Ouachita Baptist University Scholarly Commons @ Ouachita Alumni Magazine Ouachita Alumni Summer 2011 The Ouachita Circle Summer 2011 Ouachita Baptist University Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/alumni_mag Recommended Citation University, Ouachita Baptist, "The Ouachita Circle Summer 2011" (2011). Alumni Magazine. Book 9. http://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/alumni_mag/9 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 Alumni Magazine by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Commons @ Ouachita. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SUMMER 2011 MILESTONES Exploring the world of 1886 Presidential reflections OBU memories & milestones “Direction is more important I distinctly remember walking into my second floor dorm room in Francis Crawford East freshman year after gracious WOW leaders had unloaded my than speed. We are so busy minivan full of “essentials.” Eager and anxious, I had no idea how significant my looking at our speedometers that next four years would be and how many important milestones I would pass on my way to shaking Dr. Horne’s hand at commencement on Cone-Bottoms lawn. we forget the milestone.” Unknown As we begin another academic year at Ouachita, that same sense of excitement is undeniably present. Athletic teams have hit the practice fields, upperclassmen are getting settled in coveted apartments and Student Village suites and a new class of Tigers is on its way. Looking ahead to the many events planned to celebrate Ouachita’s 125th “It’s when ordinary people rise anniversary, this year marks an important milestone in the university’s history. above the expectations and seize As we take time to appreciate our past and how it has shaped Ouachita as an institution (Dr. Jeff Root takes us back to the world of 1886 on page 4), OBU’s the opportunity that milestones continuing impact and vision for the future is also at the forefront of our minds. truly are reached.” Gov. Mike Huckabee President Horne reflects on Ouachita’s commitment to its ideals in his closing column, saying, “Often I have driven by Dr. Conger’s grave and wondered what the good president would think of the college he founded and loved. I believe he would be proud that we are still Ouachita, Baptist and an incredible university.” This issue of The Ouachita Circle celebrates other important university “In America, every day is a new milestones such as Dr. Horne’s 5th anniversary at Ouachita, the graduation of yet another class of difference makers and the retirement of well-loved beginning, and every sunset is professors. It also offers a glimpse into Ouachita Voices, our commemorative merely the latest milestone on a history book due out in September. voyage that never ends.” Trennis Henderson, VP for Communications, served as editor of the book and says President Ronald Reagan in its introduction, Voices “seeks to capture the spirit of the Ouachita experience through the eyewitness reflections of Ouachitonians from across the years.” So many times when Ouachitonians are asked what makes this place special, “the people” is their answer. It is not the bricks and mortar, the river or even “I look at victory as milestones our beloved Tiger, but rather the people—the Ouachita community—that set it apart. Ouachita Voices not only celebrates many significant milestones in on a very long highway.” the university’s 125-year history, but perhaps more importantly celebrates the Joan Benoit Samuelson, personal memories and milestones of Ouachitonians themselves. first women’s Olympic marathon champion I believe this is why Class Notes continues to be the most popular section of The Circle. We want to celebrate those personal milestones with our friends: the weddings, promotions, babies and anniversaries. So, go ahead, flip to Class Notes to check on your classmates, but then turn back and take a few minutes to appreciate Ouachita’s storied past and bright future. There are many milestones yet to come. “Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God; Rebuild the ancient landmarks!” Psalms 25:6 Brooke (Showalter) Zimny (’08) Assistant Director of Communications President Rex M. Horne, Jr. Vice President for Communications Editor Trennis Henderson Assistant Director of Communications Associate Editor Brooke Zimny Vice President for Institutional Advancement Wesley Kluck Director of Alumni Lauren Land Assistant Director of Alumni Programs Julia Thompson The Ouachita Circle is a publication of Ouachita Baptist University’s alumni and 4 7 9 communications offices. Send address changes and class notes to: Ouachita Alumni Office 410 Ouachita St., OBU Box 3762 2 Celebrating OBU@125 Arkadelphia, AR 71998-0001 Trennis Henderson, vice president for communications, shares a few excerpts from the new E-mail: [email protected] university history, Ouachita Voices: Celebrating 125 Years of Academic & Christian Excellence. Phone: 870-245-5506 Contact the Communications Office: E-mail: [email protected] 4 Exploring the world of 1886 Phone: 870-245-5208 Dr. Jeff Root, dean of the School of Humanities, takes a look at life in 1886—including the Printed by TCPrint Solutions in North Little debut of Coca-Cola, the dedication of the Statue of Liberty and the founding of Ouachita. Rock, Ark. Cover photo by Dr. Wesley Kluck, vice president for institutional advancement 6 Presidential reflections th Board of Trustees As Ouachita celebrates its 125 anniversary, President Rex Horne is marking his fifth Curtis Arnold Mollie Morgan anniversary of university leadership. He reflects on both milestones in a Q&A session. Phil Baldwin Betty F. Oliver Clay Conly J.D. Patterson Julie Dodge Ken Shaddox Jay Heflin Phillip W. Smith 7 Commencement celebration Frank Hickingbotham Rita Spillyards University officials conferred 263 degrees on Ouachita’s graduating class of 2011. The May 14 Craig Jenkins William H. Sutton commencement on the lawn of Cone-Bottoms Hall featured more than 100 honor graduates. Taylor King Jeff Teague Larry Kircher Susan Wamble Richard Lusby John C. Ward Terri Mardis Gene Whisenhunt 9 From Miss OBU to Miss Arkansas Joe Bill Meador Gus Williamson Miss Ouachita Baptist University Kristen Glover, a 2011 OBU graduate, was crowned Miss Chancellor Ben M. Elrod Arkansas 2011 this summer. Her platform highlights the importance of mentoring. President Emeritus Daniel R. Grant Ouachita Alumni Advisory Board President Rick Briscoe First Vice President Sarah Atkinson Bennett Second Vice President Euodias Goza Arkansas Advisors Kelly Patterson Baldwin, 11 Sports Update: Dennis Nutt is on the job as Tigers’ new men’s basketball head coach Shari Deaver Edwards, Suzanne Duke Franklin, Janet Ehren Gathright, Nathan 13 Campus Update: More than 50 Arbor Day volunteers help spruce up the ravine Hurst, Chris Kear, Tom Murphree, Julian Rainey, Paul Sharp, Scott Snider, Heather 16 Class Notes: Thirty-nine Ouachita students earn annual Who’s Who recognition Brandon Spruill, Christine Roberson Street, Terri Bell Swedenburg, Mel Thrash, 22 Faculty Profile: Education Dean Merribeth Bruning heads pilot study abroad program Misty Brewer Wilson Out-of-State Advisors Gray Allison, Angela 23 Staff Profile: Coach Todd Knight leads football team to three straight winning seasons Harris Kilgore, Scott Meador, Sara Williams Mills, Eric Torrence, Mike Treadway, 24 Closing Thoughts: President Horne affirms Ouachita is standing strong at 125 Jan Mitchell Williams “1936-1986: From Survival “1986-2011: to Success” by Dr. Hal Bass: Continuity and Change” by Dr. Tom Auffenberg: In 1936, fifty years after its 1886 establishment, Ouachita A freshman enrolling in was struggling for survival, absent Ouachita as it began its 125th year s the Ouachita family academic accreditation, in the entered a vibrant university firmly celebrates 125 years of A midst of the Great Depression. committed to a mission seeking university history this fall, one “1886-1936: A Foundation for This struggle persisted through “to foster a love of God and a love significant milestone marker is the the Future” by Dr. Ray Granade: World War II and the early of learning.” Such had always been publication of the commemorative post-war years. The ensuing era the mission of Ouachita since its history book, Ouachita Voices: Some begin Ouachita Baptist of progress coincided with the founding in 1886. However, the Celebrating 125 Years of University’s history with the post-war economic growth. ... The years 1986-2011 witnessed not Academic & Christian Excellence. state’s first Baptist school, the centennial celebration in 1986 only a continued allegiance to It is scheduled to debut on Sept. Arkadelphia Male and Female found Ouachita enjoying relative certain core values, but also became 6 as part of Ouachita’s Founders Institute, in 1850. They trace stability and prosperity. an era of significant change that Day festivities. Arkadelphia support of Baptist The most noteworthy helped propel a once rather obscure As editor of the 132-page education through the Arkansas structural shift was the 1965 name college into an institution ranked coffee table book, I note in the School for the Blind, Red River change from Ouachita Baptist the No. 1 Regional College in the introduction that Ouachita Voices Baptist Academy, and its offer College to Ouachita Baptist South for four years in a row by “seeks to capture the spirit of to the Arkansas Baptist State University. ... Campus facilities U. S. News & World Report. the Ouachita experience through Convention (ABSC) of site, underwent dramatic change during The 1986 OBU catalog was the eyewitness reflections of building and $10,000. Others the second half-century, leaving emblazoned with the slogan “The Ouachitonians from emphasize widespread Baptist across the years.” “For many readers, this collection of essays, “Ouachita Voices” chronicles 125 years of university milestones along with historical the campus almost completely Best of Life!” Although that slogan and contemporary campus interest in education: $75,000 transformed.