|
Davis College’s annual commencement ceremony took place on Saturday, May 8, 2010 with keynote
speaker Dr. Gene M. Williams.
 Dr.
Williams (pictured left) is the President Emeritus
of Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, Georgia. A
graduate of Baylor University (A.B.) and New Orleans
Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., Ph.D.), Dr.
Williams served in pastorates in Texas, Louisiana
and Alabama. He served as Professor of Evangelism
and Homiletics and Chairman of the Division of
Theological Education at Liberty Baptist Theological
Seminary (Lynchburg, Virginia), and as the president
of Luther Rice Seminary. Dr. Williams is an author
of six books and has led over 1,300 revivals and
Bible conferences from Florida to Washington.
Additionally he has led over 130 revival crusades
abroad.
Davis College bestowed two honorary
Doctorate of Divinity degrees during the
Commencement celebration. Recipients were Mrs. Grace
Fabian, Class of 1959, and Mr. William J.
Chatlos, President of
the Chatlos Foundation,
Inc. Dr. Dino J. Pedrone, President of Davis
College, stated, “We were privileged to honor these two individuals. Grace’s life is a
picture of how God uses ordinary people in
extraordinary circumstances to accomplish His plan
around the world. William J.
Chatlos is an example of how people can use
their talents and resources to assist the work of
God, including a lasting legacy that has blessed
millions worldwide through the
Chatlos family. These two honorary doctorate
recipients represent the very heart of what Davis
College is about – preparing men and women to impact
the world for Jesus Christ.”
Grace Fabian is originally from a farming community
in upstate New York. She served with Wycliffe Bible
Translators, first in Mexico, and over the last
thirty-five years in the island nation of Papua New
Guinea. During her time in New Guinea, Grace devised
an alphabet for the Nabak
language, working in literacy and ethnomusicology,
compiling a dictionary, writing comprehensive papers
on grammar and anthropology, and completing a
translation of the New Testament with her husband,
Edmund. Edmund was slain in 1993 while translating I
Corinthians 13 into a Papua New Guinean language.
The story of the tragedy and God’s grace is captured
in the book Outrageous Grace. The book has
inspired readers around the world with the
miraculous story of how our Almighty God brings life
out of death and forgiveness out of pain. Grace now
resides in Pennsylvania where she speaks, teaches
and writes, hoping that other will be inspired to
join in the work of reaching
Bibleless people groups around the world.
William J. Chatlos was
born in Patterson, New Jersey. He is married to
Janet and currently resides in Longwood, Florida,
where the offices of The
Chatlos Foundation are located. A graduate of
Florida Atlantic University (B.S., 1969), William
has been a member of the Board of Trustees of The
Chatlos Foundation since
1967 where his responsibilities included voting on
grant distribution, on site visits to organizations
and developing policy and procedures. He also
learned stock market analysis and portfolio
management at the side of his grandfather, William
F. Chatlos. In 1977
Alice E. Chatlos, Davis
College Class of 1935, became President and Chairman
of the Board of the Foundation, and William
Chatlos was elected Vice
President. In 1982 William J. was elected President.
Since assuming the presidency he has been a driving
force for philanthropic efforts in and around
Central Florida, the nation, and worldwide. Under
his guidance the foundation has awarded grants in
excess of $100,000,000 to over 6800 organizations
worldwide including the Florida Hospital Foundation,
SEND International, Davis College, Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta, Dallas Seminary, and The
Floating Hospital to name a few.
After years of serving the foundation, William J.
Chatlos, Jr. has been
quoted as saying, “If there is any good that people
see in me, it is because I stood on the shoulders of
others to see the future.” It has been said that
William F. was the brains of the foundation and
Alice the heart. William J. is proud to continue
the family legacy.
A special note about Alice E.
Chatlos: Alice was a graduate of the Class of
1935 from Davis College (then Practical Bible
Training School). She was a professor at PBTS
teaching New Testament Greek and English until 1943.
After returning to her home in Florida, Alice
determined to build a library for the College out of
her love for books and for her alma mater. After
becoming a successful businesswoman, she made
possible the completion of the
Alice E.
Chatlos Library in 1970
and was instrumental in providing for other worthy
institutions.
The
Commencement ceremony took place at 10 AM
in Robb Activity Center on Saturday, May 8th.
|
