• Baylor family has 50 years of photos with Judge Baylor

    Oates Family - Judge Baylor Statue

    If you love Baylor, you probably have some pictures of you and your friends and family with Judge Baylor. It’s a rite of passage for every Bear, and is even part of the Baylor Bucket List. But you probably don’t have as many as Donna Oates’ family.

    Since Oates first stepped onto the Baylor campus for a high school choir contest in 1966, she’s been in love. That’s when she took her first picture with Judge Baylor; since then — for 50 years now!! — her family has made it a yearly tradition. Here are just a few examples:

    “My son took his first steps on Baylor campus, and our children have worn green and gold all of their lives,” says Oates, BA ’70. “Most of all, my parents were BaylorProud, and they provided the opportunity for my sister and me to be Baylor Bears.”

    Even her husband Bob — a Texas Tech alum — was proud to call himself a Baylor Bear. “He proudly wore Baylor colors and supported Baylor always, except when playing Texas Tech! However, when it was time to send our children to college, he was always proud they were Baylor Bears. The last picture that our family took with Bob was at Judge Baylor, Homecoming 2010. He passed away two days later with pancreatic cancer.”

    What a perfect way to preserve a family’s Baylor legacy!

    Sic ’em, Oates Family!

    [We learned of this story from a Bear who shared her Baylor pride. Do you know of an inspiring story, news item, or just a fun link that makes you proud of Baylor and the Baylor family? Let us know! Click here to submit your point of pride!]