He never set out to be a college president, but it just kinda happened! That’s where Dr. Newbury spent almost half of his four decades in higher education, appearing at lecterns in 45 states, always trying to refute the “stuffy” tag often horse-collared around the necks of most college presidents.

(He admits, though, that some of ‘em are stuffy by choice, and others just can’t help it!)

A Brown County native, Dr. Newbury attended all 12 grades at Early, near Brownwood. In a graduating class of 26, he was slap dab in the academic middle, elected “most likely to remain left-handed.” He and a friend edited the eighth-grade newspaper, thus accounting for the “purple hue” each carried into high school as residue from the mimeograph machine.

At age 13, he sold snow cones from a gun shop. A sign outside proclaimed “Hand Guns and Snow Cones.” (This was a precursor of his handing out bags of popcorn instead of calling cards, dating back to 1974.)

In high school, he held his own in most classes, but waved the white flag in algebra, his teacher tearfully begging, “Don’t try to change it, try to understand it.”

Well short of marginal on the basketball floor, Newbury was relieved when the coach said, “Instead of playing, why don’t you try officiating? So, he officiated at practices, unwittingly setting himself up for pocket money later when he officiated area high school games during college.

A three-major guy who crammed four years into five, he received his B.A. Degree from Howard Payne University in 1961, followed by the Master of Journalism Degree at the University of Texas at Austin, then the Ph.D. degree in Higher Education Administration…..

Later, he was a post-doctoral student in public relations at Notre Dame. He taught at Sul Ross State University, where he met his eventual wife, Brenda. They were married in 1966, moving to Fort Worth in 1967 for him to become the first Director of Public Relations at the then-new Tarrant County Junior College, a multi-campus institution now enrolling more than 50,000 students each semester.

He was honored to hand HPU diplomas to all three daughters--Julie, Jana and Jeanie.
(Sadly, Julie died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism at age 50 a few days before school
started in August, 2020. She was principal of McCall Elementary School in Aledo.)

• He’s a church deacon
• Honorary national life member of the Parent-Teacher Association
• First president inducted into the American Southwest Athletic Conference Sports Hall of Fame
• First recipient of the Dr. J. C. Matthews Award for Excellence in Higher Education (Dr. Matthews was president of the University of North Texas, 1951-1968)
• President of Texas Junior College Association
• President of the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Universities
• Member of Board of Governors, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
• HPU Alumnus of the Year
• Recipient, honorary doctorate, and Hall of Fame inductee, HPU

There was a great deal less fanfare when the Newbury Place Apartments were dedicated several years ago. Then, one of the residents announced the importance of having the Newbury name on the apartments, explaining, “Now they know where to deliver the pizza.”

A recent honor was the publication of a biography written by Loretta Fulton, former religion writer for the Abilene Reporter News. Dr. Lanny Hall, a longtime friend who has served as President of Wayland, HPU and Hardin-Simmons University, led this project….

HPU’s “Old Main,” in continuous use from its opening in 1889 until it was destroyed by fire in 1984.
Most of Dr. Newbury’s undergraduate classes were held in this building.

During 14 years of PR at what is now Tarrant County College, he led a speakers’ bureau, about half of the 4,000 speaking requests received he filled himself. In 1972, he was named one of five outstanding young men of Fort Worth” by the Fort Worth Junior Chamber of Commerce.

A visit with speaker Paul Harvey, renowned radio newsman, was a highlight. Later, Dr. Harvey quoted Dr. Newbury several time on his ABC newscasts.

Public speaking seemed to go hand-in-hand with Newbury’s other duties. He received his first honorarium in 1960, speaking to the six graduates of London, TX, High School in the Texas hill country. He received $15 and three cents per mile for gasoline, and the school closed the following year. The superintendent maintained that closure was not based totally on his remarks at graduation….

At Howard Payne from 1985-2000, he led the Brownwood school to its all-time highest enrollment of some 1,400 students. Here is where he was tabbed the “popcorn president.” He has now given away more than 26 tons of popcorn, most of it from the “popcorn porch” of the president’s home that was always “wide open” to student guests (and many others).

So, Brenda was always “at the ready” for guests. At Christmas time, she decorated the home--inside and out--including placement of the star atop the third floor balcony while standing on the top rung of a ladder. Later, she received HPU’s “yellow rose” award for her many “first lady” contributions….

Another favorite memory concerns parasailing. Dr. and Mrs. Newbury and four other couples purchased a parasail boat. He flew to Orange Beach, FL, to learn how to be the “skipper,” and fondly remembers taking hundreds of students and prospective students aloft--600 feet above Lake Brownwood….

Howard Payne University president's home was the setting for many evenings sharing laughter, advice, and popcorn. When the front porch light was on, students knew Don was on the back porch popping, bagging, eating and giving away popcorn. All were welcome.

Dr. Newbury receives speaking invitations from throughout the country, and his proximity to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport allows him to travel to almost any US point with minimal difficulty.

Please contact him to learn more about his speaking and fee information, as well as details about ordering books. You may call or text him at 817-692-5625, or send email to newbury@speakerdoc.com.