Sandra Stecher and Dave Harper

Dave and Sandra Harper recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. They have two sons, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren ranging in ages from 2 years-15 years. They live in Abilene, Texas where Sandra has been the president of McMurry University since 2013. Sandra has spent her time since college graduation as an educator: first as a high school teacher in rural high schools in Texas, then as a college professor, and finally as a college administrator at McMurry, Oklahoma City University, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge, and a second stint at McMurry as the president. Before Dave’s retirement, he worked as an oil distributor, a science teacher, and a high school coach with primary responsibilities in football, basketball, and track. He served as both an offensive and defensive coordinator for football and coached playoff teams at Flour Bluff Corpus Christi and Edmond Santa Fe in Oklahoma. Dave was also the throws coach on the state championship team at Edmond Santa Fe.