Dr. Clyde Neal Austin

Dr. Clyde Neal Austin, professor emeritus of psychology at Abilene Christian University, died March 7th in Abilene. He was 82.

A memorial service honoring his life is planned for 2 p.m. April 5th at the University Church of Christ, where he served for many years as a deacon and an elder. In keeping with his wishes, the body was donated to science.

Clyde was born December 5, 1931, in Karnes City, Texas, to Clyde David and Jessie Lee (Neal) Austin. He and his sister Amy Jane grew up in nearby Kenedy, where he graduated from high school in 1949.

Clyde enrolled in then-Abilene Christian College that fall and soon met Sheila Ann Hunter. The two married July 20, 1951, in Sheila’s hometown of Dodge City, Kansas. He graduated in May 1953 with a B.S. in psychology and minor in Bible, and worked for the college as an admissions counselor until he entered graduate school at the University of Colorado-Boulder. After completing his Master of Personnel Service degree in 1955, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served with the 4th Armored Division at Fort Hood until October 1956. While stationed there, he preached for the Copperas Cove Church of Christ.

The Austins moved to Abilene in 1956 when Clyde joined the ACC psychology faculty. In addition to this faculty post, he served as director of placement (1957-59), then director of admissions and placement (1961-69). It was said that he was the first to greet students as they applied for admission to ACC, and the last to say goodbye as he helped them find employment after graduation. Clyde became known not only for his enthusiasm, commitment to excellence and thorough preparation, but the sincere personal touch he brought to every encounter.

Clyde’s interest in domestic missions was evident in the central role he played in the Exodus and Megalopolis movements of the 1960s. His experience in placement was vital as he planned and implemented employment conferences, enabling many families and students to work as vocational missionaries in cities in the Northeast and Northwest.

Clyde served ACU 41 years, with leaves for doctoral study in 1959-61 and mission work in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1970-71. In 1995 he was named founding chair of the Robert & Mary Ann Hall Endowed Chair of Psychology and Intercultural Studies, a role he filled until his retirement in 1997.

Over his many years of dedication to ACU, varied extracurricular highlights included playing drums in the Big Purple, serving as Student Association president, winning the faculty golf tournament in 1964, being named Teacher of the Year in his college in 1984, and co-chairing with Sheila the 50th reunion of the Class of 1953.

He completed post-doctoral studies at the Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern California, the Hahnemann Medical College, the Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute in Philadelphia, and was an adjunct professor at Eastern Washington University.

Clyde’s research and frequent publications focused on gerontology and on cross-cultural adjustment. He became an internationally-known authority on culture shock and re-entry, editing two books on the subject. His books were purchased by the U.S. Department of State for placement in every U.S. embassy around the world. Clyde served as a consultant on five continents and conducted pre-field assessments for more than 400 missionary candidates. His focus was keeping missionaries whole throughout the entire missionary cycle – preparation, on the field, and re-entry. He also acted as a consultant to the federal government and taught workshops for the U.S. Air Force in Abilene and the Philippines. He presented research at numerous national and international conferences, and was an invited delegate from the State of Texas to the White House Conference on Aging in 1981.

Beyond these professional accomplishments, in his leisure time Clyde loved spending time in nature. From the ranch in Cotulla that he frequented as a young man with his father, to the majestic Rockies, to the wilds of Kenya, to the frozen beauty of Antarctica, he marveled at God’s magnificent creation. He took special joy in observing and photographing wildlife in their natural habitat.

Clyde was preceded in death by his parents and sister. He is survived by Sheila, his wife of 62 years and devoted partner in every endeavor, their four children and eight grandchildren: Jan Austin-Scott of Austin and her children (Mary Gwen and Phoebe); Marcia Moore and her husband Marlin of Abilene and their children (Megan Maluotoga and her husband Eric, and Maxwell); Joanna Rose and her husband Allen of Phoenix and their children (Alexander and Abigail); and Steve Austin and his wife Lynette of Abilene and their children (Alison Spencer and her husband Nathan, and Daniel).

Memorial gifts may be made to the Hall Endowed Chair of Psychology and Intercultural Studies, the Texas International Bible Institute (TIBI), the University Church of Christ missions fund, or Missions Resource Network.