The Crandall University Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) banquet is an annual event which is held to recognize outstanding alumni who have lived their lives as excellent representatives of Crandall in the world. Each year’s recipient(s) are selected from nominations received from the alumni community and approved by the University Senate.
This year, Distinguished Alumni Awards were presented on Friday, June 12, 2026 to Rev. Dr. Frank Guinta Jr. (’66) and posthumously to Rev. Dr. Richard C. Thomas (’67).
Rev. Dr. Frank Guinta Jr. ’66
Frank was born in Campbellton, NB and raised in a military family in Quebec, and Nova Scotia. He is the oldest of four children born to Frank Guinta Sr. and Lena (Hamilton) Guinta. He completed his high school education and studied Bible at the United Baptist Bible Training School,graduating in 1966.
Following a further year of study and completing work in a student pastorate in Grangeville, NB, Frank began his undergraduate degree in Religious Studies and Political Science at Acadia University, graduating in 1972. Feeling a call to further his preparation for pastoral ministry, Frank entered Acadia Divinity College, graduating in 1975 with a Master of Divinity Degree.
Following several years serving churches, he pursued doctoral studies at the North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA, graduating in 1998 with a Doctor of Ministry degree. Frank was ordained within the United Baptist Convention of the Atlantic Provinces (now CBAC) on September 9, 1975, at First Baptist Church, Dartmouth, NS.
He pastored churches in Dartmouth, NS, Don Mills, ON and Edmonton, AB. Frank served as a Regional Minister for Baptist Churches in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland from 2003 -2011,retiring to minister as an Intentional Interim Minister for churches seeking pastoral leadership.
Frank is married to Donna Jean (MacArthur) and in August they will celebrate their 56th Anniversary. Together they celebrate their children, Jonathan and Julia (Jesse), and their grandchildren, Owen and Mateah.
Rev. Dr. Richard C. Thomas ’67
Rick was born in Saint John, NB on January 2, 1946, the oldest child of Bernice and Francis Thomas. He had two brothers, Stewart and Kenny and a sister, Carolyn. His early childhood was spent on Grand Manan Island but later his family moved to the Saint John area.
He came to faith as a boy of nine, felt called to ministry in his teens and began his educational journey first at United Baptist Bible Training School to finish High School, then on to Acadia University for a Bachelor of Arts (1971), a Master of Divinity (1973), and finally a Doctor of Ministry (1997).
He was ordained in 1973, and after teaching at Atlantic Baptist College for three years, served several New Brunswick Baptist churches: Weldon and Salem, Brown’s Flat, Lincoln, Petitcodiac and Steeves Mountain. In retirement he regularly assisted at First Moncton Baptist Church by leading services.
He served as President of the United Baptist Convention of the Atlantic Provinces from 1999-2000.
In addition, he worked as the Baptist Chaplain at The Moncton Hospital and The Georges Dumont Hospital (2000-2010) and taught again at Crandall University from 2000-2019.
Rick was a faithful father, husband, pastor and friend. He was obedient to God’s call on his life and accepting of the refining work of the Holy Spirit. He was grateful for a multitude of blessings, the most precious by far, his four sons and three grandchildren.
