·'It's unusual for anyone to stay in one place for 50 years, but that is not that uncommon at Harding," Da,·icl Burks said. "People tend to come and stay. I'm con\'incccl that they come and stay because or their commitment to our mission - because of our spi1itual mission." That mission was what inspired and moti\'atccl Dmicl Burks· time as a professo1~ clean, president and chancellor. His son Di: Bryan Burks, vice president ror aclrnncemcnt, said his father's commitment to the Christian mission was always evident. "So many Ch1istian universities slowly move away from their mission and slowly 1110\'e away from the standards that ha\'e been set," Bryan Burks said. "l would say m·er his 26-ycar tenure [as president], his greatest accomplishment was frcmaining] firm to the mission. He worked ,·ery hard to make sure that in c,·crything we did as a university, we stayed true." Da,icl Burks' presidency facilitated an expansion of campus not just in terms of physical grmnh, but also growth of undergraduate and professional programs, particularly the de\'elopment of the health sciences initiati,-es. During David Burks' presidency, the uniYersity aclclecl programs in pharmacy, physician assistant, physical therapy and speech pathology at the master's level, which were all part or an effort to expand opportunities for stuclems that they might not hm·c othen-vise had, according to Dm~d Burks. Despite all of the growth, one thing stayed constant and ruelcd Dmicl Burks· love for Harding during his 50 years. "\ Vith all of the growth - programs, students and facilities - there is one thing that [remains, which] is the mission of the university," Burks said. "Now, nothing ever stays identically the same, and certainly the church has changed during that period of time. I think the commitment to honoring Christ - being a distinctively Christian university it's how we began in 1924, and I believe that same spirit is still here today. I think that is ,,·hat sets us apart." Loving family For David Burks, 50 years was decorated with achie\'emcrns and many academic titles - proressor, clean, president and chancellor - but his favorite titles were father and grandfather. Da\'icl Burks' lo\'e for the Harding mission and his family worked hand-in-hand and left a different kind of legacy at Harding - a family legacy. ·'This is where my family has been raised," David Burks said. "Our kids went through the academy, then through the university, and this is home. That's been the real blessing for me - the sense tl1at l'\'e felt this was a way to man)' my family needs, [my] church needs and my professional needs all at one place." For Bryan Burks, David Burks' relationship with his grandchildren was a meaningful connection for their entire family. '·He wa tl1e very first one on his side of tl1e family to come to Harding," Bryan Burks said. "Eventually all of his grandkids ,,ill have come to Harding, and that's special to him and them as well. To come back here and raise my family where the kids can see their grandparent was tl1e easiest decision. The11-president Dr. David Burks speaks al the rededicatio11 ceremo,y of Pattie Cobb Hall i11 thefa/1 of 1988. The SJ.3 millio11 renovation of Pattie Cobb Hall was 011e of mall)' building/re1101'alion projecls Burks oversaw during his preside11cy. I Photo courle.sy of Brackelt libra,y IVilh the rnmmer ove1; Burks welcomes new students to campus at Impact 201 I in the George S. Benson Auditorium. This sJ;ecial opening ceremOII)' included a di;/1/ay of thejlngs ji-om 49 stateJ and 53 co1111tries represesnti11g the homes of the diverse student body. I Photo courteSJ' of J eff ,\lo ntgome1j 1<J11 ),, I.F..\llF.H ", I IIP
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