Memories of Chris Cone

10/22/2022

Donna Anthony Wells shared a photo of some BSU Summer Missionary brochures we used back in the day for the summer of 1978. Chris like to joke that he was stationed in Hawaii " ... suffering for the Lord". ☺️

10/29/2021

Chris's #1 Dotter, Stephanie Cranmer; See how she waves her arms while talking ? that's his kid all righty ...

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10/20/2021

Evangelist: One night Chris dropped by my dorm room, anxious and with a mission in mind. He wanted to go talk to someone about accepting Jesus Christ into his life and wanted me for a back-up. I wasn't too comfortable with this, but since Chris was the BSU President at the time and of course was more outgoing than most, I didn't want to refuse him, plus I figured I'd get to see how this was done.
We dropped by an athlete's room and knocked; we gained entrance and a discussion took place between this athlete and Chris. I don't think this fellow student wanted to be bothered; our little meeting didn't go over so well, and soon we were on our way.
The meeting over, the anxiety in Chris had subsided, and we went back to our routines, studying for next day's classes in my case, and meeting with other students in the front of the girl's dorm for Chris. Looking back on this little episode, I guess Chris did what he felt he had to do, and after he'd done what he wanted, there was no more responsibility on his part.
They called this 'witnessing' in the Baptist church back in the day, but in our case it turned out to be more like 'bugging.' Chris wanted a fellow student, attending classes at a Christian college, to consider becoming a Christian and having a reservation in Heaven. Whether he did or not I don't know, it would now be between the Lord and that student; hopefully he made peace with God and is numbered among the saints.
So you see dear reader, Chris not only had a concern for future students he'd meet as a teacher in later years, he also had the same concern for fellow students during his days in college.

10/19/2021

... the following was lifted from Dave Couric's page:

Charlie Cruce
It was an honor and privilege to serve at DBU from 1977 to 1979 as BSU Director. Chris was President of the BSU my first year. He had an engaging personality and a great sense of humor and it was a honor to have known him. He went on to make a difference in the lives of many that he touched. He is home and we will see Chris Cone again.

10/17/2021

Randal Owen wrote:

We were eating in the cafeteria one morning when Chris covered one of his eyes with a spoon, no reason given. David and I remarked that it was such a good look for him that he should continue holding the spoon over his eye for the rest of the day. Chris agreed. As we left the cafeteria, I told him that this bit of lunacy would end within the next minute, as the highly respected, no nonsense Dr. Bell was now close by. This challenge was apparently so lame that Chris didn't even bother responding. Instead, he approached Dr. Bell, still holding the spoon over his eye, and engaged in a lengthy and serious discussion. I was so stunned I couldn't even laugh until thinking about it later in the day. At the end of the conversation, Chis turned to us and just shrugged as if to say "ok, next?"

10/10/2021

... this is a video done by Walter Harvey promoting DBC around 1980 ... you can catch glimpses of what the school looked like while Chris was there, and many of these students featured knew Chris, who had already graduated by that time ...

In 1982 this was my senior project. I wrote and directed this promotional video for what was then Dallas Baptist College. I hope all my friends from DBC will...

10/06/2021

No Holds Barred: As mentioned by others, Chris was absolutely fearless when it came to public speaking, in fact, I think he sought out the chance to be standing in front of a crowd, whether it be sermonizing or being a comedian or a sportscaster or an MC.
There was one commercial during skool daze which Chris liked, a product from Ronco called 'Mr. Microphone' ... Chris would often mimic that one-liner 'Hey Good Lookin', we'll be back to pick you up later!' by the blond-headed actor driving by in a crowded convertible, obviously headed to a party; I'm not so sure that commercial would go over today, these pick-up skills sounded kinda questionable, but Chris himself was actually the REAL Mr. Microphone. He had NO FEAR of the Mike, long before NO FEAR became a T-Shirt. We'd watch in amazement as Chris could speak from the top of his head on any subject, and before he was finished you'd be convinced that he was an expert in it. He could have a crowd in the palm of his hand, whether it was giving his testimony or preaching or just being called upon to fill-in for a late preacher. Big crowds, little crowds, indoor, outdoor, being a special guest or an off-the-cuff speaker, he was ready for the challenge. Maybe he thought he'd never get the chance to speak again? Perhaps this was an opportunity for bigger and better things? Chris was good with the one-liners, and I recall once bursting out laughing during a bidding war he was hosting in the old SUB (Student Union Building); Chris recognized one of the bidding students as being financially well-off, and said (into the microphone, of course) "Oh, Okay I see that Mr. Big-Bucks is making the bid, now we can afford to drive the price up!" Chris was serving to move the tempo right along, not holding anything back and using the first things that came to mind.
To see Mr. Microphone, go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqIrzkPDtrk

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09/30/2021

Young Life: "How did we miss it?" I asked another DBC graduate recently. Young Life was the group, allowed to meet in a Public School, which was the conduit for Chris to become a Christian, to become involved in the Christian faith. Back during hi skool-daze I saw people meeting in the cafeteria with their prayer-clubs, but I figured they were another version of The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, so I ignored them. I had other things to do, like figuring out how I was gonna graduate with the least amount of effort on my part.
I asked my fellow DBC classmate, "What drew Chris to the Young Life meetings? What was he seeking? Was he spiritually hungry?
Was he on a quest?" My classmate, Walter Harvey, shrugged, then said "Girls. That's always a draw."
I laughed at this, but had to agree. That's important in high school, but somehow Chris had found much more.
He found something that propelled him through College and Seminary and into a God-honoring marriage with family; he became a minister who had a hand in building a small church into a congregation of 200 (probably as big as that building would allow), and later head towards Education and Coaching, where he'd touch the lives of thousands, if not through direct contact, then just by being known. He also became involved in the community through various organizations, and becoming a Chaplain to the men of the local Fire Department.
The Gospel message didn't catch many of us until after high school ... how did we miss it ? It was there, we saw them meeting. How was it that young Chris latched onto this while we ignored it?
I suspect there was a plan for Chris ... so he had to get a lot done in a short time

09/29/2021

The Great Tape Caper: One day I dropped by the BSU office after classes, and was sitting in the reception room with Chris and the BSU secretary, another student like ourselves, altho she was a lowly underclassman. She was busy typing on the IBM Selectric; her typing speed was pretty good and I guess she had lots to do because as Chris and I were talking, she didn't look up and join in. She was friendly enough, but had work to do and so kept her nose to the grindstone.
Chris spotted a roll of silver/gray duct tape on a shelf in the
reception area; there was always tape and paper around for posters for meetings and announcements. He stood and grabbed the roll, and ripped a piece off which was about 8-10 inches in length, placed the roll down, and walked up behind the secretary while talking to her, and proceeded to put this strip of tape down upon her head.
I wasn't too sure about certain issues in those days, and could be vague on matters of right and wrong, but somehow I got this feeling that one of these things did not belong here. Why did I find this scene amusing? Doesn't she know he's putting tape on her head? By the time I could do anything, it would be too late.
The hair style was straight and simple; long hair, split down the middle, with bangs across the front ... and tape across the middle. I think our fellow school-mate felt that Chris was just being silly, so she kept typing at a steady pace as he placed this tape down on her head, the endings of the piece above each ear, and proceeded to pat-pat-patty-pat it down in place.
Maybe he began to have second thoughts, maybe he had a class to attend; he picked up his books and disappeared. I sat in place for another few minutes as the secretary kept typing before deciding mebbe I'd better disappear as well, even though I felt I had nothing to do with any of it; I was the essence of pure innocence.
A few days went by before I ran into the secretary again on campus; she wasn't mad, (not at me, anyhow) thank goodness. She said when her work was finished, she found the tape and also realized she couldn't remove it, being hermetically sealed to her head. She had to leave work and walk back to the dorms and have her friends peel it out of her hair and off her head; this sounded painful. Her hair wasn't any shorter, so there was no clipping. A hot shower may have been involved.
I don't think Chris ever got an earful from her, but I could be wrong about that.

09/27/2021

from Randal Owen ...

Chris had a pair of ugly black dress shoes that he often wore on campus. My roommate David made the mistake of pointing out to Chris how hideous the shoes were, and the war was on. David often stayed out late at night at night, giving Chris the opportunity for some shoe shenanigans. He would sneak into our room while David was out (often waking me up) to plant one of the shoes in a place that was sure to surprise and annoy David. Pillowcase, under the sheet, bathroom sink, etc. The fact that I found it so funny and it made David so mad was what drove Chris to be more devious and sinister with each passing night. I would often wake up seeing the dark silhouette of Chris holding the shoe, muttering to himself about where he should hide it this time. This would send me immediately into laughing convulsions, adding fuel to the fire. The pranks finally ended with David throwing the shoes on a roof, never to be seen again.

09/26/2021

Making Merry: Karon Hollandsworth came to DBC her freshman year, and immediately fit in with the dorm crowd, so that many times we'd sit with her in the cafeteria. Karon would laugh at the ridiculous happenings and funny stories from the students, and that's where and when Chris discovered someone new to target. If Chris wanted to make you laugh, you wound up on his list, and he would go to any length to accomplish this purpose.
One thing ... when Karon laughed, people listened. Chris: Karon = Gasoline: Fire. Chris was both fuel for and fueled by laughter. You just had to be there.
So one day, during a normal lunchtime conversation, I had made mention of someone church-related, someone Karon knew since he came from her area, whose name was Troy Davis. Troy was what females would consider to be a Hunk, and Karon remarked " ... he's so handsome ... for a Christian." Chris is sitting across the table from her. He looks at me, and I know what's coming. He looks back at Karon with a deadpan face to say "Gee ... thanks a lot, Karon."
Karon's eyes get big; she says, "Oh, no, that's not what I meant," but it's too late, since I've covered my face with both hands and leaned backwards, moaning "I am Ugly .... !" Chris then does the same thing, and soon Karon is rendered helpless with laughter, which of course is the end-all be-all. Everyone at the table is having fits.
Another time in the cafeteria I saw Chris take his soft-serve ice cream cone and smear its contents all over his face in order to get the desired reaction from Karon. Once you got her going, other people chimed in with their laughing. Laughter is contagious, it's medicine, and a good thing to hear.
It didn't take long for Karon to realize she was Chris's special target, and so she began keeping a tighter lid on it to keep from laughing so much, and I'm sure Chris moved on ...