SPRING 2022 7 Averi Baxter, a DBU communications major, and Blayne Jones, a DBU business major and member of the Patriot Baseball Team, served as emcees for the event welcoming attendees and opening the program. C. T. “Sparkey” Beckham, the 2020 Russell Perry Award recipient, led in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, and Scott Turner provided the invocation. As a special part of the evening, the DBU Grand Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Stephen Holcomb, performed a patriotic program entitled “Portraits of America,” narrated by voice actor and DBU Alumnus Gabe Kunda. Following the musical performance, DBU President Dr. Adam C. Wright gave a word of gratitude to those attending and challenged them to join in the vision and ministry of DBU. After Dr. Wright’s remarks, Dr. Jim Denison came to the stage to welcome the honoree, Clark Hunt, and have a special Q&A time with him as they discussed faith, family, and football. The evening was closed out by DBU Head Baseball Coach Dan Heefner, who gave the benediction. The 2021 Russell H. Perry Free Enterprise Awardee Clark Hunt is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas City Chiefs. Hunt has been the driving force behind the resurgence of the Chiefs, transforming the iconic franchise into one of the most successful teams in the National Football League over the last decade. Since taking over as CEO in 2010, the Chiefs have earned five AFC West Division Championships, seven playoff appearances, and the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy as World Champions in Super Bowl LIV. The son of legendary American sports pioneer and Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt, Clark Hunt has built upon his father’s legacy by ensuring the Chiefs organization remains focused on its core mission to: “Honor Tradition, Unite Our Community, Win with Character, and Inspire Our Fans.” The Dallas native is also a founding investor-operator in Major League Soccer, serving as Chairman and CEO of FC Dallas, while his family originally founded two other MLS clubs, the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City) and the Columbus Crew. Clark and his wife, Tavia, are actively involved in numerous philanthropic initiatives in both Kansas City and Dallas. One of the Hunt family’s lasting legacies is the Chiefs Charity Game, which has raised more than $13.5 million for local youth-focused charities since its inception in 1985. In 2017, the Chiefs and the Hunt Family Foundation were selected as a finalist for the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Sports Award, and in 2016, the Chiefs were named Business Philanthropist of the Year in Kansas City by Nonprofit Connect. Clark and Tavia have three children—Gracelyn, Knobel, and Ava. The Hunts are members of Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas. “What a privilege it has been to honor a great Champion for Christ in Clark Hunt,” said Dr. Wright. “He embodies the spirit of what we are attempting to produce in our students as Christ-centered servant leaders.” 2020 Russell Perry Award recipients C. T. “Sparkey” and Merrie Beckham, along with their daughter and her husband, Stacey and John Gould
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