(Abilene, Texas – Sept. 20, 2022) – McMurry University announces that its Fall 2022 Convocation will be held Sept. 22 at 11 a.m. in Radford Auditorium featuring speaker Scott Dueser, chairman, president and CEO of First Financial Bankshares, Inc. This 99th convocation is special as it kicks off McMurry’s yearlong Centennial Celebration.
After the convocation, McMurry will hold its Centennial Kickoff Celebration with a rally in the main campus quad from noon to 2:30 p.m. The celebration will feature a campuswide photo, a ribbon-cutting by Abilene Chamber of Commerce Redcoat Ambassadors, the raising of the Centennial flag, the unveiling of a commemorative sculpture, and a student scavenger hunt. The Centennial Museum will also be open in the Gypsy Ted Gallery II on the first floor of the Old Main Building, Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m.
Dueser, the convocation’s featured speaker, joined First Financial Bankshares 46 years ago when it operated under the name First National Bank of Abilene. He received bachelor’s degrees in finance and accounting from Texas Tech University in 1975 and later graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in 1981. Dueser also serves as chairman of the United Way Foundation and is an active member of the Texas Tech Alumni Association, Texas Tech Free Market Institute, and Abilene’s Holy Family Catholic Church finance committee.
“Following our incredible enrollment, we are excited to welcome our students to McMurry and begin our centennial celebrations,” McMurry President Dr. Sandra S. Harper said. “The past 99 years at McMurry have been filled with tradition, growth and community. We will honor our history and look forward to a new generation of learning following our centennial.”
Additional commencement speakers from McMurry will include Dr. Matthew Draud, vice president of academic affairs and dean of faculty; Jarrett Hart, president of student government; Dr. Edward Donnay, faculty chair; and the Rev. Marty CashBurless, chaplain. Music will be provided by Dr. David Amlung, chair of the department of music; Jesse Ratcliffe, director of Chanters; and Van Hayes.
First Financial Bank is the lead sponsor for McMurry’s centennial. The relationship dates back to the shared dream of Dr. J.W. Hunt, McMurry’s founding president, and Henry James, then president of Farmers and Merchant Bank (now First Financial Bank), to open a Methodist college in Abilene.
McMurry University annually celebrates the opening day of the institution on the closest Thursday to Sept. 20, 1923, the first day of classes at McMurry College. This year will be McMurry’s 99th convocation.
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