The first weekend of August 2001 was a special time for professional sports fans as heroes from days gone by were inducted into both the base-ball and football hall of fame. These inductions usually include people who hit an abundance of home runs or score dozens of touchdowns…and such was the case this year as well. But there were two special—even emotional—inductions this year. In baseball it was Bill Mazeroski, the second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who is known for his 1960 World Series winning homerun against the Yankees. But apart from that day of offensive achievement, Mazeroski was primarily known as a great defensive player who could turn the double play better than any second baseman in history. In football it was Jackie Slater, who played twenty years with the Los Angeles Rams as an offensive lineman. There were games, even seasons, when Slater did not even touch a football, much less score a touchdown. But the success of the teams on which they played largely came from the unselfish "team oriented" excellence demonstrated by Mazeroski and Slater game in and game out. Both are stellar examples of partners in a common mission. Earlier this year, a great man of God, T. W. Wilson, went to be with the Lord. For fifty years Mr. Wilson served as a valuable “team player” with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Rarely receiving the affirmation or recognition that regularly comes to Billy Graham, T. W. Wilson was a key partner in the mission of the most effective evangelistic team in church history. Day after day at Union University almost two hundred men and women serve in key staff positions as partners in the mission of this institution. Rarely do they receive the public notice that comes to an honor student, a victorious athlete, a published scholar, a popular teacher, or a major donor. Though the mission of this institution is ultimately carried out in the classroom semester after semester, some of these faithful staff members never enter a classroom in much the same way that Jackie Slater never carried a football. But seven different running backs rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season running toward the goal line behind the blocks of Jackie Slater. Often accolades come when out-standing faculty members provide lectures,
brilliant young students achieve success, or trustees make decisions to move the
university forward. Yet, it is the “team oriented” work of faithful staff
members who daily work behind the scenes to make these things happen. They
answer the phone, keep the records, clean the buildings, prepare the classrooms,
and serve in an untold variety of ways. As indicated throughout this issue of
the Unionite, their jobs are often advanced through the enablement of
technology. But these staff members provide the environment for Christ-centered
excellence across this campus. With the growing emphasis on “high tech,” they
daily offer the timely “high touch” for students, encouragement for faculty, and
faithful service for administrators. Union University is blessed with a
wonderful staff, partners in the mission, who often serve without public
recognition. To these men and women— the Jackie Slaters, the Bill Mazeroskis,
the T. W. Wilsons of this institution—we offer thanksgiving for all that they do
for the good of Union University, and beyond that we thank God for their
faithful partnership in the mission of Christ-centered higher education.
David S. Dockery |
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