President Dr. Clifton L. Ganus, Jr . He Works For the Love of Harding Dr. Clifton L. Ganus , Jr. , President of Harding University exemplified "the start of something new" when he made two trips in January, to Nassau in the Bahamas to develop Harding's School of Biblical Studies in Nassau for training of native men for Christian leadership. He was pleased when 20 students enrolled for the opening session . He also made two trips to Florence, Italy, first to purchase and then to dedicate the new villa that now houses the Harding University in Florence program. ' About two years after President Ganus had flown to Warsaw, Poland, to participate in the signing of the historic document legalizing the church of Christ in Poland, he returned in 1984 to meet with government officials , church leaders , the Patriarch of the Polish Orthodox Church and the President of the Christian Technological Seminary. He also spent three days . visiting Biblical and historical sights in Israel. He was guided by Dr. Jack and Annie May Lewis who were on sabbatical leave from the Harding Graduate School of Religion for study and research. During the year he served as President of the Independent Colleges of Arkansas. He served on the boards of Finest Foods of New Orleans, the First Security Bank of Searcy and the Ira North Foundation of Nashville. He was a member of the Searcy Lions Club and the Searcy Chamber of Commerce. With the completion of the addition to the Science Building early in the fall semester, the building program projected for the "Decade of Excellence ," shortly I after he was inaugurated as president in 1965, was completed. He then concentrated on the "Endowing a Destiny" campaign designed to raise multimillion dollars for endowment and supplementary funds for current operation. President Ganus spoke at the New Orleans Worlds Fair , the Christian College Presidents' meeting , the David Lipscomb College Lectureship, the Caribbean Lectureship in Freeport, and the Mid-AmeriThe President and First Lady of Harding. President and Mrs. Ganus welcome a student to Harding 's campus during an early orientation mixer. - photo by Jay Lockhart. 168 President can Workshop in Indianapolis. He also delivered commencement addresses at several Christian schools and was a frequent speaker for various civic clubs around the state and in surrounding states. He served as an elder of the College church of Christ. During the year he preached for congregations in Arkansas , Alabama, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and Indiana. President Ganus maintained an opendoor policy to both students and faculty. He was a strong supporter of all Bison athletic teams as well as other student . activities. He enjoyed visiting with students and helping them solve their problems. As he completed his 39th year on the faculty and his 20th year as president of Harding, he commented, "I am grateful for the opportunity to serve at Harding and I appreciate the wonderful staff members and students who make Harding a great place to be. The Lord has blessed us abundantly and we have so very much for which to be thankful. May it always be ." & "Take Me Out to the Ball Park." Some of the best times were enjoyed outside the baselines at the faculty softball game. President Ganus and Lavon Carter, assistant professor of management, share in the amusement of watching the other faculty members play. - photo by Wes , Holland.
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