Lubbock Christian University (LCU) celebrated its second annual Mattox Day in honor of LCU’s founding President, F. W. Mattox.
The day began as a way to remind the LCU community about not only the impact of LCU’s founder, but also the rich legacy that permeates the history of the institution.
“The idea for Mattox Day came from a conversation with Randal Dement two summers ago,” shared Abriana Fernandez, Director of Student Engagement and Leadership and champion for the event. “The hope was to give students a little glimpse into the piece of the history that they walk through every day. F.W. Mattox truly pioneered a university where dreams are made reality through dedication and hard work.”
Fount William (F.W.) Mattox came from Searcy, Arkansas to be the first president of Lubbock Christian College in 1956. A visionary who saw an opportunity to bring a quality, Christian education to the plains of West Texas, Mattox even sold his farm in Arkansas to purchase over 4,000 books that would become the beginnings of the university library.
Dr. Mattox was known for his vision for the future, and he served for 18 years as president from 1956-1974, beginning with a class of just over 100 students. He often leaned on the advice he received when he first arrived in Lubbock: “If this school is going to go anywhere, you’re going to have to get out in front and lead.” That is exactly what he did. Dr. Mattox was often found driving a tractor in his suit pants, bolting in the theater seats for the new auditorium, or working on plumbing under a building. His legacy of hands-on dedication lives on.
The day began with a prayer walk across the LCU campus, lifting up the students, faculty, and staff whose days are spent in those buildings. Then, in a special chapel program, Bill Bundy introduced members from LCU’s first graduating class in 1965. Former LCU presidents were in attendance, as well as Mattox’s grandson, David Mattox Bryant. Doug Perrin (‘74), a partner in the Perrin law firm, shared his experience of Mattox and the profound ways that he shaped what is known today as LCU.
After chapel, students were treated to retro glass bottles of Coca Cola and Dr. Pepper with retro candy bars and snacks. Afterward, alumni gathered for an intimate lunch in the Baker Conference Center for an interview with Dr. Emily Lemley (niece of F.W. Mattox) and David Mattox Bryant (grandson of F.W. Mattox) about the Founding President.
“We need to know where we came from,” Dr. Lemley shared. “Just like we remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in our faith heritage, we also should remember our founders who made this place such a unique institution. We have such a single-minded focus on our mission here, and so much of that comes from the man who started Lubbock Christian in the first place.”
“Looking up to him as any grandson would, I remember learning from him what a real man looks like,” recalled Bryant. “Being the leader, stepping up and sacrificing greatly of his own self—it all taught me what it looks like to be real, that what you saw with him is what you got. He was a faithful, kind, man.”
After the luncheon, the students, faculty, and staff dispersed to numerous service projects across campus—just as it was a part of the founding vision of LCU, service continues to be central to the university’s mission to this day. Then, that evening, the community gathered for the Big Blue Autumn Nights in the mall, which featured live music, food trucks, and free coke floats to close out the day of celebration.
“We are experiencing great momentum, and we certainly have a bright future, but we must not forget the past that made this possible,” shared Fernandez. “My hope is that Mattox Day becomes a tradition where past, present and future LCU students come together united by the same vision and dream—to catch the vision and keep the dream alive.”