MNU welcomed several members of the Spindle family at President’s Honors April 11, 2025. MNU President Emeritus Dr. Richard and Dr. Billy Spindle served as honorary co-chairs of the annual scholarship fundraising gala. They live in Oklahoma City. Richard is a prolific author who enjoyed a long career in ministry and education. He served MNU in several capacities between 1980 and 1989, first as assistant academic dean and then chair of the Division of Religion and Philosophy. Then, from 1989 to 2005, he served as president of the university. Before working at MNU, he served as the executive director of the Division of Christian Life for the Church of the Nazarene, as a professor at Nazarene Bible College, and as pastor of two churches in Texas. Billy enjoyed a career as an elementary school teacher.
The Spindles feel blessed that their three children, all of whom graduated from MidAmerica, are in purposeful ministry. Their son, Dr. Blair (’92) and his wife Tollya Spindle live in Bethany, Oklahoma, and have three children: Bethany, Bailey, and Brooklyn, a junior at MNU. Blair is the campus pastor and a faculty member at Southern Nazarene University (SNU) in Bethany, Oklahoma. Tollya serves there as director of administration and communication.
Robin (Spindle ’85) is married to Rev. Craig Coulter (’85) and they live in Tucson, Arizona, where Craig is lead pastor at Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene and Robin is assistant general manager of a retirement community. They have two children: Ashley and Collin.
Regan (Spindle ’01, MEd ’05) is married to Rev. Dr. Jason Veach (’02), an Anglican priest serving at Christ Church in Overland Park, Kansas. They have two children: Anna and Carter. Carter will be a freshman at MNU this fall. The Spindle family’s legacy at MNU is one deeply rooted in faith, service, and commitment to purposeful living. From Dr. Richard and Dr. Billy Spindle’s decades of faithful leadership in education and ministry, to the ongoing impact their children and grandchildren are making in churches, schools, and universities, their lives reflect a clear calling to honor God and serve others
