Burks interacts with a group of Rhodes Rowdies before a well-supported Bisons basketball game in Feb. 2008. Throughout his presidenc_y, Burks established relationshi/Js with the student body through being in cha/Jel eve,y morning, attending events throughout campus and walking through highly trafficked areas during regular school da_)'.1. I Photo courtesy of Brackett Libraiy For David Burks and his grandkids, the family legacy at Harding proved an integral part of their relationship. David Burks' grandson, freshman vVeston Burks, said as he got older, he really started to appreciate his grandfather's role at Harding. "A lot ofpeople don't have their grandparents in the same town as them, and I've always had him here," \\Teston Burks said. "As I got older, and especially in high school, I really started to appreciate it. I always remember as a kid going to chapel, and he was always such a legend. Everyone loved him. H e was so popular as a friend [on] campus, and I want to be like that, too." On a day-to-day basis, it was not unusual for David Burks to see one ofhis grandchildren in passing between classes or in the student center after chapel, which was a reminder of the generational legacy that he valued so much. "[t's neat that on just one day, I was in the student center hm·ing coffee after chapel and [my granddaughter senior] Madison came by and we visited for a while," David Burks said. "I then walked over to the business building to see a faculty member and ran into [my grandson junior] Carter, and on the way back to the student center I ran into \\Teston. It's reallyjust the neatest thing." ·1 simply had found home' Before he left for his freshman year at Harding, David Burks said his friend s did not understand why he was traveling across the countr y to attend college in a small town in Arkansas, and to an extent, he was unsure as well, but that all soon changed. "My friends at home in New Mexico couldn't understand why I was at Harding," Da\·id Burks said. "After my experience at Harding, I simply had found home." Burks said that while 50 years at Harding was quite an accomplishment and honor, the camaraderie and family that flourished during his time at Harding and as a part of the Searcy community was just as meaningful. "I found a sense ofplace," David Burkssaid. "I found a sense ofsomething that was important to do - something I thought the church and the world needed. Therefore, I thought that this was the place for me, and I never questioned that choice. I still don't question it today." Maintaining the Christian mission of the university was, early on, the draw and determination ofDavid Burks. As a deep love for family molded and shaped that continuing determination, David Burks built a legacy that spanned 50 years. "I think a lot of people find home here and find something bigger than themselves, and they realize that," David Burks said. "For many of them, they leave here and go to many places all over the world, and in my opinion, many of them just make a huge difference wherever they end up. My goal was for Harding to be the very best Christian higher education institution in the world, and I truly believe it is.", s,L\IOll ,·1ci: Plll>>IIJIS I',, Cll\\(TI.I.Oll ,·1cr PHL', ll)L\T\ <ii( l<J'J
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==