Schoolfield and Stair to receive Distinguished Service Awards during Homecoming 2009
September 22, 2009
Contact: Paul K. Logsdon, Director of Public Relations and Publications (417) 865-2815, ext. 7292
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Betty Schoolfield and Dr. David Stair will be presented with Distinguished Service Awards from the Evangel University Alumni Association on Friday, Oct. 9, during the homecoming chapel service.
“Distinguished Service Awards are given to recognize faculty, staff and friends of Evangel University for outstanding contributions to the university,” says Chuck Cox, director of alumni relations. “The awards are given at the discretion of the Alumni Board.”
Betty Schoolfield
Betty Schoolfield has served as executive administrative assistant to George Crawford, vice president for business and finance, for the past 31 years.
Before Evangel established a Human Resources Department, she also performed much of the task of accepting employment applications, screening applicants, and scheduling interviews.
“I highly value and appreciate Betty’s skill, personality and loyalty,” says Crawford. “She has been a blessing to me and Evangel University. Most of all, I value her as a friend.
“Betty possesses the unique ability to understand the way I think and to anticipate business needs we will have before they occur,” Crawford said. “In addition to her outstanding skills managing the office, Betty combines a warm, gracious personality with compassion for others. People always find her willing to listen, able to offer encouragement, and thoughtful in sharing wisdom.”
Betty’s husband, David, is an alumnus of Evangel (1985 and 2007). After 25 years of service to Evangel, he is now serving as dean of enrollment management for Cox College of Nursing, with whom Evangel partners for its nursing program.
Both of their daughters are alumnae of Evangel, Kristen (1993) and her husband, Anthony Dixon (1992), and the late Amy Bancroft (1996 and 2001).
David Stair
Dr. David Stair joined the coaching and teaching faculty at Evangel in 1976 and has served as director of athletics since 1982.
“Under Dr. Stair’s leadership, Evangel has become one of the premier athletic programs among NAIA member institutions,” said Dr. Glenn H. Bernet, dean and vice president for academic affairs.
Stair oversees the day-to-day operation of intercollegiate athletic programs. Under his administration, the men’s basketball team captured the 2002 NAIA-II National Championship; the Evangel Athletic Hall of Fame was initiated in 1984; and the Athletics Directors Academic Top Ten was begun in 1987.
Stair was coach for the women’s tennis team 1977-1982 and the women’s basketball team 1979-1984. Highlights of his coaching career include leading the women’s 1979-1980 basketball team to Evangel’s first national ranking in any sport, #17; the selection of EU’s first female All-America player, Tracy Zinn in 1981; and back-to-back state championships for tennis in 1981 and 1982.
In 2006, Stair was inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, as well as the Springfield (Mo.) Area Sports Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was inducted into the Berwick (Pa.) Bulldog Hall of Fame.
Stair was selected NAIA District 16 Administrator of the Year, 1986-1987, and as both the NAIA Midwest Athletics Administrator of the Year and the NAIA Male Administrator of the Year, 1994-1995. He has served as chair of the NAIA Council of Athletics Administrators, the NAIA Athletics Directors Association, and the NAIA National Coordinating Committee. In 2003, he was named NAIA Athletics Director of the Year.
Stair currently serves as secretary of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
In 2004, he received Evangel’s E.M. and Estella Clark Award for Excellence in Teaching, Scholarship and Service.
Dr. Stair holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from State University of New York-Cortland and a doctorate from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.
His wife, Carol, serves as the executive assistant to Dr. Robert H. Spence, president of Evangel. Their children are alumni of the university, David (1992) and his wife, Renee (Sheline 1992); and Pam (1988) and her husband, the Rev. James Calvin (1978). Their granddaughter Ana is a student at Evangel.