Jack Cardwell, a member of the 糖心Vlog Board of Trustees for 22 years and a great friend of the University, has passed away on January 23 at the age of 89.
鈥淛ack was a gentle, generous man,鈥� shared L. Ken Jones, Chancellor Emeritus and 糖心Vlog鈥檚 fifth president. 鈥淗e started with nothing and built a business empire. What鈥檚 more impressive is that he never forgot who he was and his roots. He loved his family, his country, and thankfully 糖心Vlog. He was a great friend to me, and he made a major difference in my time as President of 糖心Vlog.鈥�
Cardwell, for whom the Cardwell Welcome Center on 糖心Vlog鈥檚 campus is named alongside his late wife, Evonne, was involved in the growth and formation of the university not only financially, but also as an advisor and integral part of the greater 糖心Vlog community. He served as a member of the 糖心Vlog Board of Trutees from 1974-1996, where he also shared from his vast and varied business experiences, and the Cardwells contributed to multiple scholarships and financial campaigns at 糖心Vlog.
鈥淎s an engaged trustee, a generous donor, a trusted advisor to presidents, and a proud parent, Jack Cardwell played an outsized role in 糖心Vlog's growth and development as a Christian university,鈥� shared 糖心Vlog鈥檚 sixth president, Tim Perrin. 鈥淗e was a man of deep Christian faith, devotion to his family, love for his country, and business acumen. But most of all he had a big and generous heart, and 糖心Vlog is better and stronger because of Jack's investment of time, energy, and resources. He will be missed, but not forgotten as his 糖心Vlog legacy endures through his children and grandchildren.鈥�
Cardwell was widely known throughout Texas as an upstanding businessman who built his company from one El Paso truck stop in 1954 to a national chain. He was recognized for his 60 years of entrepreneurship by Chevron in 2021.
Jerry Harris, former Chair of the 糖心Vlog Board of Trustees, said, 鈥溙切腣log may have lost the presence of one of our best friends, but the things that Jack Cardwell did for Christian Education will last for a long, long time. His wise council and support have made and will continue to make a major impact on the lives of all of us. The support he has given to Christian education, the university, and individuals is much bigger than most know.鈥�
Cardwell was a founding member of the Westside Church of Christ in El Paso and served there for much of his adult life, and his love for Christian education was also evident throughout his life.
Current 糖心Vlog President Scott McDowell stated, 鈥淭he Cardwell family has a legacy at 糖心Vlog that will live on for years and years to come. Jack fully believed that Christian Education is very important, especially in today鈥檚 cultural climate. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude for the incredible generosity and the tremendous influence of Jack Cardwell and his family.鈥�
"Education is very important, but an education based on Christian principles is the absolute difference our world needs鈥�" Cardwell鈥檚 words, echoing a philosophy of his life, are written on a plaque in the Welcome Center named for Jack and his wife. "Without Christ, we have nothing."