by Cory Woodroof | May 18, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
Coach Don Meyer’s legacy is the way he spent his life. “I think that’s the reason why that we’re put here on the Earth is to try to help folks and to show that servant leadership and show Christ, and that was everything that Coach [Meyer] was about,” said one of his former players and coaches, Freed-Hardeman head coach Jason Shelton. Meyer, long-time coach of the Bisons and a college basketball icon, died today at age 69. Those who learned from and admired Coach Meyer spent time reflecting on how his life, not just his coaching, affected them. Meyer ends a long battle with cancer, stemming from a 2008 diagnosis that came after a serious car accident that claimed one of his legs. He was at home in Aberdeen, South Dakota, receiving hospice care at the time of his passing. A celebration of life for Meyer will be held in Allen Arena honoring Meyer’s life at 2 p.m. on June 1. A similar service will be held in South Dakota on Saturday at Northern State University. At an Athlete Leadership Chapel held in October 2012, Meyer spoke to a crowd of Bisons and Lady Bisons about a myriad of important subjects – character being one of them. “Character is really important,” Meyer said during his lesson. “Character is important in everything you do.” Meyer lived a life of iridescent character – the kind of character that Jesus taught people to have. The kind of character that showed on the court, in the locker room, at practice and at basketball camps. The kind of character that made him a beloved coach, mentor...
by Cory Woodroof | May 8, 2014 | News Slider
The friends and family of the Anastasia Sloan gathered to celebrate her immensely impactful life in the Ezell Center’s Swang Chapel Wednesday night. “She was such a ray of sunshine,” Walt Leaver, vice president for university relations, said. Ms. Sloan, a 2013 graduate of Lipscomb University, lost her life in an auto accident late Monday night. “As we have all mourned greatly in the past couple of days and will continue to do so over the days and weeks ahead, the purpose of tonight is to bring a message of hope,” said Mark Jent, the director of missions outreach for Lipscomb. Jent and his wife Beth were Ms. Sloan’s team leaders on two mission trips to Australia in 2010 and 2011. “She has been a blessing and joy in our life,” Jent said. During the service, those in attendance joined in worship, prayer and reflections of Ms. Sloan’s life and impact. “I think the greatest blessing for me is knowing her heart,” friend Kaylynn Allen said. “She loved people.” Shuen Lim, of Brisbane, Australia, came to know Ms. Sloan during one of Lipscomb’s mission trips. “I was just blown away by her adventurous spirit,” Lim said. “She was so brave to go and bless the world.” Dean Scott McDowell, senior vice president for student life, recounted reading some of Ms. Sloan’s blog posts on the website for the World Race, a mission trip she was planning on going on later this year. He recommended that everyone in attendance go back and read Ms. Sloan’s powerful words. “You will be blessed by doing that,” McDowell said. Various memories were shared from the...
