year.

Initially, math and science courses were taught in several temporary locations on the WBU campus. Eventually, they, along with most other courses, were taught in Gates Hall, and later also in the library. The Division of Math and Science was formally designated in the 1940s. Science courses were moved to refurbished army barracks located on the north side of the campus in the 1960s. The Moody Science building was constructed in the early 1970s from a generous grant from the Moody Foundation. Several of the features in the new building were designed by faculty members. Since its completion, all Plainview campus math and science courses have been held there. In 2005, the university structure was reorganized, and the Division was redesignated as the School of Mathematics and Science.[39] The School is housed in the Moody Science Building at 1900 W 7th Street, Plainview, TX 79072.

List of Schools
  • School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
  • School of Business
  • School of Christian Studies
  • School of Education
  • School of Fine Arts
  • School of Languages and Literature
  • School of Math and Sciences
  • School of Music
  • School of Nursing

External campuses
  • Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Altus, Oklahoma
  • Amarillo, Texas
  • Anchorage, Alaska
  • Clovis, New Mexico
  • El Paso, Texas
  • Fairbanks, Alaska
  • Lubbock, Texas
  • Kapolei, Hawaii
  • Phoenix, Arizona
  • San Antonio, Texas
  • Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • Tucson, AZ
  • Vance AFB
  • Wichita Falls, Texas
  • American Samoa
  • Kijabe, Kenya

Notable alumni
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See also

References
  1. http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/wayland-baptist-3663
  2. "Wayland Baptist University - Profile, Rankings and Data". U.S. News.
  3. "History Of The University". Wayland Baptist University. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  4. "presidents". Wayland Baptist University. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  5. "Pioneers With Minorities". Wayland Baptist University. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  6. "Christian Universities in Hawaii - Hawaii Campus of Wayland Baptist University". Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  7. Helber, Steve (May 21, 2008). "Dean gives $1 million to Wayland". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  8. "2014 Most Affordable U.S. Online College Rankings".
  9. "2012 Indoor Championships - Final Day Recap". Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  10. "GENO AURIEMMA". November 19, 2017. Archived from the original on April 2, 2009.
  11. "Wayland Baptist University - Women s Basketball Records.pdf" (PDF). www.wbuathletics.com. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  12. "Flying Queens anxious to take next step next season". November 19, 2017.
  13. "Queens enjoy incredible season; ultimate goal still ahead".
  14. "Season a success despite disappointing end". November 19, 2017.
  15. "Before UConn, There Was Wayland – NYTimes.com". mobile.nytimes.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  16. "Trailblazers of the Game". November 19, 2017.
  17. "About Our Documentary". November 19, 2017.
  18. Nadler S. F. (1980). A Developmental History of the Wayland Hutcherson Flying Queens from 1910 to 1979 (Doctoral Dissertation). East Texas State University.
  19. "1969 CIAW Basketball Tournament – Varsity Pride". www.jonfmorse.com. November 19, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  20. "Women's Basketball Timeline". November 19, 2017.
  21. Cooper, Gregory. "Women's College Basketball Championship Page". womenscollegebasketballhistory.com. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  22. "- NAIA – National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics". NAIA.org. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  23. "- NAIA – National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics". NAIA.org. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  24. "- NAIA – National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics". NAIA.org. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  25. "Hoop Queens". November 19, 2017.
  26. Ikard 2005, pp. 105–106
  27. Su 2002, p. 79
  28. Festle 1996, p. 37
  29. Festle 1996, p. 40
  30. Shackelford & Grundy 2005, p. 109
  31. Shackelford & Grundy 2005, p. 110
  32. Porter 2005, p. 388
  33. Shackelford & Grundy 2005, p. 97
  34. Ikard 2005, p. 72
  35. "2002 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend Approaching!". WBCA. Archived from the original on December 19, 2005. Retrieved November 8, 2009.
  36. WKYT. "Harley Redin & Jim Host to receive Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's 2018 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award". Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  37. https://www.nba.com/article/2019/04/06/2019-naismith-basketball-hall-fame-announcement
  38. "Wayland Baptist University - Academics - Schools - Mathematics and Science". Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  39. Estelle Owens (2009) History of Wayland Baptist University, 167 p.
  40. "Faces in the Crowd". Sports Illustrated.com, October 22, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
  41. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Further reading

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