The Lasso, Yearbook of Howard Payne University, 1990 Page: 4
175 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this yearbook.
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DR H.L. CRAVENS
Dean, School of Social Sciences
Head, Department of Political Science
J.D. Sandefer, Professor of Political ScienceSome only pass through his class
as a requirement, but many are attracted
to his unique style of presenting
the subject of political science.
Using absolutely no notes he strives to
meet a great challenge - that of making
political science interesting.
Dr. H. L. Cravens, Jr., has just
completed his 34th year as a teacher
and supporter of Howard Payne University.
Raised in Brownwood, Dr.
Cravens, as well as his mother, father,
and several aunts and uncles, all graduated
from Howard Payne. While a
student, he was inspired by one of his
professors, Dr. T. R. Havins, whoDr. Cravens has touched the lives of thousands
of students.
impressed upon him to make teaching
exciting by not just reading to the students."Every class is a challenge," said
Dr. Cravens. "Political science can be
dull, but the teacher and presentation
can make it exciting."
In January 1956, he realized his
calling to teach and accepted an invitation
from Dr. Guy D. Newman, then
president of Howard Payne, to teach
economics. Since then he has received
many awards from both the university
and the community, including the Piper
Professor Award for Outstanding
Teaching, the HPU Medal of Service,the Chamber of Commerce Award
for Excellence in Education, HPU's
Outstanding Educator Award, and
the one he is most proud of- the HPU
Distinguished Service Award in 1988.
While at Howard Payne, Dr. Cravens
has experienced a complete turnover
in faculty and four different administrations,
"each of which has left
its mark." He stays at HPU because
"the deep Christian commitment and
care for the students and their education
has never wavered."
When he's not teaching, Dr. Cravens
always finds a few extra minutes
to indulge in his favorite past
time - checkers. "Checkers is an indepth,
scientific game, based on intellect.
No one has been able to
master it completely and that's why
I play."
Through the years he has won 30
state championships, the Southern
championship four times, has been
runner-up nationally, and was selected
as one of 10 players in the
United States to compete in the International
Championships in Great
Britain. As a child, he was unable to
be outdoors much due to health reasons,
so his father taught him the
game. He used to play in the courthouse
during his high school days,
and would get beat, so he set goals
and eventually changed the outcome.
w_ = (;; \ of 040:A: ii : ,,iDr. Cravens has won many awards from both
the university and the community."Political science can be dull, butthe teacher
and presentation can make it exciting."
He taught former faculty member
Dr. Charles Tucker how to play as
a student, and they would often
hold tournaments in the SUB
"before playing cards was allowed!"Dr. Cravens remembers the
day a particular student passed
through his class. He was forced to
work several jobs in order to go to
school and Dr. Cravens saw him as
the epitome of the Horatio Alger
story. That boy is now our president,
Dr. Don Newbury. Dr. Cravens
feels honored to have him as
president. "Dr. Guy Newman built
a great university, and in my opinion,
Dr. Newbury saved it," said
Dr. Cravens.
So here's a glimpse into one
man's life in a small town called
Brownwood. A man who has
touched the lives of thousands of
students. It is for this reason we
officially dedicate the 1989-90
LASSO to Dr. H. L. Cravens.Dr. Cravens has always found time to indulge
in his favorite pasttime ... checkers.
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Howard Payne University. The Lasso, Yearbook of Howard Payne University, 1990, yearbook, 1990; Brownwood, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth41251/m1/6/: accessed May 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Howard Payne University Library.