150 Years of Baylor Roots

Baylor is deeply woven into Henry "Hank" Sheeran's (ABC ’17) family history! A proud Baylor Alumni by Choice, Hank traces his Baylor roots back generations to his great-great-grandfather, Rev. George W. Baines, Baylor's third president during the Civil War (1861-1863). From Baylor graduates, educators, pastors, and devoted Bears, the Baylor spirit has been passed down through his family for more than 150 years.

His grandparents, Joseph Baines and Marianna Elder, met at Baylor and were both members of the Class of 1917, and his mother was a 1942 alumna. Growing up, Hank naturally attended football games and Homecoming celebrations with his parents, dreaming of one day joining the Baylor family himself. Despite this wish, he and his family made the decision for Hank to attend a university closer to home in Kingsville, Texas.

"I am very proud of my time there and the great education I received," Hank shared, "but in my heart, I am still a Baylor Bear."

In 2017, his longtime dream finally came full circle when a close friend nominated him to become a Baylor Alumnus by Choice. Today, Hank still proudly cheers on the Bears, visits beloved campus landmarks, and secretly hopes to see his grandchildren continue the Baylor legacy. As he puts it, there's green and gold in his veins!

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