March 13, 2003, column:
These women's lives lack spiritual meaning

Feb. 27, 2003, column:
Messianic Jew discusses Middle East, Iraq

These two letters to the editor appeared in the Amarillo Globe-News Feb. 20, 2003, along with several others on the same topic. They were responding to another letter that week that said Rick Husband was a nice, talented guy but not a hero and that the city should not go overboard in naming something after him.

Put Husband's name on something big

I agree that the word "hero" is overused. Someone who dies while doing his or her job is not necessarily a hero.

Rick Husband, however, surpasses that definition. He is a hero in the sense that he is greatly admired.

Husband also represented much of the population of the Texas Panhandle with his individual initiative, with his love of family and by going above and beyond his job to inspire others with a bold, consistent proclamation of his faith in God.

He earned having his name on something big, and his status as an astronaut and pilot makes the Amarillo airport the obvious choice.

Mike Haynes, Amarillo

Rick a hero of the Christian faith

Rick Husband may not be a hero in Daniel Franks' eyes, but he is in mine and many others.

My dictionary defines hero as "a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities; one that shows great courage." Rick was admired for his achievements, showed exceptional, noble qualities, and the fact that he was an astronaut who died in flight displayed his courage.

Rick also was a hero of the Christian faith. He always was willing, without shame, to share the Gospel.

So, I respectfully disagree with Mr. Franks and feel that renaming the Amarillo airport would be the very minimum we could do to recognize Rick Husband, hero of many.

Kevin Deckard, Canyon

Feb. 13, 2003, column:
Sometimes it's tough to understand 'why'

Jan. 23, 2003, column:
Church working hard to erase racial lines

Jan. 9, 2003, column:
Live according to Job, not job

Dec. 26, 2002, column:
Harry Potter too far from reality to be threat to Christianity

Dec. 12, 2002, column:
Professor: Religion worst-covered topic

Nov. 28, 2002, column (Thanksgiving Day):
The past brings pleasure to older folks

Nov. 14, 2002, column:
Christians set up booth at porn trade show

Oct. 24, 2002, column:
Church is the people, not the building

Letter tells of new church in 1902:

The following is borrowed from the Aug. 4, 2002, bulletin of First United Methodist Church in McLean, Texas. It's a letter that belongs to the Noel family, one of the pioneer families of the church. The letter was dated Aug. 1, 1902:
Dear Papa,
What wonderful news we have for you. We now have an official town, McLean, it was incorporated a few weeks ago and also an official county, Gray Co. You can send our mail to McLean, Gray Co., Texas now and not to Abra Post Office. But even more important we are going to have our own church.

The other day Mont and I met with 5 other couples, the R.S. Jordan's, the S.A. Cousin's, the A.A. Christian's, the C.E. Bogan's, and the R.N. Ashby's. We have been meeting in homes and with the help of your friend, Bro. Wallace, and some other ministers, have almost completed the paper work for our church. We hope to have it all finished by the middle of October and will begin meeting in the school.

It will be the first church in our town and in our county. Pray for us that it will survive.
Your loving daughter,
Maude Noel

Oct. 10, 2002, column:
Churches remain steadfast

Not a column, but a travel story (Aug. 25, 2002):
Magical mystery tour: Travelers see Fab Four haunts

Sept. 26, 2002, column:
'Jesus' video seen by 3.9 billion viewers

Sept. 12, 2002, column:
Ted Simmons is what being American means

Aug. 22, 2002, column:
Author says life shaped by Amarillo folks

Aug. 8, 2002, column:
No one declaring Christian government

July 25, 2002, column:
Concentrate on finding the good

July 11, 2002, column:
We loved it, yeah, yeah, yeah