Honorees are Donald M. Gibson of Houston, Class of 1975; Rebecca Russell Sykes of Dallas, Class of 1967; Barbara Smith Hensley of Shakopee, Minnesota, Class of 1970; and William O. Walker, Jr., of San Antonio, Class of 1953; and Ken and Debbie Worden of Richardson, Texas. 

Austin College President Oscar C. Page will present awards to the honorees following introductions by Mike Nurre of Dallas, president of the Alumni Board and a 1967 graduate, and Victoria Nelson Martinsen, director of Alumni and Parent Relations.  

Austin College selects Distinguished Alumni each year, honoring those graduates who have distinguished themselves in their profession and in their communities, exemplifying leadership and ethical standards in their interactions. Honorees model the accomplishment, spirit of service, and broadened perspective fostered by the Austin College educational experience and provide inspiration to all Austin College community members, providing support of and advocacy for the College and its mission.  

2009 Distinguished Alumni Honorees

Donald M. Gibson, M.D., Houston

Donald M. Gibson, a 1975 graduate of Austin College, earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine. He completed a residency in general surgery and then a residency in thoracic surgery under the direction of Dr. Michael DeBakey. Baker began his career in cardiac surgery in Houston, Texas, focusing on advancements in coronary artery surgery. He is nationally recognized as a leader in the field of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, having performed more than 2,000 such cases. 

While in private practice, Gibson assumed several hospital leadership roles, serving as chairman of the department of surgery, medical director of surgical services, and chief of staff. Recently, he was named chief medical officer at Hermann Memorial City Hospital. He also has served on the boards of Hermann Memorial and the Harris County Medical Society. He also is a member of the Austin College Board of Trustees. Gibson has served his community through the Boy Scouts of American and St. John the Divine Episcopal Church 

Rebecca Russell Sykes, Dallas, Texas

Rebecca Russell Sykes, a 1967 Austin College graduate, is the executive director for the Dallas Women’s Foundation, an organization that promotes women’s philanthropy and raises money to support community programs that help women and girls realize their full potential. 

After graduating from Austin College, Sykes taught high school civics and French in Dallas for several years before leaving the workforce to focus on her family and on volunteer work. Her community service included the establishment, with 18 other women, of the Dallas Women’s Foundation, for which she was founding president.  

Sykes returned to full-time employment at Greyhound Lines, KERA Public Television, and the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. In 1998, Sykes returned to the Dallas Women’s Foundation as executive director. She has spent many years working on public policy, non-profit management, strategic planning, fundraising, and numerous community boards. She also serves as an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. 

Barbara Smith Hensley, Shakopee, Minnesota

Barbara Smith Hensley, a 1970 graduate of Austin College, earned a master’s degree in business information management from the University of Missouri and another in urban affairs from Webster University. She later owned and operated a successful retail business and worked in various upper-level management positions with Honeywell, Datakey, and Ceridian Corporation.  

After losing both of her sisters to breast cancer and witnessing the challenges underserved women face when battling the disease, Hensley resigned as vice president of product management at Ceridian Corporation in 2001 to found Hope Chest for Breast Cancer. She chairs the foundation and is CEO of Hope Chest Franchising and LeeRyan Corporation. The Hope Chest raises critical resources for breast cancer early detection education, treatment programs, hospice care, and research.   

Hensley is a member of the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable and a past board member for the Breast Cancer Awareness Association. She is active in the Lake Minnetonka, St. Paul, and Wayzata Chambers of Commerce. 

William O. Walker, Jr., San Antonio, Texas

William O. Walker, Jr., graduated from Austin College in 1953 and went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1957 and a Master of Arts in classics at the University of Texas in Austin in 1958.  

After completing a doctorate in religion at Duke University in 1962, Walker joined the religion faculty at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He advanced from assistant professor to professor, and in 2000, was named the Jennie Farris Railey King Professor of Religion.  

After 40 years at Trinity that included participation in numerous leadership roles, Walker retired in 2002 and received the school’s first Award for Distinguished University and Community Service. He is active in many professional organizations and has been author, co-author, or editor of 10 books and more than 50 published articles in the field of early Christian literature and history.  

Walker is active in Madison Square Presbyterian Church and, long involved in politics, has been a delegate at several district and state Democratic conventions.  

Heywood C. Clemons Volunteer Service Awards

The Austin College Heywood C. Clemons Awards are given to alumni and friends of the College in honor of continued service and commitment to Austin College. The award was named in recognition of Heywood C. Clemons of Fort Worth, who served as chair of the Austin College Board of Trustees for 16 years. 

2009 Honorees: Ken and Debbie Worden, Richardson, Texas

Ken and Debbie Worden of Richardson, Texas, are the parents of 2006 Austin College graduate Ross Worden. During their son’s years at Austin College and beyond, the Wordens have been very active in the Austin College Parent and Family Council, serving as co-chairs in 2006. 

Through the Parent and Family Council, the Wordens have assisted the College with ’Roo Camp, parent and alumni discussion panels, Parent and Family Weekend events, and various opening of school activities. Their involvement has included joining staff members to serve dinner to the parents of new students during orientation weekend and sharing with parents their own feelings on the day they left their son at Austin College.  

The Wordens have been involved in every Dallas area “send off” event for Austin College freshmen since 2003. They served as parent representatives on the Greek Life review panel in 2005-2006 and in the interview process to hire the current director of Alumni and Parent Relations in 2008. 

Ken spent the early part of his career in retail store management and ownership before establishing his own business, Ken Worden Insurance Services, in 1983. Debbie retired from a 20-year career as a registered dental hygienist to become a freelance calligrapher.  

Debbie is an active member of the Dallas Calligraphy Guild, where she serves as public relations representative. Ken is involved is three insurance industry associations and has been a hospice volunteer as well as coaching and managing youth baseball teams.