Page 50 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2017 - Online Magazine
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Senior Senior
The Great Adventure
by Lexie Rawls
Dr. Vernon Odom beginning of a Christian school. Trinity
opened the door of Christian Parent/Child Training Center
his small Carillon opened in 1977 with Joyce Herron as
cottage with a Principal of the then Preschool and
smile on his face. Kindergarten school. Trinity Christian
He towered over Schools today spans preschool through
me as he stretched 12th grade. I will graduate in May with
out his hands, the 26th class.
weathered hands
full of character. “When we retired, we did what retired
It was a morning people do. We traveled and took it
when a teenager easy for about two years. We built a
got the privilege to sit in the presence of cabin in New Mexico, but shortly after
wisdom. moving there, we started to do mission
work.” They sponsored Bible schools for
The conversation started out with Dr. children and families there. During these
Odom telling me his basic resume’ over years, the Odoms also took a number
the last 92 years. He served in WWII of other mission trips, including one to
as a radio operator for a short amount India.
of time. Then he earned a Bachelors,
Masters and Doctorate through Texas “The saddest experience of my life was in
Tech University and Oklahoma Baptist India,” Dr. Odom said as he scooted up
University. He married his college onto the edge of his worn couch; his eyes
sweetheart during their senior year. showed true despair and heartache for
Vernon and Grace were both teachers what he was about to share.
for several years, Vernon at O.L. Slaton,
Grace at Hutchinson. Dr. Odom later “We would have worship and a speaker
became a counselor at Lubbock High every night in India. Six or seven women
School. Following their educational who had babies came up to me after the
career, they decided to open a Christian services, all with a common request.
bookstore that became well-known in Their babies were blind, and they wanted
Lubbock, Good News Book Store, finally me to heal them.” His eyes teared up.
selling it to “retire” in 1981.
“I told them I could not heal them, but I
During these years, Dr. Odom continued would pray for them. God was the only
to be involved in education. As an elder one that could heal them, but it was up
of Trinity Church, he was on the board to Him.”
that would research and approve the
50 Lubbock Senior Link
