Older Adult Enjoys Service Activities

NORMA BISHOP will soon be 90 years old - but she still likes to play! She enjoys life to the fullest, and she has no trouble filling her free time with a myriad of fun experiences and interesting things to do. Her favorite way to spend leisure hours seems to center around service activities: finding enjoyment in doing things for others.

As one of eleven children in the Tally family, Norma was born July 2, 1917 in St. Clair County, Missouri, and she is a product of Missouri schools. She completed grades 1 through 12, plus two years of college, in Bolivar. In 1937 Norma married Lucas Bishop, and in the years ahead the couple had five children. Norma finished a bachelor's degree at Southwest Missouri State in Springfield; and, she earned a master's degree at Central Missouri State in Warrensburg. After college graduation, she first became a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse, and later taught at the elementary, high school, and college levels. In early 2007, Norma was awarded an honorary doctorate at the institution where she had earned an associate degree some 71 years earlier: Southwest Baptist University.

Travel has been a big part of the life of Norma Bishop. She has taken great pleasure in seeing new places and experiencing different cultures. And, she has given unselfishly of her time and talent in various locations around the world. During the Olympic Games in Sydney (2000), Salt Lake City (2002), and Athens (2004), Norma served as a volunteer par excellence. She also donated her services at the Special Olympics World Games in North Carolina in 1999. Some of her tasks at the Olympics included meeting airplanes with arriving athletes, escorting athletes, meeting buses with members of news organizations, supervising recreation areas for families of athletes, assisting the Salvation Army in their services, and serving as a lay witness for Christ. In June 2006, Norma traveled to Russia to help students prepare for TOEFL, the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

Opportunities for volunteer service are abundant in the United States and around the world. Many organizations and ministries have benefited from Norma Bishop's thoughtful and generous spirit of volunteerism. She has taught Bible study classes; she has gone on mission trips; she has been a speaker for women's groups; she has served on various boards and committees, including Habitat for Humanity, and Life Center International; and, she has given tirelessly of her free time in service to SBU in Bolivar, her hometown alma mater.

In addition to her many service activities, Norma Bishop enjoys spending time with family and friends. Often, she is part of a group which gathers for meals, visiting, playing games, or watching theatrical productions. Norma continues to be an active participant in the Relay for Life. And, she loves to swim, read, and cross-stitch; she has completed thirteen quilts!

"Norma Bishop is the quintessential SBU graduate, and the university's biggest ambassador," says Sandra Brown, an SBU associate professor, librarian, and close friend. "She has boundless energy, and is a role model for women - especially students. She is one of my heroes."
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--Norma Bishop is pictured above in the place where she greets visitors arriving at Southwest Baptist University.

Boy With 1001 Interests

HADEN STEVENS is not yet a teenager, but the long list of things he likes to do for fun is extremely impressive. In fact, the number of leisure activities he has already enjoyed, and the numerous types of recreation he continues to participate in would surpass many others who have lived much longer.

Haden started playing golf at age eight when his dad bought him a starter-set of clubs and showed him some of the basics of the game in the family's backyard. A year or so ago Haden began playing on a regular basis with his grandpa and other senior golfers at a golf course in his home town. Now, he plans to be on the golf team in high school and college, and dreams of the possibility of the PGA tour.

Basketball has been another favorite activity for Haden. He's been shooting hoops for as long as he can remember. He has played in church leagues with Upward basketball teams and on teams sponsored by the YMCA. He hopes to play on teams at the middle school, high school, and college level.

A couple of other major sports have been of interest to Haden. He has enjoyed the camaraderie of Little League baseball, and has played on Y teams. Also, he has played organized flag football and with Mighty Mites. This fall he wants to play for his 7th grade team.

In addition, Haden has participated in tennis, bowling, swimming, biking, billiards, and ping-pong. He also likes softball, kickball, dodgeball, Whiffleball, croquet, badminton, volleyball, racquetball, ice skating, four-square, throwing a Frisbee, and going fishing. With regard to indoor fun, Haden enjoys checkers, chess, Spades, PlayStation action, and Monopoly and other board games. His favorite kind of books are mysteries and stories about sports. Away from home, Haden likes going to amusement parks where he especially enjoys the rides.

Not only does Haden love to be involved in all kinds of recreation and leisure activities, he also enjoys being a spectator. He watches golf, baseball, football, and basketball on television, but he prefers attending games and sporting events where he can be close to the action.

From games at home or in his neighborhood, to organized sports, to watching the Cardinals; Haden is a mild-mannered young man with a zest for life! He looks forward to family fun; he is active in his church; and he is involved in school activities. From every observation, Haden Stevens is the boy with 1001 interests.

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-- Haden Stevens lives with his parents and older sister. In the photo above, he is ready for refreshments at one of his favorite spots.