SPRING 2012
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Launching lifelong explorers
Remembering Francis McBeth
Exploration expands education One of my favorite inspirational quotes declares, “A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” The lure of exploration has been a driving force throughout history. The same is true at Ouachita, whether exploring new frontiers academically, spiritually or geographically. Such well-established campus programs and events as the Grant Center for International Education, Campus Ministries, the European Study Tour and Tiger Serve Day provide a wealth of opportunities to both explore and engage the world around us. The call to exploration is a Biblical mandate. Jesus Christ calls His disciples to “come, follow me” and to “go into all the world.” Even as the Son of Man “has no place to lay His head,” He invites each of His followers to “deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” That’s radical exploration, setting sail regardless of where the voyage leads. This issue of The Ouachita Circle is dedicated to exploring the issue of ... exploration. And exploration is among the many tasks that Ouachita students, faculty and staff do extremely well. This edition’s theme interpretation on page 2 by Dr. Barbara Pemberton provides an in-depth look at academic exploration on the Ouachita campus and around the world, applauding the desire to “search broadly and dig deeply.” Other recent opportunities for exploration highlighted in The Circle include students traveling to Israel with Gov. Mike Huckabee, Dr. Terry DeWitt’s reflections about his two tours in Iraq with the Army Reserve and an overview of the ministry of Ouachita missionaries in residence Trey and Elise Atkins. “We send our students from this campus to be explorers,” President Horne points out. “What inspiration to see the love they express for our Lord and their willingness to be servants anywhere in the world.” As you read this issue of The Ouachita Circle, I am pleased to report that The Circle continues to earn national recognition as an award-winning publication —most recently by Higher Education Marketing. While our primary goal is to produce a quality communications piece designed to help you explore Ouachita’s world, it is also affirming for our work to be honored by professional peers. Thanks to each of our fellow Ouachitonians who support Ouachita’s ongoing commitment to exploration for the sake of knowledge, growth and service. We are grateful to have you join us on the journey.
Trennis Henderson Vice President for Communications
“In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration.”
Ansel Adams
“We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.”
John Hope Franklin
“We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ... and know the place for the first time.”
T.S. Eliot
“Explore your mind, discover yourself, then give the best that is in you to your age and to your world.”
Wilfred Peterson
“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others.”
Galatians 6:4
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 Jon Merryman Assistant Director of Alumni Programs Julia Thompson
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4 Launching lifelong explorers
Dr. Barbara Pemberton, associate professor of Christian missions, highlights the diverse opportunities for academic exploration both on the Ouachita campus and around the globe.
Holy Land: Trip of a lifetime
Ouachita students John and Lauren Bacon prayed that God “would send us to Israel in His time.” A few weeks later, they were invited to join Gov. Huckabee on a trip to the Holy Land.
Iraqi tours bring lasting lessons
Dr. Terry DeWitt, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, has served two tours of duty in Iraq. He shares a few of the life lessons learned in a combat zone halfway around the world.
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Francis McBeth’s life & legacy
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Presidential Service Awards
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Dr. Francis McBeth, longtime Ouachita professor and world-renowned composer, compiled a rich musical legacy. His said his fondest desire was for people to say, “I liked his music!” President Rex Horne presented 125th Anniversary Presidential Service Awards to more than 50 Ouachitonians who completed at least 125 hours of community service during the past year.
The Ouachita Circle is a publication of Ouachita Baptist University’s alumni and communications offices. Send address changes and class notes to: Ouachita Alumni Office 410 Ouachita St., OBU Box 3762 Arkadelphia, AR 71998-0001 E-mail: alumni@obu.edu Phone: 870-245-5506 Contact the Communications Office: E-mail: newsbureau@obu.edu Phone: 870-245-5208 Printed by TCPrint Solutions in North Little Rock, Ark. Cover photo by René Zimny, assistant director of the Grant Center for International Education Board of Trustees Curtis Arnold Phil Baldwin Steven Collier Clay Conly Julie Dodge Susie Everett Jay Heflin Frank Hickingbotham Craig Jenkins Taylor King Larry Kircher Richard Lusby
Terri Mardis Mollie Morgan Ken Shaddox Rita Spillyards Scott Street William H. Sutton Jeff Teague Susan Wamble John C. Ward Gene Whisenhunt Larry White Gus Williamson
Chancellor Ben M. Elrod President Emeritus Daniel R. Grant
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Sports Update: Tennis Coach Craig Ward named 2012 College Coach of the Year Campus Update: Annual Tiger Traks competition celebrates mud, fun & scholarships Class Notes: Jacob Watson’s musical performances earn national recognition Faculty Profile: Nathan Reyna helps lead National Genomics Research Initiative Staff Profile: Jon Merryman shares enthusiasm as new Ouachita Alumni director Closing Thoughts: Dr. Horne offers call to “embrace opportunities for exploration”
Ouachita Alumni Advisory Board President Sarah Atkinson Bennett First Vice President Euodias Goza Second Vice President Heather Brandon Spruill Arkansas Advisors Shawn Barnard, Brent Black, Donna Byers Carozza, Shari Deaver Edwards, Joe Franz, Wendy Wofford Johnson, Chris Kear, Caroline Woodell Luck, Tom Murphree, Julian Rainey, Paul Sharp, Christine Roberson Street, Mel Thrash, Bob White, Misty Brewer Wilson Out-of-State Advisors Gray Allison, Chris Campbell, Joy Johnson Floyd, Scott Meador, Mike Treadway
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Launching lifelong explorers
Ouachita offers diverse opportunities for growth & learning
By Barbara Pemberton
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y mother is a micro-paleontologist. When I was growing up I didn’t know all that she did at work, but I knew she spent time in the lab at a microscope and got to travel a lot. Mom worked for major oil companies searching for oil and gas from the Gulf of Mexico to Alaska—and around the world in places like Indonesia. If the love of exploration can’t actually be inherited, I know I was inspired by her study, hard work and love of adventure. While my own exploration took a different trajectory— to degrees in theology and world religions—like my mom, I also love to search broadly and dig deeply. For me, exploration means researching religious texts and the cultures that embrace them. One of my favorite verses encourages scholarly pursuit; Mark 12:30 tells us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Looking back, I had no idea I would be a professor and teach at a university that encourages and facilitates continued research by faculty as much as Ouachita does. Thanks to faculty development funds, I have been blessed to continue my exploration across the U.S. and abroad, having delivered papers at professional conferences from Montreal to San Francisco. During my sabbatical, I spent time in the desert of Saudi Arabia and delivered a paper at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne, Australia. And the exploration continues! Similar stories could be told by faculty all across campus—each of us grateful for the opportunities we have to continue to research, write, perform, experience and explore. And we all share something else—the joy of inspiring the next generation of explorers. True, teaching includes imparting facts and skills, but a large part of what we do is instilling the sheer joy of learning; we all model exploration in our given fields, challenging our students to join us on the journey. Sometimes exploration is obvious and heralded. For example, in biology, Dr. Nathan Reyna and Dr. Ruth Plymale offer a new, unique lab/research opportunity for students of all interest levels (majors and non-majors) as 2 • the ouachita circle
photo by Nicole McPhate
E X P L O R E part of the innovative National Genomics Research Initiative. Students conduct impressive independent experimentation while gaining valuable research skills. But exploration also takes place in what may be considered unlikely places. One of my favorite classes to teach is Interpreting the Bible, which includes an assignment for students to write a formal exegetical paper on a passage of scripture. After the collective groan by the class in the beginning and weeks of learning the elements of exegeting a passage, most students are quite pleased with their finished products. Every semester I have a few students so thrilled with their papers that they email them to their parents and pastors, proud that they too can explore a biblical passage, navigating commentaries on their own and making life-changing application. Now that’s the kind of exploration one can do for a lifetime!
one-credit-hour directed study became not only the subject of Dusty’s honors thesis but also his career goal after graduation. Each semester the Honors Program offers unique, collaborative teaching by professors from across the campus who join their expertise in a one-hour seminar. This semester, Dr. Doug Nykolaishen, associate professor of Biblical studies, and Dr. Johnny Wink, professor of English, partnered to teach Biblical narratives. Across campus, Dr. Sara Hubbard, assistant professor of chemistry, joined with Summer Bruch, assistant professor
semester students reach out into the Arkadelphia community to explore ways they can help others on Tiger Serve Day. Many of these students go on international mission trips with groups such as Campus Ministries or the missions department. These trips are always life-changing and often career-changing as many of our students go on to work overseas as Journeymen or English-as-asecond-language teachers. Students don’t even have to travel overseas to experience wanderlust. Through the Daniel & Betty Jo Grant Center for International Education, many students from other countries come to study at Ouachita, bringing their own culture to the student body. For those who want to travel to explore, the center offers diverse opportunities for students to study abroad for either a semester or year. Thanks to Ouachita’s newest educational partnership with Liverpool Hope University, many students are able
“Faculty all across campus … model exploration in our given fields, challenging our students to join us on the journey.” Every department encourages exploration in its own way. Some professors even partner with colleagues from other departments to create courses designed to broaden the students’ perspectives. This is the case with “On the Ouachita” developed by Dr. Byron Eubanks, professor of philosophy, and Dr. Mike Reynolds, professor of kinesiology and leisure studies. Students study the topography of the area, flora and fauna, then actually kayak the Ouachita River, gleaning lessons from the river they would learn no other way. Students participating in the Carl Goodson Honors Program stretch themselves beyond the regular course requirements—exploring their own interests through a “directed study” with a professor of their choice. One of my favorite examples is the directed study of Dusty Barnette from Dermott, Ark. Dusty came to Ouachita to study biology, but also loves art, medical illustration in particular. He and Dr. Raouf Halaby, professor English and visual arts, designed a directed study of the history of medical illustration which included Dusty completing some illustrations of his own. This
of visual arts, to guide students through an exploration of chemistry in art. Every semester there are equally creative teams opening new doors of exploration for students. Honors students may also apply for research travel grants. Thanks to the generosity of Ben Elrod and Carl Goodson, students have traveled to faraway places such as India, South Africa and even Antarctica. Our latest Ben Elrod Scholar, Rachel Harris, a musical theatre major from Springdale, Ark., will use her grant to explore opera in Italy this summer. The new Carl Goodson Scholar, Jason Curlin, an English and Russian major from Arkadelphia, will travel to Russia to study the language and Russian poets. Few of our students limit their exploration to campus; there are just too many opportunities to go “outside the bubble” to learn and grow. Each
to spend time studying in England. For a shorter adventure, each May a group of students goes on the European Study Tour. After a semester of preparation in art and cultural history, the group tours Italy, Paris and England. Having served as a co-leader of the tour, I can say the students become savvy travelers and lifelong explorers. And that’s one of the things that is great about Ouachita. I’m convinced that much of what happens both on campus and on what I call the OBU “world extension” is to inspire, equip and foster lifelong exploration. And as interests change with time, that thrill of discovery can transfer to other areas—from the love of language study to medical missions, from history to a new passion for art, from psychology to exploring world cuisine. In all this and more, Ouachita launches lifelong explorers! Dr. Barbara Pemberton is associate professor of Christian missions and director of the Carl Goodson Honors Program. She holds degrees from the University of Mississippi, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Baylor University. spring 2012
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Ouachita students explore Holy Land with Huckabees
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photo courtesy of Ocken Photography
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By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications
t was, without question, the trip of a lifetime for John and Lauren Bacon. During Gov. Mike Huckabee’s visit to campus last fall as part of Ouachita’s 125th anniversary celebration, he announced that he and his wife, Janet, were providing an all-expense-paid trip for a Ouachita student couple to join the Huckabees on a tour of Israel this spring. When the Bacons were announced as the couple selected for the trip, Lauren recalls, “John and I were overwhelmed by the invitation to travel with the Huckabees to Israel. A few weeks prior to the governor’s invitation, John and I prayed that the Lord would send us to Israel in His time. We had been talking about wanting to go for a while but did not have the means to go as a young married couple. The Lord answered our prayer so quickly and in such an incredible way, we will never forget that He hears our prayers.” Gov. Huckabee, a 1976 Ouachita alumnus, has led approximately 20 tours to Israel over the years. “Janet and I knew how much going to Israel opened the Bible for us,” he explained. “We decided that if we could help a young couple who were just getting starting in their lives and ministry, it would have a positive impact on their future.” John Bacon is a senior Christian studies major and his wife, Lauren, is a senior early childhood education major. As they prepare for future work and ministry, “journeying through the state of Israel helped to provide me with a visual framework of the land that will aid me immensely in reading Scripture,” John noted. “In some ways, not much has changed regarding the spiritual climate in the area between now and the time in which Christ walked there,” he added, “so I believe that the cultural background of the Gospels and the worldview of modern Israelis will aid me in understanding the theological, political and cultural climate of the time.” The Bacons weren’t the only Ouachita students invited to join the tour which included more than 160 participants. Nate Peace, a senior Christian studies, Biblical languages and mass communications major, and Reese Franklin, a senior church media/production arts and Christian studies/philosophy major, were enlisted to serve as the trip’s official videographers. They shot footage throughout the tour for DVDs that were distributed to each of the travelers. “Traveling to Israel is the experience of a lifetime,” Nate emphasized. “Seeing the sites and videotaping the details in Israel has given me a picture of where Jesus walked, where He lived and where He died. As a videographer, it allowed me to have the opportunity to professionally video one of the most important landscapes in the world.” Nate noted that the experience also gave him a unique opportunity to network with producers, pastors and other videographers. “This experience will help my future professional life in a variety of ways depending on where God leads me,” he added. Reflecting on the significance of the trip, Lauren said visiting the Wailing Wall was a definite highlight. “The Lord opened my eyes to His yearning for His people and the Arab people who live in Israel to know that Jesus is the Messiah,” she said. “At the Wailing Wall, we experienced worship with Jews who yearn to be near the presence of the Lord at the closest place that they can be since the destruction of the temple. I prayed there that the Lord would bring us back some day and use us to let His people know that the Messiah has already come, that His presence can dwell in us through the Holy Spirit, and that we can eagerly await together His second coming.” “For any serious follower of Christ, I believe that a trip to Israel is both uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time,” John agreed. “Standing before the Western Wall of the foundations of the second temple, it is indescribable to see so many ethnic descendants of Abraham so desperate for the presence of God.” That experience “made me long for my neighbors in Israel to receive Christ and the hope and joy I have,” he said. “The way I read about Jesus weeping over Jerusalem and Paul desperately longing for his people’s salvation in Romans 9 will never be the same.”
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photo courtesy of Trey Atkins
Missionaries in residence bring the world to Ouachita By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications
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uachita’s commitment to global engagement is a two-pronged strategy: take Ouachita to the world and bring the world to campus. One such effort involves Ouachita’s Missionary in Residence program, enlisting international missionaries to spend up to a year interacting with the university community on the Arkadelphia campus. “One constant goal over the years has been to ensure a living connection between the mission field and the campus by inviting a career missionary couple to join the campus community for one academic year,” explained Ian Cosh, vice president for community and international engagement. He said the missionaries’ “willingness to advocate and mobilize students to support and become involved in missions has always been at the heart of the program.” Trey and Elise Atkins, Ouachita’s current missionaries in residence, have served since 2009 as Southern Baptist International Mission Board strategy leaders for Central Europe. In that role, they lead 14 mission teams serving in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and western Bosnia. The Atkinses, who have been based in Croatia the past seven years, are scheduled to move to Slovakia this summer. They previously have served in Bosnia, Canada, Scotland and Colorado. During their year at Ouachita, “Trey and Elise have worked in the ESL program at the Grant Center for International Education and related to students through Campus Ministries,” Cosh said. “We appreciate the way in which they have become part of the Ouachita community and for the way they have held the torch of missions high during
their year of service.” Ouachita’s Missionary in Residence program “gives a presence and a connection to a different way of life that is more what it takes to live a missional life overseas,” noted Atkins. “Bringing that different perspective is helpful to the students; they are open to it.” “We’re personalizing missions,” Mrs. Atkins agreed. “We’re putting a face on missions and letting students know what is out there for them and how they can prepare for that.” Reflecting on their call to missions, Mrs. Atkins said, “We believe God calls each person individually.” Although Atkins sensed that call first, “he did not ask me to marry him until he knew I had a specific call to missions.” For his part, Atkins said, “When I became a believer, it was a very profound inward change.” He said an openness to missions service was always part of that personal spiritual commitment. Speaking together in a recent chapel service, Mrs. Atkins said wherever they serve around the world, she seeks to find FAT women—“those faithful, available and teachable women I can
pour my life into.” She said her basic ministry strategy involves “learning what people’s needs are, seeking to meet those needs. Through meeting those needs, God often gives me the opportunity to share about their most important need which is knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. “Whether it’s through widows’ ministry or teaching women a trade they can use for income, the only thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love. That’s what I seek to do.” In their leadership roles in Central Europe, “we try to keep ministry at the forefront,” Atkins said. Whether working in church planting, evangelism, pastoral care or other efforts, he added, “We have a confidence that God knows what He’s doing, a deep sense that this is where we are supposed to be.” Reflecting on their Ouachita experience, Atkins said, “It’s been fantastic for me. I’ve really enjoyed it. I like the college environment. “What I’ve gained would be measured in terms of relationships here at Ouachita,” he added. “It is a university we will always feel connected to.” Mrs. Atkins noted that one of her Ouachita highlights has been “just building into young women through the Campus Ministries women’s discipleship and one-on-one discipleship. So many of them have warmly accepted us.” Affirming the significant contributions made by the Atkinses and other missionaries in residence over the years, Cosh said, “While technology has made it easier for us to know about and relate to the world of missions, the presence of career missionaries on campus day-by-day provides a connection to the mission field that is personal, powerful and effective.” spring 2012
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Terry DeWitt’s Iraqi service produces lasting lessons W
hen it comes to exploration, Dr. Terry DeWitt has had the opportunity to travel the world during 25 years of service with the U.S. Army Reserve. Currently serving as a lieutenant colonel, he has earned two Bronze Stars for meritorious service in Iraq as well as the Meritorious Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal and numerous other commendations. DeWitt, a 1988 Ouachita graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Education, has taught at Ouachita since 1999. He currently is an associate professor of biological sciences and effective this fall, has been promoted to professor of kinesiology and leisure studies. DeWitt’s accomplishments aren’t limited to the classroom and Army Reserve service. He recently was named among the nation’s Most Distinguished Athletic Trainers by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. He also was honored as the Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2005 by the Arkansas Athletic Trainers’ Association and as the 2007-2008 Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Arkadelphia. Transferring to Ouachita as a student in 1984, “I immediately knew this was where God wanted me to be,” DeWitt said. “I needed Ouachita more than Ouachita needed me.” Enrolling in ROTC during his freshman year, DeWitt said, “I did it totally from financial need. I thought it was a cool thing to get paid for.” After graduating from Ouachita with a commission as a second lieutenant and following his six-year commitment to the Army Reserve, he continued to serve in that role. And then came the 9-11 terrorist attacks. “9-11 changed everything,” DeWitt said. “We became part of the operational forces for the military. We were doing things we had never done before. “In October of 2004, I got a phone call 6 • the ouachita circle
By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications
from my battalion commander that I needed to report to Fort Bliss, Texas. Two weeks after I left Arkadelphia, I landed in Baghdad. There were mortars, rockets and machine guns going off in the middle of the night. I went from working as a college professor at OBU to mortars and rockets. The first night I was in Baghdad, I ran out to the bunkers three times, totally scared to death.” Once he received his assignment, “I hitched a ride on a helicopter and flew four hours north to an Iraqi forward operations base. There were about 40 Americans and about 3,000 Iraqi soldiers. We were embedded with them which was overwhelming—no running water, no American food. We didn’t even get mail. A helicopter came about once a week and that was our life support back to the base.” As the deputy base commander, DeWitt spent 12 months on the Al Kasik base. “We had a satellite phone that we could use 30 minutes a month. Back home, I could send an email to my family almost every day and tried to call them once a week. “We started going out on patrols to the surrounding villages and meeting with the sheiks to show them we were there to help, not to take over,” DeWitt said. Members of his church in Arkadelphia as well as high school friends began to send soccer balls, coloring books and crayons to distribute to children in the area. “We started giving those out to the kids, winning their hearts and minds with soccer balls. It showed we were concerned about their kids.” But the shocking violence of life in a combat zone continued. “We did have a suicide bomber at our gate one morning,” DeWitt said. “A Syrian suicide bomber blew himself up and killed 24 Iraqi civilians. It was amazing that they were killing each other like this—a lack of a value of life.” Following his yearlong deployment, “it took
a while to transition back,” he acknowledged. “Everyone else has moved on with their lives and things have changed. People have passed away, babies are born, life goes on without me.” On the positive side, “we really had a great support group,” he said. “The community rallied around me and my family and supported us. Words can’t describe the love and support I felt from the university and my church family and my immediate family.” During his second tour of duty in Iraq in 2009-10, DeWitt was stationed at a joint military base with 25,000 Americans amid such luxuries as a PX, fitness facility, movie theatre and swimming pools. “It was a totally different ballgame. We had Skype. Our brigade had our own Internet café. This was only a nine-month deployment.” An avid Tiger football fan even halfway around the world, DeWitt said, “I listened to Rex Nelson and Jeff Root, 3 o’clock in the morning for me, for their night games. I would be yelling and screaming when the Tigers would score. Jeff did a shout out to me when I was in Iraq. In my heart, that made me feel blessed. I came home and saw three games, including the Henderson game, which we won.” During his second tour, “my brigade started the drawdown in Iraq,” he said. “In 2005 we were building stuff up. In 2009, we were bringing it back. It gave me some closure to Operation Iraqi Freedom.” His time in Iraq and elsewhere around the world “has impacted my classroom because I try to share some of my experiences about getting your nose out of a book and looking around and thinking about how blessed we are to be where we are.” “It has affected me and will always affect me for the rest of my life,” he concluded. “God has an amazing way of opening doors.”
OBU conference affirms “Caring for the Caregiver”
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By Nicci Fillinger
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urnout. It’s an issue that pastors and mental health professionals often face. Effectively managing burnout is an important topic for caregivers so that they can continue to provide help to those in need. Ouachita Baptist University recently hosted the second annual Conference on Issues in Christian Counseling. The conference theme, “Caring for the Caregiver,” provided ministers, caregivers and students the opportunity to come together and learn about the causes and effects associated with their own personal burnout and coping strategies for preventing and alleviating counselor burnout. The conference was sponsored by Ouachita’s Pruet School of Christian Studies in partnership with Henderson State University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The one-day conference offered participants the opportunity to select among eight sessions led by faculty from each of the sponsoring schools. Sessions included topics such as how to balance personal and professional priorities as a counselor, identifying compassion fatigue and providing coping strategies for dealing with it, how to evaluate one’s own mental health and how to handle crises in the life of the counseling professional. There is a great need for mental health professionals in the U.S., noted Dr. Bill Viser, conference coordinator and associate professor of Christian ministries at Ouachita. In the January 2011 issue of Counseling Today, it was reported that only 34 percent of Americans with mental health issues are seeking treatment. Viser pointed out that this demand is already greater “than there are therapists to handle the need, increasing the amount of stress and burnout of counselors today” and making self-care “very important so they can continue to address the mental needs of our country. “The problem for caregivers is that we have a heart for people, so it is easy to be overwhelmed by the needs and to neglect your own well-being,” Viser explained. Tracy Carden, a licensed clinical social worker from Marion, Ark., said the subject matter made the conference appealing to her because she feels “strongly that managing burnout is important.” Carden said the conference provided her with “a lot of good information and things I can take back to share with my colleagues at my agency.” “The conference is important because it is practical,” said Craig Garrett, dean of students, director of student enlistment and a member of the graduate adjunct faculty in the counseling department at NOBTS. “It allows you to continue your education and offers a professional Christian perspective on counseling issues.” Dr. Jeff Nave, associate professor of psychology and counseling at NOBTS, said the conference is “a good example of the integration of the highest standards of Christian ministry and professional practice.” During the conference’s lunch session, Viser highlighted crises counselors face. He then invited the participants to discuss crises in their own lives and how that affected their ministry or ability to counsel. Dr. Ian Jones, professor of psychology and counseling at NOBTS, led a session on “Crisis Responders and Christian Counseling Self-Care and Spiritual Resources,” which focused on how to deal with extraordinary situations such as disasters and tragedies. Jones used the example of the Wedgwood Baptist Church shootings to illustrate his point. He showed videos of a counselor who had been present at the shooting explaining how he dealt with the tragedy and the post-trauma counseling of his church. Viser said he plans to continue the opportunity for professional education by hosting lunch sessions led by local professionals on the first Monday of each month. Continuing education credit will be available and the sessions will be free to attend. For more information, contact Dr. Bill Viser at (870) 245-5524. Nicci Fillinger is a senior mass communications and Christian studies/Biblical studies major from Morrilton, Ark.
Dr. Aaron New, a faculty member at Central Baptist College, presented a session on compassion fatigue at Ouachita’s Caring for the Caregiver conference. photo by Nicole McPhate spring 2012
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Francis McBeth remembered as renowned composer & professor
By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications
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r. W. Francis McBeth, internationally acclaimed composer and conductor and longtime professor of music at Ouachita Baptist University, died Friday, Jan. 6, at age 78. Dr. McBeth, who earned extensive accolades throughout his career, served as Ouachita’s composer-in-residence, Lena Goodwin Trimble Professor of Music and chair of the theory/composition department of the Division of Music. He also served as conductor of the Arkansas Symphony and as Arkansas’ composer laureate, the first composer laureate named in the United States. “How blessed we have been to have Dr. McBeth invest his life and work at Ouachita,” said Ouachita President Rex M. Horne, Jr. “Dr. McBeth lived as an example of one who touched the lives of unknown thousands and will continue to do so for many years to come. We are enriched by his service.” “There is no way to measure how much impact Dr. McBeth has had on Ouachita’s music program over the years,” said Dr. Scott Holsclaw, dean of Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts. “It is amazing how many lives he touched both at Ouachita and throughout the world, including students, colleagues and music professionals. He is truly a Ouachita and Arkansas treasure.” McBeth, who joined the Ouachita faculty in 1957, was named Distinguished University Professor by the Ouachita Board of Trustees upon his retirement in 1996. Trustees also named the William Francis McBeth Recital Hall in Mabee Fine Arts Center in his honor. McBeth, who began playing trumpet in the second grade, earned degrees from Hardin-Simmons University and the University of Texas and also studied at the Eastman School of Music. He served from 1954-56 with the 101st Airborne Band at Fort Jackson, S.C., and the 98th Army Band at Fort Rucker, Ala. One of the most prolific composers of wind band music in the 20th century, he was a past president of the American Bandmasters Association. His “Double Pyramid Balance System” is a widely used pedagogical tool in the concert band world. In a 2003 interview with Jim Newsom, McBeth said that “Through the Countless Halls of Air,” a piece commissioned by and dedicated to the U.S. Air Force Band, best defined his work. “I just think it’s the best piece I’ve ever done,” he noted. Reflecting on his musical legacy, McBeth said his fondest desire was for his fellow musicians, students and music lovers everywhere to say of him, “I liked his music!” As a trumpet and bass violin player, McBeth performed in England, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy and Scotland. He also served as a conductor throughout Europe as well as Australia, Canada and Japan. Among his many accomplishments, McBeth was a recipient of an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Special Award annually for more than 30 years. He also received the Howard Hanson Prize of the Eastman School of Music for his “Third Symphony,” the American School Band Directors Association’s Edwin Franko Goldman Award in 1983, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia’s American Man of Music in 1988, Kappa Kappa Phi’s National Service to Music Award in 1989, the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic’s Medal of Honor in 1993 and the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Medal of Honor in 2000. Dr. Craig Hamilton, Lena Goodwin Trimble Professor of Music and director of bands, described McBeth as “a wonderful colleague, mentor and friend. Through his composition, conducting and teaching, he impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. His sharp wit and engaging smile endeared him to everyone he met. We are all better musicians, teachers and people for having known Dr. Mac. His passing leaves a huge void.” Dr. McBeth is survived by his wife, Mary; daughter, Laura Murphy, and her husband, Todd; son, Matthew McBeth, and his wife, Susan; and three grandchildren: Kate, Joe and Carolyn. Memorial gifts may be sent to Ouachita Baptist University, OBU Box 3754, Arkadelphia, AR 71998, or given online at www.obu.edu/give. 8 • the ouachita circle
photo by Nicole McPhate
More than 50 Ouachitonians earn 125th Anniversary Service Awards By Nicci Fillinger
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oncluding Ouachita’s yearlong 125th anniversary celebration, President Rex Horne presented 125th Anniversary Presidential Service Awards to more than 50 students, faculty and staff members. Recipients were recognized for each performing at least 125 hours of community service during Ouachita’s 125th anniversary year. The group served a total of more than 11,800 hours throughout the year. “The Presidential Service Awards brought to a close our 125th anniversary celebrations in a special way by focusing on the spirit of service that is so widely demonstrated by members of the Ouachita community,” said Ian Cosh, vice president for community and international engagement and chair of the 125th anniversary steering committee. “Our Christian calling to lose ourselves in service to others was at the heart of this award,” Cosh added. “We are proud of each person who went the extra mile to show their love of others through their service commitments.” “The number serving and the time given to service makes a statement of the character of our faculty, staff and students,” Dr. Horne said. “The exemplary servant leaders infuse our university with the vision for others rather than self.” “Service is important because we have been greatly served by Christ,” said Hannah Ramsey, a junior English major and award recipient. “We are the hands and feet of Christ in this community. It is our duty as Christians to serve the people of this community.” Faculty and staff members who received the award include: Dr. Hal Bass, professor of political science; Ian Cosh, vice president for community and international engagement; Dr. James Files, assistant professor of accounting; Gail Hennagin, library assistant to circulation/reference, instructional media and special collections; John Hill, senior programmer/analyst; Rebecca Jones, instructor of communications; Dr. Wesley Kluck, vice president for institutional advancement; Karen Matros, assistant to the dean of interdisciplinary studies and transcript specialist; Shirley McMillan, director of the Foster Grandparent Program; Brenda Bradley-Philson, TRIO director and director
of Educational Talent Search; Keisha Pittman, development officer; Dr. Mike Reynolds, professor of kinesiology and leisure studies; Jim Rothwell, assistant dean of the Hickingbotham School of Business and assistant professor of accounting; and Becca Woodall, hall director and assistant director of campus activities. The following students received the award and are listed in order of hometown: Arkadelphia, Ark. – Lindsey Fowler, a sophomore political science and business administration major, and Tim Horton, a sophomore physics and professional chemistry major Batesville, Ark. – Mary Castleman, a junior Christian media/communications major, and Whitley Poole, a senior early childhood education major Benton, Ark. – Lacey Brooks, a junior mass communications major; Ryan James, a junior biology major; Devan Malone, a junior speech communication major; and Alyson Walker, a senior Biblical studies and psychology major Bolivar, Mo. – Leigha Hill, a senior communication sciences and disorders major Cacak, Serbia – Kurt Bannert, a junior psychology and Russian major. Conway, Ark. – Jennifer Coon, a sophomore dietetics and nutrition major; Buck Schroeder, a sophomore accounting major; Laura Sikes, a senior communication sciences and disorders major; and Wendy Vick, a senior biology major Dallas, Texas – Sarah Anderson, a senior sociology major Denison, Texas – Melissa Butters, a senior early childhood education major Donaldson, Ark. – Michael Crowe, a sophomore business administration/finance major El Dorado, Ark. – Stephanie Butcher, a sophomore accounting major Fort Smith, Ark. – Britta Stamps, a senior political science major Frisco, Texas – Brittany Green, a senior psychology and Spanish major Grapevine, Texas – Amy Vaughan, a senior Christian missions major
Lewisville, Texas – Katelyn Mustain, a senior dietetics and nutrition major Little Rock, Ark. – Chris Chandler, a senior biology major Lowell, Ark. – Hayley Hill, a sophomore Spanish major Maumelle, Ark. – Hannah Pilcher, a junior Spanish major Monticello, Ark. – Cheyenne Flemister, a senior accounting major Naperville, Ill. – Hannah Ramsey, a junior English major Nixa, Mo. – Catie Bennett, a junior early childhood education major Queen City, Texas – Jacob Lively, a senior biology major Redfield, Ark. – Kelsey Willis, a sophomore chemistry major Richardson, Texas – Natalie Holmes, a senior early childhood education major Rockwall, Texas – Ugo Nkalari, a junior business administration major Rogers, Ark. – Brynn Alford, a junior biology major, and David Sypult, a sophomore business administration/management and business administration/finance major Sachse, Texas – Abby Dekle, a senior biology major Searcy, Ark. – Elizabeth White, a sophomore mathematics and secondary education major Sheridan, Ark. – Jessica Winston, a senior biology major Sherwood, Ark. – Hannah Nolan, a sophomore dietetics and nutrition major; and T.C. Squires, a senior Spanish, math, and education major Shreveport, La. – Kaitlin Williams, a sophomore business administration major Spring, Texas – Stephanie Warren, a senior Christian missions major Texarkana, Texas – Lindsey Hackett, a senior biology major Nicci Fillinger is a senior mass communications and Christian studies/Biblical studies major from Morrilton, Ark. spring 2012
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Three Ouachita wrestlers earn All-America honors in team’s second year of competition
OBU cheerleading team earns national ranking
By Josh Fink, OBU Sports Information Director
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arning the squad’s highest national finish in school history, the Ouachita Baptist University cheerleading team finished seventh among NCAA Division II schools in the 2012 UCA/UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship. The annual competition was held Jan. 13-15 at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. Ouachita was the only Division II team from Arkansas and one of only two teams from the state, along with the Division I University of Arkansas cheer team. Ouachita also was the only Great American Conference school participating. The seventh-place finish not only marks the highest finish by a cheer squad from Ouachita, but also the highest finish ever by a university from Arkansas. Describing the UCA/UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships as “the most prestigious college cheerleading competition in the country,” Ouachita Head Coach Brian Bridges said, “I am so proud of my team this year. They really gave it their all. They have worked so hard this year not only to prepare for this huge competition but also to lead the Tiger Nation in supporting our athletic teams at Ouachita.” He added that squad captain Leah Harrington “has played such a vital role with the team as she has helped lead them to this prestigious finish.” Bridges, the head coach for the Ouachita cheerleaders and spirit squads since 2008, has led his team to the national finals twice in the past four years. The team previously finished eighth nationally in 2009.
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By Josh Fink, OBU Sports Information Director
he Ouachita wrestling team, which debuted in 2010 as the first collegiate wrestling program in Arkansas, earned a national ranking and had three student-athletes named All-America wrestlers during the team’s second season of competition. The Tiger wrestling team traveled to Pueblo, Colo., to participate in the 2012 NCAA Division II National Tournament. The Tigers collected 27 points in the competition, ending the season ranked 15th nationally. Noting that wrestlers must finish among the top eight competitors nationally in their weight class to earn All-America honors, Head Coach Kevin Ward said, “The All-America award for these studentathletes is a huge accomplished. As a team, we had a decent showing as well, placing 15th in the 42-team field.” Among those who earned All-America honors, Ouachita’s Garrett Evans competed in the 125-lb weight class, recording a 2-2 record throughout the event. Bobby Williams was the second of three Tigers who finished with All-America honors, placing fifth overall at nationals with a 3-2 record in the 157-lb weight class. Dallas Smith also finished the tournament with All-America honors for the Tigers, placing sixth overall with a final record of 3-3 in the tournament at the 184-lb weight class. Josh Myers, who also qualified for nationals, finished the event with a 1-2 record in the 141-lb weight class. Ouachita’s three All-America wrestlers are the first in the short, but storied history of the program. Coach Ward led his team to both their first regional championship tournament and first national ranking in the program’s two-year history.
Haworth, former OBU baseball star, named head coach J eremy Haworth, a former standout baseball player for the Ouachita Tigers, was named head baseball coach at Ouachita effective Jan. 1, according to Athletic Director David Sharp. Haworth succeeds Chris Moddelmog who coached the Tigers for the past three seasons. Moddelmog resigned to co-own and manage a family sporting goods store in Fort Collins, Colo. “I appreciate the service of Coach Moddelmog to our baseball program,” said Ouachita President Rex Horne. “Coach Mog, his wife, Mallory, and their daughters have been a real asset to our Ouachita community. “I am most excited that we have named Jeremy Haworth to be our next head baseball coach,” Dr. Horne added. “Jeremy and his wife, Emily, are Ouachita people. Jeremy was a star baseball player for us and has already established himself as a coach. His experience
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as a player and a coach on several levels, including Division I, will allow him to come in and lead our young men effectively.” “I am excited to have Jeremy Haworth back at Ouachita. He was an outstanding player for us,” Coach Sharp agreed. “I am confident his passion for and knowledge of the game of baseball will spread to his teams. I look forward to working with him as he builds our baseball program.” Haworth, the 2007 Player of the Year for the Gulf South Conference West Division, previously was the assistant baseball coach at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He played two years at Ouachita as a third baseman and pitcher before completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in health science at UALR. “I am extremely excited at this opportunity
that Coach Sharp has given me to come back to a school that I love so much and to coach a team that I played for at one time,” Haworth said. “It’s a privilege to be the head coach at Ouachita Baptist. I’m not going to take that for granted.” In his coaching roles, Haworth’s teams have been the 2005 American Legion AAA State Champions, 2008 American Legion AA State Champions and the 2011 Sun Belt Tournament Champions. In addition to his Player of the Year award, Haworth was named to the 2007 All-GSC 1st Team as a third baseman as well as the Daktronics All-Region 1st Team, the American Baseball Coaches Association All-Region 1st Team and the ABCA All-America 2nd Team. In 2006, he was named to the All-GSC 2nd Team as a pitcher.
Craig Ward, OBU men’s tennis coach, named College Coach of the Year
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photo by Wesley Kluck
By Josh Fink, Sports Information Director
raig Ward, men’s tennis head coach at Ouachita, has been named the 2012 Jim Verdieck College Coach of the Year by the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR). Ward said he was honored to receive the award. “Jim Verdieck was a man of impeccable character and professionalism,” he noted. “I am very flattered to receive this award. It is a reflection of the friends, family and players I have learned from over the years.” Ward has more than 250 wins during his tenure as the head coach of the men’s tennis program at Ouachita. He has coached 24 AllAmerica players, 31 Academic All-America players and six Academic All-America Teams. He also has led his team to No. 1 in the national rankings twice and competed in the NCAA Division II Final Four twice. Ward’s Tigers have also finished the season 12 times with a national Top 10 ranking. In 2004, the Tigers were awarded the National Team Sportsmanship Award by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Ward also has been named Intercollegiate National Coach of the Year and USPTA College Coach of the Year in previous years. He is a member of the Arkansas Tennis Hall of Fame and was named PTR Arkansas Member of the Year. According to Ouachita President Rex Horne, “Craig Ward is a great asset to our men’s tennis team but also to our entire university. His years of service have built both great teams and fine men. We all congratulate Craig on an award that is richly deserved.” PTR’s mission statement says, “PTR is the largest global organization of tennis teaching professionals with more than 14,000 members in 117 countries. It has the greatest percentage of multicultural and women members of any such organization. PTR is dedicated to educating, certifying and servicing tennis teachers and coaches around the world in order to grow the game.” The Coach of the Year award was presented to Ward in February during the 2012 PTR National Symposium in Orlando, Fla.
The Ouachita Lady Tigers soccer team combined international travel and competition during a January trip to Costa Rica, defeating three semi-professional teams and exploring the tropical setting. “All three of the games were in really neat places,” said mid-fielder Kelsey Frink, a sophomore early childhood education major. “One was literally on the side of a mountain, we were playing in the clouds, while another was in the middle of a city.”
Wright named head soccer coach at OBU
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evin Wright was named Ouachita’s head soccer coach in March, according to Ouachita President Rex Horne and Athletic Director David Sharp. He succeeds Alex Denning who accepted a position as head women’s soccer coach at Lubbock Christian University. Wright has served since 2008 as head men’s soccer coach at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. He previously served at Howard Payne as assistant coach for men’s and women’s soccer and was head men’s soccer coach and physical education teacher at Greenville High School. Dr. Horne introduced Coach Wright during a meeting with Ouachita’s men’s and women’s soccer teams. Describing Wright as “the kind of guy who is going to do a great job and help take us to the next level,” Horne said the new coach “fully supports the mission and values we have here at Ouachita.” According to Sharp, “We are very excited to have Coach Wright join our athletic staff and lead our soccer programs. He has a wealth of high school and college coaching experience. His knowledge of the game is evident along with the experience he has in recruiting young men and women to play college soccer. “We appreciate the service Alex Denning
gave to Ouachita in leading our men’s and women’s soccer programs,” Sharp added. “We wish him well at Lubbock Christian.” Describing his new position as “a unique opportunity in a unique place,” Wright said he is excited about the opportunity to work with both the men’s and women’s soccer programs. “Obviously, a foundation already is in place to have two successful programs,” he said. “We will be organized and disciplined and work hard to come in here and really build something special. We want those guys and girls to have a positive athletic and academic experience.” Wright is a 2001 graduate of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise and sports science. As a soccer player at Mary Hardin-Baylor, he was co-captain his senior year. While coaching at Greenville High School, he led his team to three district championships, was named District Coach of the Year three times and was selected to coach the Texas High School All-Star Game. At Howard Payne, an NCAA Division III school, he led the Yellow Jackets to two consecutive American Southwest Conference playoff appearances. Wright and his wife, Melinda, have two children, Tavin and McKenna. spring 2012
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photo by Wesley Kluck
Theatre Arts Department presents Eurydice
The Ouachita Theatre Arts Department presented Eurydice March 1-5 in Verser Theater, directed by Kathryn Kellogg, a senior musical theatre and mass communications major from Sherwood, Ark. “In Eurydice, Sarah Ruhl reimagines the classic myth of Orpheus through the eyes of its heroine,” according to play publisher Samuel French, Inc. “With contemporary characters, ingenious plot twists and breath-taking visual effects, the play is a fresh look at a timeless love story.” “It’s a relatable and familiar Greek myth with wonderful spectacle,” said Kellogg. She was chosen to direct the play as the culmination of her years of study in theatre and in preparation for the possibility of pursuing a master’s degree in directing. Jordan Miller, a sophomore musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas, performed the role of Eurydice, and Cody Myers, a sophomore musical theatre and psychology major from Van Buren, Ark., played Orpheus. Kellogg worked with Garrett Whitehead, a sophomore musical theatre major from Cleburne, Texas, as stage manager and Cami Willis, a freshman musical theatre major from Flower Mound, Texas, as assistant stage manager.
Seven Sigma Tau Delta students present work
Seven Ouachita English majors recently presented their original work at Sigma Tau Delta international English honor society’s 2012 national convention in New Orleans. Among the participants, Emily Davis, a senior from Little Rock, Ark., presented “Ruins, Rings and Redemption: Morality in Middle Earth,” a research paper on The Lord of the Rings. Marissa Thornberry, a senior from Mabelvale, Ark., presented a poem titled “Chronicle of Seasons,” a piece that focuses on nature and how it lines up with human experiences and emotions. Jody Persson, a senior from Sherwood, Ark., presented a creative nonfiction piece titled “Just Enough.” Dielle Short, a senior from Boerne, Texas,
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presented a short informal response paper to Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth and Ovid’s Metamorphoses, called “Masticating the Myth.” Ellen Eubanks, a junior from Arkadelphia, Ark., presented a short story titled “Flotsam,” a piece that focuses on the effects of war. Jason Curlin, a junior from Arkadelphia, also presented a short story titled “Under the Covers: A Child’s Tale.” Bethany Kohl, a senior from Harrisburg, Mo., presented a fiction piece titled “He Cannot Hear You.”
Seven students named state finalists at NATS
Seven Ouachita Baptist University students were named finalists in the Arkansas state auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), held at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. “The National Association of Teachers of Singing is an organization whose goal is to promote elite singing and quality teaching,” said Dr. Jon Secrest, coordinator of OBU’s vocal studies program and professor of music. “The results show that OBU continues to enjoy success in terms of educating and training voice principals who are pursuing professional music degrees.” Rachel Harris, a senior musical theatre and vocal performance major, earned first place in the upper music theatre division. Xavier Lagunas, a senior musical theatre major, earned second place in the senior men division and fourth place in the upper music theatre division. Shay Michael, a senior music theatre major, earned third place in the upper music theatre division. Bethany Gere, a freshman musical theatre major, earned second place in the freshman women division and second place in the lower music theatre division. Meredith Martin, a sophomore choral music education and vocal performance major, earned second place in the sophomore women division and third place in the lower music theatre division. Joel Rogier, a sophomore vocal performance major, earned second place in the sophomore men division. John Tneoh, a junior vocal performance major, earned third place in the junior men division.
photo by Jessica Bowling
Tiger Traks celebrates mud, fun & scholarships
The cool squishiness of mud under foot, the rush of giving the correct answer to a trivia question, the exhilaration of stealing more bacon than the opposition. These, along with an $800 prize for first place, are among the rewards Tiger Traks teams pursue at Ouachita. The annual spring event, dubbed “Arkansas’ Most Exciting College Weekend,” was held April 13-14. Eight-member teams compete in the two-day event with all proceeds going to student scholarships. “Tiger Traks is a weekend-long event put together by the Ouachita Student Foundation,” said Tiger Traks co-director Jessica Winston, a senior biology major from Sheridan, Ark. “It’s full of games like mud volleyball, mega relay, egg toss, raft race, trike race and mud tug-o-war.” This year, Tiger Traks featured several games from past years, as well as a few new ones. While Tiger Traks is designed as a fun-filled weekend, its purpose is about more than just entertainment. “It’s so much fun to spend a weekend running around campus and acting crazy,” Winston said. “You get an awesome shirt, there will be mud and your team’s entry fee could be the scholarship money that keeps one of your best friends at Ouachita.”
Spring Tiger Serve Day tops 970 volunteers
Meeting the needs of more than 120 individuals, families and organizations in the Arkadelphia area, Ouachita Baptist University’s semiannual Tiger Serve Day attracted more than 970 volunteers during the March 31 community service blitz. Tiger Serve Day, which began in 1997 in the wake of a devastating tornado that hit Arkadelphia, is one of the largest community service efforts in the state of Arkansas. During the past 15 years, students, faculty and staff members have logged more than 50,000 community service hours. Sponsored by Ouachita’s Ben M. Elrod Center for Family & Community, Tiger Serve Day is coordinated by a team of student volunteers who spend
several weeks each semester planning and preparing for the semi-annual event. This spring’s Tiger Serve Day effort included 971 volunteers who divided into 111 teams and completed 128 projects for individuals, families, churches and other organizations in the Arkadelphia area. It marks the largest spring Tiger Serve Day in history. Last fall’s Tiger Serve Day topped 1,000 volunteers for the first time ever, involving more than 60 percent of Ouachita students.
MaryLacey Thomson crowned Miss OBU 2012
MaryLacey Thomson, a sophomore musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, was crowned Miss Ouachita Baptist University 2012 on Feb. 25 at Jones Performing Arts Center. She will represent Ouachita at the 2012 Miss Arkansas Pageant July 8-14 in Hot Springs, Ark. “I am absolutely humbled and honored to represent Ouachita as Miss OBU 2012 on this campus, as well as at Miss Arkansas this summer,” Thomson said. “It is amazing to be able to give back and serve a school that has done so much.” Thomson is a member of the EEE Women’s Social Club where she serves as co-Tiger Tunes director. She is also a member of the Ouachita Sounds vocal ensemble. Her platform is BrainPOWER, a fundraising organization associated with the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. Thomson was also awarded the Private Interview Award, Artistic Expression and Talent Award, Lifestyle and Fitness Award and Newcomer Talent Award. In addition to Thomson, 15 other contestants participated in this year’s pageant. First runner-up was Brooke Ault, a senior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark. Second runner-up and winner of the People’s Choice Award was Sarah Liz Carter, a sophomore math and computer science major from Norphlet, Ark. Third runner-up was Brandi Hull, a junior psychology major from Longview, Texas. Fourth runner-up was Lauren Jackson, a junior biology major from Arkadelphia, Ark. spring 2012
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c on nec t i ng t h e c i rc l e
1910s
J.L. “Nick” Carter (1917) was inducted posthumously into the Dallas County Sports Hall of Fame April 27. Carter, who passed away in 1967 at age 74, played quarterback in Ouachita’s historic 15-9 win against the University of Arkansas in 1914.
1950s
Bobby Newman (’50) was honored for his 30 years of service in the Arkansas House of Representatives with the dedication of the Bobby Newman Bypass in Smackover, Ark., in October 2011. Ina (Smith ’51) and Russell Miller (’52) celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Jan. 20. They have two children, Carol (Miller ’76) Gresham and Ray Miller (’78*), and one grandchild.
1960s
Kay (Dobson ’60) and Col. Mathis Martin (’60) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 27, 2011. They have two children, Gregory Martin and Melodie Price, and one grandchild. Ruth Ellen (Davis ’61) and Ted Harrison (’61) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Feb. 10. They live in Hughes, Ark., and have two children, John Harrison (’87) and Paul Harrison (’90), and five grandchildren. J. Martin Collier (’62*) and Alice (Keith ’64) Collier will celebrate their 50th anniversary on Aug. 26 in Hot Springs, Ark. They have two children, James Collier, Jr. (’87) and Alison (Collier ’98) Fendley.
Ellajane (Inman ’65) Sutley and her husband, Dr. Cecil Sutley, celebrated their 70th anniversary on Feb. 15. They have five children, Marie (Sutley ’65*) Dallas, Jeanne Roberts, Susan (Sutley ’70) Reed, Bill Sutley (’77) and Jacque (Sutley ’79) Goble; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
1970s
Mac Stroud (’74) recently joined Goodwill Industries of Arkansas as vice president of human resources. Kent Sutherland (’78) and his wife, Jana, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Dec. 13, 2011. They live in Sherwood, Ark., and have one son.
1980s
Cindy (Sharp ’80) Timmerman and her husband, Tim, both recently retired and moved to Birmingham, Ala. Todd Thrower (’87) was named plant manager at BD-Medical Surgical Systems in Franklin, Wisc., where he will oversee all plant operations and financial results.
1990s
Mitch Bettis (’90) has been named publisher of 10 GateHouse Media newspapers in Arkansas and Louisiana. He most recently worked for GateHouse Media in central Missouri as general manager for several publications. Virginia Queen (’44), professor emerita of music, was honored with a surprise 90 birthday party Oct. 22, 2011, at Trio’s Restaurant at Pavilion in the Park in Little Rock. Attending the celebration were Dr. Bill and Pat Trantham, Dr. Joe (’61) and Laura (McHaney ’76*) Nix, Dr. Ouida (Eppinette ’71) Keck and Dr. George Keck, Lois K. (Kirkpatrick ’73) Schmidt, Becky Moore, Connie (Bowie ’73) Limbird, Dr. Margaret (Woodfield ’67) Wright and Dr. Charles Wright (’60), Paul Sharp (’75), Sherrie (Brown ’80*) Sharp and Jane Sharp (’77), Bob Gladden (’48) and Beth (Gladden ’75) Coulson. th
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David Damron (’92) was featured in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Tri-Lakes edition of “20 to Watch in 2012” for his accomplishments as president of the Yellowjacket Touchdown Club, raising funds for the Sheridan High School football program and the community.
Faculty & Staff Update Hays, Duvall book gains recognition Dr. Danny Hays and Dr. Scott Duvall’s book, The Baker Illustrated Bible Handbook, was named a finalist in two competitions—the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s 2012 Christian Book Awards and the Retailers Choice Awards sponsored by Christian Retailing magazine. The Christian Book Awards are based on excellence in content, literary quality, design and impact. The Retailers Choice Awards are judged on the impact they have had on staff and customers, including their ability to speak to hearts and evoke emotion, open minds to new ways of thinking and encourage and affirm Christ-like living.
photo by Heather Ellis
Ouachita President Rex Horne; John Cloud, senior development officer for estate and gift planning; and Raouf Halaby, professor of visual arts and English, gather with members of the Allen Tillery family and friends at a recent exhibit in Hammons Gallery featuring artwork donated by the Tillerys. The art collection, valued at more than $250,000, includes numbered and signed black and white photographs by professional photographers, hundreds of numbered and signed original prints and numbered and signed lithographs. “This gift is a tangible expression of the Tillerys’ generosity and an affirmation that the visual arts are an integral part of OBU’s mission as an institution that values the liberal arts,” Dr. Halaby noted. He also expressed appreciation to J&S Framing of Arkadelphia which donated the majority of its labor costs to matte and frame the works. Carrie (Rinehart ’95) Roberson was featured in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Tri-Lakes edition of “20 to Watch in 2012” for her accomplishments in Clark County as she served on subcommittees that helped establish a college preparatory academy in the county, helped gain funding that led to the opening of the Boys and Girls Club of Clark County and contributed to the establishment of the Arkadelphia Promise Scholarship. Heather (McNutt ’98) married Daniel Saylor on March 19, 2011, at Cross Church Pinnacle Hills in Rogers, Ark. She teaches 5th grade in Siloam Springs, Ark., and he teaches 8th and 9th grade Spanish at Central Junior High in Springdale, Ark. Jennifer Redmond (’99) received her Doctorate of Public Health degree in 2010. She currently is an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky, College of Public Health, in Lexington, Ky.
2000s
Teri Jeffers (’00) was selected for Arkansas Times Best Doctors in Arkansas in 2011. She operates Four Seasons Allergy & Asthma Clinic in Little Rock, Ark. Faith (Hunter ’01) Brantley married Charles Brantley on Feb. 11. She is completing her Master of Education degree from Union Institute & University while working at YES Prep Schools in Houston, Texas, where she serves as the special programs coordinator and drama/theater teacher. Kathryn (Kirkpatrick ’01) married David Choate at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., on March 24. They live in Little Rock.
Faculty, staff address global issues Four Ouachita faculty and staff members attended the University Educators for Global Engagement conference in Richmond, Va., April 12-15. The conference theme was “Holistic Discipleship: Preparing the whole campus to take the whole gospel to the whole world!” Ouachita faculty and staff who attended the forum were Sharon Cosh, ESL coordinator; Dr. Ray Franklin, associate professor of Christian missions; James Taylor, director of campus ministries; and Dr. Jim Taylor, professor of biology.
Atkinson honored for support role Susan Atkinson, administrative assistant to the dean of the School of Humanities, was honored recently as Ouachita’s 2012 Support Staff Member of the Year. “I was very happy to hear Susan had won the award because it’s well deserved,” said Dr. Jeff Root, dean of the School of Humanities. “She knows and believes in our mission. I have great appreciation for her talent and completely trust the quality of her character.” Atkinson, a 1983 OBU graduate, is in her eighth year working at Ouachita.
Duvall honored for community role Judy Duvall was recently named Female Clark Countian of the Year in the Arkadelphia Daily Siftings Herald’s 2012 Readers’ Choice Awards. Duvall, assistant director of Ouachita’s Elrod Center for Family & Community and coordinator of ElderServe, is a 1982 Ouachita graduate. She works with students and faculty on volunteer projects and campus-wide events such as Tiger Serve Day and Healthy Relationships Week. spring 2012
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Michael (’01) and Kati (Huryta ’02*) Lusk are now living in Wylie, Texas. They have two daughters, Liliahna and Aleah, and are expecting their third child in October. Michael is the youth pastor at Gateway Community Church, and Kati is the 5th-6th grade choir director at Davis Intermediate School.
Watson’s performances earn national honor
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acob Watson, a 2011 Ouachita alumnus, won the $10,000 second prize in the prestigious Lotte Lenya Competition, held April 21 at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. The Lotte Lenya Competition, sponsored annually by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music, is a renowned competition for young artists, ages 19-30, who specialize in singing both opera and musical theatre repertoire. This international theatre singing competition has sent on winners to play major roles on Broadway and perform with prestigious opera houses such as Metropolitan Opera. Matthew Grills, a tenor from Rochester, N.Y., won the $15,000 first prize. Watson tied with Justin Hopkins, a bass-baritone from Philadelphia, Pa., for second prize. Third prize and $7,500 was awarded to Megan Marino, a mezzo-soprano from Malvern, Pa. “Jacob’s second place finish in the Lenya competition affects him positively in a number of ways,” said Dr. Jon Secrest, OBU professor of music. In addition to receiving the competition’s cash prize, Watson “will be remembered by casting directors and others in the field of performing arts as they are looking for singer/actors to fill roles in their productions.” The competition began in January when contestants sent in a DVD of their performances of four songs of their choosing. From there, Watson moved on to the semifinals, held in New York City. “At the semifinals I got to sing not only for the Kurt Weill Foundation but my judge was Tony Award-winning actress and soprano Victoria Clark,” Watson said. “That was pretty incredible as she is a well-known and successful performer as well as teacher. After I performed, she gave tons of wonderful feedback to take my performance to an even higher level. One week later, I got a phone call informing me that I had made the finals. “From mid-March to the end of April, I worked on making my performances as nuanced and
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By Nicci Fillinger
specific as possible,” Watson said. “During the finals I got to sing for Rebecca Luker, a three-time Tony-nominated soprano and actress; Rob Berman, a Broadway music director and music director of the Broadway Encores! Theatre; and Theodore S. Chapin, president of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization as well as the chairman of the board of directors for the American Theatre Wing. “It was an incredible feeling to place in this competition among some of the best singing actors I’ve ever had the privilege of performing with,” he added. “Every single person in the competition was passionate about honest storytelling using music. It was so inspiring to be among a group of people like that. “This competition was so enjoyable because of the shared passions among the performers and judges for storytelling in every way possible,” Watson said. “People always try to split people up into boxes as either opera singers or music theatre singers when the truth is that we are all storytellers and should know and want to tell stories in every medium possible. “My entire life informed my performances for this competition and any other performance, for that matter,” he noted. “My beliefs and experiences of faith, love, loss, death, joy, etc., all contributed to success in my competition.” Watson’s future plans include performing with the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center this summer. He will perform as Rodolfo in La Boheme and in the chorus of Barber of Seville, Dialogues of the Carmelites and HMS Pinafore. He will then travel to Shreveport, La., to be a resident artist with the Shreveport Opera. “The Division of Music and Department of Theatre Arts are so very pleased for Jacob and proud of the accomplishments he has achieved already,” Secrest said. “His talent is one of the most substantial to come through our program, and we know God will lead him to even greater opportunities in the future.”
Sam Myrick (’02) is now the lead pastor of Mosaic, a missional Baptist church in Austin, Texas. He previously served six years as associate pastor. He and his wife, Kim, have two children, Ada (4) and David (1). J. Kyle Cook (’03) is the controller for Lindsey Management Co., Inc., in Fayetteville, Ark. His wife, Jamie (Wieser ’04*), works part-time as a dental hygienist. They have one son, Sloan (3). Russ Pickett (’03) was named assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at the University of Central Oklahoma in January. He and his wife, Kristin Lindsey Pickett, have two daughters, Lexie and Ella Grace. Jennifer Jerles (’05) recently moved to Hardin, Ky., where she accepted the position of food service director for Crossings Ministries camp and retreat center.
Jane (Black ’05) and Josh Raspberry (’05) are living in Omaha, Ark., where he is pastor of Omaha First Baptist Church and is pursuing his Master of Divinity degree at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. They have three children, Chloe (4), Lydia (2) and Caleb (infant). Michael Digman (’06*) has been named graduate assistant football coach at the University of Connecticut for the 2012 season.
Sara (Smith ’07) married Corey Cooper on June 25, 2011, at Temple Baptist Church in Searcy, Ark. They will live in Searcy where she teaches 5th grade and he is an environmental health specialist for White County.
Kelly Harris (’10) married Brandon Brown on Jan. 6 at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Ark. D.J. and Leslyn (Ichter) Jacks (’11) were married on Aug. 6, 2011, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark. They now live in Monticello, Ark., where he is an accountant at Searcy & Associates and she is a choir director at Drew Central Schools.
Current Students
Jeremy Langley (’08) married Mary Ehrhardt on Dec. 17, 2011, at Unity Baptist Church in Hope, Ark. He is assistant to the president for special projects at Southern Arkansas University and is serving as bivocational associate pastor of Brister Baptist Church. She is a kindergarten teacher in Hope. Amy (Welch ’08) McGowan married Scott McGowan in Princeton, Mass., on June 24, 2011. They are both students at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass., where she is pursuing a master’s degree in counseling.
2010s
Jared Tohlen (’10) married Holly (Koder ’10) on Jan. 7, in Plano, Texas. They now live in Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Jacob Lively (’12) was featured in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Tri-Lakes edition of “20 to Watch in 2012” for his involvement and leadership at Ouachita. He has served as Student Senate president and co-president of the Ouachita Student Foundation and has been involved in Tiger Serve Day leadership.
Larry Dice (’92) and his wife, Mandy ( Jackson ’02*) Dice, welcomed son Reed Jackson on Dec. 21, 2011. He joins big sister Lottie Elizabeth (5). Todd and Laura (Burns) Baker (’98) welcomed son Harrison Todd on April 13, 2011. He joins big sister, Avery Grace (4).
Jennifer (Gay ’98) Woitesek and her husband, Michael, welcomed their son Cotton on Dec. 15, 2011.
Faculty & Staff
William Steeger, chair of the School of Biblical Studies at Ouachita in 1987-1998, retired from pastoral ministry in December 2011. Dr. Herman Sandford, professor and chair of English from 1960-1990, and his wife, Juanita, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in December 2011. Kevin Ward, wrestling head coach, was featured in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette TriLakes edition of “20 to Watch in 2012” for his leadership in developing Ouachita’s wrestling program established in 2010.
1990s
Ferris and Becky (Hatcher) Williams (’98) welcomed daughter Avery Lynn on April 3. She joins big brother Spencer (3).
Jason Holsclaw (’99) and his wife, Abby (Hughes ’97) Holsclaw, welcomed their son Whitman Adler on Aug. 8, 2011.
Alice (Wooten ’99) Holt and her husband, Chris, welcomed their son Andrew “Drew” Christopher on March 9. spring 2012
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Jordan and Tracy (Smith) Thomas (’99) welcomed daughter Addisyn Grace on Aug. 25. She joins siblings Taylor, Kaitlyn, Brooklyn, Andrew and Caleb.
Daniel Bramlett (’03) and his wife, Laura, welcomed daughter Elizabeth “Ella” Grace on Feb. 22.
2000s
Christa (Black ’00) Gifford and her husband, Lucas, welcomed son Moses Grae Lionheart on March 28. Jay and Jan (Cosh) Stroud (’00) welcomed daughter Sloane Katherine on Jan. 19. She is a granddaughter to Ian (’87) and Sharon (Fitt ’96) Cosh and greatgranddaughter to Ouachita Chancellor Ben and Betty Lou Elrod (’52).
Brandon and Susanne (Kurth) Jeffus (’01) welcomed Piper Lauren Sept. 24, 2011. She joins sisters Bailee (5) and Ava (3).
Roger (’95*) and Kadre (Clark) Wingfield (’01) welcomed son Layne Allen on Oct. 26, 2011. He joins big brother Clark (4).
Barrett Baber (’02*) and his wife, Sarah, welcomed son Brooks Marion on Feb. 28.
October
6
Homecoming
18 • the ouachita circle
Jason Gerber (’04) and his wife, Kandace, welcomed son Harper Allen on Sept. 26, 2011.
Allison (Lavender) Scherer (’04) and her husband, Nic, welcomed their first child, Thomas Edward, on April 26, 2011.
Carmen (Thrash ’01) Berens and her husband, Ryan, welcomed daughter Claire Nicole on July 28, 2011.
Save the Date
Rhonda (Walsh ’03) Hendricks and husband, Joe, welcomed their son Austin Robert on Sept. 10, 2011. They currently live in Nashville, Tenn., where they own Joe Hendricks Photography.
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Courtney (Ray ’02) and her husband, Michael Brewer (’99), welcomed their daughter Avery Claire on June 30, 2011.
Casey and Sally (Allred ’02) Lockett welcomed their son Cai Joseph on Aug. 16. They currently live in Colorado Springs.
Celeste (Mayo ’04) Smith and her husband, Bo, welcomed their daughter Katy on Oct. 28, 2011. She is the granddaughter of Kathryne (Graves ’71) Smith.
April (Adams ’04) and Derek Wingfield (’03) welcomed twin daughters Audrina Corinne and Devon Olivia on Oct. 11, 2011.
Ray Granade (left), OBU director of library services, looks on as President Rex Horne and Mary Alice McDermott, daughter of Sen. McClellan, officially open the collection for research. Photo by Nicole McPhate
Sen. McClellan remembered in ceremony, lecture By Brooke Zimny, Assistant Director of Communcations
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Gary and Katherine ( Jenkins) Grant (’06) welcomed Elliott Knight on Jan. 5. He is the grandson of Liz and Ross Grant (’77) and greatgrandson of Betty Jo (Oliver ’47) and OBU President Emeritus Daniel Grant (’45). Kristin (Cortimilia ’07) Sessoms and her husband, Matt, welcomed son Jeremy Micah on Jan. 6.
Rachel (Licklider ’08*) and Marc Ferraro (’09) welcomed daughter Aviva Joy on Nov. 15, 2011. Leanna (Legg ’09) and Cliff Conine (’08) welcomed daughter Nora Caroline on March 26. Jeremy Haworth (’09*) and his wife, Emily (Rogers ’07), welcomed daughter Lilly Grace on March 15.
Current Students
Josh Stewart (’12) and his wife, Juliana, welcomed son Jeshua Alexander Micah Nathanael on Feb. 6.
uachita celebrated the formal opening of the Sen. John Little McClellan Collection Dec. 1 with the OBU community as well as many family members, friends and former staff members of the longtime U.S. senator. “We’re so pleased at this university that we have the opportunity tonight once again to pay honor to Sen. McClellan,” said Ouachita President Rex Horne. “We remember again today the legacy of this public servant, and we also remember what future generations can learn from his work.” McClellan designated Ouachita as the repository for his materials in June 1976, due in large part to the work of then-Vice President for Development Ben Elrod. The papers came to Ouachita after McClellan’s death in 1977, and the project of arranging and processing the materials was completed in January of 2011; the collection has recently been linked to the national archives. “It’s a joy to be here tonight and see the consummation of a process that started a long time ago,” said Elrod, who served as president of Ouachita from 1988-1998 and currently serves as chancellor. “It’s brought great joy to me to know that this great senator who spent so many years giving his service to the United States of America and was so effective in doing so has chosen this university to house his official papers.” In addition to a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the collection, Dr. Robert Blakey, who served as chief counsel to Sen. McClellan from 1968-1972, delivered a lecture as part of Ouachita’s Birkett Williams Lecture Series. Sherry Laymon was also available to sign copies of her new biography of the senator, Fearless: John L. McClellan, United States Senator. Blakey serves as a professor in the Notre Dame Law School and is one of the nation’s foremost legal scholars. He was instrumental in crafting the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations
Act as McClellan’s chief counsel in 1970. He spoke anecdotally of his time working with McClellan. Blakey said his time on McClellan’s staff was “the most challenging, rewarding and productive four years of my life. You can say this is my life before Sen. McClellan, and this is my life after. How privileged I was to have worked with him. “I’ve heard people describe Sen. McClellan as a gruff old prosecutor. I don’t believe it for a minute. He was a kind, gentle, loving man,” he said. “Sen. McClellan was invariably polite and respectful to everyone he dealt with.” Emon Mahoney, who also served as a staff member under McClellan, shared similar sentiments at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Robert Kennedy said he was ‘the most devastating cross-examiner I ever heard and always commanded the respect not only of his colleagues but also of the witnesses,’” Mahoney said. “His record as chairman commends itself to all those who follow him as chairman. He was invariably courteous, fair and impartial in that role. “Sen. McClellan, you have inspired all of us and made our lives better by your example,” Mahoney added. “May you continue to influence future generations.” Sen. McClellan (1896-1977) was a prominent member of the U.S. Senate, serving from 1942 to 1977, representing Arkansas longer than anyone else in the state’s history. He served as chair of the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Government Operations and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. No other chairman of a congressional investigating committee in the history of the U.S. Congress has approached McClellan’s record of tenure as chairman, for either the number of investigations conducted or the results achieved. For more information on the John Little McClellan Collection, visit www.obu.edu/mcclellan. spring 2012
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and Lorna Higgins; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
1930s
Rev. Paul Elledge (’33) of Overland Park, Kan., passed away on Jan. 26. He is survived by his sons Paul and William Elledge, three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two stepsons and several stepgrandchildren.
Betty Jo Lacy (’47) of Little Rock, Ark., passed away on March 24. She is survived by her sister, Imogene (Lacy ’42*) Reed, and brother, James Lacy. Annice (Nutt ’47*) Durham of Medford, Ore., passed away on Feb. 15. She is survived by her children Dennis Durham, Cheryl Durham Nicholson and Alan Durham.
Dr. Martha Canaday (’40*) of Greensboro, N.C., passed away on Dec. 30, 2011. She is survived by her nephew, Henry Canaday.
Dr. John Wright (’47*) of Benton, Ark., passed away on Feb. 12. He is survived by his wife, Jeana Wright; children Mary Carol Wright, John Wright, Charles Wright (’60) and Phyllis Edgin; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Altha “Bess” (Byrum ’40) Peters of Midlothian, Va., passed away on March 19. She is survived by her daughters Pat Walters and Jan Wood, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Luke Nichols (’48) of Lamesa, Texas, passed away on March 13. He is survived by his wife, Madge; son, Sam Nichols; and one granddaughter.
Richard “Dick” Bishop (’41*) of Bradley, Ark., passed away on Feb. 1. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie (Allen ’42) Bishop; children Dickie Bishop (’65*), John Bishop, Jim Bishop, Jeanne Rothwell, Ann Rogers, Sally Jones and Margie (Bishop ’83) Van; 20 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Kenneth Phillips (’48*) of Little Rock, Ark., passed away on April 3. He is survived by his children Ross Phillips, Jim Phillips and Linda Earnest, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
1940s
Dr. John Barrow (’42*) of Helena, Ark., passed away on March 22. He is survived by his wife, Betty Barrow; children John Harley, Chris, Rob and Angela Barrow; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Carolyn (Carpenter ’42) Berry of Arkadelphia, Ark., passed away on Dec. 16. She is survived by her sons John Berry (’73) and Ted Berry (’74). Joyce (Ponder ’42*) Pattison Dunn of Little Rock, Ark., passed away on Dec. 23. She is survived by her children Gloria Magee, Dwight Pattison and Harry Pattison (’77). Norma (Webb ’44) Johnston passed away on Dec. 27 in Coppell, Texas. She is survived by her children, John Johnston, Jr., Norman Johnston and Judy ( Johnston ’71*) Garrison. Dr. Paul Hogue, Jr. (’47) of Benton, Ark., passed away on Jan. 9. He is survived by his wife, Lillian; children Debbie Turbyfill, Randy Cash 20 • the ouachita circle
1950s
Vernelle (Bishop ’50) Ramsey of Benton, Ark., passed away on March 4. She is survived by her daughter, Kathlyn (Ramsey ’68) Brown; two grandchildren;, and one great-grandson.
Dr. James Jenkins (’51) of Mt. Ida, Ark., passed away on Jan. 13. He is survived by his wife, Druzelle, and sons Jeff, Jon and Steven Jenkins. Billy Joe (Taylor ’51*) Tatum of Melbourne, Ark., passed away on March 26. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Harold Tatum (’51); children Angel Craddock, Lisa Tatum, Lori Purtle, Maury White Quu and Toby Tatum; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Harold Diffie (’52*) of El Dorado, Ark., passed away on March 23. He is survived by his wife, Gloria Diffie; children Mike Diffie, Mark Diffie, Marsha Diffie and Melanie Odom; and seven grandchildren. Bernice (McCurry ’55*) Burns of Cabot, Ark., passed away on Nov. 22, 2011. She is survived by her husband, Lawrence Burns; children Larry Burns, Jerry Burns, Shelia Barnett and Laura (Burns ’98) Baker; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Clara (Poole ’56*) Harrington of Hot Springs, Ark., passed away on Jan. 17. She is survived by her husband, James Harrington; children Teresa Apple, Lori Stewart and Rhonda Harrington (’75*); three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Staton Posey (’57) of Sheridan, Ark., passed away on Feb. 1. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; children Paul and Philip Posey (’88) and Karen Staggs; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
1960s
Lester Sitzes Jr. (’50*) of Hope, Ark., passed away on March 24. He is survived by his children Lester Sitzes III (’76), David Sitzes (’79) and Donald Sitzes (’80); nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
J. Ronald Condren (’60) formerly of Ft. Smith, Ark., passed away on Dec. 31, 2011. He is survived by his children Lisa Condren and Rodney Condren and eight grandchildren.
Joyce (Noel ’51*) Crittenden of Beaumont, Texas, passed away on Feb. 8. She is survived by her husband, Jim Crittenden (’50); sons Noel and Jeffery Crittenden; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Barbara (Barnett ’63*) Galbraith of Bryant, Ark., passed away on Feb. 13. She is survived by her husband, Richard Galbraith; children Russ Galbraith and Lisa Galbraith Mundy; and four grandchildren.
Bobbie Lou (Lamb ’51*) Hendrix of Antoine, Ark., passed away on March 1. She is survived by her three sons David, Kent and Max Hendrix and four grandchildren.
Rozelle Goodson (’63) of Little Rock, Ark., passed away on Feb. 3. She is survived by her daughters Mary Goodson (’67), Nancy (Goodson ’68) Mills, Margery (Goodson ’70) Lumpkin and Charlotte Goodson (’72*); 14 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Ernest Hollaway III (’64) of Ashland City, Ark., passed away on Dec. 23, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Hollaway; daughters Lori Carter and Lynn Sanders; stepson John-Paul Wood; and three grandchildren. Howard Glenn Nichols (’64) of Galveston, Texas, passed away on Jan. 9. He is survived by his wife, Jean (Page ’64*) Nichols; sons Chris, Tim and Jeff; and 13 grandchildren. Frank Shell (’65) of Batesville, Ark., passed away on March 19. He is survived by his wife, Loretta Shell; children Jay Shell (’82), Sarah (Shell ’83) Teague, Joe Shell (’90) and Susan (Shell ’91) Allison; stepson Sam Caery; and 16 grandchildren. O.K. “Jack” Hazlewood (’67), a former Ouachita Trustee of Little Rock, Ark., passed away on March 11. He is survived by his wife, Sue Hazlewood; children Rhonda Mitchell and Keith Hazlewood; and seven grandchildren.
1970s
John Wallace Gentry (’71) of Spearsville, La., passed away on Feb. 21. He is survived by his wife, Wilma (Lechliter ’69) Gentry; children Jay Gentry and Sherry Gentry; and four grandchildren.
Edward “Ed” Fry II (’76) passed away on Jan. 13 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He is survived by his parents, Edward and Patricia Fry, and sisters, Leah Ann Taylor and Andrea Zomber.
1990s
Sandy Huckabee (’90) of Arkadelphia, Ark., passed away on Jan. 22. He is survived by his two sons, Stephen and Alex, and three stepchildren, Rachel, Justin and Jason Hux. Mark Johnston (’90) of Little Rock, Ark., passed away on Jan. 19. He is survived by his mother, Bobbie Johnston, and brother, Greg Johnston.
Faculty, Staff & Friends Emma Jean Barker of Burleson, Texas, passed away on Jan. 16. Her husband, Dr. Trozy Barker (’49), passed away in 2010. She is survived by her children Julie Cook, Ted Barker (’79) and Jan Barker (’80); six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Sadie Buckley of Arkadelphia, Ark., passed away on Jan. 6. She served for more than 32 years on Ouachita’s housekeeping staff before retiring in 2011.
Patsy Ann Trantham of Hot Springs, Ark., passed away on Feb. 5. She is survived by her husband, Dr. William Trantham; children Rachel (Trantham ’82) King and Gene Trantham (’85); four grandchildren; and one great-grandson. * indicates former student
What’s new? Submit your class notes, including wedding, baby and alumni reunion photos, by logging on to the Ouachita Online Community at www.obualumni.org or by contacting Jon Merryman at merrymanj@obu.edu or (870) 245-5111.
McGettrick explores globalization of education in Birkett Williams Lecture By Lara Overman
O
uachita Baptist University hosted renowned scholar Dr. Bart McGettrick on March 6 as part of the university’s Birkett Williams Lecture Series. McGettrick’s lecture highlighted the globalization of education and what it means to be an educated individual. McGettrick is dean of education and professor of educational development at Liverpool Hope University in the United Kingdom. Liverpool Hope is Ouachita’s newest international education partner. McGettrick previously served as principal of St. Andrew’s College for teacher education in Scotland and was the first dean of the faculty of education at the University of Glasgow. The purpose of education is “simply about the flourishing of humanity,” McGettrick emphasized. “I think sometimes we make education far too complex by seeing it as the technical ways in which we measure achievement and attainment,” he added. “At the end of the day, it is something to do
with every person flourishing with their gifts.” McGettrick noted that in society today, it seems as though only those things that are measured matter. “That leads you into an education, which is about measured outcomes, but you don’t find education on pieces of paper or lists of exams results. You find that education is in the hearts of people.” McGettrick also discussed what it means to be an educated person who will use those gifts for the glory of God. “An educated person is someone of love, care and compassion; a person with a care for beauty and wonder, who will have a deep sense of hope and who will serve the world by her or his gifts,” he explained. He described education as a journey through which people are transformed by personal relationships with others, just as that was the work
of Jesus Christ when He was on the earth. “On this journey, the footsteps are more important than the signposts,” McGettrick said. “It’s who you’re walking with on the journey that is more important than the signposts that you pass.” He concluded his lecture by reminding the crowd, “Remember that children will learn through the smiling eyes of a teacher.” Ouachita’s Birkett Williams Lecture Series was established in 1977 through a gift from the late Birkett L. Williams, a 1910 Ouachita graduate. His generous endowment established the lectures as an opportunity to extend the concepts of a liberal arts education beyond the classroom by bringing outstanding scholars and public figures to Ouachita’s campus. Lara Overman is a junior mass communications and Spanish major from Longview, Texas
spring 2012
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Nathan Reyna,
H
photo by Nicole McPhate
Assistant Professor of Biology
alfway through the spring semester of his senior year at Barton High School, Nathan Reyna was not sure he was going to attend college. 19 years and a PhD later, Dr. Nathan Reyna is leading Ouachita students in cutting-edge research. “What I love most about my work at Ouachita is involving students in research,” Reyna says. “Undergraduate research used to be isolated to a senior research project but is now something we bring into the classroom for students in all undergraduate levels.” Prior to coming to Ouachita, Reyna was on faculty at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. He is completing his fourth academic year at Ouachita this spring. “The things I value most about Nathan are his commitment to the students and his flexibility,” says Dr. Ruth Plymale, assistant professor of biology. “He does absolutely everything possible to equip students with knowledge and skills that will not only be useful in his course, but beyond.” Dr. Reyna was instrumental in Ouachita’s selection as one of 12 schools nationwide to participate in the prestigious National Genomics Research Initiative. In this program, 25 freshmen each year will isolate soil-dwelling bacterial viruses, called phages. They spend the rest of the term purifying and characterizing their phage and extracting its DNA. In the second half of the yearlong course, students receive digital files containing their phage’s DNA sequence. They then learn to use bioinformatics tools to analyze and annotate the genomes. Reyna also leads a Summer Research Fellowship in partnership with Arkansas IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) and the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium where students focus on oxidated stress to plants. “As we present our research around the country, word is getting out about the biology program here at Ouachita,” he emphasizes. Reyna holds degrees from College of the Ozarks and University of Arkansas and was recently granted tenure at Ouachita. He and his wife, Sarah, live in Bismarck, Ark., and have a two-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.
OBU alum Curtis Arnold helps launch faith-based dance company
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ew Creation Dance Company launched last fall as Arkansas’ first-ever professional, faith-based dance company. Curtis Arnold, a 1992 Ouachita graduate and trustee of the Bill and Sharon Arnold Family Foundation, is the dance company’s executive director. The company features five dancers, ranging in age from 20-29. Arnold noted that they come from a variety of backgrounds but share a passion for dance and a love for Jesus Christ. The company, which performed last fall during a chapel service at Ouachita, focuses on ballet and modern dance with the primary goals of glorifying God and ministering through artistic expression. It is one of only two professional dance companies in the state. Arnold said New Creation “is in the process of developing a unique partnership with Ouachita to create dance performance opportunities.” He said the partnership “has the potential of greatly enriching opportunities for students in the performing arts who have an interest in dance.” Dr. Scott Holsclaw, dean of the OBU School of Fine Arts, is serving on the dance company’s board of directors. He said Ouachita recently started a worship-focused interpretive movement group that also has performed in chapel. “We also have been working toward developing a relationship between that group and New Creation,” Holsclaw said, providing an opportunity for Ouachita students to become involved with New Creation’s ministry and performance efforts. For more information about New Creation, contact artistic director Greta Smith at 501-749-8162.
22 • the ouachita circle
photo by Guy Lyons
Jon Merryman,
J
Director, Ouachita Alumni
on Merryman (OBU class of 2000) often hums a familiar tune: “Ouachita, we sing thy praises, thy beauty, thy power, thy fame…” As the new director of Ouachita Alumni, Jon works daily to connect the university’s former students with the Queen of the College World through events, reunions and social media. He also shares the stories of OBU alumni with current students and strives to connect them with time-honored campus traditions. Originally from Missouri, Jon had planned to attend a local university before he happened upon the Ouachita table at a college fair. After meeting then-admissions counselor Heather Spruill (’94), Jon attended Ouachita’s fall recruitment event and was introduced to both Tiger Tunes and the extraordinary friendliness of the Ouachita community—and the rest is history! During his student years, Jon was involved in the Ouachita Student Foundation, Campus Activities Board, Kappa Chi men’s social club, Ouachita Sounds, Praise Singers and Ouachita Singers. He is also a survivor of American Airlines flight 1420, which crash-landed with a group of Ouachita students aboard on June 1, 1999. Reflecting on that experience, Jon says, “The Ouachita family cared for me so much during that time—literally, a professor (Dr. Charles Fuller) saved my life.” He said those “who survived that tragic, lifechanging event now share a special bond.” While Jon enjoys planning such popular events as Homecoming and Gold Tigers, he most enjoys the opportunity to personally connect with alumni on a daily basis. In addition to phone calls and emails, Jon wants to encourage more alumni to come back for campus visits to share their Ouachita memories and gain firsthand perspectives about recent campus developments. Jon and his wife, Emily (Watts ’01), who serves as Annual Fund director at Ouachita, are active members of Second Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. They have one son, Dennis, whom they adopted from Moldova in 2008. photo by Nicole McPhate
Tigers at the Ballpark JOIN US THIS SUMMER! get your tickets today at www.obualumni.org.
All tickets include admission to the game and a two-hour all-you-can-eat buffet! June 1 // Arkansas Travelers v. Corpus Christi Hooks at Dickey-Stephens Park (NLR) Cost: $15 (kids under 3 free) // First 1,500 fans get a #23 Mike Trout replica jersey
July 27 // Frisco Rough Riders v. San Antonio Missions at Dr. Pepper Park (Frisco) Cost: $37 (1/2 price parking passes $5) // Ouachita group members receive limited edition Rough Riders hat
Aug. 10 // Northwest Arkansas Naturals v. Midland Rockhounds at ARVEST Ballpark (Springdale) Cost: $32 // Fireworks display at the end of the game spring 2012
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Embrace opportunities for exploration T
he railroad tracks close to my boyhood home, along with barns, abandoned shacks and the woods around my grandparents’ Louisiana house, were some of the places I explored. I don’t remember any great discovery, but I do remember hours of walking, looking and wondering about the people who once lived in the area. The word “explore” is a rich one. Explore is to scrutinize, search, look closely or examine. Exploration can take place virtually anywhere. Some examples would be exploration on land or sea, in space or one’s spirit, mind or body. We explore the past and present. A person or nation’s success and failures are explored as well as history and the future.
our Lord and their willingness to be servants anywhere in the world. I have listened to students discuss with our U.S. senators their work in finding treatment that would defeat Ewing’s sarcoma. Professors tell me with pride of students they have mentored who are among the best they have ever taught. It would appear that the drive to search, scrutinize and learn has been a constant across the years. Our professors guide their students to go beyond what they have done before attending Ouachita. Explorers need inspiration and direction. They receive both in large measure here every year.
“Explorers need inspiration and direction. They receive both in large measure here every year.”
Limitations for exploration seem to be few while opportunities are vast. This brings us to Ouachita. I often tell groups I speak to that we believe our difference makers can impact the world from Arkadelphia. As I enter year seven as president, I am more convinced of this fact. I personally see, hear and observe the journey of our students and professors. From classrooms to our nation’s capital, Arkansas to distant nations, McBeth Recital Hall to Italy and countless other settings, our people are explorers. One of our challenges is to tell you of Ouachita’s continuing impact. How can I recount for you the writings our students compose, the plays they present, the witness they share, the service they render, the incredible ongoing research and the passion of those who serve as educators and public servants? It is a challenge, but one I will continue to joyfully pursue.
May is when we seem to do several months’ work in a couple of weeks! This is the culmination of our year. We congratulate our seniors and hear their stories and applaud their achievements. They give testimony to the impact Ouachita has had on their lives. They speak of the difference today compared to their arrival on campus. They have adapted to a rigorous academic opportunity. They also have awakened to the possibilities of continued learning in the coming years.
We can agree on the necessity of higher education. All education, however, is not of equal value. Ouachita has never had a greater opportunity than today to make a difference. Our residential campus, highly relational student body, superior professors and a world to explore are all in place. We need people to champion our cause. I recently read Paul Bass’ book about Sen. Robert Kerr of Oklahoma. A large part of Kerr’s career, along with our Sen. John McClellan, was spent focused on the Arkansas River. The improvements came as intellect, dedication and perseverance joined together. Will you champion the cause of Ouachita? We are always ready to engage in this conversation. Many years have passed since I walked the railroad tracks in Camden or through the woods near Spearsville, La. I am privileged to walk today where exploration continues. Come along on the journey.
We send our students from this campus to be explorers. This past year I have participated often with our students in worship. What inspiration to see the love they express for
photo by Chase Smith
24 • the ouachita circle
www.obu.edu 1.800.DIAL.OBU
Ranked among “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report and Forbes magazines. Seven academic schools: Business, Christian Studies, Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences.
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Students from more than 30 states and 40 nations. Opportunities for international study in more than a dozen countries. Celebrating more than 125 years of academic and Christian excellence.
OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID LITTLE ROCK, AR PERMIT NO. 211
ALUMNI OFFICE
410 Ouachita Street • Box 3762 Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71998-0001
............................................... COME GROW WITH US .............................................. Have you enrolled your child in our
Training Up Tigers legacy program?
10 years 9.5 years 9 years
8.5 years
We want your future tiger to receive fun gifts from Ouachita as they grow! Enrollment is free and is open to children and grandchildren of Ouachita graduates and former students. Signing up is easy! Just visit www.obualumni.org. Training Up Tigers gifts include:
Birth – “Future Tiger” Baby Tee Age 6 – Ouachita Coloring Book Age 8 – Ouachita Backsack
Age 10 – Ouachita Pencil Case Age 12 – Ouachita Pillowcase Age 16 – Ouachita Keychain
8 years 7.5 years 7 years