1 hometown living at its best ABILENE 325.677.6007 When you caretake the land, it has a habit of returning the favor. For those of you who make a life on the land, you understand it provides in every part of your life. So when you’re not working on it, you’re playing on it — hunting, fishing, four-wheeling and more. And Capital Farm Credit is here for you to find that perfect piece of land for your favorite activities. You see, we have the knowledge, guidance and expertise in acquiring recreational land with loans that have competitive terms and rates. That way, when the time comes for you to enjoy the land it’s there waiting for you. To learn more, visit CapitalFarmCredit.com. NMLS493828
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8 ENRICHING ABILENE'S PAST The Grace Museum preserves Abilene’s past while celebrating the future. 18 10 P.M. TEATIME 9,100 miles—the distance from South Africa to Abilene.The Kasselmans traveled that distance plus some to move their entire life to their new home in Abilene. 26 TALENTED PROFESSIONALS Intern ABI brings college students & local business together. 34 A LIFETIME OF COLLECTING Take a look inside Walt Pfeifer’s world travel inspired museum of ancient artifacts. 42 KIWANIAN OF THE YEAR Guinn Smith was honored as the Kiwanian of the Year, recognizing his legendary time of service to others. 52 CHRISTIAN, CLASSICAL AND CREATIVE The education designed by four Abilene families searching for something different. 58 ABILENE’S UNSUNG HEROES A group of seniors provide valuable service for Abilene police. 64 HOLIDAY CLASSICS Enjoy these delicious holiday favorites shared with Abilene Living by some of its residents. 14, 32, 50, 70 Enjoy a variety of HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS showcasing the people, places, and events occuring in the Big Country. Email office@hometownmedia.group to submit yours. features Hometown Living at itsBest for 13 Years & Counting
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6 abilene living | hometownmedia.group Abilene Living Magazine© is published bi-annually by Hometown Media Group, LLC. hometownmedia.group 502 N Main Street PMB 116 Weatherford, TX 76086 | 817.599.6167 PROUDLY PRINTED IN THE USA PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul White Photography Laurin Kocurek Colin King ON THE COVER Grace Harmon Miss West Texas Fair & Rodeo Photo by Broken Arrow Photography Matt & Heather Martin Executive Publishers Casey Perkins Executive Publisher Taylor Grimm Marketing & Client Relations taylor@hometownmedia.group Susan Avery Lead Creative Design WRITERS Jessica Wesson Rebecca Sanchez Don Thompson James McAfee “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” - Proverbs 3:27 Happy Everything, Mat & Heather Martin Johnna Page Sales Account Executive johnnapage@yahoo.com Elizabeth Watson Sales Account Executive elizabeth@hometown-living.com Diane Lundgren Public Relations All of us at Hometown Media Group are thrilled to bring you the NEW LOOK of Abilene Living Magazine. While the size of our premium print publication has changed, our dedication to content featuring HOMETOWNLIVING AT ITS BEST has not. ON THE COVER: We loved getting to know Grace Harmon, the current title holder for Miss West Texas Fair & Rodeo! She is an accomplished HSU student. Our family got its first glimpse inside Rodeo Royalty this summer with my eight-year-old daughter, GeorgiaLee, competing. She said it was “the thrill of her life” so when we received this amazing Hometown Happening feature we had to know more! Like many of our readers, this time of year is my FAVORITE! With the holidays upon us we are excited to share a few go-to recipes to try on your table this season shared with us by local Abilene women. These pages are truly a GUIDE to Abilene Living. Please enjoy this edition and THANK an advertiser by SHOPPING LOCAL and letting them know you saw their ad in LATEST & GREATEST issue of ALM! Hey Ya'll My husband Matt and I started this magazine over 13 years ago and have so enjoyed partnering with local businesses to offer solutions aimed to help them thrive! Keeping things FRESH and relevant is just part of what we do. From websites, Geofencing, to premium print Hometown Media Group is a firm ready to consult & collaborate with solutions in your budget and target audience.
7 hometown living at its best Book today at iflyABI.com
8 abilene living | hometownmedia.group THE GRACE MUSEUM Written by ELLEN SLATER | Photos provided by LORI THORNTON Preserving Abilene’s Past Abilene’s Grace Museum has delighted locals and visitors for more than 30 years. Part of the museum’s charm lies in the fact that the building currently housing it opened in 1909 as the Hotel Grace. While Enriching the Future
9 hometown living at its best MMost Abilene residents are familiar with The Grace Museum, however, not all realize its history. In its first use, the building was home to the full-service Hotel Grace that opened in 1909. The hotel drew many of its patrons from its proximity to the Texas and Pacific Passenger Railway, also located in downtown Abilene. The hotel was renamed The Drake in 1946, and was popular until the 1960s when passenger railroad travel declined. The building stood vacant and in disrepair until the mid-1980s when a group of Abilene leaders decided to revitalize the downtown area. According to Lori Thornton, Director of Marketing and Communications at The Grace Museum, once the community leaders became involved with the renovation things began to fall into place. She said, “The Preservation League and several city leaders came up with a plan to raise money to renovate the 55,000 square foot building. The Dodge Jones Foundation was the major donor and other contributors were the Meadows, Moody, Mabee and the Abell-Hanger Foundations.” The Preservation League hired Rick Weather, a historic restoration architect, to bring back the look of the building as it was in the mid-1930s. Restoration took nearly five years and in 1992 The Grace Museum officially opened its doors. The Grace is now home to several different exhibits including an adult art gallery and studios, Spark Children’s Museum and a History Museum. The first and second floors house the art galleries. Some of the artwork displayed here was collected in the 1930s by a group of women instrumental in opening the Abilene Fine Arts Museum. Thornton said, “The Abilene Fine Arts Museum was founded in the 1930s by a group of area women
10 abilene living | hometownmedia.group who acquired pieces from all over the country.” When The Grace Museum opened, the Fine Arts Museum and its artwork was relocated there. “We focus on contemporary American art with a Texas connection,” Thornton said. “The museum hosts about 15 art shows each year.” The shows typically run for several months. The current show running at the museum is entitled “Witness: Black Artists in Texas—Past and Present” and began in October to coincide with Black History Month. The Children’s Museum was renovated a couple of years ago and re-named Spark. “We wanted a place that anyone at any age could enjoy,” Thornton said. “Spark is an interactive space for people of all ages.” The largest section of Spark is its art space. Here children can look at art or create it. The art space has wide open spaces and cozy nooks where visitors can paint, draw, make music or even dance. Spark also features an interactive History Space and Create Lab where families can work on art projects with step-by-step directions or put together a puzzle. The third floor of the museum houses the History Gallery. Here visitors can view three different decades of living spaces from 1910,1928 and 1948. “We have seven permanent displays including a kitchen, living room and a hotel room,” Thornton said. “The purpose of the displays is to recreate what living in Abilene was like during these time periods.” The third floor also houses a small library where patrons can cuddle up with a good book or do a little research. Upcoming shows at the History Gallery include Hispanic and Native American Heritage Exhibitions as well as Abilene in the 1920s.
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12 abilene living | hometownmedia.group On average 65,000 visitors pass through The Grace each year. “We host many school tours during the week,” Thornton said. “Children on these tours range from toddlers to college students. It’s a great way for them to learn about art and history.” In addition to children’s art classes the museum also hosts adult classes each month. “The classes we host are tied to our current art displays,” Thornton said. “For example, during Hispanic Heritage Month we held a Mexican Yarn Art Class. We also held a Latin Dance night which was free to the public.” Other adult classes held in the art studio include bluebonnet collages and a Mixed Media Sunflower Painting which was hosted by local artist Polly Jones. “We look to our local artists to help us host many of our monthly classes,” Thornton said. The Grace also holds several family festivals each year centered around the holidays. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Visitors can also stop by the museum and take advantage of free admission on Thursday nights from 5-8 pm. For more information on The Grace Museum, or to volunteer call 325-673-4587 or visit their website at thegracemeseum.org. †
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14 abilene living | hometownmedia.group Hometown Wedded Bliss CORA KATE GEE & JAKE GLEASON OCTOBER 7, 2023 Jake and Cora’s love story began on the same county road, in the same little town, and in the same public school district, but only in different years. They lived miles apart on different ranches, but they had no idea that they would one day fall in love and get to spend the rest of their lives together! Cora shared the story and expressed that she had a major crush on Jake from the very beginning! He was that tall, dark, and handsome basketball and baseball star! She smiled as she explained that that 8th-grade crush literally became a reality years later when he asked her on their first date! One date led to another which then led to the proposal! Jake proposed in the most special way at their home church while she was preparing for a Sunday school class she was teaching. He brought his family in and got down on one knee for all to witness! His nephew and wingman, Ace, helped to make the proposal perfect! And she said YES! From that moment on, they’ve had great adventures and beautiful glimpses of their future! Cora said that life is better with Jacob Wayne by her side! Wedded at Highway 36 Church of Christ & celebrated at The Grove at Denton Valley
PHOTOS BY TABITHA COFFMAN
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BLACK ARTISTS IN TEXAS, THEN AND NOW AS I SEE IT: EARLIE HUDNALL, JR. WITNESS ON VIEW 102 Cypress Street | Abilene, Texas 79601 October 14, 2023 to February 3, 2024 LEFT: John Biggers, How I Got Over, 1987, acrylic and oil wash on panel, Private Collection CENTER: Delita Martin, Walk with Me, 2016, gelatin printing, conte, acrylic, hand stitching, fabric, Private Collection RIGHT: Riley Holloway, New Front Line, 2022, oil on canvas, Private Collection 17 hometown living at its best
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19 hometown living at its best D Written by JESSICA WESSON | Photos courtesy of ARLENE KASSELMAN 9,100 miles. That’s the distance from South Africa to Abilene as the crow flies. The Kasselmans, David and Arlene, traveled that distance (plus a few stops along the way) to move their entire life to the community they now call home. David and Arlene both grew up in Natal, South Africa, where they met and fell in love. The high school sweethearts married in 1986. In the late 80s it was mandatory for men to serve in the South African military. David served two years in the army, while Arlene worked as a travel agent. She earned two plane tickets through her job and the couple decided to vacation in America. They traveled to New York, Orlando, New Orleans and Dallas, but they also made a stop in Abilene. “We knew some missionaries that had been part of our lives when we were younger were living in Abilene,” Arlene said. “They were working at Abilene Christian University (ACU), and my husband and I visited the Bible Department while we were on campus. That’s when my husband decided he wanted to go into ministry full-time.” The couple returned to their home country and began making arrangements to move to America. They started applying for scholarships and student visas to pursue higher education in the States. In 1991 they moved over 9,000 miles away from their families and friends to start a new journey in Abilene.
20 abilene living | hometownmedia.group They both studied Bible and ministry, and welcomed their daughter, Ky, to the family in May 1996. During this time the Kasselmans took trips back to South Africa to try to plant a church. “We took faculty from ACU with us on two survey trips, but we never could get the funding that we needed,” Arlene said. They decided to move to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where Spencer, the youngest Kasselman kid, was born in 2001. After five years working at a church there, they made the trek to Amarillo for a job at a new church. After 12 years in Amarillo David decided to change careers. Arlene said, “We had some friends from the first time we lived in Abilene, named Dan and Cathy Haught. Dan offered David a job working at his company, MasterScapes, doing internal operation management. So, we moved back to Abilene in 2012.” After the couple moved back to Abilene, Arlene started working at her alma mater with students in need. “I work with students who are facing barriers to them being successful in college,” Arlene said. “I love working with students and helping them overcome these challenges.” While the couple was living in Amarillo, David started brewing beer as a side hobby at home and took that with him when they made the move back to Abilene. Arlene said, “He joined the Big Country Home Brewers Association when we got here, and he and his two friends started dreaming about what it would look like to open a brewery. In 2020 that became a reality when they opened Grain Theory Brewery in Abilene.”
21 hometown living at its best The brewery quickly became a family business when Ky joined the Grain Theory team. “She opened a coffee bar inside the brewery, and she designed the menu and trained the baristas,” Arlene said. “She was also the events manager.” While David’s dream became a reality, Arlene was still sitting on her dream of owning a bookstore. “While working at ACU, I was germinating my idea of opening a bookstore,” Arlene said. “My family finally pushed me to do it, and there was momentum downtown.” Downtown Abilene was starting to grow and recover from the COVID pandemic that closed many small businesses around the country. She visited Spencer, who was living in New York during the summer of 2021 for an internship. “He told me about a bookstore that he’d fallen in love with, so we went to visit,” Arlene said. “That experience moved me to come back home and start exploring what it would be like to really open a bookstore.” She started by doing pop-up bookstores in different venues, including her husband’s brewery. She officially opened her bookstore, Seven and One, in September 2022, and it has flourished ever since. It is a family business, because Spencer also works at the bookstore.
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23 hometown living at its best Through all of the moves and the changes in life, one thing remains important to the Kasselman family. 10 p.m. tea time. “South Africans drink tea the way the Brits do. We drink it all the time,” Arlene said. “Tea time solves all kinds of problems.” Growing up, Arlene’s family had a tradition of sitting down at 10 p.m. to drink tea as a family to spend time together. She and David carried on that tradition with their own children. “That is the time where everybody kind of stopped what they were doing, and we’d all just sip on tea,” Arlene said. “Even as teenagers, our kids would emerge from their bedrooms and chat about all the things going on in our lives.” The tradition quickly spread beyond the Kasselman home, as their kids went to college nearby and brought home friends. “Ky would bring her roommates and friends over for family tea time, and eventually Spencer did the same,” Arlene said. “It’s been a sweet gift to extend that tradition to our kids’ friends, because they know they can come to our house for tea anytime and that they are welcome anytime too.” Ky and her husband, Jesse, now live in Austin. Spencer and his wife, Claire, live in Abilene. The Kasselmans pride themselves on being the house with the door that is always open. “Tea time is metaphorical for who we wanted to be as people,” Arlene said. “We want to be accepting and have a non-judgmental space where people can come as they are. That’s teatime for us.” †
REMEMBERING Mitch was born and raised in Anson, Texas where he was well known throughout the rodeo industry as a man of faith. He ran the T-N-T Rodeo Company traveling across the country as a stock contractor. His two sons, Trevor and Tyler, were an intricate part of this family business, hauling stock to every level rodeo, from amateur to PBR and NFR events. Mitch went to be with the Lord while traveling to one such event. He will be remembered and missed by the Big Country and rodeo family. Mitch Terrell
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26 abilene living | hometownmedia.group WELCOMING and empowering Written by REBECCA SANCHEZ | Photos by LAURIN KOCUREK talented professionals InternABI brings together college students on the verge of their careers and local businesses who want to take an active role in growing Abilene as a place to work and live. By supporting young college professionals with necessary workplace skills, the Abilene Chamber of Commerce program positively affects the retention of talented graduates coming from local universities.
27 hometown living at its best UUniversity towns can suffer from a condition known as brain drain. Young people come to cities like Abilene to attend colleges, grow their minds, gain initial experience and move on, taking their new knowledge and fresh experience with them. Retaining the talent that the universities are cultivating is the number one issue facing many communities. Abilene is not alone, but it is taking action to grow its business community. When young workers are equipped with a toolbox of strategies necessary to reach out and engage with fellow Abilene professionals, they and Abilene thrive. Abilene Chamber of Commerce initiated programs in 2014 to attract, engage and retain the 21-40 year-old demographic. By providing professional development opportunities in the Abilene Young Professional programs such as Campus Connect, AYP After Five, a yearly leadership summit and more, they reached a membership of 600 young people. Tightening connections even more between employers and current students, the chamber launched InternABI in summer 2023 with 20 ambitious college interns. The goal of InternABI is to attract young professionals to Abilene, to engage with them through events and training that support their job skill needs, and ultimately grow Abilene. Abilene Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Operations and Communications Laurin Kocurek previously led the program. She said, “It’s giving our next generation of community leaders the opportunity to enhance their skills.” It’s setting them up with a foundation to network, enhance their leadership development and make an impact on our community. In addition to giving young professionals the opportunity to create a network so when businesses recruit employees, they have a program
28 abilene living | hometownmedia.group to retaining that employee outside of their organization.” Being an intern means getting to see the day-to-day, getting in the game where the real action is happening and learning the business in real time. The Abilene chamber kicked off its inaugural season to further immerse, and simultaneously support, up-andcoming professionals in the journey from college to workplace. InternABI members get to experience their chosen job field while also receiving professional development through the chamber program that they can implement immediately. In a positive response, the business community has said yes to participating and are very excited about the partnership trifecta. Recognizing the value, Directors Investment Group hired about 50 interns. First Financial Bank hired 15, and the Eide Bailly accounting firm already asked for the program to continue for further seasons. It’s a win-win situation for employer and intern: businesses have the backing of the chamber that provides professional development to their interns, and interns gain valuable work experience and lessons from both entities. The chamber likes to say this service is “another tool in the business community’s toolbox.” Networking is one of the tools used for building relationships in a community. One must get to know others, break down barriers and discover how intertwining their interpersonal skills and available resources makes things happen. Abilene Chamber of Commerce Regional Resource Coordinator Hudson Ewing said, “Networking is one of the huge things that drew me towards the program. The first event, networking with all of the interns and working with them to see what their goals were and what they wanted to get out of their internships was very useful as far as building relationships.” Engaging in speed-networking, luncheons and get-to-know-you scavenger hunts are no party games. They can actually be very intimidating, so a little fun helps people learn tricks to overcome
29 hometown living at its best their fears during an impromptu or first encounter. Suddenly one must initiate conversation, make introductions, apply speaking skills and do the magic of socializing: small talk. Accomplishing tasks on a scavenger hunt with a team of new-to-you people is communication in action, is task-oriented and is of course a bit competitive. “It’s almost like a warm-up for real world work where you meet new people you haven’t seen before, so it definitely helps,” Ewing said. “On top of the networking, it was really great to hear from some of the business leaders in the community, such as Laura Moore and Doug Peters our Chamber CEO, and see their views on business. It’s always good to be able to pick their brains a little bit, so whenever they came to talk to us that was a huge plus.” Networking luncheons mean sharing a meal over a common topic, making that small talk and establishing a launch point for the next encounter. One recent lunch topic was about how young professionals can get involved in downtown revitalization and included the city manager, chamber chairperson of the downtown initiative task force and board members working on the streetscape plan. Again, a here-and-now approach to getting involved and investing in Abilene. “Ithink Abilene is very community driven,” Ewing said. “When you talk about a place like Austin or the Dallas-Fort Worth area, everyone is kind of on their own. In Abilene it’s easier to build those networks and those connections and have long lasting relationships with people as opposed to Austin or Dallas where you might meet someone at a networking event, but you might
30 abilene living | hometownmedia.group not see them again for a year or six months. Being such a tight-knit community is definitely something that pulls me toward Abilene and is something that I really like about the business community here.” Expansion ideas are already in the works. Kocurek said, “We hope to expand InternABI to have a professional development session that leans in on that resume building piece; how to build your resume, why it’s important to get involved in your community, how you can get involved and have impact on your community and how it helps you both professionally and personally.” Young professionals like Ewing are choosing Abilene for their homes, for their careers and for the opportunity to be part of the personable culture it has. Supporting local businesses as they connect to new talent not only boosts industry but also plants the seeds necessary to grow a community. University students are on the verge of entering new professions and are about to decide where to establish roots. The Abilene Chamber InternABI program is going to make that transition and choice easier to make. †
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HOMETOWN Happenings
33 hometown living at its best Photos by HOMETOWN MEDIA GROUP Abilene Living Magazine would like to thank everyone that came out and made our spring delivery party such a success! We had a fabulous time reading the magazine in company of those who helped create it. Advertisers, writers, photographers and feature subjects enjoyed a coffee on us, and we enjoyed being able to put a face to their name. We hope to see you at the next one! ABILENE LIVING Spring Delivery Party
34 abilene living | hometownmedia.group W A LIFETIME of collecting Written by DON THOMPSON | Photos by PAUL WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY Inside Walt Pfeifer’s world travel-inspired museum of ancient artifacts. and Adventuring Walt Pfeifer admits he was not interested in Social Study subjects when he was attending Abilene High School. As he grew and matured over the years, it’s obvious his interests changed, developing interests in culture, archaeology, and history, with the outcome being an extensive private collection of museum quality artifacts over a wide range of diverse and eclectic subjects. Beginning with an interest in photography and collecting cameras, his collections have grown to include mirrors, Mayan artifacts, Asian items—from China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and India—to Christian and religious artifacts. He has traveled through the USA and spent time in Canada, China, Belize, Germany, and Spain. Walt was born and raised in Abilene. His family had a wholesale business, Temp-Trol Supply and he grew up working there.He attended Abilene High School and afterwards Abilene Christian University (ACU), graduating in 1970 with a degree in Physics and Math. While at ACU he met his soon-to-be wife Jerri Kyser, who was there majoring in Education. After they graduated and married, Walt and Jerri moved to Eula when Jerri was hired as the high school English teacher, however after arriving she found her duties included previously unmentioned responsibilities, such as managing the school library, making popcorn at basketball games, and working as sponsor of the yearbook. She enlisted Walt’s help for these jobs and they found the photography for the yearbook desperately needed improvement. When Walt pitched in to help with the yearbook, his lifelong interest in photography and cameras was born. He soon learned to
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36 abilene living | hometownmedia.group shoot better sports photos and develop film in the darkroom, oldschool style. Walt liked the old cameras; the old ones were quality made—made to last, of wood and brass and glass. The wood was usually mahogany and walnut, crafted by cabinet makers, and the brass made by clock makers and quality craftsman, the lenses made by glass workers, then the components were assembled by skilled workers in the newly created camera industry. He started collecting cameras made in the 1920s, and as he says, “I just never did quit.” Now his collection fills rooms in his private museum and includes some of the oldest cameras, even spy cameras that were used by the CIA, the FBI, and the Russian KGB. His collection totals over 200 cameras, 50 “magic lantern” cameras, 4,000 lantern slides, and over 1,500 stereo slides. “Old photos are a faithful recording of America,” Walt explained. “We’re the first generations to have photos of our ‘great-great’ grandfathers and grandmothers and ancestors. Photos show us where we came from.” “Photography also gave the masses the first look at history,” he continued. “For example, the realities of war, beginning with the Civil War. The photos of young soldiers in fresh uniforms leaving for the war were vastly different from the later photos of injuries and casualties from the battlefields. Cameras and projectors use lenses and mirrors, so his interest in cameras soon led him to learn about ancient mirrors and he started collecting those also. Many of his interests and travels inspired a new collection. In 1984, Walt and his family traveled to Toronto when Jerri spoke to a group on conservation and education. In the Ontario Museum of History and Art they saw Egyptian mummies
and other artifacts, prompting him to begin collecting antique Egyptian items. In 2000, he traveled to Xian, China, where the terra cotta warriors were discovered in 1974. While touring parts of the country, he felt an affinity for the Chinese and enjoyed learning about the culture and history. His interest in China led him to collect Chinese artifacts, and he now has a collection that includes many shadow puppets, a large scroll of poetry, an enclosed sedan chair from 1865, 300 bronze mirrors dating from 220 BC, a beautiful jade carving, jade figurines, a scholars table with antique ink wells and brushes used in writing intricate Chinese character calligraphy, a 3 foot tall reproduction of a terra cotta warrior, singing bowls from Tibet, and a silk embroidered panel of a figure
38 abilene living | hometownmedia.group in traditional clothing holding a mirror. This embroidered panel relates to his interests in both Chinese artifacts and mirrors. He went to Belize four times, between 2000 and 2008, with the Global Samaritan Group. This humanitarian group took medical supplies to Belize, especially to help people imprisoned there. Conditions were bad in the Belize prison system. There, instead of innocent until proven guilty as in the USA, a person was guilty until proven innocent, so many are unjustly incarcerated until they can gather the evidence to prove their innocence. Nutrition for the prisoners was poor, primarily rice and beans, so this group taught the prisoners to start a garden and small farm to supplement the prison cafeteria and improve their diet. And again, while visiting in a foreign land, he became interested in their culture and history, and began a collection of ancient Mayan artifacts, including small statues and figures. “Artifacts are where you find them and may show up in the most unexpected places and times,” Walt said. Walt’s Christian faith led him to develop an interest in Biblical studies and history, so he began collecting ancient scrolls in the original Greek and Hebrew languages, plus other items concerning religion. He bought and traded other items to acquire the historical scrolls that originally came from Yemen, Italy, Africa, and other sites in the Holy Lands. The scrolls are written on animal skins, written with no space between words or punctuation, because the authors believed the words were “one breath of God.” In a collection of ancient coins, he has a “piece of silver” as was used 2,000 years ago in Biblical times.
39 hometown living at its best Among his other adventures, Walt also traveled to Germany to discover family history and study the architecture, especially in cathedrals. His family was from the Bosenbach and Zulybrucheru area. Sadly, Jerri passed away in 2015. Walt is now married to Darla (Lorenz), a lady he knew from Abilene High School. Darla shares his interest in cameras and photography, so she supports him and helps him in acquisitions and maintaining his collections. He is active in the Photographic Historical Society of New England and the Photographic Society of America, and is a published author and sought-after speaker on the subject of photography and cameras. He is proud to call Abilene home, and his life, career, service to his community, and collections are an asset to the city. Walt Pfeifer is a man of many interests, with a desire to preserve and honor his local traditions and history, and a thirst to learn about other cultures and histories. As his collections grew, he recognized he needed a proper space to house his collections, so he converted the building in downtown Abilene where his family business was based into an organized, safe, private museum to display his artifacts, collected in a lifetime doing what he calls “Adventuring”….and he’s not finished yet. † “Adventuring”—what an apt word to describe Walt Pfeifer’s lifetime of activities.
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42 abilene living | hometownmedia.group KIWANIAN Written by JAMES MCAFEE | Photos provided by CHARLES KIRKPATRICK Guinn Smith’s legendary time of service recognized. of the Year
43 hometown living at its best KKiwanians in the Kiwanis Club of Abilene provide valuable services to the community, and like to recognize their members who help take the extra steps necessary to assist with the club’s annual Pancake Day and all the many other projects. One such member, retired banker Guinn Smith, was honored as the Kiwanian of the Year, recognizing his legendary time of service to others. When presenting the award, MaryAnn Martin described him “as an extra special blessing who is always wearing a beautiful smile and is the epitome of kindness, godliness, and all things good. Little Bear is always there when it matters and eager to make a difference in the lives of others.” Retiring president Faye Dodson recalls with fondness Smith’s servant’s heart and commitment to make a difference in other people’s lives. “He is always ready to be that helping hand wherever needed or give that encouraging word,” she added. Smith joined the Abilene club in 1990 after moving from his hometown of Vernon with wife Janice to start work at the First National Bank. He currently is a dedicated board member, serves on the ramp committee, program committee, and is the chairman of the greeter’s committee.
44 abilene living | hometownmedia.group “I've always been taught and encouraged to find ways to give back in some way to the community that I lived in,” he said. “The two wonderful banks that I was privileged to work for expected and encouraged me to be involved in our community as a leader and it was a tremendous way to network and develop relationships. I'm not bragging, but it's been a true blessing to me and my family and I pray that I've been a good example for them and those I've come in contact with along the way.” His service of over 56 years has included being a deacon at churches in both Vernon and Abilene, serving as president of the Vernon Lions Club, vice president of the Abilene club, president of the Vernon Boys Cub and the Abilene Boys and Girls Club, president of the Campfire Girls of Texas, vice president of
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46 abilene living | hometownmedia.group the Vernon Lions Booster Club, citizen of the year in Vernon, a trustee for nine years at Hardin-Simmons University and currently serves on the school’s development team. Dodson is also proud of the fact the Kiwanians had increased their membership to 102 and increased the number of service projects in the past year. “Co-hosting the annual Kiwanis Christmas at Safety City, hosting the 24th annual Big Country Spelling Bee, kicking off a new Key-Club at TLCA and introducing BUGS and the reading program at TLCA Elementary are some of those activities,” she said. Other successes were hosting the 73rd annual Pancake Day, building a float for the annual CALF festival parade, and awarding five Foundation Service Scholarships and five Career and Technology scholarships in the amount of $1,000. The club also participated in the Summer Feeding
47 hometown living at its best Program for several years, but added participation during the winter and spring breaks this year. “Club members worked together to create a new signature project titled “Christmas in the City,” Dodson added. “This was a special time for Christian Homes & Family Services foster families held in December and will be a project that grows in future years to encompass other foster family organizations.” Randy Roewe, a former president in 2018-2019 who joined Aug. 5, 2015, was recognized by Dodson for his two terms (2021-2022, 2022-2023) as Lt. Governor of Division 35. Doug Williamson was the recipient of the Bailey Choate Award, which is given to a long-standing club member who goes above and beyond the call of duty and responsibility in serving the children and needy of our community. Williamson, who joined the club in February 1988, is a Hixson Fellowship recipient and a Walter Zeller recipient for his monetary support of the International Project Eliminate program. He also donated to the club’s foundation for its 100th anniversary in 2021. He was awarded Layperson of the Year in 2006, served as president during the club’s 75th anniversary in 1996, and was named Kiwanian of the Year in 2019. Additionally, Nancy Miller and Tim Adcock were presented with
48 abilene living | hometownmedia.group the Texas-Oklahoma Kiwanis Foundation, C.T. Bush Awards. established in 1971 and named after the founder of the foundation. Its purpose is to recognize Kiwanians for their service. Contributions for this award provide financial assistance to young people who deserve the opportunity to pursue worthwhile goals. Miller joined the Kiwanis Club of Abilene on September 16, 1987, as the first woman to join the club. She received her 35-year Legion of Honor award in 2022, served in numerous positions in the club and the Texas/Oklahoma District and has received many honors throughout her years as a Kiwanian. Adcock joined the club on October 6, 2010. He was a board member from 2012-2013, then became treasurer from 2012 to 2019. He stepped down then to prepare for his term as president. He resumed the treasurer’s position from 2022-2023 and serves as Division 35 treasurer. He also has received many honors, serves on several committees, and did an outstanding job, helping celebrate the club’s 100th anniversary in 2021. Officers for 2023-2024 will be President Gayla Mize, President Elect Guy Lucas, Secretary Janis Thompson and vice presidents Elizabeth Gray and Alan Farmer. Joining Smith on the board of directors are Meredith Hatch, Bill Hoogstra, Kim Mize, Jamie Breed, Kristen Carnohan, Matt Centuori, and Cynthia Suarez. They, along with other club members, will continue the global organization of volunteers’ dedication to improving the world, one child, and one community at a time. †
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50 abilene living | hometownmedia.group Hometown Wedded Bliss EMILY GARNER & DJ DAVIS SEPTEMBER 16, 2023 Their love story began almost two years ago in December 2021. It was a“friend date,” but little did they know that in just a few years, they would be walking down the aisle promising one another a forever vow! DJ and Emily are soulmates; God knew they needed one another, and their love is contagious! They are full of laughter, smiles, and bust-out dancing whenever asked. That is just a testament to their fun personalities and the love they have for one another. They know that life is better when you have someone to share it with through the good times and bad! DJ proposed to Emily in front of the famous Paramount Theater in Abilene on April 21, 2023. From there, it has been a whirlwind of wedding planning and dreaming of their wonderful real-life fairytale! They are excited about the next and best chapter of their lives. The Barn at Cliff Springs in Buffalo Gap, Texas
PHOTOS BY TABITHA COFFMAN
52 abilene living | hometownmedia.group Inside the education designed by four Abilene families searching for something different. CHRISTIAN, CLASSICAL & COLLABORATIVE
53 hometown living at its best Written by JESSICA WESSON | Photos by COLIN KING In 2020, four families in the Abilene area started looking for schooling options for their children. They were homeschooling their kids and wanted a larger community with better resources for their education. They decided to start their own school, and in 2021 Abilene Classical Academy (ACA) had its first school year. These families were looking for an alternative to the education system available, and ACA was the fit they needed explained Jackson Boen, interim head of the school. “My wife and I homeschooled our own kids for a season, and sometimes it can get overwhelming, particularly if you have a large family,” Boen said. “These families were looking for a solid classical education, and they knew they needed some structure to do it well.” ACA is a unique school that operates on three principles that have guided the academy since its creation. The first value is a CHRISTIANCENTERED EDUCATION. “The original families were looking for an education that would focus on a Biblical worldview in every subject,” Boen said. “It was very important to not just be a Christian school in name but in practice.”
54 abilene living | hometownmedia.group The second principle is COLLABORATION, specifically between the school and parents. The school operates Tuesday-Thursday in a classroom setting, however; unlike traditional schools, parents are responsible for teaching their children at home on Mondays and Fridays. Boen said, “That’s based on a Bible passage from Deuteronomy 6, and those original families wanted a school that did not solely assume the responsibility of teaching their kids. They wanted someone who would partner with them in their kids’ education.” ACA staff believes it is imperative for parents to teach their children in everyday situations at home. They value learning outside of the classroom in daily life. “The passage from Deuteronomy tells parents to teach their children while they are in the home, lying down to sleep and waking up in the morning,” Boen said. “That’s why the original parents came up with this Chrisitan worldview model, and they expected the school to value that as well.” Finally, the school uses a CLASSICAL EDUCATION approach when instructing children in the classroom. Boen said this system has been around for thousands of years. In more recent history, the general education system has moved away from the classical education approach. ACA’s goal is to bring back those tried-and-true methods. “Classical education takes the science of brain development and classifies it into three stages,” Boen said. “Junior K through fifth grade is our grammar stage. Sixth through eighth grade is the logic stage. Ninth through 12th grade is the rhetoric stage.” Boen said the grammar stage focuses on the fundamentals of each subject, and it utilizes repetition to help elementary-aged students learn the basics. The logic stage encourages students to learn how to think and to begin analyzing the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’. Finally, in the rhetoric stage, students learn to articulate their knowledge in a
55 hometown living at its best clear way. The curriculum is designed to fit the school’s principles but also chosen to meet the needs of children at the stage of learning they are in. Boen said as members of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools the academy has a network of support available across the country. “We’re always evaluating curricula and choosing the best for our students,” he said. One unique class taught at ACA is the logic school humanities class, which is not commonly taught in other education systems. “This is a combination of theology, literature, and history,” Boen said. “We choose classic literature and study it. While we’re studying it, we’re also talking about history and picking out the Christian morals and values of the literature we are reading through.” Now, ACA has approximately 120 kids from all different backgrounds in grades Junior K to eighth grade. “We have kids from different denominations and different churches, and we have kids coming from home school, private schools, and public schools,” Boen said. The school currently only offers Junior
56 abilene living | hometownmedia.group K to eighth grade, but they plan to expand in the coming years to offer education through 12th grade. They also limit the number of students in each class to improve the learning environment for students. “We feel that around 10 to 15 students per class is a good number for a teacher to provide individual attention to students,” Boen said. “We’re trying to teach character and instill values and honesty, so the small class sizes are important for that kind of teaching.” The admissions process is simple and straightforward, but the school does have a sit-down interview with families before their children are accepted. ACA is a unique learning experience for kids and parents alike, so school leadership wants to make sure parents know what they are signing up for. “We want to make sure the parents understand our collaborative model and that they will be teaching their children two days per week,” Boen said. “We also want them to understand that their child will be in a Christian environment and receiving a classical education and what that truly is.” When the education they were seeking did not exist, four families came together to create their own educational system. Now, other families are benefiting from that decision, and their children are receiving an education they can be confident in. †
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58 abilene living | hometownmedia.group
59 hometown living at its best A unsung heroes Written by JAMES MCAFEE | Photos by WHITE’S PHOTOGRAPHY A GROUP OF SENIORS PROVIDE VALUABLE SERVICE FOR ABILENE POLICE. Acting Abilene Police Chief Doug Wrenn is certainly proud of a group of five seniors who are assisting his office with the task of keeping the department’s 60 vehicles up and running. “For as long as our officers have had vehicles, we have also been tasked with keeping those vehicles operational,” he said. “The complexity in keeping our vehicles in proper working order has grown with the amount of technology that is continually added to them.” In the past, these duties fell on day shift Patrol supervisors. Specifically, Sergeant Bobby Drake served in this capacity all while being a servant leader for his troops on the streets. Wrenn said, “After his retirement, he left some large shoes to fill and I even got a taste of the amount of work it had entailed. We were fortunate enough to have been able to hire Bobby back in a Police Assistant capacity to help with all of our fleet services issues.” “Since that time, he has taken it to another level and we have active volunteers that give their time to us and assist both Bobby and a retired “Fire Fighter, Randy Doan, get the cars in good order. After graduating from the Abilene Police Academy in 1968, Drake spent 12 years as a patrol officer and 14 as a patrol sergeant. During that time he was also assigned responsibility for the vehicle’s working condition. 11 years later in 2010, he got a call asking if he might be interested in working parttime with the duties. He made some calls and once had as many as eight volunteers assisting him before COVID in 2020. Currently assisting with the program are volunteers: Terry Ellis, a mechanic who used to own Ellis Automotive; Dave Collins, a longtime hospital administrator; and Fred Fox, who was a teacher and coach. Abilene’s
60 abilene living | hometownmedia.group Police Chief Wrenn said, “We cannot say enough about the work that all of these individuals do for the APD. They allow our Patrol Supervision to focus on the call load and the complex issues that our officers face on a daily basis.” The group meets up each Monday to start checking out the vehicles for things like fluid levels, tire pressure, broken wipers and other general upkeep that they can handle themselves and passing along others with mechanical issues to the city’s shop. “It’s nice to have someone like Ellis around for major issues,” Drake said. Ellis said he has been a mechanic all his life and owned his shop from 1995 until selling in 2012. “Bobby reached out to me, and I thought it would be a good way for me to stay active and save the city some money,” he said. “The cost of these vehicles is very expensive, so our job involves a lot of preventative maintenance as well as staying on top of warranty and recall issues and looking for anything that would cause a major breakdown that could wind up costing a lot of money to the department. By doing what we do, it allows our officers to be able to do their jobs.” Doan got involved after he lost his wife about five years ago. “I wanted to find something to occupy my time and get out of the house. We just take care of stuff, doing it early, especially in the summer when it is hot.” Collins served as an assistant administrator at West Texas Medical starting in 1968 and three years later took over as the administrator before he became CEO of the Abilene
61 hometown living at its best Regional Medical Center until retiring in 1995. “I had some friends in the police department who had been supportive of me with my duties, and I got involved with the car duties about eight years ago to give back some help them,” he said. Collins met Drake 30 years ago drinking coffee and riding bicycles all over the country. Fox spent 41 years as a teacher in Irving, Snyder, and Abilene. He taught physical education, Texas history and coached in the Abilene ISD from 1976 until his retirement in 2010. “I learned about this program from my friend at church, Bobby Drake,” Fox said. “It felt like it was a good fit for me and a good way to stay active in my community and spend my retirement. I look forward to the three mornings I work each week.” † For information on volunteering with the community’s unsung heroes, contact Bobby Drake with the Abilene Police Department.
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63 hometown living at its best Share your NEWBORN ANNOUNCEMENT or CAKE SMASH CELEBRATION in a future issue of ABILENE living Pricing starting as low as $25.00 / Discounts available for multiple submissions. Call to inquire at 817.599.6167 or email office@hometownmedia.group photo by jenna larue j-laruephotography.com
64 abilene living | hometownmedia.group CLASSICS ENJOY THESE DELICIOUS HOLIDAY FAVORITES SHARED WITH ABILENE LIVING BY SOME OF ITS RESIDENTS. INGREDIENTS • 1 can of Artichoke Hearts, drained • 1 cup Mayonnaise • 1 cup grated parmesan cheese • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce • Garlic Salt to taste From the kitchen of Mrs. Kathy Leonard with Rescue the Animals, SPCA DIRECTIONS Chop artichokes coarsely. Combine remaining ingredients and add artichokes. Stir. Place in a small, greased casserole and heat 20 minutes at 350, uncovered. Serve warm or at room temp. Pairs great with Triscuit and other crackers or bread. Artichoke Dip EASY Holiday
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