| Notes |
- George Boyd spent 31 years at Trinity University, helping shape the school through a number of varied roles, among them: teaching religion courses, serving as dean of the humanities and arts program and launching the college's study-abroad program.
Boyd, a familiar figure on the Trinity campus, died Sept. 2 from leukemia. He was 72.
He arrived at Trinity in 1969 as an assistant professor of religion and rose through the ranks to reach professor status. He taught courses including religion in literature and film and medical ethics. Over time his leadership positions involved student and faculty life, including serving as executive director of admissions and financial aid.
William O. Walker Jr., professor emeritus of religion for Trinity, said he met Boyd more than 50 years ago.
“George was simply respected, because he was honest, straightforward, hardworking, conscientious and easy to get along with,” he said. “He cared about the university — its general well-being. He cared about the people he worked with and first and foremost, the students.”
Boyd's only child, Carol Stephenson, said her mother worked at the school for about 25 years, and her parents could often be found at games for any number of sports.
“They were a huge part of Trinity life,” she said, noting that her mother died last year. “They were part of everything — they were definitely fixtures there.”
Stephenson said her parents began traveling extensively once she'd left home for college.
“He loved travel more than anything. Once I went to college, that's what my parents did, they traveled everywhere,” she said. “He would study the culture and know the history and he'd be there also building these (study-abroad) programs.”
Stephenson recalled her father as a kind man, who once took pity on one of her friends who decided she'd selected the wrong school, though she had been accepted by Trinity. He wasn't head of admissions at the time, but Boyd said he'd do what he could to get her in the school, already in session. The girl was able to get in, but by then, all the dorms were full and Boyd let her rent the family's garage apartment in Olmos Park.
“He was a totally decent person. He'd do anything for you. He'd go out of his way to help students at Trinity,” Stephenson said. “He always had time for a chat, or to give you advice. He was a really great person.” [1]
- San Antonio Express-News (TX) - September 18, 2008
Deceased Name: George Nolan Boyd
Dr. George Nolan Boyd, professor emeritus, Department of Religion, and former administrator at Trinity University, died on September 2, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. Although born in Kansas on August 27, 1936, George always considered himself to be a Texan. Eldest child of Nolan and Pearl Roll Boyd, George spent his childhood and adolescence in the Lone Star State. After graduating from Lamar High School in Houston in 1954, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Austin College in Sherman, Texas in 1958 and a Master of Divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1962. During the 1962-63 academic year he studied with Professor Gottfried Locher at the University of Berne in Switzerland in the history of Christian thought. He was awarded a doctoral degree by Union Theological Seminary in New York in 1970. George was ordained to the ministry by the Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1962. In 1960 he married fellow Texan Lois Randerson, and their daughter Carol was born in New York City. From 1967-69 George served on the faculty of Colgate University prior to joining the faculty of Trinity University where he would remain for over 30 years. George's teaching interests were in the field of contemporary religious thought including courses in religion in literature and film, and medical ethics. George also served in many administrative roles including Dean of the Division of Humanities and Arts, Director of Study Abroad and Off Campus Study, and Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid. In these capacities, he was a creative leader and a skilled mentor of personnel under his supervision. George established and continuously guided the Study Abroad Program at Trinity which now sends almost half of its graduates abroad. He and his wife Lois, who served as Director of Trinity University Press and later Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, were deeply committed to the university and were noted for their continued presence at university lectures, athletic contests, and other community events. Beyond Trinity, George held membership in various regional and national scholarly organizations. He served on the National Board of Directors of the American Academy of Religion. He was also widely respected in the field of International Education and was recognized by his peers with two Lifetime Achievement Awards; one from the Institute for International Education of Students (IES) in 1999 and the other from NASFA: Association of International Educators, Section on US Students Abroad (SECUSSA) in 2000. Following retirement from Trinity in 2000, George accepted a position at the University of Denver where he assumed the role of Director of Site Development within the Office of Internationalization and later Associate Vice Provost for Internationalization. George was prominently involved in the development of the Cherrington Global Scholars program which enables DU students to study abroad in more than 200 sites across the world. Besides his family, George's greatest love was international travel. Together, George and Lois traveled the world, visiting too many countries to count. Some of their favorite trips were to China, Russia, Japan, Egypt and dozens of visits to Europe. In April of this year, George was thrilled to visit the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru. Preceded in death by his parents and by his adored Lois in 2007, George is survived by his daughter, Carol Stephenson, her husband Bruce, and beloved grandchildren Erik and Claire; sisters Betty Storms and husband Phil, Linda Sparkman and husband Terry; nieces Karen Robbins and Cindy Woodland, and nephews Chris and Brian Sparkman. A memorial service will be held at Trinity University in the Parker Chapel on Saturday, September 20th at 10:30 A.M. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be given to the following organizations: Trinity University, in Memory of George Boyd, c/o Development Office One Trinity Place, San Antonio, Texas 78212-7200 (Contributions will go to a memorial gift fund to support Study Abroad and International Initiatives at Trinity University in George's honor.); or The Denver Hospice - P.O. Box 1140, Englewood, CO, USA 80150-1140, http://www.thedenverhospice.org.
San Antonio Express-News (TX)
Date: September 18, 2008
Edition: STATE&METRO
Page: 04B
Record Number: 13261510
Copyright (c), 2008, San Antonio Express-News. All Rights Reserved. [2]
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1936 - 2008 (72 years)
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