Don Stephens of Lindale is the founder, president, and CEO emeritus of Mercy Ships; an organization that deploys hospital ships all over the world to bring state-of-the-art medical care to those in need. He is a graduate of Colorado Mesa University, where he was named as a Distinguished Alumni and Entrepreneur of the Year. He was also nominated for a Congressional Gold Medal in 2017. He and his wife, Deyon, attend Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler. They have four children.