Don Newbury
Dr. Newbury spent more than 40 years in higher education, including presidencies at Western Texas College in Snyder and Howard Payne University, and was named HPU Chancellor in 1995. He and his wife, Brenda, live in Burleson, TX, where they have lived since semi-retirement began in 2000. He has been a public speaker for more than 60 years and continues to fill engagements throughout the state. His column, begun in 2003, runs in about 200 print and online newspapers, mostly in Texas. During his HPU presidency, enrollment reached an all-time high of some 1,400, and several major buildings were constructed. Their daughters, Jana Penney and Jeanie McDaniel, are HPU alums, as was their oldest daughter, the late Julie Choate. Dr. Newbury, a 1956 graduate of Early High School, holds B.A., M.J. and Ph.D. degrees from HPU, The University of Texas at Austin and University of North Texas, respectively. He also is the recipient of an HPU honorary doctorate. Dr. Newbury has authored several books.
The Idle American
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Catching up is hard to do
The story goes that a long-ago West Texas man–beloved in his community–talked incessantly about Fort Worth, his favorite city, even though he’d never been there. He usually referred to it as “Cowtown”
THE IDLE AMERICAN: I’m back
About two months ago–after more than 23 years of writing weekly columns–I took my leave. (OK, maybe it’s my “weakly” assembly of words masquerading as columns might be more accurate.) Whatever, I’m back. Perhaps
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Bob, Ray and Dog Nights
Readers with long memories yearn for more clean, creative humor. Sadly, folks in the first half of their lives are clueless about the golden years of radio. It featured 30-minute comedy shows with multiple thigh-slapping moments
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Tool Pusher/Tooth Puller
It’s no longer likely that many sons and daughters will enter their parents’ professions. There are exceptions, of course. Seventy-six-year-old Harold Barton is one, son of the late Sonny Barton, who opened his downtown Fort Worth business
THE IDLE AMERICAN: The man in the muddle
Too much is expected of us–we folks of a certain age–whether man or woman. Society yawns as we strive to avoid violent foul-ups in the fast lane; we weep, choking on the dust of the younger
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Never say never – really?
Whoops! I almost used the age-old idiom about never saying never. First in print back in the 14 th century, it was featured in 2020 as background music for the popular movie, The Karate Kid . It is familiar to
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Oh, Will, Oh, Johnny
They are missed, these two men who didn’t try to make us love each other, but at the very least, made us tolerant of each other during their professional lives. Perhaps unknowingly, their gentle humor fostered
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Finally whole
Accounts of folks “pulling themselves up by their boot straps” warm hearts; when such is done without boots, it’s a whole ‘nuther thing. “Wholeness” was achieved in January when Brian Janak received a phone call he
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Oh, for another chance
On occasion, I’ve been in the presence of the rich and/or famous. Usually, though, I am lost among hundreds–maybe thousands–turning out for political rallies or tent shows. At one, I blathered excitedly upon winning a box
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Life by the numbers
Whether we bow in reverence to statistics or grow nauseous dealing with the barrage of numbers dealt with daily, most of us value “peace and goodwill” wherever we can find it. Foundational to both is Christian
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Zonked by Zooms
Media–both print and electronic–have slathered us with minute details of Arlington’s Grand Prix. Surely their “slatherers” are either bent or broken for putting undue strain on us who are feigning interest when we’d sooner watch
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Mort and his mailbox
My Uncle Mort is committed to establishing a “Go Fund Me” campaign for postal workers of America, retroactive to whenever early voting began. He suggests joint beneficiaries–directing one-half of the proceeds to whichever “save the trees”