Education: Taylor Elementary (K-6th)
Abilene Christian Schools (7th and 8th)
Lincoln Junior High (9th) - Member of the Swim Team under Beverly Ball during 9th and 10th grade
Cooper High School (10th-12th) Class of 1986
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Abilene Christian University (1992)
Military: I was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves (244th PSYOP Company and 490th CA Battalion) from 1986-1994. I advanced from E-1 to E-5 in psychological operations, and then earned my commission as an Engineer Officer. I achieved the rank of 1LT before separating from active reserve status. My service included time spent as a psychological operations instructor at the 5th ITAAS (Intelligence Training Army Area School) in San Antonio, TX and at Ft. Bragg, NC.
Work: I have been working for Bookstore Manager Software since August, 1993, and serving as Vice President of Development since 1999. Our software is custom designed for independent and church bookstores, providing point-of-sale, inventory control, accounting, a product database and other features. We also have a consumer touch screen kiosk that burns customized children’s CDs based on VeggieTales, Barney, Elmo, The Wiggles, and two Disney titles. Our customers are primarily located in the U.S.A., but we do have customers in Canada, Europe, Australia and the Caribbean. The owner of Bookstore Manager, Randy Voorhees, also owns the Prime Time Family Entertainment Center on Loop 322 in Abilene. We developed software that is being used at Prime Time to tie together all the venues, games and ticket redemption with a single card swipe system.
Religion: My family has been members at Hillcrest church of Christ since the summer of 2003. I have been actively involved teaching different youth classes (from 4th grade to High School) and currently serve as a deacon. Before that, we were members at Southern Hills church of Christ for several years. While at Southern Hills, I taught elementary age (1st to 5th grade) classes and volunteered with sound and Power Point. We changed congregations shortly after moving from the south side of Abilene to our current home.
Family: I met Carmen after she moved here from Odessa to attend ACU. We were introduced through a mutual friend at church, and became best friends. We got married in 1989. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from ACU and completing her state social worker license requirements, Carmen worked at the Abilene State School as a caseworker. She left the State School to stay at home when our daughter was born. Carmen has been employed at Hendrick Medical Center since 2008. We have four children:
Michael plays trumpet in the honor band and is also a member of the AHS golf team. Mike is a member of BSA Troop 232 and earned his Eagle Scout rank in January 2009. He attended the quadrennial National Scout Jamboree in 2005. In 2006, Mike and Carmen went on a medical mission to Honduras with Bridges to the World. In 2008, Mike and Ben went on a youth mission to Honduras with the Hillcrest Youth Group.
Benjamin plays the alto saxophone. Ben is a member of BSA Troop 232 and has attained the rank of Life Scout. After being recommended by his teachers at Franklin Middle School, Ben visited Australia in 2007 as a Student Ambassador with the People to People organization. In 2008, Ben and Mike went on a youth mission trip to Honduras with the Hillcrest Youth Group.
Jessica plays the flute and takes piano lessons. Jessica is a member of Chorus Abilene. She was in McMurry’s opera presentation of Hansel and Gretel, the 2008 Abilene High Musical Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat and the Abilene Opera Association’s 2009 presentation of Carmen.
Allen is a Webelos Scout with Pack 201. Allen is a member of the Big Country Soccer Association team “ATX Arsenal” coached by Pete Escabedo.
Extended Family: Four generations of my family live in Abilene. Lottie Novak is my grandmother. Kaye Price-Hawkins is my mother. Joe Hawkins is my step-father. I have one sister, Hainey, who teaches first grade at the Washington International School in Washington DC and is married to Greg Staley. Carmen has one sister, Mitzi married to David Adams, and two brothers, David and John James who both live in the Midland area.
Activities: Carmen and I have both been involved with the Abilene High Band Boosters for the past two years. In particular, we volunteer as chaperones for out-of-town competitions and help in the stands and on the field during football games (both at home and away).
I have been actively involved with BSA Troop 232 (which is sponsored by the Highland church of Christ) since November 2003. In the Spring of 2004, I completed class 80 of Timber Tag at Camp Tonkawa. This is a nationally recognized adult Scout leadership training in Troop operations and Scouting skills. In April 2008, I accepted the position of Committee Chairman for Troop 232. Bob Allen III is the Chartered Organization Representative for Highland with the Troop.
For the past several years, our Troop has worked the Kiwanis Chili Day.
