The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) invites you to join us Wednesday, April 28, for “The Power of Story: A Conversation with Dr. Billy Curl.”
Join us in the University Church of Christ auditorium from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for two interviews with Dr. Billy Curl (’66) and his great nephew Rodney Hawkins II, Emmy-nominated producer for CBS News.
The event, moderated by OMA director Ryan Bowman (’06), will begin with a conversation with Curl about his life story, his ministry and his experience as one of the first two Black undergraduate students to integrate Abilene Christian University. Then, Hawkins will join him to discuss his ongoing series documenting his family history and his personal journey restoring the family’s 200-year-old cemetery.
The event is free to attend but registration is mandatory and space is limited due to COVID-19 safety protocols. Face masks and physical distancing are encouraged. Chapel credit will be provided to students who attend.
A native of Nacogdoches, Texas, Dr. Billy Curl attended Southwestern Christian College in 1960, where his aptitude and humility gained him profound respect of his colleagues. While attending Southwestern Christian College, Billy was baptized into Christ and started down the road to ministry. Upon graduating from Southwestern in 1962, he entered Abilene Christian University, where he graduated with a degree in speech pathology. During his time in Abilene, he met and married Mary Davis Curl, his wife of more than 50 years.
Curl served as a missionary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for six years, preaching and serving the deaf population. He used his educational training and spiritual development to establish more than 30 congregations that have grown to well over 30,000 members.
Curl also served for over 40 years as the minister and evangelist of Crenshaw Church of Christ in Los Angeles, CA until his retirement on December 31, 2013, Under his leadership the Crenshaw congregation grew from a handful of members to nearly 600 members.
Curl speaks locally and nationally at numerous Christian conferences, organizations, and educational institutions. He also has served, and continues to serve, on various Boards of Directors, Trustee and Advisory Boards for institutions and organizations including Normandie Christian School, Southwestern Christian College, Abilene Christian University, National Crusade for Christ and United Christian Women’s Conference. Additionally, he taught for numerous years at the Los Angeles Bible College and was a regular panelist for five years on the local television program, The Way of Truth.
Billy and Mary Davis have two sons, Charles (deceased) and Michael, as well as five grandchildren.
Rodney W. Hawkins II is an Emmy-nominated journalist for CBS News producing stories across the country. His latest news assignments include his personal journey restoring his family's 200-year-old cemetery, investigating the murder of Ahmaud Arbery and reporting the tragic toll of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Rodney was formerly an associate producer based in New York for CBS This Morning where he produced feature, breaking and live news coverage for the broadcast. He also has prior experience as a digital journalist traveling the world for all CBS platforms and as a campaign embed reporter covering Vice President Joe Biden during the 2012 presidential election.
Rodney graduated from Howard University with a degree in journalism and a minor in political science. He serves on the board of directors of the Emma Bowen Foundation and is an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Rodney lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife Marlowe.