Xusheng Tian • Shenyang. Liaoning. China Mary Alic;e Verkler • Blllck Rock. AR Mllrneda Faye Wade - Albany. GA Tammy Jo Williams - Gresham, OR Kelly Marie Willis · Clay, NY Virginia Kay Wise ;'- Beebe, AR Albert C. Wright · Searey. AR "What's in a Name?" Wal-Plng Yip . H6ng Kong. China SU!phen James Young · Florence. italy Not only did Alex Haley, author of Roots, hold in rapt attention the large audience that assembled in the Benson Auditorium on February 21, 1984, to hear his American Studies lecture, but he stimulated the audience to pursue its "roots." What are the "roots" of Harding University? The "roots" can be approached from the viewpoint of junior colleges that in a sense were "predecessors" of Harding - Arkansas Christian College and Harper College, and, to a limited extent, several other Christian colleges, long since "deceased," that served as a "training ground" for ~ey administrators and faculty members of Harding - Cordell Christian College in Oklahoma, Western Bible and Literary College in Missouri, Monea College in Arkansas and Potter Bible School in Kentucky, to name a few. The "roots" can be approached from the viewpoint of the men and women who both literally and figuratively gave their lives to give us the legacy of Harding University today - J.N. Armstrong, A.S. Croom, , B.F. Rhodes, S.A. Bell, L.E. Pryor, L.c. Sears, Woodson Harding Armstrong, Florence M. Cathcart, Ruby Lowery Stapleton, George S. Benson, W.K. Summitt and others . The "roots" can be approached also from the viewpoint of traditions and activities that have played such a unique role in the legacy Harding students have today. This involved the name of the student paper, the name of the yearbook and the name of the athletic teams. Dominating the southwestern horizon as viewed from the original Harding campus in Morrilton was Petit Jean Mountain, about 17 miles distant from the campus. Noted for its scenic beauty, the mountain still is a favorite site for club outings. Very early in the history of Harding the mountain became a "legend." Publication of a yearbook began the very first year that Harding existed following her chartering in the summer of 1924 and the book was named the Petit Jean and this name was continued through the years. There was no evidence of a student newspaper being published that first year, but one issue was published in 1925-26 by the freshman class under the supervision of Le. Sears, Dean of the College . This one edition was named The Petit Jean Collegian, and was published on December 17, 1925. Beginning September, 1926, the name was changed to The Skeeter which was published monthly by the students. The 1927 Petit Jean stated that "the theme was derived from a pest that once infested parts of Arkansas, but is now practically extinct around Morrilton." On March 21, 1929 , the name of the student paper was changed to The Bison. According to the 1925 Petit Jean, intercollegiate athletic teams were fielded in football, basketball and baseball during 1924-25; however , no ' "team name" was indicated. Dr. George S. Benson, a senior who served as Director of Athletics for that first year, confirmed that there was no "team name" the first year. However , the name "Bisons" was adopted in the fall of 1925. The Petit Jean Collegian of December 17 , 1925 , has the large front-page headline , "Football! - Harding Bisons Finish Strong ." Following the tradition of naming the athletic teams after animals, the majestic American bison was chosen for Harding's teams. Following the tradition of journalistic license in athletic reporting, "Bisons" was chosen rather than "Bison" as the plural. This was evident in the news story in the first edition of the student newspaper where the headline included "Harding Bisons Finish Strong" and the advisor was one of the most knowledgeable and renowned English professors the state of Arkansas has ever had. When the white man came to Arkansa" herds of bison roamed the plains of Arkansas providing food, clothing , shelter and a source of heat in the winter for the teepees of the various American Indian tribes that occupied the regions where both Morrilton and Searcy were later founded (see page 6 of Searcy, Arkansas: A Frontier Town Grows Up With America written by Dr. Raymond Muncy. Chairman of the Department of History and Social Science at Harding). The majesty, perseverence and gregariousness of this once native animal have characterized the athletic teams of Harding since the fall of 1924. t~ ~ Dr. Joseph E. Pryor Our Namesake. Harding's yearbook is named after Pet,'t Jean Mounta,·n. Th JI e mountain is just southwest of Morrilton, Harding's first home. - staff photo. Second Semester Students 265
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