SUMMER 2008 Volume 50 • Number 2 TORCH magazine is the official publication of Lee University, Cleveland, Tennessee. It is intended to inform, educate and give insight to alumni, parents and friends of the university. It is published quarterly and mailed free to all alumni of the university. Other subscriptions are available by calling the alumni office at 423-614-8316. TORCH MAGAZINE Cameron Fisher, editor George Starr, sports editor Bob Fisher, graphic designer WRITERS Susie Battle, Jerome Boone, Kelly Bridgeman, Lindsey Calhoun, Brian Conn, Paul Conn, Missy Colter, Cameron Fisher, CONTENTS Katie Gee, Whitney Hemphill, Jessica Smalley, George Starr, 4 Passing of a President Marcus Whitfield Lee University’s 15th president, PHOTOGRAPHERS Dr. Charles W. Conn, passed away Brian Conn, Cameron Fisher, on March 18, 2008. Read about his life Whitney Hemphill, Johnny Hughes, and his 12 years of leadership of Lee. Shashank Shrestha, George Starr, Robin Tirey, Mike Wesson 8 Commencement 2008 Copyright © 2008 Held both indoors and out, USPS# 016272 Periodicals postage paid at commencement weekend was Cleveland, Tenn. memorable for all. Please send address corrections, letters to the editor and other inquiries to: 12 Construction Abounds Lee University Alumni Office, Three major building projects are at 1120 North Ocoee Street Cleveland, TN 37320-3450. various levels of completion on the www.leeuniversity.edu Lee campus, all made possible by [email protected] the successful Press Toward the Mark campaign. ON THE COVER 24 Baseball to World Series A Giant Passes The Lee Flames baseball club makes Dr. Charles W. Conn served as president of it to the NAIA World Series for the Lee University from second consecutive year. 1970-1982. OPENING THOUGHTS From President Paul Conn Billy Graham Avenue Visitors to our campus will soon see a new and unfamiliar street sign along Ocoee Street. “Billy Graham Avenue” now marks the northern boundary of our campus. The new street name replaces “15th Street” for two blocks— that’s the stretch that runs from the Beach Science Building parking lot on Ocoee eastward to Parker Street. The Cleveland City Council, at the urging of Mayor Tom Rowland, voted in a unanimous 7-0 action to rename the street early this spring, as a way of honoring the legendary Baptist min- ister and recognizing his connection to the Cleveland community. As most Lee alumni already know, Graham lived on Ocoee Street when he was a freshman at Bob Jones College. He was a skinny North Carolina farm boy, just beginning a ministry which would eventually make him one of the most universally admired personalities of the Twentieth Century. In that year in Cleveland, Graham lived in the men’s dormitory which we now call Medlin Hall. He worked in downtown Cleve- Departments land selling shoes at the J.C. Penney store, and his walks back and forth from Medlin Hall to downtown Cleveland were probably little 12 Campus News different from the experience of thousands of Lee students since 23 Faculty Facts 1947, when Lee College bought the campus from Bob Jones. Graham is said to have preached his first sermon 24 Athletics in a small church in Bradley County as a student that year. He decided early that Bob Jones College was 30 Torch Travels not a good fit for him; he was uncomfortable with its narrow brand of fundamentalism, and transferred 30 Who's Where away after one semester. This decision foreshadowed the "big tent" brand of evangelism which would later become a Billy Graham trademark, a welcoming and inclusive style of preaching which brought millions of new believers into the Kingdom over the next half century. For many decades, young Lee College/University ministerial students have wondered exactly which room in Medlin Hall was home to the famous evan- gelist. Billy Graham slept here, but where, exactly? I have been asked the question many times, but we can find no record of Graham's room assignment. Lee University is proud of our connection, howev- er scant, with an individual who embodies so many of the qualities we regard as important. When Mayor Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland, right, and Rowland asked for our support for his initiative to gain official Lee education professor and Cleveland recognition of "Billy Graham Avenue" from the Graham Associa- City Councilman Bill Estes, watch as the tion, we readily agreed. Such permission is not often given by that first of three Billy Graham Ave. signs are organization, and now that it is done, we feel that Cleveland, mounted by City employee Tim Presley. even more than Graham himself, is honored by the new name. Special Feature REMEMBERING CHARLES W. CONN 1920-2008 Charles W. Conn speaks during commencement in the 1970’s. 4 TORCH • Summer 2008 R. CHARLES W. CONN, who served for twelve years as president of Lee College, died in a Chattanooga Dhospital on March 18, four days after suffering a heart attack. He was 88. Conn’s leadership of Lee (1970-82) came during a crucial period of transi- tion between its Bible institute origins and the liberal arts university which it would eventually become. At the time, no other president had served as long as ten years, and thousands of alumni from the 1970’s remember him as a leader with a personal and fatherly style. he met Edna Minor, from Decatur, Charles and Edna After his Alabama, who was like himself a new Conn as newlyweds retirement in convert answering a call to ministry. (above) and at their 1984, Conn and They married in 1941—until her death 50th anniversary. his wife Edna from cancer in 1997—and were parents made their home of twelve children, all of whom also Charles Conn in Cleveland, and attended Lee. the school and the denomination was a as a young remained actively He was honored by his alma mater primary asset to the rapidly evolving minister involved in the in many ways over the years, including institution. As a trusted leader and life of the cam- the awarding of an honorary doctorate, preacher in the church, he persistently pus. He was Lee’s first “president the naming of a new auditorium built promoted his vision of a college which emeritus,” a role which he played with during his tenure (Conn Center, 1978), would prepare students in a wide range great enthusiasm. receiving Lee’s Distinguished Alumnus of academic disciplines without losing Conn was born in Atlanta, Georgia, Award (1960), and the establishment of its commitment to ministerial training in 1920, and attended Lee in 1939 a “servant leadership award” bearing and Bible study. when it was a small ministerial insti- his name (2004). Prior to his tenure as president of tute in Sevierville, Tennessee, called During his presidency, Conn’s skill Lee, Conn served as General Overseer of BTS (Bible Training School). There in managing the relationship between the Church of God (1966-70) and as editor-in-chief of publications for the denomination (1952-62). He was author of Like A Mighty Army, the authorized history of the Church of God, as well as twenty other books, and many people regard his writing and editorial work to be his most significant contributions to his denomination. ▼ The Conn clan circa 1956. This was one of Charles Conn’s favorite family photos. Current Lee University president Paul Conn is in the front row, second from right. TORCH • Summer 2008 5 Special Feature LEE UNIVERSITY: A Family Affair • Charles W. Conn and his wife Edna Minor Conn both attended Lee. • Of their twelve children, all twelve attended Lee. Sixteen of his children and their spouses graduated from Lee. • Thirty-six of their grandchildren and spouses attended Lee. • Their first great-grandchild to reach college age is currently a PROUD FATHER: Charles W. Conn (standing, second from left) with his seven sons, Lee sophomore. (back, l-r) Jeff, Mark, Stephen, Bruce, Phil, (kneeling, l-r) Raymond and Paul Four generations: Dr. Conn (l-r) Charles Brian, brought his Charles Oliver, passionate Charles W. and speaking Charles Paul style to many Lee chapel services over the years. 6 TORCH • Summer 2008 RESOLUTION TO HONOR PRESIDENT EMERITUS CHARLES W. CONN Commencement, May 2008 WHEREAS Charles W. Conn served as President of Lee College from 1970-1982, during the crucial years when Lee’s institutional identity was in transition from a firmly established Bible school to a fledgling liberal arts college WHEREAS he kept Lee faithful to its Christ-centered mission through his passion and respect for the power and authority of Scripture and through his great personal devotion to the Lordship of Christ WHEREAS he preached the Word to the Lee community with intelligence and insight, demonstrating both the possibility and the necessity of loving God with one’s mind WHEREAS he lived out the model of Christian scholarship with vision and passion though his continued research, writing and publishing, serving as a living example of the integration of the life of the spirit and the life of the mind WHEREAS he motivated the emergence of the liberal arts through his love of literature and music and history and empowered the liberal arts faculty through his understanding that pursuit of knowledge in all fields can be faith-affirming since Lee students stand at “all truth is God’s truth” attention in front of Conn WHEREAS he directed the development of a curriculum that would produce compe- Center as the funeral tent Christian professionals to be ministers of God’s grace whether in the pulpit or in procession for Dr. Conn passes through. the classroom or in business or the performing arts or wherever God might lead them WHEREAS he developed the physical campus with the addition of such central features as the Conn Center and Alumni Park and garnered the denomina- tion’s financial support for the construction of the library.