HPUMC’s Rev. Rasmussen Honored as SMU Distinguished Alumni

There has always been a pull between Highland Park United Methodist Senior Minister Rev. Paul Rasmussen and SMU, and on October 30, he was awarded the school’s highest alumni honor.

Rev. Rasmussen received the SMU Distinguished Alumni Award, presented annually to a select group of alumni whose accomplishments and character exemplify the mission and values of the university. The award “recognizes leaders for their extraordinary achievements, outstanding character, and good citizenship.” The honor came by surprise—beginning with a letter he didn’t initially think was meant for him.

“I got a letter in the mail from Dr. (R. Gerald) Turner, president of SMU, and I’m on the board, so I get mail frequently,” Rev. Rasmussen recalled. “I opened it, and I thought it was for another Paul, so I kind of read fast. And then I got about halfway down, and there was some clue there it was me he was talking about, so I backed up and started over.”

Backing up and starting over is a theme in Rev. Rasmussen’s life and relationship with SMU. His SMU journey first began as an undergraduate managing the basketball team—a role that ultimately led him to college basketball coaching. When he later followed the call to ministry, SMU was the home that welcomed him back.

“I had a second chance years later, in 2000, at Perkins,” Rev. Rasmussen said. “So that was kind of cool, because I had a wonderful experience to finish up at Centenary, but yeah, I was always a little bit jealous, envious of my buddies that were still back here in Dallas that did finish up (at SMU). I remember coming to their graduation and thinking, ‘Man, I wish I was here.’ And so, to get that second shot was pretty cool.”

Rev. Rasmussen was named to SMU’s Board of Trustees shortly after becoming HPUMC’s senior minister. Even then, he said it took time to feel like he belonged. When he found out he was receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award, some of those same feelings returned.

“I thought, ‘Oh, man, they must have run out of people to give it to,’ because I don't feel distinguished at all,” he said. “And if I am, it's simply because of the church. The platform of the church has been distinguished, and I just happened to be part of a great church.”

The relationship between SMU and HPUMC is historic and unusually long-lasting. SMU originally gifted the land on which the church was built, and the two institutions have remained close partners ever since—a rarity among universities with religious origins, many of which have drifted away from their founding churches.

That partnership reflects John Wesley’s belief that both knowledge and vital piety are essential to a vibrant Christian life. SMU provides knowledge; the church provides the vital piety. Many of HPUMC’s clergy and staff have come through SMU’s Perkins School of Theology, and HPUMC has supported Perkins students through scholarships.

“This church matters to the university, and the university matters to the church in a lot of ways,” Rev. Rasmussen said. “... That's really meaningful to see this church reciprocate and give back.”

So when he accepted the award, Rev. Rasmussen felt HPUMC was being honored along with him.

“I looked around the room, and there was a huge percentage of church people there, and I thought, ‘I hope they feel good about their church as well,’” Rev. Rasmussen said. “I felt like the church got something out of the award, too. That they felt like a partner in me receiving it, and I thought that was kind of cool.”

Rev. Rasmussen’s journey with SMU has spanned decades, from his early undergraduate days to leading HPUMC and serving on the Board of Trustees. His recognition not only honors his personal achievements but also highlights the enduring partnership between the church and the university. The Distinguished Alumni Award stands as a testament to that shared mission—one that continues to shape both institutions and the people they serve.

“For some reason, SMU has always had a very strong gravitational pull on my life,” Rev. Rasmussen said. “... I didn't sit around with a desire to go back to SMU, but I've always felt that allure of that pull, and how the opportunity at theology school pulled me right back in. And what I said was that every time it's pulled me back in, it's given me meaning and purpose, and it's given me exposure to tremendous people and great opportunities.”