President Integrating faith and learning. Dr. David B. Burks discusses his ideas for the future progress ofHarding University. In his inaugural speech, he stressed the need to provide "first-rate" Christian education. - photo by Jack Davis. 7oday, we are assembled to officially mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Harding University. In so doing, I want to describe our rich tradition of educating for eternity, present a reaffirmation of our mission , and share a dream with you about our future." These were the words of Dr. David B. Burks on September 18, 1987, as he was inaugurated as the fourth president of Harding University. With these words president Burks emphasized the importance the past and present play in determining the course of the future of an institution. Also in life, the past and present shape the future of each individual and the life of President Burks is no exception . Dr. Burks was born in Ava, MO, and raised in Truth-orConsequences, NM. He came to what was then Harding College in 1961, at the recommendation of his preacher, who was the only person Burks had ever heard mention the school. ' 'I came to Harding with a poor understanding of Christian education. I'd grown up as the only Christian in my high school; I wanted Christian companionship, and I wanted to study the Bible. "Harding was a different world to me. I didn't know a soul, and I came with no long-term desire to stay any length of time. In fact, when I found out I had to go to chapel every day for no credit, I almost went home. 166President Dr. David B. Burks I didn't know about chapel, and I certainly didn't know any college had a code of conduct - that they expected students to behave a certain way." After one year at Harding, Burks still wasn't sure he'd return. But he had become friends with Dr. Joe Pryor, who persuaded him to return his second year as head photographer for the Petit Jean. That year he took classes with Dr. James Hedrick, then chairman of the department of business; he greatly admired Hedrick, who helped him to realize, ''At Harding I could get what I wanted, and then some. I'd always planned to finish at the University of New Mexico, for a more prestigious degree, but I saw that Harding offered the same high quality of education. I fell in love with Harding, and I wanted to stay." David B. Burks, who had come to Harding with the intent of leaving, returned for a third year and was elected president of the Student Association for the next year. His senior year, 1965, saw the inauguration of Harding's third president. "With Dr. Benson going out and Dr. Ganus corning in, there was a lot of activity and a lot of talk about change." Changes were in store for Dr. Burks' life as well. He graduated in the spring of '65, and in August married Leah Ann Gentry. They moved to Austin, TX, where he had received a fellowship at the University of Texas. Mrs. Burks certified to teach in the state of Texas, where the American studies. Dr. David B. Burks introduces a speaker invited by the American Studies program. This program brought many important public speakers to the Benson Auditorium stage from all areas ofknowledge. - photo by Bill Tripp. Bringing it together. Dr. Burks encourages the faculty in their committment to educate. Part of the stability of Harding came from the unity of the faculty with their similar goals. - photo by Dr. Joseph Pryor. couple planned to spend their lives . After receiving his Master's degree, Dr. Burks was hired to work with Exxon Corporation at Houston. Six months later, however, he received a call from Dr. Hedrick at Harding, who wanted to know if he'd be willing to come back to his alma mater and teach accounting. The answer was yes, and Dr. Burks commented, ' 'At that point I knew that I'd never leave. After that we never really entertained any serious thoughts about living anywhere else." Harding's "tradition of educating for eternity" had made a difference in the life of a man who had little idea what effect that tradition would have upon his future. In 1967, Dr. Burks took his position as Director of Placement and Instructor in Business at Harding. In 1972, he went to Florida State University as a doctoral student, and there he experienced the beginnings of the "reaffirmation of our mission." "Before my time in Florida, I felt I could take a passive role in facing issues, in teaching people. I had always thought other men could take care of that, and I felt no need to debate those things. But in Tallahassee, while working on my doctorate, people expected me to lead , to deal with any issue that came up. Because I was from Harding, they expected me to be able to answer any questions." Dr. Burks went on to say that' this experience caused him to see the importance of studying to reaffirm the fundamentals of his faith and to be prepared to deal with the
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