Board Spotlight

with Dennis McDonald Board Vice President

Q: What is your day job?

A: Director of Athletics at Evangel University.

Q: What do you love most about the Sports Commission?

A: We are all servants of the community seeking to make the Springfield area better.

Q: If you could choose anyone as a mentor, who would you choose?

A: I don’t have to choose because I have had the privilege to learn under many great mentors including Denny Duron, my former head football coach at Evangel, Dr. Robert Spence, former president of Evangel, Dr. Carol Taylor, also former president of Evangel, Dr. Mike Rakes, our current president and my father-in-law, Albert Swink.

Q: What is your favorite professional sports moment of all time?

A: There are too many moments to name. My favorite moment is actually an entire season. The culmination of many winning plays from Earl Morrall, the back up quarterback for the Miami Dolphins’ undefeated team is my favorite sports story. Most folks don’t realize how many games he played that season when the starting QB, Bob Griese was hurt. To go undefeated that year with the back up quarterback is a truly great team accomplishment.

Q: What is your favorite personal sports moment of all time?

A: Scoring my only college touchdown.

Q: When you’re not working, how do you enjoy spending your time?

A: Family time, fishing for trout, golf.

Q: What’s one item you can’t live without?

A: There are no items in this world I can’t live without. There are certainly people I don’t want to live without. My wife, Shannon, is first on that list.

Q: What was the last book you read?

A: I’m currently reading My Name is Mister Ryan. Jim Williams, a long serving Evangel University administrator and former men’s basketball player at Evangel shared this with me recently because one of the men in the book was an early basketball coach for Evangel.

Q: What characteristics do you admire most in others?

A: Love of God and love of people.