Page 42 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2024 - Online Magazine

Exceptional

SENIORS

From Pauper to
Patron

Marcus Borhani and

Dawn Kelley

by Marita Tedder

hen Marcus Borhani
arrived in America in
W1969, he had $200 in his
pocket and spoke little English. As
the youngest of six, he was the final encouraged him to take a position in
child to fulfill his parents’ dream of the brand-new facility in Lubbock as
having their children educated in it would be a wonderful opportunity
the United States. His oldest brother, for him. He worked there for 22
Rahim, picked him up at the Kansas years when XFAB bought up what
City airport. Within three days of his TI was leaving. Marcus spent 18
arrival, he was in junior college. At years with XFAB—giving him 40
night, Marcus sat with his Persian/ years at the North Lubbock location.
English dictionary and wrote the Marcus was still single in 1980 when
translation in between the lines of he met Dawn Kelley at an upscale
the textbook. Lubbock disco: JL’s. She was 19. He

The price of the one-way airline was 30. She was tall, beautiful, and
ticket and the $200 in his pocket a great dancer. As they danced the
was all his parents could afford. night away, he discovered she was
Once in America, with some help also both ambitious and smart. graduate school. She earned her
from his big brother, he made his Dawn Kelley was in her first year at MBA in 1987 and immediately got a
own way. Marcus worked his way Texas Tech, majoring in journalism. teaching position at Tech. For thirty
through college—including three After walking her to the car, Marcus years, Dawn taught undergraduate
jobs in Chicago during the summer. asked for her phone number. accounting.
His diligence paid off. In 1973, he Though he didn’t call her for two
earned his undergraduate degree in weeks, he quickly became a part of Early in marriage, they bought their
electrical engineering from Kansas her life. He respected and admired first townhouse. Both Marcus and
State and his master’s in 1976. her seriousness about her education Dawn had steady employment—

His school/work schedule gave him and helped her studies by bringing which allowed them to invest in
additional real estate. At many
no time for dating. Plus, he claims: her ice cream when the load was too times, it seemed as if managing their
“I couldn’t afford girls. I didn’t have much for traditional dates—though rental properties was their third
the time or money.” dancing remained an important part job. Today, most of those properties
of their relationship. It worked out.
He was offered a job with Texas Dawn graduated in 1984 at the top have been sold, and their assets are
Instruments in Dallas. Before of her class, and they got married reinvested in the community.
he started, however, they that summer. Dawn then entered

42 Lubbock Senior Link