King’s Presents Awards to Alumni at Homecoming 2015
At Homecoming 2015, over 75 alumni enjoyed an on-campus college update from President Thornbury and a show on Broadway. The college was also proud to present alumni awards to three deserving winners.
At Homecoming 2015, over 75 alumni enjoyed an on-campus college update from President Thornbury and a show on Broadway. The college was also proud to present alumni awards to three deserving winners.
Alumnus of the Year: Larry Moody (’70)
Larry Moody is the President of Search Ministries and has been involved with professional athletes since 1978. He has served as Chaplain for the Baltimore Colts (1978-1983) and to the PGA Tour (1981-present). Moody currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Regents of Dallas Theological Seminary and an EMF (K-LOVE and Air 1) board member. For fifty years, Moody has examined the evidences and arguments for and against Jesus Christ and the Bible, co-authoring the book I’m Glad You Asked with Ken Boa. Today, Search Ministries serves men and women in 26 cities across the United States, Latin America, and China.
Upon receiving this award, Larry told us, “The quality and caliber of students attending The King’s College during its existence make the Alumnus of the Year award a humbling gesture on the part of my alma mater. There are many who could be recognized for their outstanding achievements and so this is a doubly humbling award.
“As I look back to the many educational lessons and lifetime of friendships, meeting Ruth was clearly a blessing from our Lord. It was at King’s that I met Ruth while working on our freshman homecoming float. Within a week we began a dating relationship for 4 years. 3 weeks after we both graduated in 1970 we married and I have been married for 45 years to this extraordinary lady. Together, by God’s grace, we have established a family that loves the Lord through 3 generations.
“King’s provided Ruth and me with the educational and spiritual foundation upon which we could build a lifetime of ministry. We have been involved in relational evangelism and discipleship for over 40 years. Search Ministries is committed to equipping adults to be effective Ambassadors for Christ. We have over 40 staff in 28 cities who are creating safe environments where seekers can explore the truth claims of Jesus. We have trained tens of thousands how to be effective disciples of Jesus Christ. Our hope is for believers to live lives that demand explanation. Then when asked why they have hope when others do not that they will, with clarity, share in loving ways the truth claims of Jesus and the Bible.
“The faculty at King’s prepared us to know why we believe what we believe and to demonstrate that our faith was not blind but in fact, a reasonable faith. The evidence when examined points toward Christianity not away from it. Dr. Art Robertson, of the Bible department, taught me much about God’s Word and the value of every person God brings your way. Dr. Cook’s phrase, ‘Walk with the King today and be a blessing,’ has been a faithful reminder of our responsibility to live like Jesus and to share His love with everyone we encounter.
“The King’s College was a blessing beyond words for Ruth and me. It is a privilege to represent the vast alumni who stand in the gap for the King of Kings.”
Distinguished Service Award: Wayne and Betty Frair
The Distinguished Service Award is for the alumna or alumnus who has given outstanding service to the College, or to the Alumni Association to benefit the College.
Dr. Wayne Frair died on January 29, 2015 after serving as professor of biology for forty years at The King’s College in Briarcliff Manor. He held a B.A. in zoology from Houghton College, a B.S. in zoology from Wheaton College, an M.A. in embryology from the University of Massachusetts, and a Ph.D. in biochemical taxonomy from Rutgers. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts in 1955, he accepted a position as a biology instructor at King’s. In 1962, he became chairman of the Biology Department, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1994.
Frair was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and, from 1986 to 1993, served as president of the Creation Research Society. He sat on the board of that organization until 2004. He wrote a number of papers on turtles and on topics relating to creation and evolution, as well as the book A Case for Creation. During his forty years at King’s, he touched the lives of thousands of students. He was the only faculty member who served under all three Briarcliff presidents, and in 2004 he was named an Honorary Alumnus of The King’s College.
Wayne met Betty in 1978 when Betty, who had been recently widowed, joined the College as Assistant Dean of Students. She held this position until 1985, when she became Director of Development and Public Relations. She continued in that position until her retirement in the early 1990s, after which she volunteered her time assisting the Academic Dean until the campus closed. She served the students, faculty, and administration at King’s for twenty years. At Homecoming, she was awarded the status of Honorary Alumna.
Betty could not attend Homecoming in person to accept the award, but the video of her acceptance speech is located here.
Charles W. Anderson Award: Bruce Wolff (’81)
The Charles W. Anderson Award, named for Northeastern Bible College’s founding president, was presented to Bruce Wolff ’81. (Northeastern Bible College was acquired by The King’s College in 1999, and the sale of the college helped secure space for the reopening of The King’s College in the Empire State Building that same year.)
Wolff is the Founder and Executive Director of Brigade Air. He served as a missionary pilot and mechanic for six years, assisting evangelical church-planting missionaries in the Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico. Wolff developed the Brigade Air curriculum and established the Brigade Air Mission Aviation Adventure Camp program in 2000, which has hosted over 3,000 campers at 140 week-long youth aviation camps in twenty states, two Canadian provinces, and four foreign countries. Campers have gone on for training at Moody Aviation, Liberty University, LeTourneau University and other schools, and now serve as missionary pilots and mechanics overseas. By the year 2030, there will be over one billion roadless people on earth. In global missions, aviation is the great multiplier.
He writes, “I would like to extend my deep appreciation to The King’s College alumni executive committee, Dr. Thornbury, and Donna-Jean Anderson Breckenridge for honoring me as the recipient of the 2015 Charles W. Anderson award. The mission and heritage of The King’s College preparing students for principled leadership, integrating a biblical worldview with critical thinking and communication skills in order to engage and influence culture for Christ, perpetuates Dr. Anderson’s vision, and provided me with an excellent foundation to serve our Lord effectively in vocational ministry. Special thanks goes to Dr. Howard F. Vos for teaching me how to research and write.
“It’s been said that success isn’t just what you accomplish in your life; it’s about what you inspire others to do with theirs. It’s my prayer that The King’s College will continue to raise up servants of the King who will engage their culture and other cultures for Jesus Christ, and that we as alumni will affirm and support the mission of King’s.”
Learn more about Brigade Air and its Mission Aviation Adventure Camps here.