focus Awakening Issue Fall 2013
A Baylor University Student Publication
Contributors Photo Editor Kyle Beam
Writers Susan Duty Kelli Betner Danny Huizinga Jordan Corona Rebecca Malzahn Austin Eck Malory Green
Photographers Kyle Beam Rebecca Malzahn Kelsey Wesolick Mallory Olivier Travis Taylor Matt Hellman
Special Thanks Kyle Beam Reubin Turner Paul Carr Julie Freeman Dr. Brad Owens Dr. Cassy Burleson Prof. Curtis Callaway
Editors-In-Chief
Kelli Betner & Rebecca Malzahn
From the Editors... The city of Waco is in a steady transition from ordinary to extraordinary. The community grows stronger on a daily basis and big things are in store. An awakening has begun. An awakening begins with the power of the progressive human imagination. A yearning to create an impact fuels strong desires of what can be instead of what is. All around the world, people are joining forces to accomplish a mission. In Waco, the movement is stronger than ever. Historical monuments are being brought back to life, new businesses are drawing revenue into the community and stories of personal triumph reflect the spirit of a city reinventing itself. Stories of awakenings inspire the pages of this issue. Sincerely, Rebecca Malzahn Kelli Betner
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Focus Magazine Table of contents
4 Hippodrome
This historic Waco monument is coming back to life in a big way. Read how the transformation began and get a behind-the-scenes look at the progress.
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10 Fitness
CrossFit Waco and REFIT are revolutionizing the idea of fitness in the Waco community. Focusing on relationships instead of burned calories, these programs offer an experience different than any other gym.
14 Dichotomy
A local coffee shop is mixing up metropolitan, espresso brews. Bringing a sophisticated and urban vibe to Austin Avenue, Dichotomy offers a change from the typical coffee bar.
18 EAST WACO
Exciting things are happening on the other side of the river. Read about how hard work and dedication have motivated segregated communities to bridge the gap in the Waco area.
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22 ART BRILES
With an outstanding record of transforming football programs all over the state of Texas, Baylor head football coach, Art Briles, accepts the challenge of one of the most monumental rebuilds in Baylor history.
28 WEST
A story of perseverance in the face of adversity. A single mother and middle school principal fights to rebuild her home, life and school after the devastating explosion in West.
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32 PECAN SHOP
The outpouring of love and community support, carry a family through their struggles after a fiery tragedy. From the ashes, a new business is born and business is good.
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The World’s stage HiPPodrome, once home to acts including elvis, gets new life in the eleventH hour Story by Susan Duty Photos by Kyle Beam
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“Got so weary of bein’ nothin’, felt so dreary just doin’ nothin’, didn’t care ever gettin’ nothin’, felt so low. Now my eyes on the far horizon can see a glow, announcin’ things ain’t what they used to be.” -Duke Ellington
H
oneyed vibrations of a street performer’s violin ring out over the loud clunking of construction. At the shaded corner of Eighth Street and Austin Avenue, Waco’s Hippodrome is coming back to life. Shane and Cody Turner have been bringing life back to downtown Waco for the last several years. With the additions of swanky lofts, boutiques and restaurants, the buzz of city life has picked up. The thump, thump, thumping of hammers coming from the open doors of the Hippodrome signals a swelling excitement. It’s an awakening. And it’s about time. Decades of dust mixes with powdery rock, covering the floor and railings of the once pristine entryway with a silky mix of memory and progress. The wall nearest to Eighth Street that once was the Hippodrome’s box office is about to take a tumble. In its place, a 5,000 square-foot add-on will rise three stories, creating additional space on each floor. A new concession stand, two full kitchens and a lounge area will all be a part of the new addition. A balcony attached to one of the restaurants will overlook 8th Street. “There’s probably going to be five different things going on at once,” Turner said. The Hippodrome is shaping up to be a one-stop shop for drinks, dining and entertainment. There’s something for everybody; one need only find a parking space. Positioned at the top of a winding pathway of stairs is the projection booth from which visitors can peer through a small window that overlooks the entire theater. A giant hunk of archaic, faded green metal rests in the center of the room. It’s an original 35mm projector – similar to the one that spun reels of classic Hollywood films during the theater’s heyday. During the silent film era, the Hippodrome, known then as the Waco Theater, was routinely decorated with elaborate setups promoting the latest motion picture. D.W. Griffith’s “The White Rose” featured a large display of the
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Original 35mm film projector – similar to the one that spun reels of classic Hollywood films during the theater’s heyday.
lead characters embracing in a kiss, accented with two waist-high vases of white roses on either side of the couple. Wacoans were enticed to buy a ticket to see “the story of a girl who could not stop loving.” If cinema wasn’t what customers were looking for this particular spring day in 1923, they could see a live performance of The Hurlock Sisters, featuring “the boy from Waco and the girl from New Orleans in a bit of melody.” A photograph from this same era showed how the Hippodrome, in classic Hollywood fashion, heralded the role of the handsome Douglas Fairbanks in “Don Q, Son of Zorrow.” On a small sign next to the display: “Coming: Charlie Chaplin, ‘The Gold Rush.’” In 1928, the theater closed for renovations after a fire destroyed the projection booth. It reopened in 1929, this time
with air conditioning. Sound capability came two years later. The theater continued to host live acts and movies, even after the death of Vaudeville – what the Hippodrome was originally built. Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Fannie Brice all made a stop at the Hippodrome during the ‘30s. John Wayne, Sandra Dee and Don Knotts also came through on tour to promote their films. Elvis Presley came down from Fort Hood once. He asked the employees to keep it a secret, but his wellknown reputation overrode their ability to keep it quiet. In no time, downtown was swarmed with fans eager for a picture of The King. The heart of the city throbbed with the thunder of hot rods cruising down Austin Avenue. The glow of dozens of marquees lit up the long, gray sidewalks. The chatter of excited Waco residents on Friday and Saturday nights bubbled up outside one of Waco’s premier entertainment venues. The Hippodrome was alive and well. But sadly, the future was bringing unforeseen changes that would ultimately put this glittering, historical spectacle on life support. Only the walls know how many thousands of feet of film wound their way through the clicking machinery during this golden era of cinema. Life continued its relentless march, moving from a time of soda shops and swing skirts to Vietnam and disco. And then the construction of the Twin Cinema near Highway 6 and West Waco Drive was complete. The new theater offered more screens, better technology and had capitalized on the suburban sprawl exploding on the edges of town. After 61 years of operation, on Sunday, Dec. 15, 1974, the Hippodrome screened its last film. Waco had caved in to the suburban frenzy, leaving downtown behind. The future of the Hippodrome was up in the air. No one was sure if the theater would simply continue to host live performances or be destroyed. Happily, fortune smiled on the relic. It remained intact. Over the next several decades, the Hippodrome showcased Broadway performances, musicians and local plays and operas. It was rented out to different nonprofits for fundraisers. A harmless and humorous mix-up in 1989 even brought the risqué Chippendales dance troupe to Waco, causing quite the controversy in this predominantly conservative community. Eleanor Levy, chairman of the Waco Performing Arts Co. at the time, she said in a Waco Tribune-Herald article that
she thought they were “tap dancers or something for children.” The Hippodrome avoided demolition, but it wasn’t what it used to be. Another renovation in the mid-’80s attempted to make it more favorable for the performing arts. In 2005, funding scares sent a panic throughout the city. Lagging attendance and high utility and maintenance costs were creating a combustible mixture of problems that many feared would end the Hippodrome’s life for good. Again, the future of this Waco treasure was uncertain. But in the “eleventh hour,” fundraisers were able to meet the monetary goal necessary to keep the doors open. But the success wasn’t long lived. In 2010, after 96 years of shaky but joyful operation, the Hippodrome closed its doors and fell into a lonesome, deep sleep. For several years, the biting wind of winter whipped past the boarded-up windows. The blazing sunlight of the Texas summer baked the crumbling brick of the walls facing Austin Avenue. And thousands of people drove and walked past one of the most beloved and memory-filled places in the entire city. Perhaps some stopped to peek in the windows. Perhaps some paid no attention at all. The ebb and flow of life continued to swirl all around it, almost like it wasn’t ever there at all. The Hippodrome had become like a bum on the corner, mournful and abandoned. Until now. It took nearly 30 years, but the cycle that took moviegoers away from downtown has come full circle. Like the rest of the building, the tiny room that housed the old, dusty projector is changing, too. The Hippodrome is coming back with a swing harder than Babe Ruth’s. It’s going digital. Turner said he might put the projector on display in the lobby. When it reopens, the theater will show first-run features with digital projectors. Capable of a much more impressive level of brightness, clarity and color, the Hippodrome won’t just be selling tickets to movies again. They’ll be selling an entirely new and mesmerizing experience. It’s sure to give a much-needed jolt to the nightlife downtown. “We thought with this, there’s 800 seats in this building. If we get 800 people downtown to watch a concert, well they’re going to eat at Jake’s or go eat at Klassy Glass.” Austin Avenue has exploded with new eateries. The Hippodrome, if all goes as planned, should act like a beacon for the rest of the city. And the theater itself will 7 Fall 2013 Baylor Focus Magazine
have two full kitchens. So those wanting to stay fairly stationary in their quest for food and fun can get all they’re looking for in the same building. Chris McGowan, director of urban development with the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, echoes the high hopes surrounding the Hippodrome’s reopening. “It’s the most important project in downtown this year,” he said. When the Hippodrome was in operation several years ago it inspired businesses to grow around it, and there was a noticeable difference when it closed, he said. Like most residents, especially those with memories tied to the theater, he’s “terribly excited to have it back.” And not only will the theater help the new businesses already springing up around it, it will open up even more employment opportunities. Turner expects to employ 70-80 people at reopening. Standing on the bare concrete floor of the theater, Turner turned his gaze upwards to the balcony. “It’s a soundproof wall that’ll descend from the ceiling and it’ll land on top of that threefoot wall there, so it’ll close off the balcony level and we’ll have a screen there … But if we need to use the whole theater you just
Present day Hippodrome theatre renovations.
push a button and it goes back up into the ceiling,” he said. The Hippodrome will have two-screen capability. Two swaths of 40 foot by 20 foot heavy, white vinyl will bring movie magic back to Austin Avenue. State of the art sound equipment is already being installed as well. In addition to running first-run films, Turner is open-minded with what the program will entail on a monthly basis. One idea is a foreign film night. If enough interest is generated, 8 Baylor Focus Magazine Fall 2013
Wacoans might possibly be able take a trip to the Hippodrome to see something a little more exotic. Currently, there aren’t any screenings of movies like this anywhere else in town. And as to be expected, there’s plenty of talk regarding opening night. The signs covering the chalky windows out front denote a Feb. 7, 2014, opening. It’s the date everyone is hoping for, but it’s still uncertain if the renovation will be complete at the theater’s 100th anniversary. Regardless of when it actually happens, it’s sure to be an event unlike anything Waco has seen in some time.
The Men Behind the Plan By Rebecca Malzahn
Shane Turner
Photo courtesy of the Texas Collection An illuminated Hippodrome on Austin Avenue in the 1950’s.
“We’re looking for all sorts of cool and exciting things for the grand opening,” said Dean Riley, who is in charge of marketing for the Hippodrome. The goal, in his words, is for there to be a “wow” factor. “My marketing people are talking with booking agents now. I want someone that will appeal to young and old,” said Turner. Riley and Turner hope for a crowd at the door, ready for a memorable evening. As completion of construction draws nearer to a close, details of the event will be released. But it’s safe to say that there’s something big brewing at marketing headquarters. Nearly a century has passed since this brick-and-mortar hub of entertainment was first built for the people of this city. The life of the Hippodrome has been one of uncertainty, rife with tribulation. The strength of its stone is matched only by the tenacity of the Turners to bring it back to life. Economic woes could not end it completely. Weather could not destroy it entirely. And the love the city holds for this three-story heirloom has in some way over the years kept it alive. Though it spent its days wandering in the proverbial wilderness, there’s a light on the horizon. Its pulse beats in time with the hammer. Its song, growing ever louder, hums with the sound of a circular saw. Yet again, the floor feels the brush of scurrying footsteps. After too long, the pleasant air of the world outside has begun to waft its way into the dampest corners of a building that could have been gone forever. If you stop in front of the marquee out front, “Waco” written large on its face, and look very closely, you can see it happening. A new day is coming, better than the days that came before it. Stop, look and listen.
Before Shane and Cody Turner became two of the most sought-after property developer and construction duo, they grew up learning everything they know from their father in Groesbeck, 45 minutes from the stirring streets of downtown Waco. “It just happened. You do what you know,” said Shane Turner, referring to his family’s business background. Shane and Cody’s dream to inspire a movement in the downtown area has become a reality, fueled by a strategic plan to introduce a young energy to historic streets. With a real estate background, the brothers began their business with three pieces of downtown property. It started on a personal level, escalated to a leasing business and transitioned into a profession of developing and selling space for future hot-spot businesses. “It’s a lot of risk. We knew that going into it. I was young, single and could take risks.” Many believe that’s the type of people it takes to tackle a project like this one. Without high expectations and daring goals, transformations may not occur. The brothers hope to see an expanding development on the fringes of downtown, with great opportunity between Franklin Avenue and interstate 35. “Those to me are the areas with the most opportunity and are going to have the most positive effect on the downtown,” Turner said. Lights, music and people speckled the streets of what downtown used to be. The steady transition back to this atmosphere, beckons a new energy where individuals from all generations work together to develop a new community. “Baylor graduates are staying in Waco now instead of leaving, keeping their ideas here,” Turner said. “People come to Baylor from cities all over the United States so they’ve seen other things, able to implement their experiences in Waco.” The means of expanding are present. The ideas of growth are strong. The sense of awakening has begun.
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Awake My Soul INTRO BY KELLI BETNER Photos By Kyle Beam
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As the city of Waco grows stronger every day, local fitness groups rally to promote health and wellness in the community. This is not only the idea of physical health, but mental health as well. CrossFit Waco and REFIT Studio are revolutionizing the idea of fitness in the Waco community. Unlike other gyms and fitness programs, Crossfit Waco and REFIT focus on building relationships and creating a warm, embracing community rather than how you look, or how many reps you complete. At CrossFit Waco, there are no elliptical machines, stationary bikes or rows of mirrors. Instead, there are barbells, bumper plates, kettlebells, pull-up bars and rowers. At CrossFit Waco, there’s no need for machines. You are the machine. The programming is designed to be functional and constantly varied. Every day is a new routine and complacency isn’t an option. CrossFit Waco pushes their members to continually strive to better themselves not only in the gym, but in their every day lives. REFIT Studio was founded to be a program unlike anything else. REFIT is a heart-pounding, body-pumping, dance-style fitness class. It not only helps its participants get into physical shape, but also helps to build their confidence from the inside out. REFIT is a Christian values based program that uses its choreography, outreach, atmosphere and music to immerse its participants into the REFIT experience and change their lives.
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Crossfit waco...
“CrossFit has allowed me to conquer fears within. It has provided strength in both my personal and business lifestyles. It has awakened a sense of well-being and confidence for which I am forever grateful.”
“CrossFit has taught me to embrace challenges, not just in a workout, but in life. It’s taught me to persevere through tough times because in the end, it’s all worth it. It’s awakened my inner athlete and taught me to compete or go after the things I want, whether that’s in fitness or just life.” -Danny Avant Trainer, CrossFit Waco
-Jonathon Shelton Owner, CrossFit Waco
“Through CrossFit I’ve become active, eat better, influence my family to make better choice and all this has made me healthier. My spirit for living life to the fullest has been awakened. I no longer trudge through day to day. I feel alive and look forward to each day I get to face and conquer. I owe all of this to fitness.” -Ricky Gore, Trainer, CrossFit Waco 12 Baylor Focus Magazine Fall 2013
Refit is a...
Revolution “Its more than exercise...more than fitness...more than sweat. It’s a journey to a stronger body, a better attitude, and inspiring life and an amazing you.”
Emily Field, Catherine Ballas and Angela Beeler
Proclamation “I refuse to quit believing in myself. I refuse to quit living, refuse to quit loving, refuse to quit eating and instead believe that I am worthy.”
Transformation
“It’s for the light-hearted, the fainthearted, the strong-hearted. REFIT is about accepting who you are and who you are not. And. Loving. Both.”
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Fall 2013 Baylor Focus Magazine
Photo by Mallory Olivier
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Photo by Jill Swartzentruber
Story by Danny Huizinga Photos by Mallory Olivier, Amanda Rubio and Jill Swartzentruber Walk down Austin Avenue sometime on a beautiful, sunny day with a light breeze. Glancing around at the old buildings and ornate architecture, you can imagine what Waco looked like years ago. But for some reason, there’s a strange emptiness in the present. It’s almost as if the street went through a deep slumber and will soon awaken to throngs of people frequenting the many picturesque shops and restaurants in downtown. The problem is, there just aren’t many businesses that exist yet. Brett Jameson intends to change that. “I sort of fell off the cliff and started liking coffee,” he says. “I figured, if there’s no good coffee in Waco, why not make some good coffee in Waco?” Back in 2009, Jameson and his partner, Alina Mikos, began throwing around the idea of building a new type of business, a fusion of a coffee shop and a bar. Blending their talents in their respective industries, they had a vision for a new type of business in the heart of downtown Waco. The name? Dichotomy, to represent the entirely different aspects of coffee and adult beverages that will be present in the
new space. Newly located at 508 Austin Avenue, the business re-opened Nov. 25, after serving coffee down the street in an art gallery. Jameson’s vision of a coffee shop is different from the commercialized Starbucks you’ll find on every street corner. He tries to avoid “sugary-sweet” drinks and instead focuses on the quality of the coffee. Drinks are made with expert precision and Dichotomy strives for only the best ingredients and machines. “Right now we have one flavor, that’s chocolate. We’ll probably have vanilla, but that’s house-made vanilla. We’re not going to buy any syrups,” he says. In May 2012, Dichotomy started
Photo by Amanda Rubio
marketing its coffee at the Waco Downtown Farmer’s Market. “It was a good opportunity to get out there and get some practice,” he says. Many Baylor students have tried the coffee first while there and realize the difference in quality. One student says, “The first taste evokes a feeling of relaxation and contentment, quickly followed by a realization that this place is different than any other coffee shop you’ve been to before.” On one occasion, while preparing a mocha, the barista made a small mistake at the very end of the process. Without hesitating, he quickly poured out the cup and promised they served “only the best.”
Photo by Amanda Rubio
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“We’re selling an experience-whether that be the interaction that you have with the person you have behind the counter, the place you sit and the atmosphere or the ameneties we provide Photos By Mallory Olivier
Jameson wants Dichotomy to be a place known on the national stage. The coffee has already received an award from Imbibe magazine’s “Best Coffee in Waco,” as well as being featured in Texas Monthly and Sprudge. As for the nighttime feel, the owners are striving for a classier atmosphere. This is not the place “to get drunk,” but a place for a quiet date, Jameson says. The combination of coffee and spirits also allows the shop to have a diverse audience, attracting crowds in both the
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with the rooftop.”
morning and night. Dichotomy is symbolic of a greater trend. Austin Avenue is truly experiencing an awakening. “The spaces are becoming harder to secure,” he says. “People want to get down here because they know the stadium will be open next year.” The stadium will bring greater life to all of downtown Waco, especially with the construction of the Brazos Riverfront project. But what sets Dichotomy apart from other businesses in downtown Waco? Many well-meaning entrepreneurs have
tried and failed to revive the area. “There seem to be a lot of places in Waco that wanted to open a certain place, but didn’t seem to have a clear vision of what they wanted to be,” says Jameson. Dichotomy is different, he adds, because the owners and staff have a distinct identity in mind for this location. Though they focus on highquality coffee, they want to make sure it is accessible to the average person, not pretentious in any way. Dichotomy also features the first rooftop
Photo By Mallory Olivier
seating in Waco. Located just a block away from the historic courthouse and the Alico Building, there is a spectacular view day or night. The rooftop area also features waterproof panels that open and close depending on the weather. Even when it’s pouring rain, you can walk upstairs, enjoy a cup of coffee and look out at the expanding city. That’s an aspect unlike anything tried before in Waco. Cody Fergusson, Dichotomy’s director of training and coffee operations, ensures excellent customer service is also a central aspect of the new location. “We’re selling an experience —whether that be the
interaction that you have with the person you have behind the counter, the place you sit and the atmosphere, or the amenities we provide with the rooftop.” Walking into Dichotomy, you are greeted by the staff and treated as a friend, not just a customer. Building relationships is the key to a successful business, Jameson says, as it keeps people coming back. Baylor senior Raechel Adams, found Dichotomy one night and has returned many times since. “From the freshly ground and deliciously smooth espresso to the artistic environment, Dichotomy is perfect for Waco,” she said. “I love that
there is finally a place to get a quality coffee in a great location in Waco. It’s the perfect addition to Austin Avenue, and I can’t wait to see more Baylor students downtown.” Dichotomy strives to fill a void in Waco, creating a relaxing atmosphere that encourages students to come and have a good cup of coffee, talk with friends or work on homework. “As much as an awakening for Waco, it could be an awakening for the state of Texas to realize about Waco,” Jameson said. Dichotomy may be one of the first steps to awakening awareness for a city that has so much potential.
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STORY AND PHOTOS BY Jordan Corona
SAY GOOD MORNING TO YOUR NEIGHBOR On a brisk November morning, the Brazos rolls away, pensive with stories from a hundred years ago, ducks quacking along with it. It’s a murky flow, ebbing glinted bits of yellow Texas sunrise at its Waco banks. The river runs against this flat turf, northwest to southeast, at a mighty-Brazos diagonal. For years, people living at the southwest bank watched the sun rise by the east. They said good morning to their neighbor and began a day’s work. Later, right about suppertime, those at the east bank bid their Brazos valley neighbors goodnight. Say good morning to your neighbor. Lula Jane’s Bakery has an honorsystem coffee bar by the checkout counter. Nancy Grayson started the bakery on Elm Avenue. Atop a counter, adjacent to the checkout, there’s a coffee pot, some sweetener, an assortment of repurposed mason jars and unmatched coffee cups, and a jar for your honesty. Just after cutting the grass behind the bakery’s garden, Grayson took a bite from her chocolate chip cookie and said, “I think integrity is extraordinarily important. Inherently, people want to be good.” For 50 cents, you may pour a cup of “cheap
coffee,” and not have to feel out of place at the bakery if you can’t afford much else. Lula Jane’s is a new establishment in the community. She said the idea was to give people a meeting place, a reason to come to east Waco, sit down and talk and have some good food. It’s prophetic behavior in this neighborhood. The community’s best life was, is and will be when it’s positively engaged with it neighbors. Say good morning to your neighbor. “I think east Waco is vibrant but forgotten,” Grayson said. Historically, the east Waco community had trouble proving its essentialness to the “other side of the river,” when the city expanded into a mid-century era of modernity. Waco’s growing pangs happened in sync with small municipalities all across the county. The 1950’s were tough on most urban centers as people became interested in moving away from the city after the Second World War. The federal government subsidized development projects, namely home building. Automobiles were much more popular than decades before so suburbia not only seemed desirable, but much more doable for some. 19 Fall 2013 Baylor Focus Magazine
TOP: Jeanette Bell, East Waco mother BOTTOM: Emily Heit, World Hunger Relief Farm intern
Top: Lula Jane’s bakery goodies Bottom: Van Allen, former vice president of Paul Quinn College
Racial integration, which was not popular in the southern part of the country, stimulated these sorts of migrations, meaning a more stratified municipality. The white population concentrated in the suburbs while the African American population moved from the outlying rural parts of their cities, into downtown districts, like east Waco. The Census Bureau reported the percentage of African Americans living in cities rose to 42 percent in 1950. Dr. Van Allen was the vice president at Paul Quinn College, a school established by the African Methodist-Episcopal Church for African-American students. What started as a trade school in 1872 developed into a liberal arts college in the predominately African-American community of East Waco. And while the country wrestled with its race issues, leaders in civil rights mobilized from behind their pulpits and desks, gathered their congregants and walked their community to a new society. The Rev. Ronald Gilbert, who pastored Carver Park Baptist Church, couldn’t march. Although he sat in a wheelchair he stood for the defenseless. He and his friends gave the community a progressive identity—a sense of purpose and belonging. “People looked to Reverend Gilbert for direction,” Allen said. “He had the trust of the people; they believed in his leadership.” Times were uncertain and even violent at times, but the community’s leaders showed the city a new day, a second chance at life together. They said good morning, neighbor. Things in East Waco grew darker in the years after 1989, when Paul Quinn closed its doors for the last time and moved to Dallas. Three years later, Gilbert died. The community 20 Baylor Focus Magazine Fall 2013
Top: Watering cans from J.H. Hines Elementary BOTTOM: Remains of Paul Quinn College
maintained its status as a city center for at least two decades after suburbanization. But the expansion ultimately strained the downtown economies on both sides of the river. At the end of the day, many business owners had to tack boards across their windows. “The parents told the young folks (students) to get an education ‘so you can get out of here,’” Allen said. “And the education they received didn’t teach them what they needed to straighten the system up. The kids never came back,” he said solemnly. The departure of Paul Quinn College characterized the last of a long exodus of income and people from East Waco. The community had sprung a leak. While too many people moved away, too quickly, the buildings became dilapidated, and the place donned a stereotype for criminal activity. “Waco was a challenging environment when Paul Quinn left,” said Allen. “It left a void in the Waco experience.” Allen still lives in a pretty, red, brick house with long white columns reaching up to the roof. Across the street from his home lies what remains of the old Paul Quinn campus. Sometimes while he’s tending his front lawn, children will pass by on their way to school. “The kids will ask, ‘Hey mister, do you live there?’” he said. “I wave at them and say, ‘I sure do.’” Allen wants to be a positive role model in his community. He wants to give back. So he’s staying. It’s been years since Jeanette Bell has mothered children in her home on Spring Street, just off Elm Avenue, behind the East Waco library. In fact, her children now have children of their own. Once, she would lean over the sleeping, warm bodies, hug
Bridging the gap between West and East Waco
and kiss them good morning for it was time for school. “We’d pray and thank God for letting us see another day,” she said. “And ask him for help making good decisions.” Bell remains grateful for a new day. As her community in East Waco begins to shake off a few decades of social and economic disparity, Bell’s taken a leadership role in her neighborhood to see a change. Bell serves as president for her neighborhood association in East Waco and sits on the Waco Downtown Development Corp. board. “I’ve really been trying to promote housing, economic, community and business development over here,” she said. Bell, who’s lived in Waco for more than 20 years, said she couldn’t help but feel there has been a general lack of investment in her community for years. “This area was once thriving, surviving and providing,” she said. “Now there are no jobs.” Far from a cry for pity, Bell respects the power of the people in her community and said things are changing for the better. But it’ll take some intentional thought and creativity to restore what over 60 years of economic decline did to the community. It’s a new day for Waco. The East Waco community, particularly, is waking to a new era of socially responsible development and progress. Considering the nature of the community’s specific difficulties, “socially responsible” seems to be the key ingredient when it comes to development. It’s not enough to bring new things—East Waco’s got streets full of concrete things, boarded-up things, broken things. People in East Waco are talking. East Waco wants to not be forgotten, but to make a lasting legacy with the rest of the city.
Marissa Binkoski and Emily Heit are interns at the World Hunger Relief Farm. Every week, they drive to J.H.Hines Elementary to teach an after-school garden club. “It’s always terror and then fascination,” Heit said. The two laughed thinking about the first time they showed the children a live turkey. She and Binkoski are introducing some very non-urban ideas to the students’ understanding. “It’s important to know where your food comes from,” said Binkoski. “As I see it, food is foundational. And you don’t have to be super talented to grow your own food.” Heit convinced the children she spends time with are Waco’s future. She said making the natural world relatable to children who live in a community scarred by urban culture will equip those children to contribute better things to the community. “When a community is part of a garden, they’re participating in a real life and death processes,” Binkoski said. Engaged community development means good things for East Waco. Economic growth can work wonders for a community in disrepair. But the brokenness and the decay were never as much about the missing dollars as it was about being forgotten and being left behind. East Waco is strong and vibrant, but that’s nothing new. It’s a community of hard-working people. Many of them stayed with their neighbors and friends, committed, even after things got tough. New life to an old downtown district will feel something like soul. But the true life of a community comes with the dawn. Watch the sunrise in the east and say, “Good morning, neighbor.” 21 Fall 2013 Baylor Focus Magazine
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Baylor Focus Magazine Fall 2013
Baylor University’s State-of-the-Art Briles STORY BY Rebecca Malzahn
PHOTOS BY Kyle Beam, Travis Taylor and Matt Hellman
“You can’t be a one-hit-wonder. You’ve really got to stay on the national scene for six to eight years before you really establish yourself as a prominent national program. You have to have your immediate successes to reach those goals. We live in the moment.” -Coach Art Briles
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In just under five years, a very hopeless crowd of green and gold has become one of the most enthusiastically expectant fan bases in college football. Baylor University football hadn’t finished in the top 25 rankings of the AP or Coaches Poll since 1986. Bowl Game appearances were limited since the tenure of legendary head coach Grant Teaff came to an end in 1992. With a fading program and an endangered fan base, it was only a matter of time before someone accepted the challenge of what would become one of the most monumental rebuilds in Baylor history. On Nov. 28, 2007, Art Briles accepted the head coaching position at Baylor. Walking into the program, Briles was eager to do what he does best. “Like the first day I went to work in 1979 coaching high school football; I was eager, I was excited, I was anxious and I tried to be a sponge, learning as much as I could,” Briles said. Many recognize Briles’ gifted ability to rebuild football programs. The question as to how he does it, looms over the heads of college football coaches all over the country.
“Like the first day I went to work in 1979 coaching high school football; I was eager, I was excited, I was anxious and I tried to be a sponge, learning as much as I could,” Briles said. Briles hits the ground running, committed to building strong relationships with his players, establishing an effective recruiting system and putting his spread offense to work. Spearheading record-breaking programs at Hamlin High School, Stephenville High School and the University of Houston, Briles is no stranger to what it takes to win football games. “I remember him [Briles] talking about what type of magic we were going to bring here. We didn’t understand the work ethic that it took. We had good talent, but we didn’t know how to win,” said Joseph Gillespie, former Stephenville linebacker, who later became an assistant on Briles’ staff and eventually took over as head coach and athletic director at the high school. When Briles coached at Stephenville, it didn’t take long for hope to build in the program. Playoff wins became routine and they earned four state championships in Briles’ 12 seasons as head coach. It not only took a change in the mindset of the football players, but the community as a whole. “He makes everybody believe that anything is possible,” said Michael Copeland, defensive coordinator at Stephenville. Many believe Briles generates a willingness to do what it takes to win. He encourages a work ethic of absolute commitment that begins in the classroom, continues on the football field and is sustained in all aspects of life. His ability to build genuine relationships with his players enables young men to mature into confident adults. “He always sat there and said, ‘you may be 6 foot, 200 pounds, but play like you’re 6-3, 220, and run like a deer.’ You begin believing those things,” Gillespie said. Relationships can foster the type of trust it takes to leave everything on the field with no regrets. Confidence builds from these high levels of trust and players develop the ability to play with a chip on their shoulder, self-assured with a head full of steam. “We bled blue and gold, he bled blue and gold and he transformed a program, he transformed a school and he 24 Baylor Focus Magazine Fall 2013
Photo By Travis Taylor
transformed a community,” Gillespie said. After 12 years, Briles knew it was time to move onto the next challenge and accepted an assistant coaching position at Texas Tech University. Headed to his alma mater, Briles’ role as a high school head
“We bled blue and gold, he bled blue and gold and he transformed a program, he transformed a school and he transformed a community.” -Joseph Gillespie football coach transitioned into a running back position coach for Tech with a strong voice in the offensive game planning. His all in attitude was apparent both on the field and in the weight room with his running backs. Building camaraderie was his mission and one of the strongest ways to develop relationships with college athletes is by doing the hard work with them. Post-practice workouts did not excite his group, but alongside a determined coach and friend, they weren’t so bad, said Briles in
Dream Season Baylor Achieves its best start in program history
“
We have gotten to the point where we have arrived where they haven’t been in a long time. Every climb has its different ingredients that make it worthwile.
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-Art Briles
Photo By Matt Hellman
an interview with DallasCowboys.com columnist, Nick Eatman. Briles’ gift to see past surface skills and beyond the stat sheets led him to Oklahoma City native Wes Welker. A wide receiver seen as valuable by few, Briles pursued him. Film alone provided Briles with what he needed to start referring to him as “The Natural,” a nickname that would stick with him through five pro bowl appearances. Throughout his time at Tech, Welker was one of the most dynamic players in the nation. With the dream of becoming a head coach at the collegiate
level, Briles accepted a head coaching position at the University of Houston. Briles immediately began pooling his resources to build a coaching staff. Two of his former coaches at Stephenville, Philip Montgomery and Randy Clements, responded to Briles’ call and joined the team. Coming on campus to a nearly extinct program, Briles started from the bottom up, rebuilding Houston’s football culture. High school senior Donnie Avery had one scholarship offer in 2003 and signing day was approaching. Briles saw in Avery what 25 Fall 2013 Baylor Focus Magazine
he had seen in Welker at Tech, and pursued him the same way. Two years later, overwhelmed with football, school and his duties as a new father, Avery wanted to hang up his cleats and quit football. Briles wouldn’t let that happen and convinced him to stay. Nearly a decade later, Avery signed a three-year $8.3 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Needless to say, Briles knew best. During his time at Houston, Briles was introduced to two of the most powerful building blocks to Baylor’s new program. Robert Griffin III and Terrance Ganaway were both committed to Houston and until Briles’ move to Baylor, had every intention of wearing the Cougar scarlet red and albino white. “I honestly thought I’d never play college ball anywhere else,” Ganaway said. Nearly stepping away from the game after the death of his mother in 2008, Ganaway accepted an invitation from Briles to come and play for him at Baylor. Recognizing that his mom would have wanted him on the field, Photo by Robbie Rogers, Baylor Photography Ganaway fell back in love with the game as a Briles brings a tradition with him from the University of Houston. After each victory he takes off his Baylor hat, writes the date and final score and throws it into the student section. Bear. “I wanted to be with Coach Briles and his staff because it was always family,” he said. The experience of parental loss was shared Wanda, and his aunt, Elsie “Totty” Kittley, who was like a between Ganaway and Briles, having to say goodbye at 20 and 21 grandmother to him, in a car accident. “I think that’s really what years old respectively. draws me close to Coach Briles. He’s been through a lot and he’s On Oct. 16, 1976, Briles lost both of his parents, Dennis and overcome a lot,” Ganaway said. “I look up to Coach Briles not only as a coach but as a man: how he treats his family, how he loves on his family. He tries to set an example for 110 men every year. I consider him my mentor not only in football, but in all life stages.” Briles’ ability to gain trust from both his teammates and fellow coaches sets him apart as one of the strongest coaches in the nation. “Coach Briles is a visionary and gets people to see the way he sees,” Ganaway said. Briles recruits players who aren’t necessarily getting a lot of looks from big schools. He does what’s best for the players and puts their best interest first, Ganaway said. Briles recruited Robert Griffin III to play for him at the University of Houston after only a handful of alternative offers from sub-par football programs. In December 2011, RG3 became Baylor’s first player to earn the Heisman Trophy. When the Downtown Athletic Club called Griffin’s name, Briles had succeeded in building a program capable of producing the nation’s best. “When we got to Baylor, Coach Briles told me back when I was a freshman that I would win the Heisman,” Griffin said, not fully aware the offense he helped develop would become the best in the country. Briles’ formula for success builds on several key components, one of which is his spread offense. “It gives you a lot of opportunities to make plays,” said Antwan Goodley, Baylor wide receiver, responsible for 974 receiving yards through eight games of the 2013 season. The efficiency of Briles’ spread offense Conceptual of Baylor Stadium courtesy of Baylor Athletics is slightly different than the ones most other teams 26 Baylor Focus Magazine Fall 2013
“I honestly thought I’d never play college ball anywhere else... I wanted to be with Coach Briles and his staff because it was always family.” -Terrance Ganaway, former Baylor runningback. use. Wide receivers line up approximately three yards from the sideline as opposed to the typical six yards. This gives the quarterback bigger gaps to slip through, forcing the defense to defend all 53.5 yards between sidelines. Briles has restored Baylor football of its former winning ways, developing one of the strongest offenses the nation has ever seen. Baylor leads the country in total offense and is the only school that ranked among the nation’s top two offenses in each of the past three seasons. Elite quarterbacks are drawn to this offense, recognizing the capabilities of the system. Over the last 12 years, Briles has recruited quarterbacks such as Nick Florence (Baylor), RGIII (Baylor/Redskins), Case Keenum (Houston/Texans), Kevin Kolb (Houston/Bills) and Kliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech/Jets), who now serves as head coach at Tech. High school numbers and stats remained absent from the decisions Briles made as a recruiter. When he saw a good player, he went after him. Terrance Williams was one of those players. He accepted a spot on Baylor’s roster after receiving only one other scholarship offer from Colorado State. Williams affirmed Briles’ judgment as a recruiter, earning honorable mention notice from Big 12 coaches as a junior by gaining nearly 1,000 yards and scoring 11 times on 59 receptions. His senior year, he led the country in receiving yards, earning first-team All-American
“He has guys around him that he believes in. When he buys into his players, he plays to their strong suits, helps them do what they do best and helps build them as men, to play for him and to play with him.” -Robert Griffin III, former Baylor quarterback honors and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Briles saw potential in Williams when no one else would look. “He has guys around him that he believes in. When he buys into his players, he plays to their strong suits, helps them do what they do best and helps build them as men, to play for him and to play with him,” Griffin said. With his rigorously forward-looking mindset, Briles leads his players into each and every game as a united front, ready for battle. Football is a moment-by-moment profession with each immediate success and failure shaping the next. Learning from the mistakes of the past, Briles and his team of players and coaches earn respect, consistently pushing for national recognition. “You can’t be a one-hit-wonder. You’ve really got to stay on the national scene for 6-8 years before you really establish yourself as a prominent national program,” Briles said.
Photo By Matt Hellman
Baylor’s combination of student-athletes, a supportive administration, excited fans and a proactive board of regents fuels its fire for bigger and better dreams. Baylor football has bridged a very necessary gap between the university and the Central Texas community. “I’ve always felt like they were one and the same. When I got here, I felt like Baylor was f was Baylor. You’ve got to co-exist,” Briles said. Baylor football has motivated the city of Waco into a state of revival and rebuilding. With the construction of an on-campus football stadium, hope has been restored to sleepy streets. “We have gotten to the point where we have arrived where they haven’t been in a long time,” Briles said. Waco has earned respect. A drive from Dallas to Austin along one of the nation’s busiest highways now has a necessary stop along the way. Thanks to a $260 million, 93-acre Baylor Stadium site, Baylor football is showing what Waco is all about. Set to debut in the 2014 season opener against Southern Methodist University, the on-campus stadium will hold 45,000 spectators, with the ability to expand to 55,000 seats. Looking to cap off Floyd Casey Stadium’s last season, Baylor achieved its first 9-0 start in school history, followed by a loss to Oklahoma State University in game 10. As the green and gold community rallies around its favorite team, one can only wonder how long it will take to win a national championship. On Nov. 13, the Baylor Board of Regents approved a 10-year contract extension for Briles, fortifying his bond to the Bears until 2023. “We are very fortunate to have a strong vision of leadership from the Board of Regents and President Starr who want us to have an outstanding football program,” said Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw. “Thanks to their support and commitment, we’re able to secure Coach Briles for the long term.” 27 Fall 2013 Baylor Focus Magazine
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Greater things are still to be done in this City Story By Austin Eck Photos By Rebecca Malzahn
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Fall 2013 Baylor Focus Magazine Spring 2013 Baylor Focus Magazine
LM Otero| Associated Press
On April 17, 2013, the West Fertilizer Company’s plant caught on fire and exploded, killing 15, and a new chapter in the history of West was underway. The cause of the fire is unknown. It was a Wednesday night, which meant religion class at the Church of the Assumption for Michele’s 9-year-old daughter, Lauren. Michele, principal of West Elementary School and Baylor graduate, dropped Lauren off at 6:15 p.m. like she had done so many times before. Behind West Middle School a fire was growing at the fertilizer plant. Michele, still unaware of what exactly was happening, deviated from her routine. Typically, her daughter’s religion class was a chance to walk the track at the middle school to get away from it all. On this day, she broke that habit and instead went to her parents’ house on the south side of town. As she was leaving to pick her daughter up from religion class, her parents invited her and her daughter to eat with them. They were eating at the table when the walls shook, and there was a loud boom—a boom that will resonate in the ears of many citizens of West for years to come. The boom was so loud, it scared the children in the house. “I remember the kids just screamed at the top of their lungs,” said Michele. Immediately, the family tried to figure out what caused the noise. “We thought it was a burglar trying to break through the windows,” Lauren said. Walking outside to make sense of the loud noise, Michele saw the superintendent of the school district who told her that the fertilizer plant had exploded. Panic struck as her thoughts shifted to her home, just a few blocks from the plant. Racing towards a mushroom cloud of smoke, she got within three blocks before the devastation became so apparent that she knew her house was gone. “It was unreal like a war zone,” she said. “A bomb had gone off.” The impact of the blast was not limited to buildings; it had left its mark on the people in the area as well. “When the blast took place,
people must have been in their cars either seeing what was going on or driving by,” she said. “I just remember this one lady just had blood dripping down her face. I guess the windshield had exploded when she was in the car.” Michele Scott’s house was not salvageable, but her focus did not shift to rebuilding it. Her attention was needed in the school system. As principal of West Elementary School, her main priority was getting her students back in school. Her family did not stay in West that night, but found a hotel room in Waco instead. Plans to reopen schools were deliberated mere hours after the blast. Marty Crawford, superintendent of the West Independent School District, called a meeting for all of the administration and school board at 8 a.m. the following morning. “Our superintendent already had this goal; we needed
Photo By Rebecca Malzahn Michele Scott and her daughter, Lauren, stand outside of West Elementary School.
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to get kids back in school on Monday,” said Michele. The following days were stressful. West Middle School about 1,000 feet from the plant was destroyed, and as a result its students were moved to the elementary school to continue their classes. School officials worked to convert storage rooms into classrooms for the incoming students from the middle school, and portable buildings had to be installed behind the school to house the excess students. “Was it kind of crazy? Yes, but everybody just stepped up, and did what we could do for the kids to keep their lives normal,” said Michele. “That was our big push. We got to get kids back in school. They’ve got to have some normalcy. All the adults were going crazy, so we had to be strong, pull together, get in there and start teaching.” That day counselors from across the state converged on West to help any student needing someone to listen. Others spent the day in the classroom with their teachers. “For the most part, teachers did their best to teach the kids that day,” Michele said. “They had curriculum; they were ready to go.” One does not have to look far from the school to see the impact of the explosion in West. A drive down Reagan Street reveals a town picking up the pieces, rebuilding and bringing routine back to life. Traveling north along the street, visitors will pass through
The four columns of West Middle School are all that remains after the blast.
a residential part of town before encountering the high school football field and the plot where the middle school once stood. Seeing the football field and nothing else, there is no inclination of what happened months ago. The field looks like any other high school football field in Texas and now once again is a host to student athletes. On Friday nights, the lights beat down on the green field. Fans fill the bleachers the same way they once did. Below, young men compete in a game full of passion and excitement. This scene is a stark contrast to the flashing lights and sirens of the ambulances that overtook the field on the night of the blast. Across the street, all that remains are the columns at the front of the school the children used to walk through on their way to class. The playground stands, and the bright yellows and blues of the equipment contrast against the white columns
and gray rubble. The middle school track Michele use to pace, stands scarred from the blast. The red and black scoreboard that once illuminated middle school football scores has fallen to the ground. Past the schools, faded black X’s speckle the front doors of
“You have to help your neighbor. That’s what Jesus said, ‘love your neighbor.’” -Jesus Buseamante residences, signaling danger. The chipped paint has worn thin from the rain and sunshine beating down. The grain of the wood shows through the faded X’s. Other houses are undergoing repairs and others, like Michele’s, have been demolished. All along Reagan Street construction crews work to rebuild the lost homes. The yellow bulldozers push the brown dirt and workers quietly go about their tasks. The neighborhood is still until the hammer of a worker breaks the silence. Each impact echoes throughout the street, dies out slowly and the street falls silent again. “You have to help your neighbor,” said Jesus Buseamante, head of construction for A.A.A. Honest Concrete. “That’s what Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbor.’ Besides that you get a good feeling.” Since the blast, Michele and Lauren have lived with her parents. Michele and other teachers who lost their homes have put personal matters on the backburner in order to help the school and the kids of West. “We didn’t ever stop,” she said. “After that explosion in April and May we were here just focusing on the kids.” But just because she is strong at school does not mean she is invincible. “I put on a pretty good game face here at school because I have to be strong,” Michele said. “I will be honest, there are times maybe once every month and half or two months I have to have some time away Photo By Rebecca Malzahn and try to process all of this.” It would be easy to cut her losses and move out of town, and the thought has crossed her mind. “This is my home,” she said. “God is going to carry me through all of this. He got us this far; he’s not going to let us go now. I’m trying to just really stay strong in my faith. It’s going to work out he’s got a plan.” Six months after the fertilizer plant exploded, things are starting to return to normal at West Elementary School. Kids play on the playgrounds and smile after they complete a somersault and eagerly await their ride home at the end of the day. But there is more than meets the eye. “With everything we’ve been through, we’ve stuck together and we’re just doing what’s best for kids to keep their lives normal,” Michele said. It is apparent, West is not the same as it was on April 16. The rebuilding process is far from over, and there is much to be done in the city. West’s community will not give up, and simply put: they will rebuild. 31 Fall 2013 Baylor Focus Magazine
Down But not
Out
Story by Malory Green Photos by Kyle Beam A house destroyed by flames, a family of six children left with nothing and no time to develop a young business, would be enough to crush anyone’s spirit. For a father, the immediate question is not how to rebuild a home, but where his children’s next meals will come from. David Brydon of The Pecan Shop, a local farm that has roots in the Waco Downtown Farmer’s Market, has overcome this nightmare and seen the community come together in a way he never imagined.
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When Brydon took over the Pecan Shop from its retiring owners in 2010, continuing its legacy as a family business greatly appealed to him. “I wanted a business where I could work with my kids… where I didn’t have to go away from the farm,” Brydon said. The Pecan Shop slowly began to expand, dipping into local markets and making its way into the brand new Waco Downtown Farmers Market in 2011. Brydon and his family worked together to realize his dream to keep his business close to home. This dream threatened to transform into a nightmare when one phone call from his wife in 2012 changed everything. “I was at the farmers market when [the fire] happened,” Brydon said, “I have six children and the youngest just turned four and the oldest is 20.” His family just made it out in time. “My wife had laid down to take a nap and she started smelling smoke,” Brydon said. His daughter smelled smoke as well but didn’t know the source. She went to take a nap outside to evade the odor and saw the flames. “By then, the house was starting to fill with smoke,” Brydon said. “They got out and it went up within minutes, totally in flames.” His wife Amy believes that if it had happened at night, they might not have gotten everyone out in time. “She called me and Sarah [Brydon’s oldest daughter] took the little ones to our neighbor because they were very upset.” By the time Brydon arrived, there were six fire departments there who had arrived within minutes of being called. Brydon recalled the few meaningful items they were able to salvage from the flames from a closet that stood as an addition on the house. “In the closet was a handmade harp that my daughter Grace played, there were some files that survived and a handmade shotgun that had been my father’s.” Though they’re not entirely sure what started the fire, Brydon is fairly confident it was electrical. The Pecan Shop stood as a separate building away from the house and was spared, but what stood on the
“When everything is so fragmented we start getting to know each other and provide for each other. It is so satisfying and it has changed our lives.” -David Brydon
other side of the house wasn’t so lucky. “We had a carport the other direction and the wind was going that way. It melted from the heat.” He calls the entire ordeal an overwhelming experience, made easier by the outpouring of love and support from friends and neighbors. “[The fire] all went very quickly and immediately our neighbors were there offering help, food, money and a place to stay.” Those that surrounded his family did everything they could to help this family in their need. This kindness went deeper than simple southern hospitality, as local community members were not the only ones who helped carry the Brydons when they needed it the most. The Red Cross offered their services as well. “I’ll never forget how much I needed that care and how much it was provided by our neighbors, friends and church.” The week before the fire, Brydon met with his father-in-law John Cogdell. They brainstormed the possibility of purchasing a farm together to expand the business and make it a family affair. The following Friday, six days after the fire claimed virtually every material possession they had, Brydon and Cogdell visited the 40-acre farm complete with 1919 farmhouse they have since called home. Cogdell sold his house in Austin and moved to the farm with Brydon’s family, each doing their part for the family business. Retired faculty member from The University of Texas at Austin, Cogdell volunteers to come to the farmers market every week and sell their pecans. The reason he comes to the market every week is much more than the business it brings. Cogdell said, “the people are interested in the quality of the food, they’re just good people and I often find something in common with them.” His sentiments are shared by the rest of the family and the Pecan Shop has not strayed from its core as the home-grown business Brydon hoped it would be. 34 Baylor Focus Magazine Fall 2013
Teaching his children valuable skills and instilling a good work ethic in them is very important to Brydon. Each child, no matter their age, has a place in the family business. “The younger children can help bag pecans and my oldest daughter is in charge of the recipes and preparing them,” Brydon said. His daughter Sarah learned accounting through the bookkeeping process by keeping track of the Pecan Shop’s finances. “It’s just such good practical work,” Brydon believes. He said the children learn the importance of “attention, being careful, learning how to work with money, and relating to people…The Farmers Market is one of their favorite things.” The Waco Downtown Farmers Market helped launch the business in the early stages. The Pecan Shop had a presence at the Clifton Farmers Market in 2011 and was one of the first vendors to set up shop when Waco opened its in 2011. It is open from 9a.m. to 1p.m. and many vendors only accept cash. However, the Farmers Market has a token system in which customers purchase a certain dollar amount of tokens and use those to purchase produce, cheese, meat and whatever else they want. Brydon remembers over 2000 people on the very first Saturday of the Waco Downtown Farmers Market when they bought everything he had. Since then, the business has expanded to markets and stores including Whole Foods in Austin, and online as well. The flames are a part of the Brydons’ story, but they’re not the most important. David Brydon recalls his daughter’s sentiment as they drove away from their charred home in 2011. She had always hoped that material things were not the most important thing in her life and the fire assured her of it. Her father remembers her statement, “It’s the relationships that really matter.” Sustainable farming incorporates the idea that friends and neighbors can provide for each other, producing what they can and building friendships along the way. This is the driving force behind the Waco Downtown Farmers Market and others like it. Rather than frequenting super-sized chain stores, proponents of sustainable farming hope to produce for and buy from the same people who would stand beside them during a tragedy like the fire the Brydons experienced. “When everything is so fragmented we start getting to know each other and provide for each other,” Brydon said of the people he has come to know during this process. “It is so satisfying and it has changed our lives.”
David and his wife Amy Brydon with their six children (left to right, starting from the top) Grace, Sarah, Jonathan, Rebekah, Ruth and Isaiah Photo courtesy of the Brydon family
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AWA KEN I NG