When students returned to campus for the fall 2010 semester, a new campus fixture was present to welcome them. A bronze likeness of a man seated on a bench and holding his B(ble had appeared over the summer next to the lily pool in front of the Administration building. While there were a couple of bronze busts on campus- depicting the namesakes of the Benson auditorium and the Reynolds building - this was Harding's first full-blown statue, and the simple inscription of "Uncle Bud" left a lot of students scratching their heads at first. Many posed for photos with the statue just for the novelty of it, without exactly knowing who this Uncle Bud guy was. But to generations of Harding alumni, faculty, and staff, it was hard to believe that anyone would not know Dr. Kenneth Davis, Jr. (1922-2005), the beloved director of Harding's A Cappella chorus for 35 years, and the founder of the Belles and Beaux, a singing group that still existed in 2010. Affectionately called Uncle Bud by thousands of former students who sang under his direction, Davis taught music at Harding from 1953 until his retirement in 1988. A veteran who fought at lwo Jima and who bore the scars of war until his death, Davis brought a strict military discipline to his choral groups. Chorus members did not dare touch their faces during performances. A false note would elicit the dreaded Uncle Bud stare. There was a strict dress code. Members made their beds when staying in the homes of church members while on tours, and they never failed to write thankyou notes to their hosts. And woe be unto anyone who missed the bus on a chorus trip. Uncle Bud would leave people behind who were not on time-even in another country. Yet he was deeply loved by his students, who saw in him a man who loved music and cared passionately for perfection when his choruses sang. But more than that, Harding students saw a man who loved God with all of his heart, who believed in his ministry of shaping the lives of young people and bringing Christian music to small churches and to foreign lands. He was a counselor and mentor and shepherd to several Kenneth Davis Jr., who passed away in 2005, began teaching and directing ensembles at Harding in 1953. Davis formed Belles and Beaux, a group that performed shows for the USO to entertain the troops, five years later Courtesy ofMichael Wood The statue of Uncle Bud sits by the lily pond after being construded in the summer of 2010. "Ken Davis Jr was a remarkable person:· Director of Choral Activities Cliff Ganus said. "Everything he did, he did with his full intent. His full strength. He brought joy to a lot of hearts." Ashe/ Parsons ~®[f)) [f))@~ [fu Davis Jr. a.k.a. Uncle Bud generations.And could he sing ! His rich tenor voice remained beautiful into his 80s, and everywhere the chorus performed, audiences would request "Just a Closer Walk with Thee." It was his signature song. It was his life. Kenneth Davis Jr., died in 2005.A group of chorus alumni had wanted to honor his legacy as early as 1995 by raising money to build a wedding chapel in his honor, since he sang or directed the chorus at countless weddings. But when that plan did not come together, the group decided to raise money to renovate the Lily Pool (where he often held devotionals) and place a statue in his honor. Over 500 individuals contributed to the project, which raised money through the sale of chorus COs and related artwork. After receiving the approval of Dr. Burks, the chorus alumni commissioned Ron Moore, a sculptor out of Mountain Home, to create the likeness. It was dedicated on July 31,2010, with his wife Betty, family members and many friends in attendance. Since the fundraising for the project was still ongoing, the plaque which would explain Uncle Bud's story was not complete when students returned to campus in August. And since today's students- most of whom were born after'Kenneth Davis retired-were curious why he deserved such an honor, tl\~ Chapel Program Committee decided to hold a special program in October to explain his legacy. As Dr. LindaThompson, director of the McNair progr-am and member of the A Cappella chorus put it, "Uncle Bud put Har~g on the map with his signature group, the Belles and Beaux." · He could have pursued a professional career singing, but instead he became an ambassador of goodwill for the university and a dedicated servant to his Lord. He was also a father of four boys, a missionary, an elder, a department chair, a social club sponsor and a passionate defender of traditional church music.Though he could be strict, he always had time for students, and he loved to talk to them about their lives and about God.That's why it was fitting that there was an empty seat next to him on the bench, where students were welcome to stop by anytime. Michael Claxton staff 163
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