Marilyn Ione (Gillette) Odermann, affectionately known as Mo, was born to Clayton and Helen Gillette…
Bradford “Brad” Brown Receives Academe of Achiever Award
McPherson, KS – Mr. Bradford “Brad” Brown was this year’s Academè of Achiever recipient. Like his parents before him, he attended Central Christian College of Kansas and has a rich CCCK heritage, stating that “Central has made much of the fabric of my life”. In fact, Central had an influence and impact on his life long before he was even born. In addition to attending CCCK, his mother graduated from Greenville and taught at Central in 1945. She met her husband at CCCK and they were married on the island by the McPherson Courthouse in 1948.
During his youth, Bradford’s family would visit McPherson often, as they had many family friends that lived there. Then, in 1969, he began his freshman year of college at Central and played on the soccer team. He would go on to hold the title of Religious Life Director during his sophomore year and worked with many speakers over the course of the school year.
While attending Central, he would meet Joy Parsons, who also has a rich CCCK heritage, as her father was Elmer Parsons, former president of the college. Bradford would follow Joy to Seattle Pacific after completing his time at Central and would earn a degree in Biology. The following summer of 1973, Bradford and Joy were married at the McPherson Free Methodist Church and moved to Bradford’s hometown of Leoti, KS. The couple have two children, both of whom are married, and a number of grandchildren.
An avid farmer, Bradford can see God in action while farming. One of his jobs is raising cattle, of which he says that he “sees [God’s] love and majesty with the birth of each new calf”. One of his biggest hobbies is flying, like his father before him. As a pilot, he says he can “feel [God’s] power when he flies”.
Today, Bradford has his own farming business and continues to have a great love for flying. He is a faithful supporter of CCCK and the aviation program. Over the years, he has served as a liaison for the College in the Western Kansas area and has actively participated in campus fundraising. He finds strength from God’s Word each day, especially Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go”.
About Central Christian College of Kansas
Central Christian College of Kansas is a four-year collegiate institution that strives to offer Christ-centered education for the whole person – heart, mind, body, and soul. Its history dates back to 1884, and it is located in the friendly town of McPherson, Kansas. Central is a small, private college that offers over forty areas of study, as well as online courses for non-traditional students.