7 0 0 2 l l a F How Samford Recruits Page 4 Homecoming Oct. 18 –21 Page 30 S N O S features A E S 4 Reaching 5,000 Enrollment Samford’s strategic planning process determined that 5,000 students—or about 500 more than are currently enrolled—is the university’s optimum. President Andrew Westmoreland and Dean of Admission Phil Kimrey talk about reaching that goal and other aspects of the admission process in this question-and-answer feature. 8 1957–58: The First Year Samford moved to its long-awaited new campus in Shades Valley 50 years ago this fall. Seasons looks back at an eventful—and rainy—first year in this salute to the golden anniversary of the Lakeshore Drive location, which ties in with this year’s homecoming theme. 12 Master Salesman Board chairman Frank Park Samford asked James A. Head to lead fund-raising for Samford’s new Shades Valley campus because he considered Head the best salesman in the state. Head not only met that challenge, but he also chaired the cornerstone committee for the first campus building, Samford Hall. Now a chipper 102, he still visits the campus regularly. 34 Alumni of the Year Samford will honor Senate aide Carol Guthrie, renowned cardiologist George Irons, Jr., retired religion professor Sigurd Bryan and insurance executive Walter Barnes as 2007 Alumni of the Year at homecoming. Seasons profiles these outstanding graduates. 2 From the President 30 Homecoming Plans 3 Samford Report and Schedule 14 Where Are They Now? 38 Class Notes Wayne Atcheson 41 Births 16 Calendar 43 In Memoriam 18 Campus Update 46 Sports 20 Spotlight: Hull Legacy 47 Giving 21 Arts and Sciences 48 With Appreciation Newsletter Front cover: Samford Marching Band percussionist Evelyn Stagnaro of Annapolis, Md., performs during a rainy Bulldog football opener in Seibert Stadium Aug. 30. The band has new uniforms and is larger than ever, but still has instrument needs. See page 19. Samford’s new 600-car parking deck across from Vail EDIITOR and Smith halls is easing parking congestion on campus. Wiilllliiam Nunnelllley ASSOCIIATE EDIITOR Mary Wiimberlley CONTRIIBUTIING WRIITERS Jack Brymer,, Sean Fllynt,, Phiilliip Poolle, DIIRECTOR OF CREATIIVE SERVIICES Janiica York Carter DESIIGNERS Scott Camp,, Carlliie Stamper COPY EDIITOR Laiine Wiilllliiams PHOTOGRAPHY Carolliine Baiird Summers Ann Wade Parriish ALUMNII ASSOCIIATIION OFFIICERS 2006–07 PRESIIDENT Mark Daviidson ’’92 VIICE PRESIIDENT Greg Powellll ’’81 SECRETARY Martha Ann Cox ’’60 IIMMEDIIATE PAST PRESIIDENT Tom Armstrong ’’73 Fallll 2007 Voll.. 24 No.. 3 Publliicatiion Number:: USPS 244-800 Seasons iis publliished quarterlly by Samford Uniiversiity,, 800 Lakeshore Driive,, Biirmiingham,, Allabama 35229,, and iis diistriibuted free to allll allumnii of the uniiversiity,, as wellll as to other friiends.. Periiodiicall postage paiid at Biirmiingham,, Allabama.. Postmaster:: send address changes to Samford Uniiversiity Allumnii Offiice,, Samford Uniiversiity,, Biirmiingham,, Allabama 35229.. ©2007 Samford Uniiversiity Samford Uniiversiity iis an Equall Opportuniity IInstiitutiion and wellcomes applliicatiions for emplloyment and educatiionall programs from allll iindii- viidualls regardlless of race,, collor,, age,, sex,, diisabiilliity,, or natiionall or ethniic oriigiin.. www..samford..edu [email protected] Produced by Samford Offiice of Communiicatiion T The mountains of Jordan rise beyond the Dead N Sea. Inset structures: The treasury at Petra (top) E D and Roman ruins at Jerash I S E R P E H T M O R F Making a Difference in Jordan and Beyond “J ordan is a museum.” The words from our host rang true as I looked out over the ancient hills of Amman in late August. My wife, Jeanna, and I were there with John Harris of the Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies to provide a week of training for teachers and administrators at the Amman Baptist School [ABS]. Samford enjoys a strong partnership with the ABS, bolstered by the fact that the principal, Suha Jouaneh Shahin, is one of our distinguished graduates. The ABS has received national recognition in Jordan for its focus on student learning, and several members of the Samford faculty have made the trek to Amman in recent years to play a role in the school’s success. Even so, we remarked during our visit that we were the true beneficiaries in the exchange. Everywhere, in every conversation, history came alive. From the panorama of the Dead Sea, to the Roman ruins at Jerash, to the treasury at Petra (where I had a chance encounter with friends from Arkansas), we understood that the country is, indeed, a museum. But we also saw that Jordan is a nation on the move, destined by geography and culture to play an increasingly important role on the world stage. In Amman and in other cities across Jordan, Samford graduates are making a positive difference in education, health care, business and ministry. The world continues to be a better place because of a relatively small institution in Birmingham, where expectations are exceeded every day. As always, please keep Samford in your prayers. Andrew Westmoreland President Dr. Andrew Westmoreland, left, and Dr. Jeanna Westmoreland, right, visit with principals of the Amman Baptist School in Jordan. The principals are, from left, Ibtissam Ghanna, elementary school; Demah Haddadin, kindergarten; Nora Nemri, high school; and Fatin Haddad, middle school. 2 D R T R O Four Professors O F P Named Fulbright E R M D A Scholars for 2007 –08 R S O our Samford University professors F M rep ort A were awarded Fulbright Scholar F S grants to lecture and conduct research at universities in Tunisia, Ecuador, Ukraine Samford Ranks High and China during the 2007–08 academic year. This is the first year in which more than one Samford professor has received Among National Universities a Fulbright award. hen Samford was reclassified U.S. News & World Report bases its Dr. Mary McCullough, associate as a national doctoral research rankings on the Carnegie Foundation professor of French, received a 10- W university last year, the ques - for the Advancement of Teaching classi - month award to teach and research in tion in the minds of many was: How will fications, noted Sarah C. Latham, Tunisia. She will teach English classes this affect rankings? Samford assistant to the president who in literature, research methods, The answer came in mid-August, oversees the Office of Institutional advanced writing and film at the when U.S. News & World Report released Effectiveness. She explained that U.S. University of Tunis-II at Al Manar. She its 2008 list of America’s best colleges. In News & World Report uses several factors will research reverse migration of its first year of competition against the to determine the rankings, including Tunisians and stereotypes that colonists best national universities in America, academic achievement of entering had when Tunisia was a French pro- Samford ranked number 118 of 262 students, graduation rates, freshman tectorate (1881–1954). institutions. That placed Samford in the class retention, class size, faculty/student Dr. Perry Tompkins, professor of second of four tiers of national doctoral ratio and alumni giving. physics, will teach in Ecuador during research institutions. The national ranking will have an the fall term. He will teach workshops Samford was the only private insti - immediate and positive impact for the and courses on computer instrumen- tution in Alabama in the national uni - university’s alumni, according to Mark tation and data acquisition at the versities category, and one of only three Davidson ’92 of Mobile, Ala., president University of Cuenca College of institutions in the state to rank as high as of the Samford Alumni Association. Engineering. the second tier. The University of “This unexpected and very high Robert Greene, professor in Alabama was ranked at number 91 and ranking makes everyone aware of what Samford’s Cumberland School of Law, Auburn University at 96. Samford alumni already knew, and that will teach at the Odessa National Samford previously was ranked is the value of a Samford degree,” Academy of Law in Ukraine during the among master’s level universities in the Davidson said. “This further affirms the spring of 2008. He will teach a course South but was reclassified as a national quality of education that Samford in comparative environmental law. university in 2006 because of the diver- alumni have received and that Samford Deborah Young, also a professor of sity of undergraduate and graduate students continue to receive.” law, will serve as a lecturer in law at degrees offered. Samford was one of 18 One Samford leader not surprised Xiamen University in Xiamen, China. institutions reclassified as national by the high ranking is Faculty Senate She will teach evidence and criminal doctoral research universities. Chair Don T. Sandley. He noted that the procedure to graduate law students. Last year, Samford awarded more ranking is just one of the many indices Her 10-year old daughter, Kate, will than 450 doctoral and professional measuring Samford’s success. accompany her. Young first visited degrees in divinity, education, law and “This latest ranking confirms what China in 1978 as a recipient of the pharmacy. Samford also is recognized for we all have known for quite some Corning Traveling Fellowship. its active and growing undergraduate time—that Samford’s reach is national In addition, Samford graduate research program. and even global,” said Sandley, chair of Anna Swindle ’07 received a Fulbright “This significant national recog- Samford’s theatre department. “We have student grant for overseas experience as nition confirms what the Samford always exceeded expectations, and now a teaching assistant in Malaysia during community has known—that Samford those expectations will be even higher 2008. University provides a top-level edu- because the bar has been raised.” The Fulbright program was estab - cation,” said Samford Provost and Among other peer groups, Samford lished in 1946 to build mutual under - Executive Vice President J.