Don Newbury
Dr. Newbury spent more than 40 years in higher education, including presidencies at Western Texas College in Snyder and Howard Payne University, and was named HPU Chancellor in 1995. He and his wife, Brenda, live in Burleson, TX, where they have lived since semi-retirement began in 2000. He has been a public speaker for more than 60 years and continues to fill engagements throughout the state. His column, begun in 2003, runs in about 200 print and online newspapers, mostly in Texas. During his HPU presidency, enrollment reached an all-time high of some 1,400, and several major buildings were constructed. Their daughters, Jana Penney and Jeanie McDaniel, are HPU alums, as was their oldest daughter, the late Julie Choate. Dr. Newbury, a 1956 graduate of Early High School, holds B.A., M.J. and Ph.D. degrees from HPU, The University of Texas at Austin and University of North Texas, respectively. He also is the recipient of an HPU honorary doctorate. Dr. Newbury has authored several books.
The Idle American
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Looking back at Easter
Easter, 2025, was a time like none other! Before choirs proclaimed that He is risen, before church bells sounded around the world celebrating Jesus’ resurrection and before children skittered across lawns for multicolored eggs, I
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Uppers with downers
Don’t ever mention falling through cracks in the presence of Rev. Jared Greer–unless you delight in seeing eyes roll, hair stand on end and bodily contortions with “rigors” followed shortly by “mortis.” With
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Roofers at the ready
They’re as predictable as frantic taxpayers working until the hours are few on April 14 to meet income tax filing deadlines the following midnight. A nomadic bunch, they show up following hailstorms, cell phones in hand
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Days of nickel drinks
I might never have resented my brother if he’d have been born other than in 1944, when Grapette was getting a foothold in our town. I had enjoyed “only child” perks for seven years, and in
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Only constant is change
The ballyhoo about “no free lunches” was first bandied about in the 1880s and today, Southwest Airlines’ “bags fly free” death bell is on the verge of gonging. Long known for allowing passengers to check
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Aggie leader no joke
Had a Texas Aggie been a Rip Van Winkle wannabe in 2011, he (she) might hardly recognize the university upon awakening from slumber in 2025. There might be understandable confusion. Is real time clearly in
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Mort in mourning
Taxation without representation is tyranny. Though it’s hard to nail down who initially coined this statement, it was the hue and cry of “British Americans” when they fought during the American Revolution 260 years
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Skyward with LUV
Odds of brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright constructing, then flying, the world’s first powered aircraft in 1903–and Southwest Airlines’ founding what would become one of the world’s leading airlines 64 years later–were about the same. Most
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Kids and a food fight
Column deadlines often are near enough to nudge before first paragraphs are actually written. Some might think such to be sheer procrastination. I prefer to consider my “delays” to be viewed as being more
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Mort and the rumor mill
Uncle Mort doesn’t own a smartphone, and only recently found a well-worn flip phone for $10 on eBay. Neither does my ancient uncle own a computer, claiming he’d never remember where the off/on switch is,
THE IDLE AMERICAN: A quarter for your thoughts?
Economists have suggested for years that we’d be better served if the U.S. Mint ceased turning out pennies–the nation’s lowest denominational coin. Though some 140 billion pennies remain in circulation–many in jars, under sofa cushions,
THE IDLE AMERICAN: Tears of a tragedy
Tears of millions of Americans have scarcely dried since the tragic mid-air collision of a passenger airliner with a military helicopter on January 29 in the icy waters of the Potomac River in Washington, DC.