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Ouachita Baptist University Scholarly Commons @ Ouachita The Ouachita Circle: The Alumni Magazine of Ouachita Alumni Ouachita Baptist University Summer 1999 The Ouachita Circle Summer 1999 Ouachita Baptist University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/alumni_mag Part of the Organizational Communication Commons, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons Recommended Citation Ouachita Baptist University, "The Ouachita Circle Summer 1999" (1999). The Ouachita Circle: The Alumni Magazine of Ouachita Baptist University. 46. https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/alumni_mag/46 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Ouachita Alumni at Scholarly Commons @ Ouachita. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Ouachita Circle: The Alumni Magazine of Ouachita Baptist University by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Commons @ Ouachita. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Word from the President ... In the dark moments of life we rely, more than ever, on our faith, our family, and our friends. We've faced a few dark moments at Ouachita this past summer. First, with a touring boat accident in Hot Springs that claimed the life of Melanie McGuirk, secretary for the Elrod Center for Family and Community and the wife of James McGuirk, one of our students; and then the June 1 crash in Little Rock of Flight 1420, in which we lost James Harrison and Rachel Fuller, and in which Kristin Maddox was seriously injured. Those of us on the campus are grateful beyond words for the thousands of expressions oflove and sympathy that have been forwarded to us. Jed McGuirk, the Harrison Family, the Fuller family, and the Maddox family join me in a heartfelt word of thanks for your love and for your prayers. Those most affected by the tragedies have been sustained by faith, family, and friends. Thank you for your unwavering support of Ouachita. 'The PRESIDENT Andrew W estmoreland B OARD OF TRUSTEES UACHITA IRCLE • • • ••••••••••••••••••• • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Clarence Anthony The Alumni Magazine of Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, AR Vol. 2, 1999 Augusta Koen Boatright Cotton Cordell Stephen Davis Bill Elliff Jeral Hampton Jack Hazlewood John L. Heflin, Jr. RexM. Horne Johnny Jackson Bernice Young Jones Larry Kircher W esley Kluck Richard Lusby John E. Miller Don Moore Pauline Morrow Elizabeth Pruet Paul Sanders Bryan E. Smith John R. Stipe William H. "Buddy" Sutton Mike Vinson Gene Whisenhunt CHANCELLOR Ben M. Elrod DEVELOPMENT STAFF Joe Franz, Vice President for Development John Cloud, Associate Vice President for Estate and Gift Planning Focused on faith 2-3 Bryan McKinney, General Counsel and Development Officer On the evening of June 1, the Ouachita Singers were involved in Ellis Leagans, Dir. ofChu rch Campaign the crash of American Airlines flight 1420 in Little Rock. The Deborah Root, Dir. ofDev. Publications group was returning from aconcert tour in Germany and Austria. FoRMER STUDENTS Associ ATION ADVISORY BoARD Bruce Tippit, President Junanne Reynolds Brown, • AN INSIDE LooK• 1st Vice President Larry Frisby, 2nd Vice President, Development News 8 Wesley Kluck, Tiger N etwork Chair A rkansas Advisors: Olevia Deere Babb, Craig Campbell, Faculty /Staff News 10 Suzanne Duke Franklin, Larry Root, Lynn Bradley Campus News 14 Out-of-State Advisors: Brad Rountree, Polly Nation Tuttle, Sports News 18 Cindy Ritchie W alker, Bill Vining,Jr., Martin Babb, Sharon Kluck Townsend Alumni News 20 The Ouachita Circle is a publication of Ouachita Baptist University, Memorials 22 OBU Box 3762, Arkadelphia, AR 71998-0001· Phone 870-245-5000 (marriages, births, deaths) Alumni E-mail: [email protected] Class Notes 20 Randy Garner, Assistant to the President for Enrollment Management The Financial Adviser A-C and Director ofA lumni Affairs Deborah Root, Director of • • Donor Recognition 37 Development Publications, Editor ••••••••••••••••••••••• Jeff Root, Assistant to the President for Public Relations On the Cover: Kristin Maddox performs with the Ouachita Mac Sisson, Asst. Dir. ofPublic Relations Singers. Kristin was injured in the crash ofAmerican Airlines Bettie Duke, Alumni/ flight 1420. Ouachita lost two of its family members, Assistant Director ofTiger Network Printed by Twin City Printing and Litho, Inc. James Harrison and Rachel Fuller, in the accident. ----. On the evening of June 1, what had been a life-changing mission abroad became a life-and-death mission played out at home and broadcast for the world to see. The Singers did not escape tragedy that night, but their faith in God provided a strong witness worldwide. ocuse __ _ ON ail 2 ·Focused on Faith ------ ~ocused oN ~aith Before the high winds of the hours behind schedule, flight 1420 runway at more than 90 miles-per­ thunderstorm, before the wheels ran took offfrom Dallas/Fort Worth hour, heading downhill toward the off the runway, before the impact International Airport late in the Arkansas River. with the light support tower, before evening. Although the official cause The collision with a runway light the fire, smoke, hail and rain, it had of the crash has yet to be determined, support tower surely saved many already been a life-changing trip. flight 1420 arrived in Little Rock lives since it stopped the plane just That's what Charles Fuller hopes simultaneously with a thunderstorm. yards from the river, but it also people will come to understand when Richard Buschmann, a veteran pilot killed Buschmann and five of the they think about the Ouachita for American, circled the airport, and passengers, broke the plane in ingers and the crash of American then determined he could land. pieces, and started an intense fire. Airlines flight 1420. It was one of the With a cross-wind buffeting the Three others, seated near the fire, things Fuller prayed for as he and plane, the MD-82 bounced at least died quickly of injuries and smoke his daughters, Becky and inhalation. For the remaining "I didn't want the remarkable story Sarah, were taken away from 136, survival meant getting off e crash site with other of our trip to be hidden in this the plane quickly, thus avoid­ .survivors in an old school bus. tragedy, but I did want the cause of ing the fire and thick smoke . He also prayed for the Singers Christ to be furthered by our Tad Hardin, a member of and for his wife, Cindy, and response. Our students responded so the Singers who was gradu­ ~ eir daughter, Rachel, who wonderfully with their own stories ated in May, remembered the ere already on the way to a of faith that were broadcast scene. ~p ita l in an ambulance. literally around the world." "When the plane stopped, On the evening of June 1, · Charles Fuller we were immediately aware hat had been a life-changing that both fire and fuel were · sion abroad became a life­ present. You begin thinking d-death mission played out that the plane is likely to blow ~ home and broadcast for the and it's just a matter of .-orld to see. The Singers did whether you're going to be escape tragedy that night, inside or outside when it their faith in God provided happens. You want to hurry, =:trong witness worldwide. but you don't want to run over '"I didn't want the remark­ anybody in the process. We le story of our trip to be also had to walk toward the 'dden in this tragedy, but I fire to get out (the emergency · d want the cause of Christ to exit door above the right wing, • The Singers perform in Nachterstedt furthered by our response," where Fuller was helping 'd Fuller , director of the Ouachita twice and then its wheels began to people out), so you're figuring that ers. "Our students responded so roll. The passengers could tell, getting burned is a real possibility. nderfully with their own stories of though, that the brakes weren't Most of the fear disappeared for me 'th that were broadcast literally taking hold and that the plane when I made it to the wing. Going around the world." wasn't slowing. Then they could tell through the (emergency exit door) •ght 1420 that at least one wheel had left the was a tremendously liberating The Ouachita Singers were side of the runway. feeling," said Hardin. into Little Rock at the conclu­ A flight attendant yelled, Hardin later told the press that of a three-week mission trip to "Brace!" it was the voice of Fuller and his Ge-many and Austria. Already two Flight 1420 left the end of the • continued on page 4 Focused on Faith · 3 ~ocused oN ~aifh silhouette at the door which re­ What Fuller couldn't have smoke. He also went to the cockpit, assured him that order could be known is that James didn't leave at where Michael Origel, the co-pilot, maintained and that the group could that point. Continuing to search for was still strapped in, unable to move be saved. Fuller opened the emer­ passengers who needed help, with badly injured legs. He and gency door and stood on the wing, Harrison eventually succumbed to other passengers helped Origel to helping each person step through. the toxic smoke and died in the aisle safety. His was perhaps the first of ------------------------------------ In contrast to "I was so proud of everyone. what would be many stories of Hollingsworth, Misha Perkins heroism among the Ouachita People were looking for a calm isn't tall and strong. Her Singers. person to help calm them down. ability to lift and carry is Heroes and Heroines Many in our group were able to be limited, and her The stories of the choir that calm person, as were some of nightblindness prevented her members were told on CBS, the other passengers.

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