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Hardly Riding Off Into
the Sunset....... Sam Brown Looks to the Future
By
Mary H. Chin
After
36 years of teaching, what does Sam Brown look forward to in
retirement? It will be a continuation of his life extraordinaire – biking,
beaches, church volunteerism, and more travel with Barbara, wife of 42
years. Brown just completed his final semester at Missouri State University,
teaching his last business statistics class during the summer session. “I
don’t yet feel that I have retired. Right now it seems like the normal end
of any semester. I’m sure it will hit home when the fall semester gears up
and I won’t be a part of it.”
Sam
Brown‘s favorite pastime of biking will partially fill the void of teaching.
On any given weekend, Brown can be spied cycling around Missouri, easily
covering a hundred or so miles. How does one go from an avid racquetball
player to a bike enthusiast? Brown explains his passion. “I bought a bike
six years ago for exercise and really enjoyed riding and being outside.
Barbara did not enjoy riding a single bike so we purchased a used tandem to
determine if we would like riding together. Subsequently we upgraded to a
new road tandem and have been riding together for four years. But we cycle
separately, too.”
Sam
Brown takes his pastime seriously. On average, he covers 1,600 miles in a
six-month season. “We train by riding 25-30 miles two or three times per
week, with some 50-mile rides squeezed in for good measure. This year our
longest one-day ride was 65 miles. For the last five years, Barbara and I
have ridden in the MS150 Bike Tour, 150 miles in two days. This charity ride
raises funds for multiple sclerosis. In addition, we try to ride two or
three organized rides each year.”
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The Browns
began cycling together four years ago and can now be seen out riding
most weekends. |
With
retirement, Brown’s weeks can turn into long weekends, extending his biking
to a year round activity. “Usually we ride locally but do travel to
organized rides. Hopefully this number will increase because now we can go
where it is warmer during the winter. We have not had the opportunity to
ride when it’s cold, but plan to now that we have the freedom to travel
south in the winter months.” And of course, Brown has purchased a special
rack to carry that tandem bike.
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“My retirement
gift from my wife is a cruise through the Panama Canal.”
Sam Brown |
Sam
Brown has enjoyed a great deal of travel sans bicycle. He and Barbara
visited China with a study group in 2003, and have toured the most notable
of European cities – London, Paris, and Venice. And he lays claim to a
remarkable distinction of visiting all but two of our states – North Dakota
and Oregon. But like most students with spring-break fever, Brown enjoys the
beaches. “For several years we have gone to either Panama City, Florida or
Orange Beach, Alabama. We have been to Hawaii and really like the beaches on
Maui and Kauai, but we enjoy the Gulf Coast beaches the most.” Brown
confesses, “We have never been on a cruise.” But that travel deficiency is
soon to be remedied. “My retirement gift from my wife is a cruise through
the Panama Canal.”
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Sam takes
in the the breath-taking view of the Great Wall of China. |
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(continued)
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Marketing Department retiring faculty member, Sam Brown and wife,
Barbara, enjoy bike riding in the MS150 Bike Tour. |
Brown’s travels come with
more purpose than mere sightseeing. Those close to Sam Brown know that he is
actively involved with his church, but few realize the extent of his
commitment. “Both Barbara and I have been involved in our church as teachers
and volunteers for more than 35 years. In 1994 we traveled to Manaus, Brazil
with a group of twenty from our church. Manaus is located three degrees
below the equator - 1,000 miles up the Amazon River from the Atlantic Ocean.
During that week we built a concrete-block building for the people of the
community.”
It is Brown’s quiet
dedication that steers his retirement plans. He explains, “Two years ago I
coordinated the church’s Habitat for Humanity project. We worked with
another church to build a Habitat House for a family. That was quite a
rewarding experience. Currently I am chairing a building committee which is
designing an expansion of the educational and worship space for our church.
This project will occupy some of my retirement time. We hope to break ground
for a new worship center in August.”
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Sam
Brown and Barbara visited China in 2003 with a study group. |
Africa appears to be another future destination on the Brown agenda. “Our
church has been involved with the Watoto Children’s Ministries in Uganda,
Africa. Although Barbara and I have not traveled to Uganda, several of our
members have. The purpose of the trip was to build houses for Ugandan
orphans. Many of these children have visited our church here in Springfield.
We have had the privilege of hosting these children in our home. Getting to
know them and their adult sponsors has been a very worthwhile experience. I
hope to continue my relationship and work with this mission project.
Tentatively, we are discussing a trip to Uganda in 2007
Sam Brown may be retired
from teaching at MSU, but his teaching will continue at his church. When
asked what he cherished most about university teaching, Brown replied, “I
love to see the light come on in the eyes of students when they understand a
concept that I am teaching.” Perhaps the next light to come on may be in
Uganda.
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