Page 25 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2022 - Online Magazine

EXCEPTIONAL SENIORS

When they returned An accomplished writer, Nellie has penned
to Lubbock, they abundant treasures from her heart and life.
began discipling Her personal writings, "Mornings with the
young people in Poet," are especially good reading. One
their home. They notable entry tells about awakening at
also worked closely 3:00 AM to the smell of coffee. Tom was in
with international the living room watching a snowfall. The
students. Many journal entry recorded his remark about
of those college Tom and Nellie with Representative George Mahon and life- the good life they had shared. Theirs was a
long friends Gertrude and Lon Miller in Washington, D.C.
students were blessed sweet love story.
to actually live with
them. Countless professors from across the US, some of One Sunday afternoon in October 2019, Nellie was
whom became giants in their field, stayed in their home. surprised when her family and friends gathered at
Nellie commented, "It's a good thing I didn't know it Tech for the dedication of the Tom and Nellie Langford
at the time, or I'd probably have dropped their coffee!" Back Porch at the Alumni Center. It is the original back
At nearly 90, Nellie’s love of entertaining continues; she porch of the home of Tech's first president, and now
finds many reasons to host guests, including tea parties it honors the Langfords for their influence with Texas
for little girls. Tech and Quaker Avenue Church of Christ, impacting
generations of college students and colleagues.
Nellie had a longstanding association with Tech faculty
wives, eventually serving as their president, furthering Today, Nellie enjoys her family—her sons, David,
camaraderie, and raising money for scholarships. minister at Quaker Avenue (wife, Lisa) and Curt,
On one occasion, Nancy Murray, wife of then-Tech president of the Texas Tech Alumni Association (wife,
President Grover Murray, called Nellie at the last Jill), five grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
minute to ask for a ride to an event. Nellie obliged, Her memories of Tom as a Tech professor and Graduate
though she was quite embarrassed by her old Ford Dean, his thirty years as an elder, their worldwide
Fairlane. On campus, they stopped at the checkpoint. travels, her relationships with faculty spouses, her
The student in the booth questioned their presence career, and their ministry to young people all fill her
and demanded to see a pass. After much deliberation, heart to overflowing. This is what Nellie Langford is
Nancy impatiently leaned over Nellie and said, "Ma’am, about, what she is and does and feels. She is a woman
I am the wife of the president of the university, and we of strength and dignity, a deep well of wisdom, intellect,
are late to this coffee!" The student responded, "And I'm and faith.
the governor's wife!" Nellie still blames the car. Nellie says, “I have had an amazingly rich life, far more

In the early 80s, Nellie began a twenty-year career as than I deserved, but like Jane Austen said, ‘Who’s going
a travel agent. That job facilitated visits to the homes to turn down something they don’t deserve?’”
of the Brownings, Charlotte and Emily Brontë, John
Milton, and Princess Diana. She and Tom also attended
many seminars all over the world on John Milton's
masterpiece, Paradise Lost.

Nellie with Curt, Jill, Lisa, and David in 2019 at the dedication of
the Tom and Nellie Langford Back Porch at Texas Tech.

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