Publishedfor Alumni and Friends ofthe University ofthe South Winter 1993 Light Fall: Paintings and Poetry by Edward Carlos ' Illuminating the 'Dark Ages SEWANEEJOURNAL I drove through the uct is known throughout the SEWANEE Asbayou country of South world is immensely satisfying. Winter 1993 Louisiana to interview "It's fun to know that when you Paul Mcllhenny, C'67, I remem- have a party in New York, Peter Stephen Becker, Director of Public Relations bered stories from my childhood Jennings and Bryant Gumbel are Robert Bradford. Editor about the pepper sauce that coming by to see you because Joe Romano, Staff Writer Mary E. Henry. C'93, Class Notes Editor Paul's family has produced for they're devout Tabasco sauce Robert Ingram, C'93. Intern the last 125 years. fans," he says. "And our sales base My father used to talk about a continues to expand. We just got Associated Alumni Officers man from the small town where our second order from Russia. N. Pendleton Rogers, C'72, President he grew up in Texas. During the We're going into Belarussia, John W. Tonissen Jr., C'70, Vice President for Planned Giving Depression, this man would offer Georgia, and the Ukraine. Jack Blackwell, C'44, National Chairman to drink an entire bottle of Through our agent in Hong the Annual Fund for Tabasco sauce, teaspoon by tea- Kong, we're into China. How Elizabeth McDonough Howick, C'81, spoon, for $5. He would occa- these people can afford Tabasco Vice President for Admission sionally get a taker, my father sauce at $2 or $3 a bottle, I don't The Rev. Henry N. Parsley Jr., C'7(), Vice President for Church Relations said, and slowly and methodically know." The Rev. Dr. James K. Yeary. C'64, T'69, he would drink the bottle. To- Mcllhenny says he had no D.Min. '89, Vice the Presidentfar ward the end, tears would run idea that he would be helping to School of Theology out of his eyes. But it was the De- lead an international company Janet A. Kibler, C'80. Vice President for pression, and was a lot of when he was studying political Career Sen/ices $5 H.W. "Yogi" Anderson III. C'72, money then. science at Sewanee 25 years ago. Executive Director As I grew up in Southern Cali- But he says the lessons that he fornia, we had some neighbors learned on the Mountain have from Louisiana. The matriarch been invaluable in his role as vice Photography: Stephen Alvarez, C'87, Lyn of the family had a strange of president for the that Hutchinson, Charley Watkins, way company T'90 disciplining her children when produces the world's most fa- Design: Dick Posan, Two P's they talked back to her. She mous pepper sauce. would have them open their "We're a relatively small com- Sewanee magazine is published mouths, and then she would pany so we often have to cross quarterly by the University of the a of sauce disciplinary lines of traditional South, including the College of pour drop Tabasco on Arts and Sciences and the School their tongues. It never really business management. I get in- of Theology, and is distributed cured her problems, but it got volved in varying degrees in mar- without charge to alumni, parents, her children's attention. keting, production, trademark- faculty, and friends of the Tabasco sauce has created a ing, and sales," he says. "My University. Copyright ©1993 kind of folklore in America and strong liberal arts education has Sewanee magazine. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Send address abroad. Its influence has been allowed me to communicate changes to University of the South, subtle but pervasive. It's been well, to cross those traditional Office of University Relations, 735 mentioned in cartoon strips business lines with ease." University Ave, Sewanee TN 37375- ranging from Blondie to the Wiz- —RB 1000. ard of Id. Tiny bottles are stan- dard issue in the meals of every American soldier. In the late 19th century. Lord Kitchener brought it with him on his relief expedition to the Sudan. In the late 20th century, when astro- nauts aboard the Skylab space station complained that their food was too bland, NASA sent up Tabasco sauce. For Paul Mcllhenny, being a part of a company whose prod- CONTENTS Illuminating the 'Dark Ages ' The Sezvanee Mediaeval Colloquium sheds light on a largely misunderstood historical period LiglitFall Fine arts professor Edward, Carlos translates a m* mystijyi?ig experience into art In the Land of Tabasco Sauce Paul McRJienny, C'67, helps lead afamily-owned company which has produced an American iconfor more than a century Departments I Vice-Chancellor's Corner On the Mountain Alumni Affairs On the cover: The worfd 's mostfamous pepper sauce. Developments Illustration courtesy ofMdlhenny Company Sports | Theology VICE-CHANCELLOR'S CORNER A DAY IN THE LIFE Fear when a siren wails, discusses issues of local concern. collegiate institution. We are OF THE 'MAYOR complaints about gar- These meetings provide a committed to ensuring that this chance to review the community atmosphere remains as undis- OF SEWANEE' bage pickup, a cable sys- tem that goes blank at the most services budget (most of which turbed as possible. inopportune time, the provision goes for fire and police protec- Yet, we also know some of emergency services for resi- tion), and to approve contracts change must come. We need a dents, a community recycling for garbage service. Other new elementary school building, program, whether there can be agenda items in recent years some of the housing for our more restaurant opportunities: have included the quality of older residents needs improve- these are not the normal con- cable television service, the estab- ment, summer recreational pro- cerns of most college or univer- lishment of a recycling program, grams for young people require sity presidents. But at Sewanee location of a county landfill, traf- expansion (the sport and fitness they form a part of the vice- fic regulations, leasehold rules, center will help with this), day- chancellor's agenda, a function and the land use study: Domain care needs will require more sus- of the University's status as owner 2020. tenance, and the welfare of our of nearly 10,000 acres. Since the In its work, the council has senior citizens deserves more University's inception, these du- been assisted by the vice presi- emphasis. In all of this we seek to ties have given the vice- dent for business and commu- enhance the quality of life for chancellor's job a special role in nity relations, a new position cre- those who work and teach at the the enhancement and quality of ated in 1988. Dr. Tom Kepple, University, or who have done so life on the Domain. who holds this position, func- in the past. In this way we assure In earlier days, the University tions as a town manager. He the continuing dedication of a attempted to provide everything: deals with day-to-day operational highly trained staff and welcome water, police, fire protection, and issues that affect community life. others who move to Sewanee. we even operated a farm. Over Some of the recent issues have Some features of our commu- Since the University s the decades some of these re- been beautification of the busi- nity life deserve special mention. sponsibilities have been priv- ness district, new signs for streets, The Fourth of July celebration inception, the vice- atized, put under other supervi- the location of new lots for home will stir the soul and heart of any- sion, or discontinued. Elk River construction, traffic patterns, one who comes to see America's chancellor has had a supplies the natural gas, Duck and the operation of emergency birthday celebrated; the commu- River Electric the lights. South services. Emergency services are nity clean-up days with towns- Central Bell the phone system, given special attention by Profes- people and students working to special role in the and the Sewanee Utility District sor of Religion Gerald Smith, improve the appearance of the the water and sewer service. Still. and these services rank—thanks Domain will buttress your faith in enhancement and the University remains respon- to the professional staff and the idealism and commitment. The sible for fire and police protec- devoted time of students, staff, presence of excellent medical fa- faculty, community cilities and highly trained doc- quality of life on the tion, and continues to negotiate and mem- contracts for garbage removal. bers—among the best in the tors provides reassurance to all state. Helping Kepple in his work those who live within the gates. Domain. The cost of these services is shared between the University has been a trustee Committee on This facet of the vice-chancellor's (83 percent) and the local lease- Community Relations, chaired responsibilities, while perhaps holders (17 percent). In addi- by John Caldwell, which meets hidden from many of you, re- tion, the leaseholders who own twice a year to discuss issues and mains one of the most important homes pay a property tax to provide a forum for views. The and most satisfying; the people Franklin County for the assessed work of this committee has been who live here are, just as the value of their homes; the land, of great value to all of us. place itself, special. which is leased, is considered in Sewanee remains a place this assessment. where crime is infrequent, where <>ZLu~l0 l/w Since the 1960s, a Commu- children can cycle to the public nity Council has advised the vice- school, where cars routinely re- chancellor on community mat- main unlocked, and where ters.