Darts Champion, High School Physics Teacher, Now Teaches a New Course: Self Defense

When Destiny Wagner became a widow at 41 years old, she suddenly felt both alone and unprepared, and unable to defend herself should she ever have to.

A small town girl living and working in the big city of Dallas – and now Plano – she was born in Grand Prairie, grew up in Oak Cliff and attended junior and senior high school in Waxahachie, where she attended Waxahachie High and “did just about everything: I was on the volleyball and tennis teams, editor of yearbook for two years, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Art Club, Philosophy Club, Science & Math Club, Student Council, NHS, Interact, Advisory Council and I “Lettered” in Academics (top 2%) all four years.” She graduated 4th in her class.  

A huge Harry Potter fan, she also has a life-long love for the Dallas Mavericks. Her father had season tickets to the games and taught her how to “sneak past security” to meet the players to get autographs. She met all the 80’s greats: Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Dr. J., Kareem, Bill Walton, et.al.  Derek Harper still recognizes her when she runs into him at events around town.  

She attended the University of Dallas after high school, where she played soccer and was in the physics national honor society and was President of the Society of Physics Students. She began her student teaching at Nimitz High School in Irving in late fall of 1997 but was soon at teaching at Bishop Lynch High School in January of 1998 when a job became suddenly available there. She graduated Cum Laude from UD and stayed on at BL for over a decade. She earned a second degree, a Master in Humanities 2002, graduating Magna Cum Laude while working as a physics teacher at Bishop Lynch High School.  

She met her husband John when they got partnered up in a blind draw darts tournament.  They went on to form a team with friends and were DDA City Champions. Their love of darts and travel was the beginning of a friendship that turned into a wonderful marriage and they travelled all over the US for the next 12 years on Destiny’s vacations and summers off from teaching. They took road trips during those school breaks and made it to 46 of the 50 states. Destiny took a new teaching job working at John Paul II High School in Plano in 2013 to be closer to their home and the two enjoyed their fun life together.

When John lost his appetite, it wasn’t long before he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was the toughest time of her life. “The hardest thing I’ve ever done was holding my husband in my arms as he drew his last breath. We had never spent a day apart in nearly 17 years.” John died of pancreatic cancer in February of 2017, five weeks after his diagnosis.

After he died, her in-laws took Destiny on a trip to Oregon and Washington. This completed her goal of visiting all the continental states.  Destiny was mournful after John’s passing and felt at total loss on how to protect herself. 

She got through that tough time with the support of friends, family, and coworkers along with therapy and says, “I wish there wasn’t such a taboo on mental and emotional health issues.” It was her therapist that encouraged her to get out of her “safe” zone at home and try something new.

Destiny says, “The thing that really made the most difference was contacting the Academy of Combative Warrior Arts (A.C.W.A.) and taking advantage of their free trial class. Justin Everman is the founder and CEO, and his customer service impressed me from the initial phone call.  After my first class, I knew I had found where I was meant to be.” 

Before long she’d found her passion: helping others to defend themselves. She explains, “The welcoming environment and positive atmosphere that Justin has created is a testament to who I am today. Everyone is welcome, and there are no egos. The other students and fellow instructors have become not only my closest friends, but also my family.”

In her first class she was learning “how to cover” and said her instructor, Sean Wolford, was being exceptionally patient with her because “I had tons of questions and kept messing up; he was really encouraging and didn't make me feel stupid.  I signed up that night for a "10-pack class" summer special.” 

In one of her early classes she was getting frustrated that she wasn't picking up how to do a move quickly enough.  Her instructor, Lauren Hidalgo, “has amazing intuition and reads people incredibly well.  She could tell I was frustrated and asked if I was ok and had any questions.  Not being able to articulate, I said I was fine and kept going.  She stopped me, looked me in the eyes, and said, ‘It's ok.  This is a safe place.  What's going on?” Destiny explained about the loss of her husband, her bouts with anxiety and the pressure she felt being alone and on her own for the first time. Voicing her fears aloud helped her, and her inner healing began.

Destiny initially joined the Instructor Program in November 2017 to learn the skills and techniques of personal self-defense at a deeper and faster level. In May 2018, she got sidelined due to a spiral fractured leg. “The other instructors shuttled me to classes so I could still be part of the team even if I couldn’t fully participate.” Seeing classes from a different perspective made her want to teach the material and led her down a new path: to becoming a certified instructor and—eventually--owning her own company, Defend Your Destiny. “I work with teenagers every day at my ‘real’ job,” Destiny points out, “and I saw a huge need for people to learn self-defense before an incident occurs.”

Additionally, she’s involved doing a daily routine of a “slow flow” meditative movement, similar to tai chi but with A.C.W.A. mechanics. It was developed by Aaron Baulch and Dustin Rippetoe of the A.C.W.A. Tulsa branch. It’s made such a difference in her own well-being that Destiny has incorporated it into her business as one of the things she teaches in addition to self-defense. She says she suffered from anxiety after her husband died, and it was this “slow flow” movement that steadied her.  

Now she is a certified self-defense instructor through A.C.W.A. With her two decades of experience teaching high school students, she has the patience – and sense of humor – to help even the most reticent student learn the techniques necessary to stay safe. Destiny hopes to help others like herself who have gone through life changing events and high school graduates going off to college who need to be ready in any situation.

Destiny says, “Being a part of A.C.W.A. didn’t just change my life - it saved my life.  I have clarity and a purpose. My entire identity was wrapped up as part of a couple. After my husband died, I considered the day a win if I got out of bed and wore clothes other than pajamas. Now, in just a few years, I am confidently standing on my own, consistently moving forward, and in a real and tangible position to help others.” 

One way she has helped was to bring awareness to the need for organ donation after her A.C.W.A. friend Dustin Rippetoe needed a kidney transplant. Destiny helped raise funds for his operation. He’s now on the road to recovery.

She also is quick to volunteer to help animals at local shelters and has volunteered alongside her John Paul II High School coworkers at the Plano Food Bank. 

And while most people who know Destiny recognize that she is a huge Harry Potter and Dallas Mavericks fan, her new focus on self-defense may come as a surprise to them. After a few tough years, she is now happier than she’s ever been, stronger mentally and physically, and says, “This is the first time I feel like I really and truly LOVE my life!”

To learn more about self-defense, see www.defendyourdestiny.com or http:/bit.ly/selfdefensejuly28 to attend a seminar on July 28^th.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."  -Steve Prefontaine

Judy Porter, MBA, is a Dallas resident who writes stories about local heroes, non-profits and small businesses. Contact her at:

judy-porter@sbcglobal.net 

As Flag Day Approaches, "Patriot Love From" Flies a Flag for local  Individual Veterans, First Responders, to Honor Them Year-round

Growing up, Will Douglas wanted to be a Ninja Turtle. Once he realized it wasn’t practical -- or possible – to be that kind of superhero, he became a pharmacist.

Now he’s the owner of two independent pharmacies, and the first business owner to agree to fly a flag for a veteran with the “Patriot Love From” organization which honors veterans by flying an American flag in a local business for each. Pilot Point resident Lynn Maher is picking up the program ten years after the first flag was flown. The idea came from her late husband Ted, who, like both Lynn and Will, was a success in business but never served in the military. Ted passed away before the program got off the ground.

A sign with a veteran’s name and military branch is located under each flag. The goal is to remember and honor local heroes.

Will says he is not a hero, but he IS working to make the world a better place and flying a flag for veterans is just the beginning. Like Lynn, he hopes to see the program spread throughout the state and nation, putting our military and first responders in the limelight.

Born in Duncan, Oklahoma, Will grew up in Marietta and graduated from Marietta High School where he played basketball, ran track, and was a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council.

He attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was President of the Pre-Pharmacy Association, a YMCA basketball coach, a High School Leadership Conference Group Leader and emcee, and a Camp Crimson group Leader.

After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, he attended The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, to become a pharmacist. During his time in pharmacy school he was a leader in many areas including Chapter President of the National Community Pharmacists Association; Make a Wish Chair; College of Pharmacy mentor; College of Pharmacy Ambassador; and a leader in four areas of the Health Sciences Center Student Association including Class Senator and Community Service Chair.

Growing up, Will said his role model was his uncle. He “was the only person I knew who fit my idea of success. He was a pharmacist and owned several pharmacies in Duncan, OK. Having a narrow perspective, I believed that the only way I could be successful was if I did the same.” Will landed a job with Walgreens in Dallas but knew he wanted to run his own business one day.

In a few short years Will worked to put together financing to invest in his community through independent pharmacies in areas where Texans need them. Crimson Care Pharmacy Group was created to ensure independently owned community pharmacies survive and thrive in a changing healthcare world as they face the challenges of large pharmacy chain expansion, buyouts, and customer demand for the latest technology. 

Will is the owner of two independent pharmacies, recognizing that there are small towns in north Texas where people need medicine but may be geographically far from it. Will visits each weekly, and when he’s not working, he’s quick to help in his community. He says he often drives through south Dallas and is sad to see people roaming aimlessly, often with a bottle in their hand. He wants to help anyone out of work who wants a job to find decent employment.

“There is so much undeveloped land there south of downtown,” he says, “It could house warehouses and factories and provide jobs for those unemployed workers who currently have no hope.” Job training would be key, and he’d like to match current companies with the folks in the south Dallas area who want to work. He’s hoping to network with local agencies already attempting to get the unemployed and underemployed working and is willing to help. His fund-raising skills began in college.

While at OU, he was working at a fund raiser and got a $6 donation from another OU student, Adrian Peterson, who set the NCAA freshman rushing record with 1,925 yards in the 2004 season. Peterson was drafted seventh overall in the 2007 NFL draft. “He almost broke my hand when he shook it,” Will remembered with a laugh. He was already a Peterson fan but even more so after that encounter.

In Dallas a few years later, Will admits he was truly star struck as he was walking out of Hotel ZaZa and met Dallas Cowboys great Michael Irvin. “My brain immediately transformed from a 30-year-old adult to a 10-year-old boy’s watching the Cowboys on Sunday.”

Chosen as a Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 awardee Will says he has no special talent, just an honest desire to be successful. While in pharmacy school he often felt like a “round peg and pharmacy school was a square hole.” An excellent high school and college student, pharmacy school presented a true challenge. “For the first time in my life I was failing tests and classes. I almost quit multiple times but fortunately I had friends and family that talked me out of it.”

Accepted into a leadership tract his second year, he hit his stride. “It became something within the school that I could thrive at. For someone who had always been a high achiever that was important.” 

After graduating from pharmacy school, he moved to Dallas with a purpose: to make it his forever home. He lived in The Village, then Uptown, and recently bought a home in Oak Lawn. He has family members living in Devonshire and Garland. 

Ten years from now he knows he’ll still live here, and possibly own another pharmacy or two. He’ll fly a flag for a veteran on his future businesses, too, and says, “Hopefully, I will have made some sort of lasting impact for folks living here who are less fortunate.”

Spoken like a real hero.

You can learn more about how to fly a flag for a veteran by checking out this Facebook Page: Flying Flags of Patriot Love From or contacting Will at willdouglas@outlook.com or text for more info: 972-880-5571.

Will Douglas, Pharm. D.

Crimson Care Pharmacy Group

http://www.crimsoncarerx.com

Dallas, TX

580.238.0177

New Executive Director of the Dallas County Republicans is Young and Enthusiastic -- Welcome Back Joel James!

The new Executive Director of the Dallas County Republican Party is returning to the office he worked out of last year off Forest Lane as a Republican Party of Texas Field Operations Director. Based out of the Lake Highlands area office, he helped with canvassing, phone banking, and volunteering throughout the DFW area for over a year. He was promoted to a position in Austin before returning to the Dallas area in January to work on a local campaign for Dallas City Mayor. Prior to moving to Dallas, Joel was in Atlanta Georgia working for a small lobbying firm for two years.

The youngest of four boys, Joel has two older brothers: Garth, who lives in Georgia, and Mahlon who lives close to Mar a Lago. Joel's twin brother Chris--who is two minutes older--is an accountant in Atlanta. All the boys graduated from Sprayberry H.S in Marietta, Georgia. Both Joel’s parents, Selvyn and Laura Mae, are nurses, and they met in church in Jamaica.

He earned his Political Science degree from Kennesaw State in Georgia and is one class short of a master’s in Public Policy from Liberty University in Virginia.

Why is he working for the Republican party? “George W Bush. He’s my favorite president – a compassionate conservative, a rugged individualist, and his policies, like the No Child Left Behind Act. He’s one of my heroes! He and Colin Powell.” Joel was in high school when “W” was president and has been interested in politics ever since. 

One of his favorite TV shows growing up was The West Wing, and he admired Dule’ Hill who played the personal presidential aid in the series. His favorite actor today is academy-award winner Mahershala Ali who just won his second Academy Award for “Green Book and plays Remy on House of Cards.

Want to learn more about local politics? You can contact Joel at Joel@dallasgop.org or call him: 214-369-9555.

Native Texan, Vietnam Vet, Life-long Volunteer, Professor Durhl Caussey is a Leader in Multiple Arenas, and a Proud American

As a young boy Durhl Caussey wanted to grow up to be a Cowboy like Roy Rogers. But a funny thing happened on that Happy Trail to singing fame and fortune: he became a professor, a Lions Club President, and a well-respected Republican Precinct Chair.

Born in tiny Seymour, Texas, Durhl lived out in the country and worked in cotton and wheat fields as a boy. He’s also lived in Abilene, Holliday, Fort Worth, Oak Cliff and Duncanville.

He graduated from Seymour High in 1965, then Abilene Christian College in 1970 with a BS in Education and then returned to Abilene Christian University for a Masters in 1971. After college he did some PhD work at UNT in Denton. Durhl says he reads constantly, everything from newspapers to magazines to books. And, he says, “I have learned a lot from my students, ranging from elementary students and Special Ed kids to college undergrad and graduate students.”

And he is no newcomer to politics. In 1960 in Texas, Durhl supported John F. Kennedy. Then in 1968 he supported Richard Nixon, “and have voted Republican and been active in the party since then.”

He’s spent many years working toward a greater America, because, “I love this country and its values; served in military since ROTC in college, did two tours in Vietnam. Freedom isn’t free; I stay involved in politics to preach this message to future generations.” He is currently the Republican Precinct Chair of his area.

The way to be successful in politics is simple: “Hard work and education are key ingredients.” A professor of history at Mountain View College, Durhl says, “I implore younger people to stay in school. I worked my way through college and believe in lifelong learning. I am also very tenacious.”

His life hasn’t been all hard work and studying, however. His wife, JoAnn Holt Caussey, works in Public Relations and so he’s enjoyed meeting plenty of celebrities, from Tony Curtis to Ann Margret, Jim Nabors, Larry Gatlin, and “Top Gun” actor Val “Iceman” Kilmer, among many others.  And through his Republican party contacts he’s met numerous politicians and six U.S. presidents.

For fun, Durhl collects coins and stamps, focusing on ancient coins and Confederate currency.

Durhl says he’s taught all his adult life and about 20 years ago started writing general interest columns for newspapers.  He enjoys writing about cars, sports, outdoor events and he’s currently working on a book. He still writes a column for his hometown newspaper and others in Texas. He also writes for an international publication, The Epoch Times, that translates his column into many different languages.

He said he got through the toughest time of his life--two tours in Vietnam and going through a divorce after 20 years of marriage—through prayer, and in Vietnam, “from listening to my sergeants.” And he never gave up. “I surrounded myself with good people; stayed in church and asked God to help me through it.”

He met the love of his life, Jo Ann Holt-Caussey, in the grocery store. It was hardly romantic: “We met when I followed her up and down the grocery aisles one Sunday afternoon in 1997, at an Albertson’s in Duncanville where I had a part-time job on weekends to supplement my teaching salary. She finally invited me to church the next Sunday morning, and to her surprise, I showed up. We dated 11 years, and finally married 10 years ago in August.”

Durhl is proud of his three grown children and five grandchildren. His kids are married and have families: Chad Caussey, 43, a chiropractor in Dallas; daughter Erica Caussey Unrau, 40, works in day care; youngest son Christopher 35, teaches American History at Coppell High School and is active in the Republican Party. “Every year we attend the State Convention together,” Durhl says.

What does the future hold? “In 10 years I’ll be 81 years old and hope to stay healthy and live a long, active life.” Durhl plans to keep writing car columns and general interest columns as long as he can and hopes to finish his book in five years and write more.

Maybe his second book will be about a singing cowboy who travels across Texas, teaching students along the way about what a great country it is that they live in.

Judy Porter writes about local heroes and nonprofits. Contact her at judy-porter@sbcglobal.net

Community Volunteer Lola Rodriguez Cares for Others, Earns Full Tuition Scholarship to College

Oak Cliff senior Dolores “Lola” Rodriguez is about to graduate from Bishop Dunne High School and head northwest on a full tuition college scholarship. She will be the first in her family to go to college.

Born in Dallas, she was raised by a single mom, Virginia Aranda, and has two sisters: Celina Aranda, 28, and Sarah Rodriguez, 11; and one brother, Alex Rodriguez, age 13.

Lola has known from childhood what she wanted to be when she grew up: A Pediatrician, to help others, “because of my passion for science and children.”

She’s on her way this fall. Accepted to every college she applied to, she will be attending the University of Dallas on a full tuition scholarship, named after another Bishop Dunne and UD graduate, Deacon Paul Wood, who still works at her high school.

Her back up schools include: Loyola University of Chicago, Texas A&M-Texarkana, Our Lady of the Lake University, Texas Woman’s University, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor, Houston Baptist University, Dallas Baptist University, St. Mary’s University-San Antonio, St. Edward’s University and The University of Oklahoma.

Her goal is to complete her undergrad degree in Biology and head off to Medical school to receive a M.D. degree. She says, “While doing this I will be completing internships, community service, research opportunities, and shadowing different physicians in my desired field at clinics and/or hospitals. I will perform residency in Pediatrics while also conducting research.”

Everyone who knows Lola expects her goals to be achieved just as she has planned. She is extremely dedicated to helping others and says, “Dedication is key because if you offer to help someone, you need to show up. Your passion for service must be joined by your dependability.”

Lola has volunteered the past four years at The North Texas Food Bank and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic School, where she graduated from and where her mother continues to work in the pre-k classroom. Lola says, “My dedication to these two non-profits has been ongoing since I was a freshman: preparing meals at NTFB or tutoring at St. Elizabeth’s--feeding the body and mind; feeding hungry people I may never meet and instructing young children who need a little bit of encouragement to keep learning, get good grades, for a good life.”

Raised by her strong and loving mother, Lola says, “I kept my head held high and listened to my mother’s encouraging words.” Lola learned to rely more on herself and says she has grown to become an independent strong woman.

As she prepares to take her Final Exams, Lola looks forward to her graduation on May 25^th. Her summer will undoubtedly be filled with more service to others, and she may see the new documentary on the Pope, because he is the one famous person she would love to meet.

Ten years from now, “I plan to live in Dallas still and will run my own medical practice here,” she says. But she also plans to manage her time, so she can serve children in third world countries.

Although she says she was shy as a child, she grew bold enough to resurrect the long-defunct Color Guard for her Falcon High School Band two years ago, and even became its Captain this past year. She had no dance experience and just decided to do it because the school's band director mentioned it. That takes guts, determination and enthusiasm. Lola has all three. 

As she heads off to college this fall, Lola is ready to take on the world in a big way: as a role model for her younger brother and sister, as a tutor, as a volunteer to the hungry and, one day soon, a pediatrician in the city of Dallas.

Judy Porter writes about local heroes, non-profits and small businesses in Dallas. Contact her at judy-porter@sbcglobal.net