Don is an avid swimmer, and enjoys hiking and walking the dog in the woods around Clemson. He also enjoys art, biking, golf, and skiing. He is especially looking forward to renewing his interest in sailing on the beautiful lakes in the Clemson area when he retires in May 2017.
Don's wife Lynette House is an accomplished artist. They have two children. Ian is a software engineer in New Hampshire, and Felice is a painter on the faculty of Texas A&M. Ian is married to Gina House and they have given us two grandchildren, Timmy and Ben. Felice's husband is Dana Younger, who has two boys, Jasper and Wiley. He is with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and is one of the principals of the Blue Genie Art Bazaar.
Don is a longtime member of the Bahá'í Faith. The essential teachings of the Bahá'í Faith are that there is one God, one Humankind, and one Religion - promulgated progressively by God to Humankind. Thus, Bahá'ís see religion as evolving, not static, and that God has unfolded this religion to us over the ages to foster a civilization that is continually advancing in its spiritual, moral, and intellectual foundations. The central agent for this unfoldment is the Manifestation of God. In world history the most familiar to us are known by the names Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddah, Zoroaster, Jesus, Mohammed, and most recently the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh.
Just as Christians understand that Jesus came out of Judaeism and provided a new spiritual interpretation to Moses' teachings, and just as Moslems understand that Mohammed illuminated the teachings of Jesus and advanced new laws and spiritual practices, Bahá'ís understand that the Báb and then Bahá'u'lláh have brought a new set of teachings illuminating those of all of the Prophets before them, and that these teachings will form the basis for a new age of Humankind. Bahá'u'lláh teaches that the earth is one country and mankind its citizens, and exhorts us to glory not in this that you love your country, but in this that you love mankind.
In my own personal life, I have been inspired in my work in graphics and visualization by Bahá'u'lláh's' teaching
In this day, whatsoever serveth to reduce blindness and to increase vision is worthy of consideration. This vision acteth as the agent and guide for true knowledge. Indeed, in the estimation of men of wisdom keenness of understanding is due to keenness of vision.And, in the conduct of my work by the admonition
Exert your utmost endeavor that ye may develop such crafts and undertakings that everyone, whether young or old, may benefit therefrom.
Donald H. House