In March of his聽senior聽year聽in high school,聽Randy Garbs鈥� world as he knew it was shattered when his father, Jim,聽was murdered tragically聽at work. The Sharpstown High School student had planned to attend Texas聽Tech University that fall of 1972, but he decided instead to stay home and attend to his mother, Faye.
鈥淚 had received the offer聽of聽an academic scholarship from HBU,鈥� Garbs said. 鈥淚 called them back and asked if I could accept that offer. I ended up going to HBU, which was only a couple of miles away聽from home.鈥�
At HBU,聽Garbs majored in Chemistry and Biology.聽He joined several student groups,聽was a cheerleader,聽and聽sang聽in musical productions.聽He remembers聽benefiting from relationships聽with聽professors聽like Dr. Doris Warren聽who聽pushed him toward success聽as he balanced a full-time job聽at聽a tennis center pro shop.
鈥淚t was a nurturing environment at HBU,鈥� he said.聽鈥淭he faculty and staff were all just excellent. I couldn鈥檛 have asked for a better experience.鈥�
During college, Garbs reunited with high school friends聽Steve Ivey and Mike Poteet聽to form 鈥淔riends,鈥� a choral trio in which Garbs sang as a second tenor.聽The group went on tour,聽opening for the likes of Bob Hope, Rich Little and Jack Jones.聽After several years in show business, the men decided it was time to find their niches at home.
Garbs went to work as a chemist for NL Treating Chemicals in the late 70s.聽In the early 80s, he took advantage of his聽company鈥檚 offer to聽sponsor聽tuition, and enrolled in HBU鈥檚 Master聽of聽Business Administration program.
鈥淚t is an excellent MBA program. It was very helpful,鈥� Garbs said. 鈥淚t was light on theoretical academics and heavy on practical, real-life application.鈥澛營n fact, Garbs,聽鈥�76, MBA聽鈥�83,聽met a business partner, Steve Woodall,聽鈥�75, MBA聽鈥�83,聽through the program, and worked with him for the remainder of the decade聽before going to work for a real estate investment trust.
In 1990, Garbs married his wife, Cindy, and became the father of three boys. The family鈥檚聽connection to HBU continued when Cindy聽retired from her position as VP of Randall鈥檚 Food Markets Public Relations and applied her聽talents for HBU as VP of Advancement.
The couple has kept HBU聽happenings聽close to their hearts.聽When he鈥檚 nearby,聽Garbs聽even聽makes it a point to聽stop聽at one of the eateries along the interstate entrance of campus.聽鈥淗BU is making a comeback in ways I had long hoped聽for,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a big fan of (HBU President) Dr. Sloan and his wife, Sue.鈥�
For the Garbs, HBU鈥檚 prosperity is personal. They鈥檝e聽decided to set up their will so that their assets will be allocated out of a foundation. HBU will be聽a聽foundation聽beneficiary.
鈥淥ne of the main reasons for doing this is because of the impact that my experience at HBU had on the rest of my life. While HBU is a fine academic school, the most important thing it can do is to expose the student body to a Christian education,鈥� he said. 鈥淪tudents 鈥� some from all over the world 鈥� need to hear the Gospel.聽It is really for the advancement of the Gospel and God鈥檚 Kingdom.鈥�
If anyone understands that, as believers, even death can beget new life, it is Garbs.
鈥淯nder tragic circumstances, the Lord can turn cursing into blessing, like it says in Romans 8:28,鈥� he said.聽鈥淢y experience at HBU聽as a young man聽did turn out to be a marvelous聽blessing in a great number of ways.聽In retrospect, God had a plan in spite of the adverse circumstances.聽All things truly did 鈥榳ork together for good.鈥欌��
Now, Randy and Cindy Garbs will plant their聽own聽seed of blessing, which is sure to bear fruit in the years to come.
鈥淲e are all here on this earth for a very short period of time compared to eternity,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he most important thing in this life is to recognize what Jesus Christ did on the cross and to trust in Him for salvation. I put my money where my emphasis is 鈥� that鈥檚 on eternity and on things of eternal value. I believe HBU will play a big role for a lot of people when it comes to eternity. Houston will be blessed聽by how聽HBU聽succeeds and by how it聽serves this community.鈥�
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