For 30 years Emmitt Tipton worked at Wayland Baptist University as a professor in the business department and as the dean of students. Tipton, though, went above and beyond the call of duty, avidly supporting the university and its athletic programs and personally investing much of his time and energy into the lives of student-athletes.
 
Tipton was born and raised in Plainview, graduating from Plainview High School in 1965 before continuing his education at Wayland where he received a business degree with a specialization in accounting in 1969. After a stint in the Army, Tipton worked in a local accounting firm for three years before being hired as an office manager at a local business. During that time, Tipton became an adjunct professor at South Plains College.
 
As an adjunct professor, Tipton began what ultimately became his career – teaching. Tipton eventually was hired fulltime at South Plains College before the Plainview campus closed in 1983. That door closing, however, opened another for Tipton to begin teaching at Wayland where he became a loyal and beloved educator.
 
On June 1, 1983, Tipton was hired fulltime at Wayland. He taught business classes until 1997 when the position of dean of students became available. Tipton jumped at the opportunity to reach a broader audience.
 
"It gave me the opportunity to work with all students on campus, not just those in the business department," he explained. "I was able to help all types of young people." 
 
Wayland is special in that it gives students who have slipped or made poor choices an opportunity to get on the right track again, and Tipton has played a large role in that. As proof, through the years he has received numerous letters from former students who have "turned it around." 
 
Tipton got the opportunity to interact with thousands of student-athletes during his tenure at WBU. From traveling with various teams to enduring the wind and cold at Wilder Field to watch a baseball doubleheader, Tipton "tried to be at as many games" as he could. He even traveled to national track meets, and he still has the shoes that national champion, Olympian and fellow Hall of Honor member Devon Morris gave him as a memento.

One man who logged thousands of miles with Tipton was fellow Hall of Honor member and long-time Wayland bus driver, Frank Bass.

"He was a great guy to have on the road with you," Bass said. "He was a disciplined man and could really keep control of the kids. He had them all acting right. I enjoyed every trip that he went on."
 
When Tipton could not be in attendance at athletic events, he still made every effort to support them.
 
"I remember dismissing class at halftime when the men were playing for the NAIA (basketball) championship (in 1985)," Tipton recalled. "We all went to the University Center to watch the rest of the game."
 
Tipton also assisted the WBU Athletic Department by serving as faculty athletic representative for eight years as well as interim athletics director for one semester while AD Dr. Greg Feris was on special assignment with the NAIA.
 
Tipton not only was a supporter of Wayland's athletes, but also of the coaching staffs. He remembers one instance when head baseball coach Brad Bass approached him about attending a Promise Keepers conference.
 
"Brad came to me and said he had a couple of tickets and asked if I wanted to go," explained Tipton. "I asked him when we would leave and he said, 'In an hour.' I called my wife and let her know and we headed out. It was great to get to know Coach Bass and spend time with him."
 
In 2010 Tipton stepped down as dean and returned to the classroom to once again teach accounting so that he could retire as a teacher, which he did in 2013, although he is hopeful of a return as an adjunct professor this fall. Currently, Tipton enjoys hanging out with his brothers, Kelvin and Drexel. The three of them enjoy working on old cars together, and Tipton also likes to attend estate sales in search of antiques.
 
Tipton is married to Glenda and will celebrate 44 years of marriage in December. They have one daughter, Shayla Whalen of Plainview, who is married to Darren, and two grandchildren, McKinley, 13, and Marley, 7.
 
Looking back, Tipton reflected fondly on his time at Wayland, saying that he "had a good ride. It's been a great time."