Page 17 | DBU Report Fall 2024

FALL 2024 15 Dennis Brooks Linam, who served more than three decades in various administrative roles at Dallas Baptist University, died August 3, 2024, in Arlington. He was 83. He was born on July 12, 1941, in Waco to Raymond and Evelyn Brooks Linam and grew up attending Seventh and James Baptist Church in Waco, where his father was a deacon and his mother taught Sunday school. During his senior year at Waco High School, he met a newly arrived sophomore student, Gail Green. He immediately was smitten when she bought a football spirit ribbon from him. He invited her to sit with him on the bus ride from Waco to Temple for a football game when she was 15 and he was 17. They never dated anyone else and were married on August 15, 1964. He attended Baylor University and graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a degree in architecture. Dennis worked as an urban planner with the City of Waco. In that role, he was instrumental in the development of Indian Spring Park and amphitheater, designed the Freedom Fountain at the Waco Convention Center, and helped coordinate the Waco Bicentennial Celebration at Baylor Stadium. He also hosted President Gerald Ford when he visited Waco’s historic Suspension Bridge. During this time, Gail served as the minister of childhood education at Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, where Dennis taught the young adult Sunday school class. He was ordained as a deacon in 1971. He resigned his position at the City of Waco to support his father in managing a large cattle ranch. In 1988, Dr. Gary Cook invited the Linams to join him at Dallas Baptist University, where he had just been named president. Despite the University’s financial peril, Cook shared his conviction that daily fervent prayer by the University Family and friends would lead to a transformed institution. For more than 30 years, Linam played a significant role in the life of DBU, serving as a friend, mentor, administrator and leader to many. He supported various campus infrastructure projects, utilizing his experience as an architect and city planner. He also served as the University’s liaison to alumni of Decatur Baptist College, which later became Dallas Baptist University. In 1990, he was named vice president for external affairs. In this role, he offered ongoing support, encouragement and friendship to pastors across the DallasFort Worth area. In 1992, he became director of the John G. Mahler Student Center, coordinating and hosting countless events over many years. Dennis also worked with the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas in their efforts to encourage Texas State legislators to support the Texas Equalization Grant. Every year, he took outstanding DBU students to Austin to meet with state representatives and Honoring a Life Well Lived senators to highlight the value of this important program. In recognition of his tireless efforts, the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas presented him with the President’s Award in 2004. He was named a DBU Honorary Alumnus, a Decatur Baptist College Honorary Alumnus, DBU Staff Member of the Year, and DBU awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree. He served as a deacon and in a variety of other leadership roles at First Baptist Church in Arlington. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Gail Linam; his daughters, Angela Linam and Diane Linam; his son, Brooks Linam; beloved grandson, Spencer Brooks Linam, his mother, Sherri Linam; and his brother, Ronald Linam and wife, Lin Hai. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Dennis Linam Endowed Scholarship Fund at Dallas Baptist University. Credit Baptist Standard, August 7, 2024 “Dennis served not for recognition, but out of a deep love for DBU and the DBU Family. He showed us the true meaning of servant leadership.” President Adam C. Wright

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