senior vice presidents, chancellor, vice presidents 143 Dr. Cliff Ganus, Jr., leaned back in his desk chair and gazed out of the office window facing the front lawn onto a campus he had watched progress for much of his life. For 62 of his 86 years of age, Ganus made Harding his life and passion. Having served as president of Harding from 1965 to 1987, he then became chancellor. In this role, Ganus performed a variety of tasks. “I’m involved in public relations, fundraising, student recruitment and representing the school at various functions,” he said. Whether he was serving as a representative of Harding to receive a large donation, sitting in a meeting to discuss policies or simply visiting a notable alumnus, all these things he did for a school he loved. Few students realized how much he did to further Harding’s stature in the world beyond Searcy. For 43 years, from his corner office in the Administration Building, Ganus watched out the window as history went by as fast as students running to class. His office once belonged to the sitting president of the university, but when Dr. David Burks became president and the Heritage Building was constructed, Burks requested that his office be built in the new building. As a result, Ganus kept his same office since he served as president. Because he had been involved with Harding for so long, he had an abundance of stories concerning the history and development of the school. “I remember the burning of the mortgage in 1939 on Thanksgiving Day out here on the front lawn,” Ganus said referring to the celebration that took place when Harding no longer owed any money on the original land. “It’s a little thing — burning of a mortgage — but in the meaning of the history of the institution, it’s something,” Ganus said. “Harding has never been mortgaged since then.” When Harding made the transition from college to university in 1979, Ganus said he remembered that Dr. L.C. Sears was the one who unveiled the new arch sign reading ‘Harding University’, which was prominently displayed on campus since then. Ganus also shared his memory of the laying of the time capsule between the Olen Hendrix Building and the Brackett Library. “In 2024, when it is to be opened for Harding’s 100th year anniversary, it will have to be removed from the ground with a crane!” he said. “I poured 3 tons of concrete on it to prevent a few of the men’s clubs from bothering it.” Ganus also remembered the day when the support beam for the roof of the Benson Auditorium arrived, and everyone on campus came out to sign it before it was raised into place. “There’s an I-beam 7 feet tall, 135 feet long that they brought in from Fort Smith [Ark.]. The whole school, faculty [and] students signed it,” Ganus said. “You could still see it if you got up in the attic. It’s there forever.” Ganus cherished all of these momentous occasions for the university, having been here the entire time to see and experience them all first-hand. “When I came here, there were only 300 students, four buildings of any consequence and just a handful of faculty — often a couple teachers making up any one department,” he said. “That was in 1937. Now there are over 6,000 students, 45 buildings on 275 acres and 220 faculty members; I’ve watched it all happen out this window.” But as for the generations who have attended Harding more recently and will become the deans and chancellors in 50 or 60 years, he had one piece of advice: “Early in your youth, seek the heart of God. Seek His will. Begin when you are young and for all the days of your life.” Noah Darnell and Emily Hauptli \ chancellor continues to work and lead at Harding\ A landmark since 1934, the Harding University arch has been a part of the campus since it was Galloway Women’s College. Though the campus changed constantly, the arch reminded the people on campus of its older, smaller roots. Noah Darnell Keith Cronk, vice president of Information Technology, spends time working at his desk in the Administration Building Sept.18. When he was not working, Cronk said he enjoyed working on his golf game and reading. Noah Darnell Chancellor Cliff Ganus looks out the same window he has looked out of for the past four decades on Sept. 22. Ganus had previously served as a department chair, vice president and president of Harding before taking his position as chancellor. Noah Darnell
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==