BROWNWOOD – August 21, 2023 – Howard Payne University recently celebrated the grand opening of the newly renovated Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom, hosting approximately 300 attendees for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and self-guided tours. In attendance at the August 15 event were donors, elected officials, area residents, HPU board members, personnel, students and alumni.
Participants in the ceremony were Ronnie Andrews, chairman of HPU’s Board of Trustees; Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes; Dr. Cory Hines, HPU president; State Senator Phil King; Dr. Dale Meinecke, HPU’s vice president for advancement; State Representative David Spiller; and Hilary Stegemoller, regional director for U.S. Congressman August Pfluger’s Brownwood office.
Home of the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy, the university’s multidisciplinary honors program, the historic Academy of Freedom building underwent a major renovation to revitalize the facility for use by the university’s students, personnel and visitors. Commemorating the Honors Academy’s founding ideals, the facility’s central gallery houses HPU’s statue of General MacArthur and a special collection of artifacts related to his distinguished military career.
“The grand opening of the renovated Academy of Freedom was a great success, and we were so happy to host such a large gathering for this celebration,” said Dr. Hines. “Our university is grateful for this outpouring of support for this important endeavor, and we thank everyone who had a role in making this long-awaited day so special.”
More information about HPU is available at www.hputx.edu.
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Cutline for photo #1: Participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom are, from left, Gene Deason, chairman of HPU’s Guy D. Newman Honors Academy Board of Directors; Ronnie Andrews, chairman of HPU’s Board of Trustees; Dr. Cory Hines, HPU president; Melinda Hines, HPU’s first lady; and Michael Goeke, executive director of the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation.
Cutline for photo #2: HPU recently opened the renovated Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom.