Table Of ContentDear Friend:
In the life of an institution there are often a few major events -- watershed
dates - that dramatically impact its future history. In Gardner-Webb’s history there
have been four major events: (1) the decision to begin the Boiling Springs High
School in 1905, (2) the decision to become a junior college in 1928, (3) the Gardner-
Webb name in 1942, and (4) the decision to become a senior college in the late 1960s.
It is with great pride and anticipation that I announce to you that on January 1,1993
our name will officially become Gardner-Webb University. This is the
culmination of a lengthy process which has involved all major Gardner-Webb
constituencies. University status recognizes Gardner-Webb’s current quality, size,
complexity, and degree offerings, but it also helps focus our vision for the future. That
decision is to become the best regional university of our type. Built on a history of
change and growth, Gardner-Webb University will wear her new name with pride.
Exciting things are happening at Gardner-Webb. We continue to grow in student
numbers. New endowments allow us to make financial aid available to more and more
students.
In addition to strengthening the undergraduate programs, a School of Divinity will
begin offering graduate training for ministers this spring. Plans are well underway for
a Graduate School of Business which will offer an MBA degree. Other program
expansions are being studied.
The name Gardner-Webb University is indicative of growth, change and a look to
the future. We hope you will join us — as friends, alumni and supporters — in helping
Gardner-Webb University rise to the challenges and needs of a new day.
With all this talk of change, however, we must remember that some things will
always remain the same — the intimate atmosphere where professors know their
students, the Christian environment that is our cornerstone, the beauty of our campus
nestled here in the foothills, and the feel that each person who enters our campus gates
is special.
Gardner-Webb College to Gardner-Webb University ... we will always remain
“People Who Care.”
Sincerely,
M. Christopher White
President
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CONTENTS I N THE WEB
Volume 3. Number 4
December, 1992
AROUND THE WEB
... pages 1-13
A publication of the Division of College Begins School of Divinity
College Relations
Phil Perrin Climbs Mt. Everest
M. Christopher White,
Alumnus, Young Alumnus of the Year Named at
President
Homecoming
Ralph W. Dixon Jr., Vice Scholarship Remembers Robbie Dixon, Honors
President for College Relations Scoot Dixon
Robin T. Burton, Editor
SPORTS
Wilson Brooks, Art Director
Mark Wilson, Sports Editor ... pages 14-18
Pam Sharts, Photographer
Hall of Fame Honors Four
Football Team Nears Championship
The Web is published for alumni,
Sells Wins Athletic Award
parents and friends of Gardner-
Webb College. It is published
four times a year, with issues in ALUMNI
spring, summer, fall and winter.
... pages 19-26
Please mail information and
address changes to:
Campos Family Faces Wrath of Hurricane
The Web
Post Office Box 976 Gallery of Distinguished Graduates
Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Passages/Class Notes
28017
(704) 434-2361
Your comments are welcome.
DECEMBER 1 9 9 2 /1
AROUND THE WEB
School of Divinity
O To Be Launched at Gardner-Webb
n Thursday, Aug. 27, of the two graduate level offer¬ Dr. Lamb, noting that the two,
the Executive Commit¬ ings. The M.A. in Christian Min¬ however, are two separate de¬
tee of the Gardner- istry is a 42-hour degree de¬ gree programs.
Webb College Board of Trustees signed to meet the needs of min¬ "Gardner-Webb has earned
formally approved a School of isters with limited time sched¬ the respect of Baptists in North
Divinity at Gardner-Webb. ules. The maximum class hour Carolina for being a good Chris¬
Long-time faculty member load for M.A. in Christian Min¬ tian school," said Dr. White.
Dr. Robert L. Lamb was named istry students will be six hours "There is a high level of trust for
to serve as Dean of the Divinity per semester. Also, an under¬ who we are."
School. graduate degree in religion/re¬ White did note, however,
"The entrance of this institu¬ ligious education or 18 hours of that Gardner-Webb is not offer¬
tion into theological education undergraduate study in reli¬ ing the higher theological de¬
at the graduate level is a natural, gion is required for admission gree as a means of competition,
maybe inevitable, growth pro¬ but to meet the needs of the
cess," said Chris White. community. "This institution is
White continued, "We have not a part of any controversy,
been in theological education nor does it seek to be ... but to
for decades," noting that be above that controversy,"
Gardner-Webb has had sev¬ said White.
eral thousand graduates in In offering the Master of
Christian ministry. "And, Divinity, Gardner-Webb
we have built a faculty joins company with such re¬
widely recognized for excel¬ gional schools as Duke Uni¬
lence — in both academics versity, Emory University's
and Christian commit¬ Candler School of Theology,
ment," he added. Vanderbilt University,
Gardner-Webb University
In addition, Gardner- Samford's Beason School,
|£>cI)ool of Btotnttp
Webb boasts a library facil¬ Columbia Bible College and
ity and collection that is to Seminary and Southeastern
date superior to that offered Baptist Theological Semi¬
by many seminaries. The nary.
school's location is ideal as well, to the M.A. in Christian Minis¬ With the Board's approval.
situated in a rural setting yet try. The Master of Divinity is a Dr. Lamb and the Department
near the metropolitan centers of three-year (approximately 90 of Religious Studies have devel¬
Charlotte, Greenville and semester hour) basic profes¬ oped curriculum, policies and
Asheville. sional degree. It is comparable guidelines for the Divinity
The offering of a Master of to similar degrees in theological School. The Divinity School will
Divinity at Gardner-Webb fol¬ seminaries and divinity automatically be accredited by
lows a recent move by the Col¬ schools. Students will be per¬ the Southern Association of
lege to introduce a Master of mitted to take a heavier class Schools and Colleges and will
Arts in Christian Ministry. The load and the M.Div. does not seek accreditation from the
response to the M.A. in Chris¬ require an undergraduate de¬ American Theological Schools.
tian Ministry, which will begin gree in religion as an admission In doing so, many of the devel¬
January 1993, has been over¬ prerequisite. opments involved will be de¬
whelming, according to Dr. "The two programs will signed to meet the ATS guide¬
White. overlap in purpose, educating lines. However, the Gardner-
Dr. Lamb explained the roles people for the ministry," said Webb program will have some
distinctives.
2 / T H E WEB
Dr. Robert L. Lamb
Scholastic
Appointed Dean
Awards
of Divinity School
Presented
I
To Class
I r. Robert L. Lamb has mentor for Doctorate of Minis¬
| JJ been appointed Dean tries students at Drew Univer¬
Members
1—of the new School of Di¬ sity and Southeastern Baptist
vinity. Dr. Lamb is professor of Theological Seminary. From
religious education and religion 1977 until 1979 he was Associate
and in the Department of Reli¬ Director of Seminary Extension Scholastic awards
gious Studies and Philosophy. in Nashville, Tenn. were presented during
A graduate of Stephen F. Dr. Lamb has served North Fall Convocation to the
Austin State University in Carolina Baptists as a member member of each class
Nacogdoches, Texas, he holds of the Long Range Study and with the highest scholas¬
both an M.A. in Religious Edu¬ Planning Committee and as tic average. This year's
cation and an Educational Doc¬ chair of the Minister Support award winners were:
torate from Southwestern Bap¬ Advisory Committee. In addi¬
FRESHMAN
tist Theological Seminary. Dr. tion, he has been president of
AWARD:
Lamb has done further study at the North Carolina Religious
Westminster Choir College, Education Association and was Heather Michelle
Baylor University, North Caro¬ vice president for the Southern Barnes, daughter of Ri¬
lina State University and Appa¬ Baptist Religious Education As¬ chard and Carolyn
lachian State University. sociation in 1990-91. Barnes of Hampton, Va.;
During his 27 years of teach¬ A member of Boiling Angela Andrea Orsky,
ing at Gardner-Webb, Dr. Lamb Springs Baptist Church, Dr. daughter of Andrew and
has served in many capacities. Lamb's professional involve¬ Geraldine Morrison of
He has been vice-chair of the ments include the National As¬ Mooresboro; and James
faculty, a member of the aca¬ sociation of Baptist Professors Bernard Dress, son of
demic council and chaired the of Religion, In-Service Guid¬ John and Lorraine Dress
Department of Religious Stud¬ ance Directors, the American of Lilburn, Ga.
ies and Philosophy. He has most Academy of Religion and the
SOPHOMORE
recently been director of DI¬ Society of Biblical Literature.
AWARD:
MENSIONS, which brings out¬ He has been listed in Out¬
standing Christian leaders to standing Educators in America Kimberly Ann
the campus each week. and the Directory of American Zamrock, daughter of
A charter member of the Scholars and was named to John and Carol Zamrock
Christian Service Organization Who's Who in Religion for 1992- of Morristown, N.J.
at Gardner-Webb, he served as 93. JUNIOR
Chairman of the Board of Direc¬ Dr. Lamb has written many
AWARD:
tors in 1990-91. articles and, with Stan Howell,
In addition to his roles at co-authored. Workbook for William Douglas
Gardner-Webb, Dr. Lamb has Staff Minister Search Commit¬ Johnson, son of Johnny
served as interim pastor at a tees: a Guide for Seeking a Staff and Mildred Johnson of
number of churches in the state Minister, published in 1991 by Marion.
and has been adjunct teacher at the Baptist State Convention of
Midwestern Baptist Theologi¬ North Carolina.
cal Seminary. He has also been
DECEMBER 1 9 9 2 /3
A Tribute to
Ernest Blankenship
H By Dr. Jim Taylor
e left us just a year short of retirement, dying at
home quietly and suddenly in the warm summer
night as though to save us trouble. There was no
time for farewells to family or friends, nor were they
needed from this man who had already by his generous life
filled our treasure chests to overflowing. Simple, yet more
complex than most people realized, Ernest Blankenship
had already made his mark when death called.
Two years ago when I asked joined, I like to think, by the rides. He cared deeply about the
Ernest to submit his profile for spirit of Hemingway -- aficiona¬ unfortunate, yet he never spoke
the English handbook, he dos three; supping at a move- about these acts that signified
wrote, "I am a would-be poet able feast of artistic violence. what a Christian gentleman he
who excels in raising exotic Another of his interests, rac- was.
birds." It was a perfect way of quetball, occupied the last sev¬ In his poetry over the years,
describing both his aspirations eral years of Ernest's life. I fol¬ Ernest frequently meditated on
and his avocation, the one fired lowed his progress avidly, liv¬ death. Unlike Emily
in the kiln of his passion for lit¬ ing for his sad and contrite nar¬ Dickinson's morbid verse,
erature and language, and the ratives of injuries inflicted upon Ernest's poems seem more like
other imaging the spicy and bi¬ his mountain-climbing oppo¬ Walt Whitman's when
zarre. nent (Phil Perrin). Leaving the Whitman finally understood
Though he reveled in the joy courts one day, I paused to that no poet could ignore such a
of creating poetry, Ernest often watch as Ernest, clad in, of all basic and inevitable issue of hu¬
treated his verse dismissively. things, long dress pants and t- manity. Nevertheless, Ernest's
When he read his poems in pub¬ shirt, made his torturous way poetry reflects the grim fact of
lic, Ernest seemed shy and ill at about the court, transferring his mortality and of his own be¬
ease, even apologetic that we racquet from hand to hand in grudging acceptance of that
must sit through his puny ef¬ direct violation of the rules. Like fact. In his 1983 poem "Coming
forts. Audiences, however, de¬ boxing, racquetball became a to Terms Stubbornly," he re¬
lighted in his wit and wisdom, passion. I wish he had written a minds me of Shelley, who "pre¬
especially when he wrote about poem about it. dicted" his death in a watery
his exotic birds. For 12 years Ernest grave, or of Byron, who fatalisti¬
Perceptive students learned Blankenship served as chair of cally yearned for a soldier's de¬
to savor Ernest's dry humor and the English Department. One il¬ mise:
his love of good stories, espe¬ lustration of his character must
cially those from the Southern suffice. He frequently gave him¬ Only those who have never lived
literature and culture that he self the "bad" schedules, ones wish to die.
loved so well. that we prayed would some¬ 9 had intended not to talk so
His interests were even var¬ how pass us by. mach aboat death,
ied enough to include boxing. In the community, Ernest tfat it's so easy to forget not to
He spent countless hours "adopted" some of the older talk aboat death.
watching bouts with his fellow people, taking them to the gro¬ The head and the heart hold
enthusiast Gil Blackburn, cery store, the doctor, or just for different views.
4/THE WEB
They both succumb a/id are our minds. Nanney
finally put to rest, The germs will come and do
h>ut Death takes its own theirwork.
Foundation
sweet time. My body will not resist
Logic and essence are not 9 will lie down and die,
always the same. fully cooperating, but9 will not cry. Gift
The way 9 deal with the 9 have learned that living is
punishment as 9 run the race dying and dying is living. Helps Improve
Makes the greatest difference 9don t have to like it, but 9have
as 9 keep my eyes on the to accept it. Residence Hall
G
finish line.
Mo one can change the fact that This man deserved but did
ardner-Webb College
9 have the virus of a fatal not receive the retirement years
has received a $141,500
disease. that awaited down a short road. gift from the C.P.
We hurt because he is gone but
Nanney Foundation of
Later in the same poem he rejoice in the legacy of a great
Gastonia.
perhaps speaks for all of us: human being whose love of lit¬
The gift comes on the 25th
erature and language will al¬
anniversary of Gardner-Webb's
for we do not have control of the ways enrich and inspire us.
C.P. and Irene Nanney Resi¬
air we breathe
dence Hall, named for the late
Or the source of the food we eat but if the while 9 think on thee,
Gastonia couple. The residence
Or the social possibilities that dearfriend,
hall has attractive accommoda¬
we are subjected to Till losses are restored and
tions for 64 female students.
Or the thoughts thatengage sorrows end.
The contribution has been
used for updating and refur¬
Observatory Is Lab for bishing the residence hall and
structural improvements. Im¬
provements to date include a
Young Astronomers
new roof, renovated baths and
the installation of a security sys¬
tem. The addition of a fire/
School children and their Travel.
smoke detection system is in
parents were recently invited to An evaluation will be held
progress.
Gardner-Webb for star gazing. following the first session to de¬
According to Wayne
The Young Astronomers Se¬ termine the nature of future
Johnson, director of residence
ries, started this fall, is a pilot projects. The ultimate goal, ac¬
life, a number of additional im¬
program of activities and dem¬ cording to Tom English, is to
provements are being assessed
onstrations in astronomy. On farm such activities out into the
with plans for implementation
campus for the first meeting, the school systems through the es¬
next spring. "The generosity of
participants were treated to tablishment of astronomy
the Nanney Foundation and the
views of the moon and other clubs. The groups would be able
Nanney family has made a tre¬
planets, galaxies, star clusters, to explore some of the ideas pre¬
mendous impact on the living
and gas clouds in space. sented in the workshops on
accommodations for the young
A group of 20 participants their own, leaving visits to the
women in this residence hall,"
will meet two times a month observatory for more advanced
said Johnson.
through January. Sessions have projects, or for sessions tailored
The Nanney family mem¬
included such topics as The Sky, to the specific interests of cer¬
bers have been long-time
Telescopes, Sky Motions and tain groups.
friends of Gardner-Webb. C.P.
Patterns, The Moon, The Plan¬ For more information, con¬
Nanney served as both an Advi¬
ets, The Earth and The Sun. Fu¬ tact Tom English at Gardner-
sor and member of the Gardner-
ture programs are planned on Webb College, 434-2361, ext.
Webb College Board of Trust¬
The Stars & Galaxies, Astro¬ 200 or 448.
ees.
nauts and Rockets & Space
DECEMBER 1 9 9 2 /5
Alumnus,
Young
Alumnus
of the Year
Named
Dr. Walters Mrs. Coy
Dr. Doris L. Walters was She organized and developed commitment to God, her profes¬
named Alumnus of the Year the Fukuoka Friendship House sion, her community and her
and Jill Haney Coy named in Japan in 1972 and served as country. Since she was commis¬
Young Alumnus of the Year the director until 1988. sioned by the U.S. Air Force in
during Homecoming 1992. The alumnus contributed 1978, Mrs. Coy and her hus¬
greatly to Baptist life as a mem¬ band, Bob, have lived in seven
Dr. Walters
ber of the Japan Baptist Mission different locations.
Dr. Walters is a 1959 gradu¬
Executive Committee, Pastoral Tire couple currently lives in
ate of Gardner-Webb. She
Counselor and Chaplain of the Clovis, New Mexico, where Mrs.
earned further degrees from
Fukuoka Friendship House. Coy supervises emergency room
Carson-Newman College,
She worked as a referral counse¬ nursing at Cannon Air Force Base.
Southwestern Baptist Theologi¬
lor for the Tokyo Lifeline, de¬ She is a member of Central Baptist
cal Seminary, Wake Forest Uni¬
signed and supervised the con¬ Church in Clovis, where she serves
versity, the Naganuma Japa¬
struction of a student center and as pianist for the youth choir.
nese Language School. She
supervised journeymen of the She has contributed to each of
earned the Doctor of Miniatry
Southern Baptist Convention the communities she and her hus¬
from Southeastern Baptist
Foreign Mission Board. band have called home. In Illinois,
Theological Seminary.
At Gardner-Webb, she is a she coordinated events for senior
Much of her work has been
member of the Ministerial adults in her church and was in¬
focused on pastoral counseling
Board of Associates. strumental in bringing the needs of
and reaching out to youth
Mrs. Coy senior adults to the forefront of the
worldwide. Currently, she is
community's conscience.
Director of Missionary Coun¬ Mrs. Coy graduated from
Mrs. Coy has continued to im¬
seling and Support Services for Gardner-Webb in 1976 with a
prove her professional skills by
the Department of Pastoral Care degree in nursing. While on
earning a BSN from the University
at North Carolina Baptist Hos¬ campus, she exibited leadership
of Texas and a master's degree in
pital. She is also pioneering and service as president of
Gerontology from Webster Uni¬
work with missionary children Decker Residence Hall and a
versity.
studying in the United States member of the Baptist Student
She holds the rank of major
whose parents are working Union. A talented pianist, she
with the U.S. Air Force and holds
abroad. accompanied voice students
medals for National Defense,
Dr. Walters began her pro¬ and served as the pianist for
Combat Rediness, Achievement
fessional career in the youth Unity Baptist Church in
and Meritorious Service. She has
ministry in the United States, Gastonia.
earned four Outstanding Unit
but the majority of her service Since graduating, she has
Awards and two Air Force Com¬
has been concentrated in Japan. continued to strengthen her
mendation Medals.
6 / T H E WEB
Academic Fellows Scholarship
Honors Dixon, Remembers His Wife
An Academic Fellows Schol¬ demics is a special tribute. With demic best. Dixon, who is the
arship has been established at a background in education, chief development officer at the
Gardner-Webb College in Mrs. Dixon spent her career College, also noted that he has a
honor of Ralph W. "Scoot" educating students and encour¬ special interest in attracting aca¬
Dixon Jr. and in memory of his aging them to be at their aca- demically gifted students to
wife, Robbie, by the members of Gardner-Webb.
the College Relations staff at the
institution. Ellises Establish Unitrust
"As a staff we wanted to find
a way to say that we care," said
To Assist Students
Dr. Robert Parsons, director of
church relations. Speaking on
r ong-time Shelby residents
behalf of the College Relations the College as well.
William P. and Pauline Ellis
staff Parsons said, "Having The Ellises' son, David, has
__ have established a $216,000
worked with Scoot for nearly been a member of the Gardner-
charitable remainder unitrust at
four years we realized that such Webb Board of Trustees. He now
Gardner-Webb College.
a tangible expression would lives in Spartanburg, S.C., and is
Tire fluids are to be directed
convey our heartfelt concern." area manager of the Belk's stores
toward educating worthy and
Robbie Dixon succumbed there. Tire couple's daughter, Judy
needy students at the institution
Nov. 20 after a six-year struggle Pollander, attended Gardner-
through the W.P. and Pauline T.
with cancer. Webb in the nursing program.
Ellis Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Mrs. Dixon was the daugh¬ The Ellis family, along with
Ellis retired as executive vice
ter of Robert and Blanch Belk's of Shelby and Forest City,
president, secretary-treasurer and
Warlickof Bel wood. A graduate donated the Belk-Ellis Computer
manager of Belk's in Shelby and
of Appalachian State University Center at Gardner-Webb. The cen¬
Forest City after 50 years with the
with a degree in education she ter, housed in the Dover Memorial
company. He and Mrs. Ellis now
was a middle school teacher for Library, boasts 20 computers and
maintain homes in Shelby and in
17 years, having taught in the seven printers for student use.
Florida.
Catawba County, Stanly Hie Belk/Ellis Business Schol¬
In discussing the trust, Ellis
County, Durham City and arship was endowed by the Ellis
pauses to retrace his life on a to¬
Granville County schools. Most family, along with the Belk Foun¬
bacco farm during the Depression.
recently, she had taught at dation and the Belk Corporation of
Times were hard in 1930 and col¬
Shelby Middle School. Shelby and Forest City. The schol¬
lege was out of the question.
Dixon is the Vice President arship is given annually to students
For the Ellises, who say that
for College Relations at from Cleveland or Rutherfordton
neither had an opportunity or the
Gardner-Webb College. The counties.
inclination to pursue a higher edu¬
son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph W. This year Mr. and Mrs. Ellis
cation, it is important that young
Dixon Sr. of Fallston, he is a endowed yet another scholarship
people today have an opportunity
graduate of the University of at the College, the W.P. and Pauline
to attend college.
North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ellis Endowed Nursing Scholar¬
The trust will enable many
The scholarship is designed ship.
young people to do so.
to provide financial assistance Commenting on their gifts to
The Ellises are not strangers to
to academically worthy stu¬ the College, Ellis said, "God has
Gardner-Webb. Ellis estimates that
dents attending Gardner- been good to us. What I am He
his gifts over the years have totalled
Webb. In recognizing the honor, made me, what I have He gave
more than $500,000. Through the
Dixon noted that an endowed me. I'd just like to share it with
family's affiliation with Belk's the
scholarship in the area of aca¬ others."
corporation has played a key role at
DECEMBER 19 9 2 /7
