A guy from Prattsville insisted that Chris Cloud, who was from Fort Smith, needed to drive from Arkansas Tech University at Russellville, where he was a student, to meet a girl from Hot Springs who was studying at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. That, of course, was the start of a long-distance relationship.
During the summer of 1990, that guy -- Tim -- had interned at the church Chris' father pastored in Fort Smith. Tim and Chris were childhood friends, both sons of preachers who had gone to church camps and various other church events together. That summer, Tim told Chris about Stephanie Ward, who he had met while studying at OBU.
Chris went down to OBU for a football game that August.
"We met at some event and then we talked later," Stephanie says. "Chris was outgoing and friendly and, of course, cute -- that's what attracted me to him. He was a Christian, so that was a thing, too."
A couple of weeks later, Chris called to ask Stephanie out.
"I drove down to Arkadelphia and I stayed in Tim's dorm room, and we spent, basically, all weekend together."
Every weekend after that, they found a way to be together. Sometimes that meant staying on campus at OBU or ATU, but more often Chris would pick up Stephanie, who had no car, and they would go to his parents' house in Fort Smith or hers in Hot Springs.
"There was just more to do in Fort Smith or Hot Springs," Stephanie says.
Chris is a big sports fan so they traveled to Razorbacks games and other athletic events nearby.
"We always went to church together at our parents' churches, whether we were in Hot Springs or Fort Smith," Chris says.
They played miniature golf, and when they were at Stephanie's house, spent time with her little brother throwing a baseball, playing video games and watching movies. Stephanie's brother is 11 years younger than she, so he was 7 or 8 when they started dating.
"My brothers and I were closer in age," Chris says. "With her being away at college and us coming home on the weekends I think we got in his space a little bit. It was different for me, being around someone younger. That was a challenge sometimes but it was a good experience."
Between weekends, they wrote letters.
"Every day we would mail each other letters. So on Tuesday when I go the mailbox at Tech, I'd have a letter from her, and when she would go to the mailbox at OBU she would have a letter from me," he says.
He woke up at 3:30 a.m. each weekday to go load trucks at UPS, his part-time job, but that didn't stop him from taking advantage of lower long-distance rates so they could talk on the phone after 9 p.m. On Fridays, he would leave Russellville after getting out of class at noon to pick Stephanie up so they could start their weekend together.
On Friday, Nov. 30, they were in Arkadelphia, eating at Western Sizzlin'.
"I was so nervous I was about to throw up," Chris says. "So I just handed her the ring underneath the table and asked her to marry me, at dinner at the Western Sizzlin' in Arkadelphia."
Stephanie was surprised, but only mildly.
"We had talked about marriage and all of that, so I knew it was coming but not exactly when, and not that day, for sure," she says.
She said yes and they hopped in the car and drove to Hot Springs to share the news with Stephanie's parents. The next day they drove to Fort Smith to announce their engagement to Chris' family.
"They were pretty stunned," he says. "But they were very supportive once they learned that this was something we were going to do."
Stephanie's parents noticed early on that her relationship with Chris was unique.
"They said, 'We kind of thought this was the one,'" she says. "They didn't say anything to me about that, though, until after we were engaged."
They exchanged their vows on Aug. 10, 1991, at New Hope Baptist Church in Hot Springs. Tim's father and Chris' father were co-officiants.
Stephanie transferred to Arkansas Tech and got a part-time job in the financial aid office at the college.
They lived in married student housing for a couple of years before moving into an apartment.
Chris still works for UPS and serves as president of the board for the Russellville School District. Stephanie is a branch office administrator with Edward Jones.
They have two children -- Sarah Beth, a junior at Arkansas Tech, and Daniel, a senior at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville. Daniel and his wife, Maegan, were married Saturday, on Jan. 16, after dating for four and a half years.
Chris and Stephanie aren't sure how they would have reacted if their son had announced his engagement after only dating for a few months as they did.
"I guess we probably would have been a little apprehensive," Chris says. "But he's picked a good one. We're very lucky and happy."
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The first time I saw my future spouse:
She says: “He was really friendly. And he has gorgeous blue eyes and a nice smile.”
He says: “I thought, ‘Well, Tim’s right.’”
On our wedding day:
She says: “I just remember looking over and seeing a wedding ring on Chris’ finger and thinking that looked so different. I couldn’t believe we were married finally.”
He says: “It took forever to light the candles in the church. They kept going out and my brother had to go up there with a big lighter and light all the candles.”
My advice for a long happy marriage:
She says: “If you love God it’s easier to love each other.”
He says: “We were both raised in strong faith and faith is a big part of our marriage. Also, stay committed to each other.”