2Introduction From its humble beginning as Harding College in 1924 to its evolution into the esteemed institution it is today, the legacy of Harding runs deep, intertwining with the narratives of countless lives. The measure of Harding’s existence lies not merely in the ethos of service and the pursuit of goodness that permeates its halls, but also in the achievements of its alumni whose impact spreads far and wide. As we reflect on the impact of the past 100 years, we are reminded of our responsibility to uphold the legacy of this institution, and to emulate the example set forth by Jesus of Nazareth. Throughout its history, Harding has instilled values of service and sacrifice in the hearts and minds of generations of students. Yet, it is not solely in its successes that Harding’s soul is found, but also in the humility to acknowledge its missteps and shortcomings. In our stewardship of Harding’s story, we are confronted with the entirety of its narrative — the highs and lows, the triumphs and failures. Yet, in embracing the fullness of this narrative, we reaffirm Harding’s role as a provider of Christian education. As we turn the pages of this book, may we do so with a sense of hope and purpose, knowing that our collective efforts will shape the legacy of Harding for generations to come. And may we, in all our endeavors, strive to justify the existence of this institution through lives of service, humility and unwavering commitment to the greater good. Our hope is that through these pages we have been faithful stewards of this narrative, capturing the essence of moments that now reside in our collective memory. For within the folds of Harding’s past, present and the hope of its future, lies a story rich with purpose and meaning.
3 Foreword
The Cedar Falls of Petit Jean From Petit Jean 1924-25
Table of Contents Student Life................ Community................. International.............. Social Clubs................ Academics.................. People........................... Leadership.................. Athletics...................... Organizations............ Closing......................... 22 46 62 82 114 146 214 244 282 314
Dedication
LLOYD O. SANDERSON & MRS. FLORENCE M. CATHCART Petit Jean 1924-25 “Feeling the necessity of getting before the student body the principles for which our beloved Alma Mater stands. We tried in our simple way to make that principle felt. We choose the medium of song because a story set to music often makes the most lasting impression. That it may find a permanent place in the heart and mind of every member of the student body is our sincere wish.”
Following the consolidation of Harper College and Arkansas Christian College, J.N. and Woodson Armstrong penned this letter to the students of the newly formed Harding College. The Armstrongs are pictured above at the burning of the Harding mortgage on Thanksgiving Day 1939, 15 years later. Armstrong’s time as president had been fraught with financial difficulties and major debt against the institution - this burning ceremony was a celebration of the efforts of George S. Benson and Armstrong in successfully eliminating the debt Harding had accumulated. Armstrong was president emeritus and dean of Bible at the time. Photo Courtesy of Brackett Library Archives
You have been a great factor in whatever success has attended Harding College in this, her first year. You and your faculty have passed through the experiences, borne the burdens, and made the sacrifice incidental to the beginning of a great and important work. It has been your privilege to establish precedents for future student bodies. Students of Harding College in all the years to come will appeal to your acts in an effort to justify themselves in the doings of things they themselves may want to do. Traditions of the doings of this first student body will be handed down from year to year and from generation to generation, even so long as the institution shall live. From this day on, wherever you may go, whatever you may do, you will be a message from Harding College. It is our most sanguine hope that your lives may glorify her fair name by verifying the intrinsic value of the high and holy ideals for which she stands. Remember that her existence cannot be justified unless the lives of her students manifest the principles of our Lord, unless they are true to Him who took upon Himself the form of a servant and went about doing good. Remember that Harding College lives as the result of keen sacrifice; that every brick in her walls, every book in her library, and every piece of equipment in her laboratories are the result of the influence of Christ upon hearts. Remember that we who man the institution would betray most sacred trust did we not make first the instilling of the principles of Christianity into the hearts of her students. Remember, too, that wherein you fail to support in word and life the religion of our Lord, it shall be a source of deep regret to every member of your faculty. Remember that every word of God is as true as every other word of God, and loyalty to God means loyalty to every word he has spoken. As you become men and women of affairs, do not forget the world’s need of Christian schools and the debt that you yourself owe to them. Wherever your lot may be cast, give your unstinted support to their maintenance. Remember the Lord is counting on you. Our Father, bless these, our children. Make them a blessing to this needy world, and so long as they abide in thy work may thy Peace, which passeth all understanding, guard their hearts and their thoughts in Christ Jesus. Amen. “Remember that her existence cannot be justified unless the lives of her students manifest the principles of our Lords, unless they are true to Him who took upon Himself the form of a servant and went about doing good.” Brother and Sister Armstrong Reprinted from Petit Jean 1924-25
12Introduction THE HISTORY OF Written by Hallie Davis & Julianne Baker Photos from Ann Cowan Dixon Archives & Special Collections and UCM Archives Harding College Arch 1924 -1979
13 The History of Harding University The Root – Bible School Movement Our story began near the turn of the 20th century. James A. Harding was a preacher and debater who attended Bethany College in West Virginia. Bethany College was started by Alexander Campbell, the founder of the Restoration Movement in the United States. Together with David Lipscomb, Harding opened the Nashville Bible School in Nashville, Tennessee, Oct. 5, 1891. The initial cohort of students was nine young men, all intent on becoming preachers. Nashville Bible School continued under the leadership of Lipscomb and Harding and is now known as Lipscomb University. In 1901, Harding left Nashville to assume the presidency of Potter Bible College in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Harding stated that the move was “simply a division of the forces of the Nashville School that twice as much good may be done.” John Nelson (J.N.) Armstrong, a graduate of the Nashville Bible School, followed Harding to Potter Bible College as a professor of Greek after he married Harding’s daughter — Woodson Harding Armstrong. J.N. Armstrong, along with a cohort of faculty from Potter Bible College, was heavily influenced by Harding’s leadership and desire to spread the Bible School Movement further westward. Richard Atterbury documented the history of Harding University in his book, “The Story of Harding College.” Atterbury wrote about the passion of Harding and Lipscomb: “The zeal of these two great teachers, Lipscomb and Harding, was contagious; and many of their associates went out from them deeply committed to the principles of Christian education and eager to establish schools in other areas.” Harding College directly resulted from Harding’s and Armstrong’s influence in the Bible School Movement. Armstrong, Benjamin Franklin Rhodes Sr., Robert Clark Bell and R. N. Garner left Potter to establish the Western Bible and Literary College (WBLC) in Odessa, Missouri, in 1905. The city of Odessa donated a building for the school and offered to provide financial support should they set up there. WBLC opened Sept. 1905 with Armstrong as their president. Over 100 students enrolled on the first day, and around the same stayed and attended classes for the first year. Their statement of purpose read: “The purpose of the school shall be to teach the Bible as the revealed will of God to man and as the only and sufficient rule of faith and practice, and to train in pure Bible Christianity those who attend, excluding from the faith all opinions and philosophies of men and from the work and worship of the Church of God all human inventions and devices. Such other branches of learning may be added as will aid in the understanding and teaching of the scriptures and as will promote usefulness and good citizenship among men.” In 1907, Armstrong withdrew from the presidency of WHBC due to his health, and Gardner succeeded him. After Armstrong withdrew, he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. Cordell Christian College & Harper College The president of Cordell Christian College in Cordell, Oklahoma, resigned and offered the president position to Bell or Rhodes — but neither was willing to accept. Bell and Rhodes reached out to Armstrong in Las Vegas and brought him to Cordell. There, Armstrong accepted the role of president at Cordell Christian College. The school flourished until the mid1910s when influences of the war and problems within the Cordell community led to the college’s decision not to return for the 191819 school year. The decision was made to consolidate Cordell with Harper College — another Christian university in Harper, Kansas. In 1919, Armstrong announced to become the president of Harper College. He accepted the position with an enrollment of 250 and — due to the generosity of the community — an endowment of $130,000. The Merge Five years later, in 1924, Harper College’s enrollment steadily increased, and despite expansion plans, the idea arose of consolidating with 3-year-old Arkansas Christian College (ACC) in Morrilton, Arkansas. Ultimately, the decision was made to merge, and the three schools became what would later be called Harding College. The merger into one institution would then have both the facilities and faculty to qualify as a senior college. “Thus Harding College began her struggle for excellence. The consolidation of Harper College and Arkansas Christian College provided the barest justification for senior college status. But the road which would lead a small, unknown college in Arkansas to a position of national prominence was to prove long and arduous.” (Attebury, 8) ACC was connected to the movement of Lipscomb and Harding through Gus Hill, a Nashville Bible School alum and a major character in the opening of ACC, who pushed for the establishment of a Christian school in Arkansas. ACC was built in 1922 in Morriton, Arkansas, with A.S. Croom as the establishing president. Upon the merger of Harper College and ACC, the college was renamed in honor of James A. Harding as “it was considered a fitting tribute to the life of a great man, who had probably done more for Christian education, and given more enthusiasm and impetus to the work than any other man of the century.” Although Croom was the president of ACC, Armstrong was appointed president of Harding College with Croom as vice president. Armstrong would remain in this position until 1936. Campus life in Morrilton Many issues plagued the 1924 school year. The buildings on the Harding College campus were in a near-constant state of construction and would not be completed before the term began. There was a dormitory called Scoggin Hall that was used as makeshift housing for female students until the new dormitory — James A. Harding Students at the Nashville Bible School. A young J.N. Armstrong.
14Introduction early social clubs on campus. These included the women’s social clubs Ju Go Ju, The Woodson Harding Comrades and Twin Q; also men’s social clubs that included the H Club and the Harding Gas House Gang. The following year, in 1927, two additional clubs were added. Harding College advocated for the education of preachers and teachers. Men who wanted to become preachers were given free tuition, and each was required to sign a “preacher’s note” which stipulated that if they left school and preached for five years postgraduation, the note would automatically cancel; if not, it would remain payable to the school. This remained so until 1932, when they were required to pay half the tuition and fees. Preachers may have been allowed to enroll at Harding tuitionfree. However, Armstrong also made an effort to provide financial assistance and recognize the value of work for non-preaching students who could not afford the cost of tuition. “The school did all it could in this way to assist poor students to receive an education. No one who really desired to attend would be turned away. This policy, however, made the financial load of the school heavier, for many were helped through that were not able to pay any expenses, and the tendency was to have a surplus of workers.” The Move In 1934, 10 years after consolidation, Harding College moved from its campus in Morrilton to Searcy, Arkansas. The college started to outgrow the campus in Morrilton as all of the dorms were filled, and almost the same number were housed in private houses around town. Even the classrooms were becoming to tight for the number of enrolled students, leading to a lack of space to hold the growing student body. Galloway College, an all-female college in Searcy, Arkansas, closed due to the consolidation of Methodist colleges in Arkansas due to the pressures of the drought and lingering depression. This left the campus, almost three times the size of the campus in Morrilton, open and for sale. The powers that be at Galloway offered the sale to Harding College for $75,000 when the value of the campus at the time was estimated to be over $500,000. $75,000 then would be around $1.7 million today, and $500,000 would be around $8.7 million. By the time Harding College moved from Morrilton to Searcy, the campus had been empty for two years. Many improvements needed to be made, and students and faculty alike were eager to help. They moved equipment and books 70 miles to Searcy, improved the existing buildings, and began the process of what continues to be a beautiful campus. The root of financial troubles at Harding College began there. The College was paying generous scholarships and reducing tuition while the money flowing in through tuition and financial gifts was not enough to pay the bills. Upon the move to Searcy, Jennie Hill Hall — was finished. Men lived in “private homes or wherever they could find a place” — some slept on the floor of the unfinished administration buildings. The girls did not move into their dormitory until January 15, 1925, and the first chapel service in the new auditorium was not conducted until March 18. The campus in Morrilton was near Petit Jean mountain — the namesake of Harding’s yearbook and named in the original rendition of the Alma Mater. Despite all this, the student’s campus life was thriving. Football first appeared in 1924 with a team entirely composed of freshmen. Their first season was cut short to only four games. They won two of the four before the season abruptly ended when their coach was killed and two members of the team injured in a car accident. “Intercollegiate basketball and baseball were also begun in the school year 1924-25, but faculty believed that students as a rule entered school for mental discipline rather than to become athletes, and in harmony with this athletics was looked upon as a value mainly in breaking up nervous tension prevalent among hard-working students.” Those students, during the first year of Harding College, lived amid construction—a very visual and tangible representation of what was going on behind the scenes. “Seldom has a greater devotion or a deeper sacrifice been shown for an ideal than has been demonstrated by the teachers who struggled to maintain Harding College in its formative years.” (Mattox, 1) On June 4, 1926, Harding College finally received the endorsement of the state board of education and received the rating of a senior college. At the time, there were 10 departments on campus and students could earn a Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation. The 1926 school year saw the formation of some of the “These two schools now stand as monuments to the memory of the two great friends who gave the most to such work and to whom the church of the last fifty years owes the largest debt”. 1934-35 Catalog The Administration building in Morrilton. Football team play a game in Morrilton. George and Sally Benson
15 The History of Harding University administrators made changes and additions to the institution and campus life. Football was not a part of the new campus, there was an opening of the Harding College Press — which printed the college bulletins and catalogs — and tuition continued to increase to make up for the move to Searcy. “It is our heart’s desire and prayer so to direct Harding College in every branch of activity, that our Great Father can approve and bless the institution. We are delighted to please friends, but we forget this in our zeal to please Him whom we serve and to whom we entrust all” - J. N. Armstrong, truthseeker, July 1935, as quoted in F.W. Mattox. The Benson Years Armstrong announced his decision to retire after 30 years of service in Christian Higher Education in 1936, and George S. Benson was named to assume the role of president. Benson was a 1923 graduate of Harper College and a 1925 graduate of Harding College. He served as an instructor in Harding’s first year before graduating. Following graduation from Harding, Benson and his wife, Sallie Benson, left for China to serve as missionaries with the Chinese Missions in Canton, China. Benson became president, along with a debt of $68,000. He intended to disseminate the debt by Thanksgiving 1939, just three years into his presidency. On that day, Benson presented the canceled mortgage to Armstrong. F.W. Mattox described what followed: “Following the dismissal of the assembly the entire group of students and friends stood, in a drizzling rain, on the front campus and saw Mr. Armstrong drop the mortgage on a hurriedly built bonfire.” After the burning of the mortgage, Benson continued to build Harding College as an institution. His presidency brought the construction of new buildings, dormitories and facilities all over the campus. Benson raised money and reached out to donors to help fund the building of a new library, gymnasium, student center and two dormitories — one for men and one for women. After asking for $1,500,000 in 1946, Harding College reached its goal for the new construction in 1950. As funds were continually raised, the men’s dorm, Armstrong Hall, was built to recognize and honor J.N. Armstrong. Benson’s leadership saw the construction of the Administration building and a Fine Arts building built from the brick of the original Godden Hall. In a four-year time period, Benson brought eight new buildings to the Harding College campus. Benson led in years of expansion and growth, working toward making the Searcy campus the permanent home for Harding College. In 1954, Harding College received full accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. This meant students wouldn’t fear whether other associations in the country would accept their credits. This accreditation dramatically increased enrollment, with an average of 60 new students each year for the following decade. Benson appointed Dr. Clifton Ganus Jr. as the Harding College vice president in 1956. It was during this time and development that Harding College joined the athletic Intercollegiate Conference. After a decade of dedicating his life to the students and faculty of Harding College, Benson retired in 1965 and appointed Ganus as his successor. The Ganus Years Dr. Clifton L. Ganus Jr. was declared president of Harding College in 1965 after serving as vice president alongside Benson. With the Ganus Student Center named after his father, Clifton L. Ganus Sr., Ganus was more than accredited as the new president. Ganus graduated from Harding College in 1943, where he was the editor of the Petit Jean yearbook. He soon became a preacher in Mississippi. After preaching for two years, Ganus earned a master’s degree from Tulane University in 1946. Ganus returned to Harding College in 1946 to begin teaching in the history department before soon becoming chairman of it. He continued to pursue a doctorate while teaching before being officially named the vice president of Harding in 1965. Ganus’ inauguration was the first official inauguration of a Harding president and was held on September 18, 1965. Ganus’ presidency was driven by excellence in all areas. During his time, the Petit Jean and The Bison received All-American ratings from the Associated Collegiate Press. In addition to academic success, the institution grew as new facilities were built and athletics excelled. Through the growth of the college, Ganus led Harding to obtain university status in 1979. As the new decade began, Harding College officially became Harding University. Throughout the rest of Ganus’ presidency, Harding began establishing study abroad programs. In 1980, a campus in Florence, Italy, opened allowing students to take classes and spend a semester immersed in Italian culture. In 1985, Ganus introduced the Walton Scholars program Chapel in the Godden Hll Auditorium. Prior to the Administration building. President Benson passes off a stack of mortgage documents to the bank representative. George S. Benson in later years. Clifton L. Ganus Jr.
16Introduction Ladies Garden, the Rhodes-Reaves Field House was opened and dedicated in 2016. The Field House brought more space and newer facilities for the athletes. The football facilities also got an upgrade with the dedication of the Huckeba Field House in 2019. This indoor field was named the biggest in Division II and one of the largest in the nation. The improvement of the athletic facilities continued as the Ganus Activity Center was remodeled in 2016, making space for athletic training and the kinesiology department. With the changing of times and the popularity of apps, McLarty oversaw the development and release of the official Harding University app in 2017. The app was made to connect the Harding community through regularly updated information and access to schedules, events and tickets for both students and alumni alike. With advancements in technology, the university also brought recognition of the past. The Linda Byrd Smith Archeology Museum was opened and dedicated on April 13, 2017. The museum contained over 100 artifacts from biblical times and was set up in the Jim Bill McInteer Bible and World Mission Center. As 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world, Harding University had to learn how to navigate with the new normal. Masks, safety precautions, quarantine and virtual classes became the expectation. During the pandemic, McLarty shifted out of his role as president as he retired, and Burks returned as interim president until a new one was found. Today Today, Dr. Michael Williams serves as the current president and was inaugurated in 2022. Williams arrived on campus in 2021 and began transitioning into the role. During this time of transition, Harding underwent new developments, including a new memorial dedicated to alumnus Botham Shem Jean after his death in 2018. The Hatcher Indoor Soccer Complex opened in 2021, and the Administration Building was dedicated to Elijah Anthony and Dr. Howard Wright, the first two African American graduates of Harding University. Williams officially became the president of Harding in June 2022 with innauguration in the fall. The Holland-Waller Center was constructed in 2023 in place of the former Ganus Student Center, which was demolished earlier that year. Williams continued to lead Harding through the Centennial year. The University had grown exponentially since its opening in 1924. Six presidents later, Harding still stands tall, beloved by all who cross through those iconic arch’s. Harding University’s history continued to be deeply rooted in Christ, and as the Centennial comes to a close, a new century of Harding history may begin. to Harding’s campus, bringing in thousands of students from Latin America. Ganus stepped down from the presidency in 1987, welcoming Dr. David B. Burks as his replacement. The Burks Years Dr. David B. Burks was inaugurated Sept. 18, 1987. Burks graduated from Harding College in 1965 and eventually returned to be a professor of accounting in 1967. In 1974, Burks helped establish various business majors in the College of Business. After becoming dean of the College of Business, he was approached about applying for the new presidential position after Ganus retired. Burks’ 30 years as president saw a wealth of student and academic program growth. Beginning in 1987, Burks established new study abroad programs ranging from Greece, Latin American and Zambia. Harding also grew in on-campus programs. The development of the Bible department and Center for World Missions was a large success during Burks’ presidency. The Honors College was established in 1989, and master’s programs in business, counseling and physician’s assistants are a few of the largest graduate programs to have been established. Burks was dedicated to showing Harding as an institution dedicated to the Christian mission. Establishing camaraderie was vital to Harding’s story during Burks’ time. The campus was built on fellowship and relationship between brothers and sisters in Christ. By the end of Burks’ presidency in 2013, student enrollment increased by more than 2,000 undergraduate students. Burks was determined for Harding to be accessible to any student who wanted to call it home. Through the implementation of scholarships and federal aid, Harding provided more students with tuition assistance, which played a large factor in the increased enrollment. In 2013, Burks announced his retirement from being president. After over 30 years of serving Harding, Dr. Bruce McLarty was appointed to be Burks’ successor. The McLarty Years Dr. Bruce McLarty took over in 2013. During his presidency, McLarty focused on relationships with students and encouraged relationships with alums. McLarty oversaw the dedication of many buildings on campus and helped lead the establishment of the First Ladies Garden in 2015. The garden was dedicated to all past, present and future women of Harding. In addition to the Three generations of presidents. David B. Burks, Clifton L. Ganus Jr., George S. Benson Dr. Burks during his time as a Business professor. Dr. McLarty with Dr. Ganus at the announcement of his presidency. President Michael D. Williams
17 The History of Harding University Harding University Arch 1979 - 2024
18Introduction “Everything Harding may undertake will succeed or fail according to your attitude toward it. At least, any undertaking that you solidly support cannot fail… As we conclude, we want to say once more that we believe in you. We believe you will do whatever is necessary to keep Harding College that standard institution that it is. We are counting on you to watch its progress, to know from year to year its needs, and to stand solidly behind every campaign launched to supply these needs. Finally, we love you, we are for you, for Harding College.” “To Harding Students of Nineteen Forty One: It is a genuine pleasure to record, through the medium of the Petit Jean, a message to those whose faces make its pages immortal. The year 1940-41, which has been a banner year for Harding College will go down in history as a most crucial one for our nation. It has witnessed the alarming approach of the raging conflict of Europe; the development of seriously increasing tension in the Pacific; and gravely growing internal dissension. In this hour of National crisis I appeal to the students of Harding College to stand fearless and steadfast in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, remembering that it is God who sets the limits of the habitations of the nations. Righteousness is the greatest asset of any nation. Therefore in your desire to be of service in these crisis, I appeal to you, above everything else, to labor to increase righteousness in America.” “There is no way to measure the good that the Harding family has done for us. They taught us when we were ignorant, supported us when we were weak, and encouraged us when we were sad ... They walked with us in the darkest hours and held up our hands when we were feeble. They nurtured us when we were weak and helped us fight our battles with sin. They visited us when we were sick. They cheered us when we were unhappy. They helped us rear our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. We can find the Harding family all over the world. Being part of the Harding family for all of these years has been a little bit like Heaven on earth. Of course, it has never been perfect, because human beings are involved, but I think you would have to go a long way to find a better group of people working together with the spirit of Christ.” John Nelson Armstrong Dr. George S. Benson Dr. Clifton L. Ganus iii 1924 – 1936 1936 – 1965 1965 – 1987
19 Presidents “I hope Harding will continue to be a great influence in the Lord’s kingdom, and I think it has been. When I was a student here, we were much smaller with a student body of less than a thousand, but I think we were still a significant influence to the Lord’s kingdom. I think we are today, and I hope we will continue to be. I hope that we will not get caught up in what’s happened with so many institutions. Academics have become the forefront of everything that we measure success by; consequently, spiritual values have diminished. I hope that we’ll continue the balance between spiritual values with high expectations on academic values and how students live. This brings me back to our mission statement of faith and learning and living. These are the words we chose to use to describe it, and that will continue to be what the Harding experience is.” “First of all, I have always seen myself in you. The world was very different when I arrived on campus as a freshman in the fall of 1975, but so much about being a Harding student has not changed. On that Sunday afternoon after my parents dropped me off on campus, I remember walking by Graduate Hall and being almost overwhelmed by a sense of a new beginning. Few people on campus knew if I had been good or bad, kind or cruel, sincere or hypocritical, intelligent or not-so-smart. I sensed that, more than ever before, I was in charge of the person I would become. I think the memory of that moment is the lens through which my heart has viewed Harding students all these years. Every one of us comes here in the process of becoming. In the hands of God, this is called “sanctification,” and we can all be changed for the better during our time here. That is why I see in you a reflection of my 1970s self. It makes me nostalgic and helps me to pass along to you some of the grace that I so much needed and so freely received in my own days as a student. And it reminds me of how important it is to choose life, to seek first the kingdom of God, to find the straight gate and the narrow way and to respond with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength when Jesus calls to us, “Follow me.” Incredible life-altering choices continue to be made every day on the Harding University campus. This is why my experience over 40 years ago has much more in common with your experience today than you might at first imagine.” “The men and women of 1924 who founded this institution were visionaries with inspired purpose. It awakened their imaginations and aspirations to envision a Christ-centered institution. It anchored their faith in God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. It propelled perseverance and tenacity as they overcame significant challenges and barriers. It fostered their courage in the midst of uncertainty. It gave birth to generosity that led the founders to mortgage their livelihoods to see this school established and flourish. This inauguration represents a signature moment in the life of this institution. It is a momentous occasion where we reflect on the vision, heroic sacrifice and unwavering resolve of the founders of Harding University.” Dr. David B. Burks Dr. Bruce D. McLarty Dr. Michael D. Williams 1997 – 2013 2020 – 2022 2013 – 2020 2022 – Pres.
20 The Bison, Oct. 10, 1943
21 that the bell tower and Claud Rogers Lee Building, built from the bricks of the torn down Godden Hall, held the spirit of Gertrude within their walls. Students in the Lee Building reported hearing footsteps above them, doors slamming and opening, locked doors being unlocked and faint tinkling of the piano keys as the spirit of Gertie played the piano. Harding’s Special Collections Librarian Hannah Wood recalled her experience of the mysterious rumors that students told while she was a student at Harding in the late 1990s. “I had friends who talked about the practice rooms in the Lee Building and would hear someone practicing upstairs and would go check it out and see no one there,” Wood said. Professor of Mathematics Debbie Duke associated the ghostly myths with the Lee Building in her time as a student at Harding as well. Duke said the stories she heard from her parents, who were at Harding before Godden Hall was torn down, were funnier than the campus folklore itself. “Godden Hall was thought of as being haunted and creepy Harding’s history includes not only tales of great success and achievement, but also rumors and whispers of past ghosts, haunted buildings and prophecies of future life events passed down through the student body. Popular Harding lore throughout the past century included Gertie the Ghost, the classic “three swings and a ring”, the old bell tower and the pregnant tree. These legends remain in the memory of the student body. The generational influence and longevity of these campus myths can be seen in past editions of The Bison. The most prominent legend in Harding’s history started before the university moved to Searcy and the land belonged to the Galloway Women’s College. The first recorded account of a ghostly presence was found in the Sept. 1936 issue of “The Bison” and described Godden Hall from the Galloway college as haunted by a ghost. This spirit, dubbed the “Galloway Ghost” in the following years, was reported roaming the corridors of Godden Hall. Students fabricated a story of the Galloway Ghost’s past in the 1940’s, but the most famous account of the ghost’s backstory came from then student Chris Elliot’s version of the tale in 1950. Elliot wrote a story about a young Galloway girl named Gertrude who died from falling in an elevator shaft in Godden Hall. The story was revived in the 1960s when students declared TALL TALES OF The stories behind the infamous legends of Harding University’s campus. Old Godden Hall built in 1902 and demolished in 1951. Clipping from The Bison 1948 Students pictured together by the bell tower on the front lawn. Photo from Brackett Library Archives A recreation of the “Galloway Ghost” from The Bison. Clipping from The Bison April 6, 1948
22 and mysterious,” Duke said. “It was so old and beat up that they would throw screwdrivers at the walls. There were bats in it. The boys would throw tennis rackets to try to chase out the bats.” Another legend in the Harding canon was the “pregnant tree.” As described in an 2013 article from The Bison, the phenomenon that caused a bump in the tree was called a “burl.” The story of the time claimed that anyone who touched the “pregnant belly” of the tree would become pregnant themselves. “I remember walking past the tree my freshman year with my guy friends, and they would push each other into it,” senior Hallie Davis said. “It was so funny because it just continued the lore.” The “three swings and a ring” marriage myth was another legend created much later in Harding’s history. This rhyme was first mentioned in “The Bison” in the late 1990s. The articles describe the “dangerous” swing story as if a couple sits on the classic Harding wooden swings more than three times, then wedding bells will soon follow. An issue in October 1996 described the nuances of the bell tower variation of the legend, which said if a couple walked under the bell tower together, then they are destined to be married; however, if a man walks through the bell tower alone, he was said to never find love. Senior David Perkins said he first encountered these stories during his time at Harding Academy, but that most freshmen are given the full index of spooky stories as a way of initiating the new class. He attributed the preservation of these stories to the generations of families that have continued to send their children to Harding throughout the century. “I think it’s cool that [the legends] have continued to live this long,” Perkins said. “I do think that Harding has a very unique culture of being able to maintain things that are important to it and being able to pass down stories like that.” While these stories were just myths, Wood said the longevity of these stories was a reflection of the Harding student body during every decade. “I think part of it is that it provides a point of connection from generation to generation,” Wood said. “Every four to five years, we get a whole new crop of students here, so to me it’s one of those things that helps tie and weave those generations together … Each new crop of freshman gets told these same things and it gets woven into the tapestry of Harding.” She said while it may have begun as a way to scare freshmen, these stories formed a unique Harding identity known across campus. Duke realized through the stories passed down from her family that the qualities and hearts of Harding students and faculty had remained the same through the past century. “I think so many things about Harding have not changed over the years,” Duke said. “We’ve grown and gotten a lot bigger, but as far as the mission, what we’re all about and who we are, the fun times [my parents] had, students still have a lot of fun and they ought to… and it was that way back then and it’s that way now. That we still have these stories that we can laugh about and continue is just a part of who we are.” Written by Lauren Simmons Campus swing and the “pregnant tree” pictured in the 1980s. Photo from Brackett Library Archives Photo from Brackett Library Archives
23 Students pictured swinging on the front lawn in 2003. Photo from Brackett Library Archives
24 “The Watson Center is my favorite place to study. It is so peaceful and makes me feel like I’m just chilling in a classroom in elementary school. They also have great snacks for so cheap and it’s awesome”. Hannah Vaughn The Watson Center “If I’m doing a big project I really like to go to Starbucks and sit at the big table in Starbucks because it’s a really stimulating environment and I really get a lot of work done in that kind of place”. Sienna Patten Starbucks “Warehouse is a great place to study because it offers both a communal place that allows for synergy and a quiet, sound proof space for those who need to lock in. The coffee is great too!” Emma Weber Warehouse 4 Café COZY CORNERS QUIET NOOKS
25 Cozy Corners & Quiet Nooks “I work best in a place like MO. It’s a hub for all of student life. I feel the same way about people watching on the subway as i do about sitting at MO. I also think that MO just feels personal and comforting. It’s a great place to be a fly on the wall or to lock in. And also I love coffee”. Kayla Leas Midnight Oil Coffeehouse “I really like the art building because it has different options for studying that are never super busy. I also love sitting outside in the little courtyard that they have. It feels super peaceful and it’s quite pretty”. Grace Clayton Stevens Art & Design Center “I choose to study in the library because it’s a good mix between social life and the ability to lock in. Plus quick access to coffee is always a plus”. Bradley Cole Brackett Library
26Student Life Just after 8:00 on Sunday night, people begin trickling into the silent gymnasium. The lights are dimmed; the only illumination comes from an overhead of a painting of Jesus Christ being projected on the front wall. A sea of folding chairs has been arranged in a semicircle to face the tables at the front. By 8:30, all the chairs have been occupied and crowds of latecomers begin to gather on the outside edges of the room. The Sunday night service at Downtown Church of Christ differs dramatically from the traditional evening services to which many students are accustomed. Unlike many evening services, which use a series of songs to lead up to a different lesson each week, the Downtown service focused exclusively on the Lord’s Supper. “The purpose of the service is to have a time that is strictly dedicated to communion,” said Dr. Pat Garner, the worship leader for the service. “That’s what it originally started as, and that’s what we intend to continue to do.” “It’s more centered on your personal relationship with God,” Katie Tool, junior, said. After the period of singing, worshipers were invited to partake of the Lord’s Supper. Instead of being passed down the rows on trays, the bread and fruit of the vine sat on tables at the front of the room, allowing those who wished to participate to do so at their own pace. Because of these unique elements, the service grew considerably after its inception several years ago and became especially popular among Harding students. “We started out with 50 or 60 people and now we’re getting near 1000,” Garner said. “That number is probably 95 percent students.” “It’s such an uplifting service,” Hill said. “Everyone there seems to truly love God, and that really shows to their friends and the people around them.” Written by Sara Hardesty Reprinted from Petit Jean 1999-2000 Downtown Provides 8:30 P.M. Communion Service Leading the Way | Directing the students, senior Reed Wallace leads singing for the service. Downtown Singing held their first service of the school year on Aug. 27. The service now includes a praise team made of students. Photo by Abigail Callicoat
27 Singing His Praises SINGING His PRAISES Downtown Singing offers a space for praise and student-led worship in its 26th year. Downtown Singing has influenced the lives of Harding University students since 1997. The Searcy community knew the Sunday night service at Downtown Church of Christ to be one filled with worship by hundreds of Harding students, but it hadn’t always been that way. In 1997, Mark Pugh, the minister of Downtown Church of Christ, approached professor of communication Patrick Garner and Sam Shultz, both members of Downtown Church of Christ, to propose them leading a new Sunday service. They accepted and worked together to create a service aimed towards the students of Harding. Garner and Shultz’s original idea was a silent service focused on communion. As it became a time of meditation and devotion, Shultz and Garner loved watching it grow into something more. “It has been a blessing,” Garner said. “Sam and I really loved doing it, and we just felt sure that it will continue.” As the service went on, the students outgrew the auditorium and began to fill up a new location, the Family Life Center. Over time, the service became more focused on praising God through song, but communion remained offered each Sunday, as was the original intent of the service. Now in 2023, Dr. Kraig Martin, head of college ministry for Downtown Church of Christ and associate professor of Bible and ministry, explained how the church elders saw it become completely student-led. “They organize the team of students, and they put it together,” Martin said. “We just open the door and let them in.” One of these students, senior Caleb Shockley, became one of the two interns who led Downtown Singing for the 2023-24 school year. Shockley watched Downtown Singing grow from when he attended with his friends his freshman year to becoming one of the leaders. “To be able to be here now and have this active part is really awesome,” Shockley said. “To see how many students come is super incredible.” Not only was this aforementioned growth from increased attendance, but also from more students volunteering their time for leadership positions. The team leaders and volunteers, all Harding students, came together for one purpose: to serve their fellow student body for a time of worship. Alongside Shockley, junior Luke Bensinger was brought on to be an intern for Downtown Singing in fall 2023. Bensinger remembered the impression Downtown Singing left on him when he toured Harding. “No one forced you to be there . . . but there were hundreds of students coming together to sing,” Bensinger said. “It was amazing.” After he attended the service throughout his freshman year, Bensinger was enthusiastic about beginning a leadership position. “I felt like the Lord was really calling me to do something a little bit out of my comfort zone,” Bensinger said. Bensinger believed that God’s work through Downtown Singing would continue to shape the Harding community for years to come. “Only through the Spirit and through God’s power could anything beneficial or joyful ever be accomplished,” Bensinger said. In fall 2023, the Family Life Center continued to be filled to capacity with hundreds of students coming together to worship God with their voices on Sunday nights before starting their week. Dedicated time, effort and intentionality went into the making of this special service from the student body. As Bensinger put it, “Downtown Singing is the place for you.” Written by Alaina Wolf Lift Your Voice | Students gather on August 27th for Downtown Singing. What used to be a night of silence and meditation has grown into a night of singing and worship, honoring God with praise, meditation and communion. It has been held at Downtown Church of Christ since 1997. Photo by Abigail Callicoat
28Student Life Held down |At the game on _______, freshman Tyler Chitwood looks for a teammate to pass the ball while being tackled by the opposing team. Water polo games took place weekly on Monday nights. Photo by Lauren Simmons Score | The goalie jumps up to block the ball. The defense guards the goal to block shots from the opposing team. Caption caption caption thats not actually awful. Photo by Lauren Simmons When Harding first purchased the campus in Searcy, it came with an indoor swimming pool. That building was torn down and the swimming pool moved to the Ganus Athletic Center. Swim has been a past-time for students, club activity, and sport since then. Photos Courtesy of Brackett Library Archives
29 Treading Lightly Throughout Harding’s history students had found unique ways to fill their time outside of classes and day-to-day life. In fall 2023, clubs and others alike participated in water polo in the pool at the Ganus Athletic Center. Various clubs established a routine of meeting once a week for a game in the pool. Men’s social club Beta Omega Chi could be found there from 7:30-8:30 on Monday nights; senior Ethan Conn talked about how he first became involved with the activity. “I think it really picked up [in fall 2020], and now it’s become a common, unstructured thing that we all know to go to,” Conn said. “We average about 30 members, but as the semester goes on, that number dwindles down and fluctuates . . . When we play, we like to tackle each other and just have some fun.” While Beta Omega Chi members played on Mondays, the Knights social club began their water polo games spring 2023 with games on Wednesday nights. Knights athletic director, junior Grant Dale, shared the experience of Wednesday night games. “We divide up into three different teams and play in the shallow end, and we rotate the teams based on who loses and Students find outlet in water polo in the Ganus Athletic Center Going for it | Rushing for the ball, Rylan Partlow participates in the game on _______. Water polo became a favorite activity for clubs. Photo by Lauren Simmons play until 10:30,” Grant said. “A good fifty percent of the club shows up to play, and a significant number of freshmen come because it’s a good recruiting tool for us. Several members from Omega Phi and Theta join as well.” Club water polo nights provided a unique opportunity for multiple clubs to join together for some unofficial fun, but it didn’t stop there. The women’s social clubs also participated in the water polo phenomenon. Zeta Rho and Delta Gamma Rho put on a water polo game for their new members in the fall 2023 club week. Senior Lucy Rosser attended the game. “The energy from both clubs and their members made it encouraging for the new members,” Rosser said. “Not only to have fun but get to connect with another club as well.” Even though attendance varies throughout games, water polo has been proven to withstand the busy schedules of students. The popularity of the game has continued to grow through the 2023 school year. One thing was certain: water polo had a consistent presence on the Harding campus in fall 2023. They could be found most nights, battling in the swimming pool for victory. Story by Sophie Thibodeaux TREADING LIGHTLY
30Student Life Volleyball | Making a swing at the ball, senior Allie Nesbitt plays an afternoon game of pickleball. These matches provided time with friends and respite from school. Photo by Abigail Callicoat Dink | Together, juniors Sam Gooch and Barton Erwin partner as doubles in a match. Pickleball became a popular past-time for weekends and evenings. “We come to this place for magic,” Erwin said, “We play pickleball to laugh, to cry, to care.” Photo by Abigail Callicoat Drop Shot | Paddling the ball, junior Chandler Meadows hits the ball in a match. Pickleball lines were added to the Harding tennis courts to allow students to play. Photo by Abigail Callicoat Pickleball Fever | Students play a match of pickleball at the David Elliott Tennis Complex. The courts at Berryhill Park were also available for students games. Photo by Abigail Callicoat
31 Mastering the Kitchen Pickleball made itself known around campus in the 2023-2024 school year through new courts opening in Berryhill Park and an up and coming travel club sports team. Seniors Michael Newman and Kade Walker were the captains of the travel club pickleball team in fall 2023. Walker discovered his love for pickleball during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. “My family painted pickleball lines under our driveway and bought a net and that’s what we did everyday,” said Walker. “There’s so many other sports like it, like ping pong or tennis. It’s like a mix of the two and is easy to get into.” In the next school year Walker and Newman heard about a group of people who played pickleball on Wednesday nights and decided to join. In the same year the pickleball travel club team was started. Newman felt as the pickleball community grows, it is easier to get involved and meet new people along the way. “We’ll show up other times, not during practice and we’ll see other friends that are also out there playing,” Newman said. “There’s a lot of people involved in it without actually being involved with the team.” Senior Kinley Corely picked up pickleball from a pickleball and badminton course she took her sophomore year. Corely said she played at least once a week, often found new friends and connections through the sport and recommended it to any level of player. MASTERING THE KITCHEN A pickleball outbreak overtakes campus as students enjoy the newest craze. “I like it since it’s easy for everyone to play,” Corely said. “You don’t necessarily have to be super good at it and it’s not super strenuous. The rules are so easy to learn and honestly you can make it up as you go if you don’t know the rules.” Sophomore Amelia Slater and junior Haley Simmons decided to try out pickleball one night with a group of friends and found every court at Berryhill Park packed. “At my internship this summer all of my co-workers were really into pickleball,” said Slater. “When we got [to Berryhill] there wasn’t even room to play pickleball. It felt like overnight everyone is insanely talented at the sport and has been obsessed with it for years.” Simmons was first introduced to pickleball her freshman year when she, like Corley, took it as her kinesiology activity credit. Before her first semester she had never heard of the sport before. She started playing more in fall 2023 once Berryhill opened its courts. “I think it’s fun that a lot of people are doing it,” said Simmons. “It’s a way to get a bunch of people involved since you have to include so many people. The courts are a little crowded, but other than that, it’s great.” Simmons said people used to be clueless to pickleball, but it has been fun watching it grow in popularity around campus. Story by Randi Tubbs
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