Homecoming Awards

Mr. Stephen Akin graduated from East Texas Baptist College in 1973, earning a Bachelor of Music Degree. He shares that he met the love of his life, Carla Greer (’71), who earned a degree in Elementary Education. While completing his college studies, he served as minister of music at FBC Jefferson. Upon graduation, they moved to Fort Worth to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. There, he earned the Master of Church Music. After graduating, he continued his career by serving as Music Minister at Texas Baptist churches in Lubbock, San Marcos, Lewisville, and Athens. During this time, his family was blessed with the addition of his three sons, Paul, Jacob, and Matthew. Over the years, a deep love for mission work grew in Mr. Akin’s heart, and it was in Athens that he transitioned from the ministry of music to become the Minister of Missions at First Baptist Church. He served in that capacity until he retired in August 2023.

Dr. Randy O’Brien (‘85) serves as the Superintendent of Schools for Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District in Baytown, TX, where he and his wife, Monica, enjoy spending time with their family. He has been recognized as Superintendent of the Year in both Regions 12 and 4. The following remarks are Dr. O’Brien’s reflections on the meaningful ways in which ETBU paved the path and continues to impact his life and career. “My time at East Texas Baptist University helped shape me into the man I would become. This experience was more than going off to college. It was, in fact, the process of receiving an education about life. The academic and spiritual growth that I experienced while on the hill provided me with a purpose for my life.”

Mac Abney of Marshall, Texas, received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University in 1973. He and his wife, Claudia, are both certified public accountants who have worked together for more than 49 years. Mr. Abney serves as the president of Abney and Company, PLLC. The Abneys have two children and five grandchildren. Throughout the years, they have been deeply involved in East Texas Baptist University’s campus life—through teaching, supporting Tiger athletics, hiring alumni, and backing university campaigns and initiatives. He is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Texas Association of Sports Officials, and the Texas Forestry Association. He also serves as a board member of the Marshall Harrison County Joint Airport Zoning Board, the Harrison County Soil and Water Conservation District (USDA), and represents East Texas on the TSTC Foundation and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation as Chairman of Region III. Mr. Abney is a past president of the Harrison County Housing Finance Corporation, the Sabine River Authority, and the Harrison County Airport Advisory Committee, and has served as director and secretary of the Turney Foundation, the Slaughter Foundation, and the Pelz Foundation, as well as secretary of the Fern Lake Cub.

Mr. Joshua Angle Zamora (’10) resides in Cypress, TX, with his family. He and his wife have been married for 10 years and are raising three wonderful children. He is a graduate of ETBU from the class of 2010. Mr. Zamora is a corporate professional with nearly fifteen years of experience in the upstream and midstream segments of the energy industry, both domestically and internationally. His work focuses on oil and gas exploration and production in countries throughout Asia and Australia. When reflecting on his time spent on the hill, Mr. Zamora shared, “All individuals on the Hill carried themselves in an ‘awe’ inspiring manner, and that inspiration gave birth to a personal belief that I can accomplish anything that I set out to achieve in my career path.”

Mrs. Laura (Hopkins) Sammons (’98) greatest joy is the gift of her five children. She and her husband, Nick, live in Pearland, Texas, where they balance the demands of parenthood, work, community service, and living out their faith. As active members of Parkway Church, Laura sings on the praise team, and together they serve in the youth ministry. For the past decade, Laura has served as legal counsel, advising global companies and government agencies on litigation strategy, risk mitigation, and compliance, and as Head of Litigation Prevention and Management at CVA Logistics, overseeing complex legal matters across North America. In the summer of 2025, Laura made the decision to step away from her legal career and return to her first calling- the career that ETBU specifically prepared her for: music education. Today, she serves as the choir director at Pearland Junior High East, where she has the privilege of teaching and inspiring a new generation of students to discover their voices and find their purpose.

Mrs. Jeanne (Gibbs) Gray (’70) is a dedicated educator with 41 years of experience, specializing in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades, with a deep passion for teaching 2nd grade. She holds a Master's Degree in Library Science and has spent her career enriching young minds.  Her husband, Dee Gray, was a math teacher for 49 years. Mrs. Gray has two daughters: Barbara Kunkel, wife of Dr. Curtis Kunkel, who both teach at the University of Tennessee. Martin and Dee Anne Rivas, a preschool teacher married to Captain Andrew Rivas of the U.S. Navy. She has three grandchildren: Peyton Rivas, Cooper Rivas, and Raven Kunkel. Family, church, and education have always been central to Mrs. Gray’s home life.

Ms. Jean (Atkinson) Davis (’97) moved to Marshall and was brought to ETBC by her father, Dr. Franklin Atkinson, who began teaching in Spiritual Life in 1973. Mrs. Davis spent many years working in the accounting and tax fields, and she is now happily retired, living on a farm with her animals. She has one son and three grandchildren who live in Tennessee, as well as a daughter who lives in Oklahoma. Ms. Jean Davis shares with current ETBU students, “Don’t be in a hurry—enjoy your time at college. Make lots of friends that you can keep forever. Learn from all different classes for a well-rounded education.”

Mrs. Ruth (Atkinson) Hoffman (‘77) was brought to ETBC by her father, Dr. Franklin Atkinson, who began teaching in the Religion Department and was the Vice President in Spiritual Life in 1973. She states, “I tell people I went to school for four years to get my degree, then I taught for four years, and I was calling it even.” Throughout the years, Mrs. Hoffman worked at different places, including the Texas Employment Commission and Lifeway. Her daughter, Natalie, was born in 1982 and lives in Keller, Texas, with her husband, Gary Phillips, and the Hoffman’s grandchildren. Ruth shares that during her time on the Hill, the freshman class of 1973 was a special group and that she was able to make connections from Texas to New England to Richmond, VA.

Mr. Billy Hoffman (’77) pastored for 7 years after graduating from seminary. He then served as sales manager of a Christian radio station for several years before beginning his work as an Admissions Counselor at ETBU in 1987. He moved into the Development office in 1989 and served as the Director of Alumni Relations until 1993. He became Director of Annual Giving and Planned Giving in 1994 and remained in that position until moving to Richmond, VA, to become the Director of Development for the International Mission Board of the SBC. Mr. Hoffman retired from the IMB in 2016 but continued in development for 2 years with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, followed by some part-time work with Lifeway Christian Resources and the Mid-South Baptist Association in Memphis, TN. He married Ruth Atkinson (’77) in 1977 after graduating from ETBC. He and Ruth are currently members of Nashville's First Baptist Church in Tennessee.