Oracle president among new Baylor Regents
The university’s Board of Regents will welcome four new members beginning June 1, but they certainly aren’t new to the Baylor family:
- Mark Hurd, BBA ’79, co-president of Oracle Corp. A former Baylor tennis player, at Oracle Hurd oversees one of the world’s largest enterprise technology companies, with annual revenues of more than $37 billion. The Baylor Tennis Center was renamed the Hurd Tennis Center in 2011 in honor of his family’s generosity to the program.
- Dr. Neal Jeffrey, BBA ’75, associate pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas. Jeffrey was an all-SWC quarterback for the Bears, leading Baylor in the 1974 “Miracle on the Brazos.” He has served in various pastoral roles at Prestonwood since 1984 and is a popular preacher and speaker.
- Mark E. Lovvorn, BBA ’76, BAcc ’77, chairman and CEO of Prestonwood Bancshares Corp. and chairman of Providence Bank of Texas (note the green and gold B in the bank’s logo). He has spent the last 30 years as a leading banker and lender in the Dallas area, having previously helped lead BancDallas and Prosperity Bank.
- Dr. Dennis Ray Wiles, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Arlington (Texas). An Alumnus by Choice of Baylor’s Truett Seminary, Wiles has served at FBC Arlington since 2001; over that time, worship attendance has grown by 60%. Wiles was elected to Baylor’s Board by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Four others were elected as non-voting Regents: Dr. Todd Still, representing faculty; Jay Fields, representing students; Phil Duren, BBA ’72, representing the “B” Association; and Chris Manning, BBA ’84, representing the Bear Foundation.
With the four new voting Regents added to the mix (pictured left to right above), 90% of the Board — 26 of 29 — are Baylor alumni, including nine who have multiple degrees from the university. The Baylor experience is unique, so it’s good to see so many alumni — so many successful alumni — willing and able to come back and serve their alma mater.
Sic ’em, Baylor Regents!