King's Herald Summer 2007

King Celebrates 140 Years • Snider Center for Honors • New Master of Education Program HEADING

Summer 2007

Volume 3, Number 2

ABOUT THE COVER

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Celebrating 140 years of academic excellence

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Cover Photo by Earl Carter

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ed by bagpiper Andrew Hicks (’05) and drummer Jenn Hawkins, more than 270 new graduates of King’s bachelor’s and master’s programs processed around the Oval and across the stage to receive their diplomas on Saturday, May 5, 2007. While the exact number of graduates for 2007 will not be counted until after December graduation, this year’s class already far surpasses the previous record of 202 graduates, set just last year.

Award-winning musician Doyle Lawson was the keynote speaker, and performed with his band Quicksilver as part of the ceremony. Lawson’s participation was the final event in the Spring 2007 Convocation Series, entitled Fidelity. For his lifelong accomplishments in music, King presented Lawson with an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts. Additional honorees included: Dr. Charles King, founder and president of Southwest Virginia Community College, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters; The Rev. Dr. Victor D. Pentz, senior pastor of Peachtree Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, Ga., who received an honorary Doctor of Divinity; and Dr. Iain R. Torrance, chaplain to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

DAVID WOOD

Commencement 2007

s I walk around the King campus I am reminded, like so many of you, that through the College we are all a part of a wonderful academic tradition. Throughout its history, the KC community of learners has maintained high academic standards, created opportunities for students to excel in their chosen fields, and cultivated a culture of intellectually proficient, spiritually astute, lifelong learners. As we celebrate 140 successful years, perhaps there is no better time to reflect on our shared memories, experiences and accomplishments.

King’s modern mission reflects the core values of the College as when our doors first opened in 1867. We faithfully seek to provide students with the resources needed for rich intellectual and spiritual development.

In the daily business of the College’s good work, we are focused on meeting the needs of current students, as well as projecting the requirements of scholars yet to be welcomed.

On the near horizon, we are looking forward to the official inauguration of the Buechner Institute during the Dr. Gregory D. Jordan 2007–08 academic year. This innovative program will bring students, speakers and performers from around the nation to King’s campus, creating a vibrant atmosphere for the exploration of faith, art and culture.

King’s long-term plans include, among other things, the continuing renovation of our campus. King’s historic campus is a vital and viable resource, and work is ongoing to refurbish auditoriums, classrooms and offices into progressive learning areas. In the coming years we will also engage in new capital projects and campaigns to develop integral programs and facilities. More details will become available as we outline priorities and cultivate opportunities for growth.

Each member of King’s faculty, staff, student body, alumni and network of supporters has a role in the College’s legacy. Each of us also has a stake in King’s future. Join me as we honor the architects of our first 140 years, and as we gather to lay the groundwork for the College’s continued success.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gregory D. Jordan

President

The King’s Herald is published by the Office of Marketing & Development.

President Dr. Gregory D. Jordan Associate Vice President Marketing & Development LeAnn Hughes Chief Development Officer Darren Parker dmparker@king.edu | 800.621.5464 Director of Alumni & Annual Giving John King jwking@king.edu | 800.546.4256 Editorial Staff LeAnn Hughes Anna Lone | Sylvia Musgrove Stephen Newton | Becky Jordan Thomas Graphic Design Hillhouse Graphic Design, llc Publications Specialist Lori Kaye Contributors Anna Lone | Sylvia Musgrove Stephen Newton | Jenn Testa Becky Jordan Thomas Photography Earl Carter | Rick Day Anna Lone | Laura McCrumb Earl Neikirk | Stephen Newton Jenn Testa | David Wood Contact Information 800.KING.ALM 1350 King College Road | Bristol, TN 37620 alumni@king.edu | www.king.edu/alumni Our Mission To educate students in an academically rigorous and collegiate setting that integrates Christian faith, scholarship, service and career, leading to meaningful lives of achievement and cultural transformation in Christ.

Our Vision To grow continually as a Christian comprehensive college, with pre-professional and professional schools, that builds lives for achievement and cultural transformation in Christ.

ISSN 1936-7295 ©2007 King College

Contents

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Features King College celebrates 140 years • Page 2 Nearly a century and a half of educational excellence, still building meaningful lives.

C e l e b r a t i n g 140 Ye a r s

Snider Center for Honors challenges and inspires • Page 6 Honors program helps students link their learning across the academic spectrum.

Performing & Visual Arts excel with Godspell • Page 8 March recitals, a rousing series of Godspell performances and music to honor the grads.

Master of Education now offered at King • Page 9 King’s new graduate and professional studies program focuses on curriculum and instruction.

Tornado Sports • Page 10 It’s the end of an era as coach Susie Toomey steps down after 22 years of volleyball excellence. Also, spring sports recap.

Dogwood Weekend 2007 • Page 12 The perfect spring weekend greets more than 300 alumni, families, friends, staff and faculty.

Appalachian Writers Association Conference • Page 13 Kayseean recognized for quality • Page 13

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Connections Staff & Faculty notes • Page 14 Novels, asteroid studies, neurological research and bands.

Sullins Alumnae News • Page 15 Alumni News • Page 16 Acting in New York, running in Nashville and remembering the King gridiron.

Class Notes • Page 18 Calendar of Events • Page 21

King celebrates 140 years I

t’s safe to say that any current student or alum who could walk into King’s earliest days would be mystified by the look of the place. Nearly a century and a half now separates King from its beginnings, and over that time the College has changed campuses, constructed and demolished facilities, and transformed its curriculum to meet the needs of an evergrowing student body.

Yet much of what takes place at King today would seem familiar to any member of the community, past or present.

From our earliest incarnation as a handful of students in a single building to our modern presence as the region’s private college of choice, King has steadily built on strong traditions. Each era of the College has been graced with visionary faculty and staff, inspired leaders and exceptional students. This rich heritage propels today’s operations and provides high standards of academic tradition, heartfelt stewardship, and forward-looking innovation.

As we celebrate our 140th birthday, here’s a look back at some of the milestones in the College’s history, as well as expectations of events to come.

1885

1909

James Doak Tadlock retires.

Of the 63 graduates he helped foster, 40 are ministers, 10 are lawyers and 10 are college professors—five of whom become college presidents themselves.

Businessman Edward Washington King becomes involved as a central supporter. With his help, the Caldwell-Tadlock building is constructed.

1900 One building houses King College

Spring 1866

August 1867

1869

The Holston Presbytery gathers to establish a regional college that will “greatly elevate the standard of classical and scientific instruction and…fully develop the moral as well as the intellectual man.” Senior minister Reverend James King offers a 10-acre wooded tract and the college is named in recognition of his generosity.

Under the guidance of James Doak Tadlock, a Princeton Seminary graduate, King opens its doors on College Avenue (now known as 5th Street). Initially, King is an all-male high school with plans to become a college. Students travel in by train, horse or on foot.

King’s Board of Curators transforms the school into a college. Course offerings mirror strict classical standards modeled

by Yale. The first degrees are granted in 1870.

Throughout the College’s early years, Reverend George A. Caldwell, pastor at First Presbyterian Church, works to generate funds for the endowment.

Begun with seed gifts solicited from around the region, Caldwell’s work is ongoing; today King’s endowment totals more than $28 million.

C e l e b r a t i n g 140 Ye a r s

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1911-1912 Another new facility is constructed, the Old Students and Alumni building.

Today this structure can still be seen as part of King Pharmaceuticals’ administrative complex. President Tilden Scherer determines that the growing College must relocate away from 5th Street and the noisy adjacent railroad.

1897 King College Baseball Team

1912

King College recruiting ad: “We make it our business to know what your boy is doing.”

1912 A representation of the King student, freshman through senior year IMAGES COURTESY OF KING COLLEGE ARCHIVES

King’s Herald

KING CELEBRATES 140 YEARS

1921 The President’s home (currently known as TadlockWallace) is constructed, as well as Anderson Hall.

1931

1922

1913 King College Interiors

King’s reputation as a football powerhouse is cemented with a legendary 206-0 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne. The score still remains as one of the highest ever in collegiate football, and is responsible for coining the College’s nickname and mascot; a reporter on site at Tenneva Field noted in the papers that King’s team swept down the field “like a tornado.”

King’s alumni provide the funds to build a gym, which is later the rumored site of a few secretly planned—and at the time frowned-upon—dances.

1915

Several regional presbyteries are reorganized to form the Synod of Appalachia.

Isaac Anderson, grandson of Rev. King, offers a 60acre tract if King will become the official synodical college. The trustees and administration agree, and King transitions to its current site.

The first goal for the new campus is the construction of a multi-purpose building. E.W. King again steps in, providing the pledge that allows the construction of Bristol Hall to begin.

Summer 2007

1929 Striving for financial stability, King decides to consolidate its debts into one central bond.

Unfortunately the move coincides with the onset of the Great Depression.

1927 1917

Bristol Hall is completed, and serves as a dormitory, office building, educational center, dining hall and auditorium. Seeking a place to help house, train and feed troops for the ongoing world war, the government helps to finance construction of the Women’s Auxiliary Building, now known as the Fine Arts Building. The building also honors the commitment of the Women’s Auxiliary, a group of dedicated ladies who volunteered their time and money to support King students. Organized shortly after King’s start, the group contributed to scholarship funds as well as purchasing supplies for dormitories, labs, the kitchen and library.

Margaret M. Sells Hall is built.

Stonewall Jackson girls’ college in Abingdon, Va. is hit hard by the Depression and closes its doors.

King accepts their students and becomes a coeducational organization.

1932 The Memorial Chapel is constructed.

1935 Thomas Pinckney Johnston, head of the Board of Trustees, gives up a Kingsport pastorate for seven years to become president.

With the help of area supporters, the bond is paid by 1942. One casualty of the era, though, is the College’s famed football program.

Resources for the sport are drained away by two central factors— prohibitive cost in an era of frugality, and the World War II draft.

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C e l e b r a t i n g 140 Ye a r s

King celebrates 140 years

1948

R. T. L. Liston

King gains accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

1950 Students at Bristol Hall

1959 Art Class outdoors on the Oval

1943 Robert Todd Lapsley Liston becomes president, beginning a 25-year tenure that will greatly influence the character and achievements of King. He focuses his early efforts on gaining accreditation, increasing enrollment and improving the academic curriculum, personally recruiting students and faculty from around the region.

1949 Bus travel, homeward bound

1960 Tag football

1950s

1942-1944 King hosts a section of the nation’s Air Corps on campus. The decision brings in funding but creates a strange mix of flyboys and bookworms.

1947 Liston acquires a surplus Navy hospital and reconstructs it on east campus. Named the John Frederick Hay Building, it would stand until the mid-1970s when it was torn down to make room for White Hall. During this time a group of temporary housing units were also brought in for married couples.

Located near Bristol Hall, this arrangement was affectionately known as “Trailer City.”

EARL CARTER

1958 The Sniders

In the late 1950s, Liston launches a campaign to fund construction.

The result is transformational; the campus sees the emergence of the Oval, along with Parks Hall and the E.W. King Library in 1962; F.B. Kline Hall in 1964; and Liston Hall in 1966. All the construction created a good amount of mud and standing water in the area which received the nickname “Lake Liston.”

1952 King College Cheerleaders

1962 Graduation on the Oval 4

King’s Herald

KING CELEBRATES 140 YEARS

2000 Hyde Hall is constructed adjacent to Liston Hall. King greets an era of steadily increasing enrollment, which continues today.

2001

1962 Swimming with friends 1967 King celebrates its 100th birthday.

1976 White Hall is constructed, along with the Pauline Massengill DeFriece Place.

King’s Center for Graduate and Professional Studies is established and begins offering the first graduate level-degree, the Master of Business Administration.

2002 King constructs the Student Center Complex. West campus also undergoes a major transformation, evolving from a public golf course to a new entrance gate, athletic fields and tennis courts.

1978-79

1983

1997

An uncertain national economy and the dissolution of the Synod of Appalachia brings King into financial straits.

A new Board of Trustees assumes control, and the College becomes an independent school, maintaining covenant relationships with various Presbyterian organizations.

A new student union, Maclellan Hall, is built on the former site of Anderson Hall.

Reverend Gregory Doty Jordan, Ph.D., is elected president of King.

Jordan spearheads the development of a comprehensive strategic plan, helps establish new and innovative degree programs, and leads the College in its largest-ever fund raising campaign.

Summer 2007

1985 Mitchell Hall is constructed on west campus.

1993 King successfully completes the then-largest campaign in its history, raising a goal of $12.5 million.

2004 The Building Meaningful Lives campaign meets and surpasses its goal of $50 million, becoming the most successful financial campaign in King’s history.

The Jack E. Snider Center for Honors welcomes its first Fellows candidates.

School of Nursing in Kingsport

2005 Wellmont Health System collaborates with King to create the first satellite site, the WellmontKing College School of Nursing at Kingsport.

A year later the downtown Kingsport site is also opened.

2007 King hosts its highest enrollment to date, as well as seven satellite sites across the region. Academic and residence hall facilities are filled to the brim with undergraduate students. New graduate and professional studies degree programs are established, including the Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Education, and Bachelor of Chemistry. King has fortified its Performing & Visual Arts offerings and added new sports to the roster. The College now offers more than 80 majors, minors and concentrations. In an age of mobility and communication likely unimagined by the earliest students, nearly every modern scholar now drives a car to campus and connects with others via cell phones and text messaging. Students use laptops with wireless internet connections to complete their homework, and they relax with personalized music playlists stored in their iPods.

Looking ahead . . .

In the 2007–08 academic year, King welcomes the inauguration of the Buechner Institute, plus the first cohorts in the Master of Education degree program. In the years beyond, the College continues to oversee the renovation of existing facilities and the Thanks to Professor Emeritus Dr. William construction of new ones. The expansion of satellite sites into underserved areas also Wade for his help with this article. progresses, providing students and working adults with increased access to high-quality degree programs.

All King’s projects and partnerships continue to be guided by a strategic plan for success, as well as long-standing traditions of servant leadership and academic excellence.

King College continues to evaluate its program opportunities and expand its locations and course offerings to meet the region’s educational needs. For more information about furthering your degree through King’s graduate and professional studies programs, visit King’s web site at www.king.edu/gps or call 423.652.4861 or 1.800.362.0014. You may also contact John King, director of alumni and annual giving, at 423.652.4832 or e-mail jwking@king.edu for assistance.

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Snider Center for Honors

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Photo, right: Dr. Craig McDonald, professor at King since 1982, helped establish the Snider Center for Honors. As director of the Center, McDonald helps students expand and link their studies across the academic spectrum.

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he colorful regalia displayed on the Oval this past May included a few never-before-seen medallions. Numbered among the King graduates in 2007, for the first time, were Fellows of the Jack E. Snider Center for Honors. Established in 2004-05 and named for Senior Vice President Dr. Jack E. Snider, the Center and its corresponding program allows students to complement their own specializations by working in areas across the academic spectrum.

“The Center offers the opportunity for students to step outside their discipline and look at the overall issues affecting studies,” said Dr. Craig McDonald, professor of English at King since 1982 and the first director of the Center. “It provides a place for reflection and personal application, a chance to answer the question of ‘how do we translate these studies into our lives, right here and now?’”

Incoming students with high academic qualifications are invited to join the program. But McDonald emphasizes that while admission to the Center is selective, it is not restrictive. “There’s no sense of elitism attached,” he commented. “What participation in the program really requires is interest, intellectual curiosity in getting outside your discipline and playing with ideas. Students who demonstrate these qualities can be recommended to the program after completing their first semester at King.”

The idea of an honors program was introduced

by Dean of the Faculty Dr. Tracy Parkinson. “It was part of my vision from my arrival at King to see the College add a formal honors program to the

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curriculum,” Parkinson said. “I wanted something that would build on King’s long-standing tradition of intellectual curiosity.”

Today, McDonald’s hands-on approach is evident in the Center’s academic—as well as its physical— infrastructure. A former faculty house on east campus was transformed into a communal, relaxed gathering space that offers Snider Fellows and guest educators a comfort zone away from home. “When Wendell Berry was here, he sat and talked with several of the Snider Fellows about what the ideal education would look like,” noted McDonald. “It was very comfortable, as if he were

A former faculty house on east campus is now the Center’s home, offering Snider Fellows the use of a kitchen, dining room, study areas and a conference room.

King’s Herald

FEATURE

unites students, disciplines

Summer 2007

and more. Beginning next year, seminars will be offered in both the fall and spring semesters.

“Honors classes can run the gamut of disciplines,” said McDonald. “Recent topics have included art and perception, Handel’s Messiah, and the history of mathematics. Future classes will study agrarian sustainability and Appalachian culture.” Snider Fellows can also team with a faculty member to design and complete a semester-long senior honors project. When they graduate, a Snider Fellow’s degree will typically show 12–16 hours of honors credit which can include seminars, classes with honors emphasis and study abroad.

Class of 2007 member and Snider Fellow, Sandra Coleman, has been involved with the Center since its inception, and has welcomed the atmosphere such a program creates.

“The Honors Seminar has been one of my favorite courses,” she said. “It fuses practical knowledge from the classroom with the faith we try to live out every day. The result is an intimate group of students and faculty who constantly consider how to refine this lifestyle and strive to learn from one another. This kind of nurturing environment is the reason I chose to attend King, and I haven’t regretted it.”

Ultimately, McDonald says the Center’s directive is about cultivating an interest in scholarship that extends far beyond a student’s academic career. “I see the Center serving as a springboard for learning,” he said. “If you want to take these experiences and carry them on, there’s nothing to stop you.”

“I think a program like this contributes to discourse and creativity in such a way that the entire campus benefits,” Parkinson commented. “I could not be more pleased that someone with the dedication and enthusiasm of Dr. McDonald is bringing that to fruition.”

EARL CARTER

speaking with them in his own living room.”

Once the house was prepared, McDonald set about the task of assembling different academic viewpoints to enrich the program’s curriculum.

“The Center’s work includes reconnecting the disciplines,” he said. “We encourage students to be in groups they might not ordinarily associate with, study in areas that might not be as familiar to them.

We take King’s mission statement regarding cultural transformation and look at ways we can unpack that theme, use it in our lives.”

Snider Fellows have increased access to faculty members from varying departments, as well as opportunities for tutoring and mentoring.

Underclassmen generally participate in writing and research projects and are tutored by seniors; once Fellows become seniors themselves, they then repay the favor. Fellows are also invited to dedicated gatherings with guest speakers and performers, which in the past have included nationally recognized authors Sharyn McCrumb and Wendell Berry, producer Ken Wales, and varying scholars from a wide range of universities and disciplines. These opportunities will become more frequent with the inauguration of the Buechner Institute in the 2007–08 academic year.

Additional opportunities include selected courses that encourage more in-depth research, directed studies and creative projects. Each spring the Center offers a seminar that focuses on a single idea and explores how various disciplines bring meaning to the concept. The previous year’s seminar focused on the theme of identity, whether biological or psychological, while the most recent courses centered on the idea of value. Students and faculty examined the idea of economic value, the value of education, the worth of a global perspective

Photo, left: May 2007 marked the graduation of the first Snider Fellows.

Back row, from left: King College President Dr. Gregory D. Jordan; Christine Looney of Abingdon, Va.; and Director of the Snider Center Dr. Craig McDonald.

Front row, from left: Jessica Brown of Draper, Va.; Laura Hicks of Elizabethton, Tenn.; and Vanessa Carr of Fall Branch, Tenn.

Not pictured: Courtney Skiera of Bristol, Tenn. and Sandra Coleman of Kingsport, Tenn.

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Performing & Visual Arts From student recitals to Godspell, King’s Performing & Visual Arts Department reflects a harmony of purpose March Recitals

King College students presented three recitals as part of advanced studies in applied music. Performance at the recital level is considered the crowning achievement for a college music or theater student. Robert McRae (’07), Amy Oblinger (’07) and Luke McCall (’07) presented their senior recitals in the Memorial Chapel on March 24 and 25. McRae is the son of Brian and Elisabeth McRae of Toccoa, Ga. His piano instructor is Ann Holler, lecturer in music. The daughter of Mark and Martha Oblinger of Bluefield, Va., Oblinger is majoring in music and studied under voice instructor, Evelyn Thomas, lecturer in piano.

McCall sings tenor and is the voice student of Dr. W. Patrick Flannagan, professor of music. McCall is majoring in music and is the son of Patti and Butch McCall of Bristol, Tenn.

April Performances

May’s Spring Concert honors grads

Members of the King College Symphonic choir raised their voices in song to honor the college’s 2007 graduates during its spring concert at the Memorial Chapel on May 4. Student conductors for the concert included Robert McRae, Amy Oblinger, Luke McCall and Rachel Barker, a junior music and French major from Bristol, Va. The Collegium Musicum also performed works of modern composers.

GODSPELL PHOTOS: STEPHEN NEWTON, LEFT; EARL CARTER, TOP

The King College Symphonic Choir and the Sanctuary Choir of First Presbyterian Church joined together for a performance of A German Requiem by Johannes Brahms on April 1 at First Presbyterian Church in Bristol. Written by Brahms over a period of time from 1865 to 1869, Requiem is regarded as one of the finest large-scale works ever written for chorus and orchestra. The massive work comprises seven movements and took the combined talents of the two choirs to perform, said Dr. Pat Flannagan, performance director.

“This work is of such scope that neither the King choir nor the First Presbyterian choir could accomplish it on their own,” said Flannagan. “Combining forces is the only way we would ever have this opportunity.”

Three of the seven movements featured King College students Rachel Barker (soprano) and David Simoson (baritone) as soloists. Vicki Fey, lecturer in music, and husband Steve of First Presbyterian provided piano accompaniment.

King College Department of Performing & Visual Arts performed Godspell, a contemporary retelling of the Gospel

of St. Matthew and one of the most successful Broadway productions of all time. The ensemble cast used pantomime, charades, acrobatics and vaudeville techniques to illustrate Jesus’ parables in a lively and unique way. Act II presents elements of the passion and ends with the crucifixion of Jesus. At times comic, at times sentimental, Godspell is known for the humanizing and heartwarming way it presents Jesus’ message of love, kindness and tolerance. More than 700 people attended Godspell at The Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol April 19, 20 and 21.

“The focus of the play is on the formation of a community. Jesus draws these people together and instructs them to go out and invite others in,” said Elizabeth Lee Dollar, chair of the Department of Performing & Visual Arts, director of theatre and associate professor of theatre at King.

“The play illustrates that people are stronger when they come together as a community than when they are by themselves.”

King’s performance was under the direction of Dollar with Flannagan as music director. The assistant music director was Amy Oblinger. The set was designed by George F. McAtee, lecturer in theatre and technical director, and the properties mistress was Vica Shaffer, a senior youth ministry major from Gardners, Pa. Stage managers were Ashley “Sid” Caire, a junior theatre and psychology major from Warrenton, Va., and Tiffany Morgan, a sophomore English and theatre major from Owenton, Ky. Choreographers were Carolee Watts Hacker and Jaime Lipford.

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King’s Herald

FEATURE

New Master of Education New M.Ed. Program offers unique opportunity for educators f you are a teacher interested in furthering your career, or if you want to change careers and become a teacher, you now have the opportunity to attain a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree from King College. The new graduate and professional studies program will be offered beginning this fall on the main campus in Bristol, Tenn.

The M.Ed. program is designed for teachers who want to strengthen their professional skills and become better classroom teachers or students seeking licensure in elementary or secondary education. (Students who do not have a teaching license will work with an advisor to create a customized course of study that includes the appropriate curriculum necessary to earn licensure.)

The emphasis on curriculum and instruction differentiates King’s program from other M.Ed. programs offered in the area, which focus instead on administrative leadership. As a result, the program is drawing significant interest.

“We are very excited about this new program,” said Cara Anderson, professor of education and dean of the School of Education. “Survey research indicates that there is strong local interest in offering a Master of Education on the King College campus. Teachers from Bristol, Virginia, Bristol, Tennessee, Sullivan County and Kingsport, Tennessee responded positively to the concept; many indicated a readiness to begin as soon as possible.”

“King College is fortunate to have strong relationships with our local school systems, and we are eager to meet the needs of teachers in our area by offering them a M.Ed. program that focuses on curriculum and instruction,” Anderson continued.

The 36-credit M.Ed. program includes 30 hours of core

courses with six hours of courses in either elementary or secondary education. The program also includes an action research project to encourage program participants to become active problem solvers.

M.Ed. students will benefit from a blended class format that combines in-class and online instruction, explained Dr. Ilene Janson, assistant professor of education and one of the lead developers of the program. “We believe that this structure offers students the maximum opportunity for growth, and we are confident that each student will find the program to be an enriching and challenging experience,” she said.

The faculty teaching the M.Ed. courses is an exceptional group that will bring a wealth of experience to the program, commented Tracy Parkinson, dean of the faculty. “The faculty of the School of Education is a knowledgeable, dedicated, experienced group that will bring both expertise and passion for the educational endeavor to the classroom. As a whole, they bring extensive experience in all levels of the public school setting. Their work at the undergraduate level has been exemplary, and I am sure we will see the same high quality at the graduate level.”

As with all of King’s graduate and professional studies programs, the M.Ed. degree program is specifically designed for adult learners. M.Ed. students will meet one night per week. Using a cohort model, students will enroll in a small group and remain together throughout their program of study.

The program is designed to be completed in 18 months.

For more information about the M.Ed. program, please call King’s Admissions Office at (800) 362-0014. You may also visit www.king.edu/gps for information or to apply online.

EARL CARTER

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at Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.

King College now offers a Bachelor of Chemistry program designed for working adults.

For more information visit www.king.edu/bchem or call 800.362.0014

Summer 2007

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Tornado spring sports recap Track & Field

program back on a successful track in the Appalachian Athletic Conference and is looking forward to building on the success of this season.

Even after graduation, a few King College Tornado athletes were still preparing for competition.

The Tornado track & field program completed a successful season when 16 athletes participated in the NAIA Outdoor Nationals at the end of May. From the men’s team, Michael Bunche, Josh Cloyd, Daniel Colina, Tyrell Cuffy, Grayson Elmore, Brandon Gray, David Krenik, Marcus Lomans, and Jamaal Parker qualified for nationals. Jarethea Adams, Mary Armstrong, Amanda Davis, Judy Johnson, Helania Masters, Brittany Simmons, and Anna Waldbart represented the Lady Tornado at the nationals in Fresno, Calif.

In only their third season, the Tornado track & field teams have experienced great success. Both the men’s and women’s teams did very well in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Championships, with the women bringing home the title for the third consecutive year and the men falling only one point short of the title to earn a solid second. The women’s team dominated the meet by scoring 236 points to defeat the second-place team by more than 44 points.

Tennis & Softball

The Tornado tennis and softball teams have faced a challenging season as both teams continue to build their programs.

The tennis team faced a tough rebuilding year with a 3-8 record that prevented the Tornado from qualifying for regional play. However, first year head tennis coach Chris Bartlett is excited about his 2007–2008 recruiting class

Coach Susie Toomey, Lady Tornado volleyball coach through 22 years and 749 wins.

The Tornado baseball team has enjoyed success this spring as well. Under first year head coach Mark Conkin, the Tornado posted a 10-8 conference record and 30-17 regular season.

While the team fought hard in the AAC conference tournament against UVA-Wise and Montreat College, the Tornado were unable to secure the victory necessary to propel them to the NAIA Region XII tournament. The team ended the season with a sixth place ranking in the AAC conference.

After a disappointing 2005-2006 season, Conkin has King College’s baseball 10

EARL CARTER

Baseball

and looks forward to next season.

The King College softball team has also experienced some rough moments in its third year of competition. With a conference record of 5-9 and an overall record of 11-31, the Lady Tornado entered the AAC conference tournament as a seventh-place seed. After a thrilling victory over second-seeded Union College, the Lady Tornado fell in subsequent games against Virginia Intermont and Tennessee Wesleyan College. Despite the losing record, the ladies had a promising finish to the regular season with significant wins over conference champion UVA-Wise and softball powerhouse Tennessee Wesleyan.

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usie Toomey has ended her coaching career after 22 years as the head of the women’s volleyball program.

She will continue to serve King College as the associate athletic director, senior women’s administrator and chair of the Physical Education Department.

Under her direction, the Lady Tornado volleyball team experienced tremendous success. Toomey compiled a record of 749 wins and only 229 losses, making her the winningest coach of all time at King. On top of this amazing record, Toomey never had a losing season at King. Her long list of accomplishments includes 10 AAC conference championships, 24 Coach of the Year awards and three NAIA National Tournament appearances. She has also had the pleasure of coaching 45 AllConference players, 10 NAIA All-Americans, and she recently celebrated her 700th win during the 2006–2007 season.

Toomey’s decision to relinquish her coaching position was difficult, but she cited the opportunity to head the

King’s Herald

TORNADO SPORTS

The spring 2007 season was marked by several high and low moments for the King College Athletic Department.

Track & Field athletes head for nationals. Baseball, tennis, and softball gain strength through experience.

End of an Era

Summer 2007

coach in King College history, with 749 wins to her credit.

And the Legacy Continues. . .

When Susie Toomey announced late March that she was stepping down as head coach of the women’s volleyball team, many wondered how the college would fill the shoes of the legendary coach. An ideal solution presented itself to King College when another Toomey put his hat into the ring to apply for the position.

King announced in April that Chris Toomey (’97), Susie’s son, would take the reins from his mother and lead the women’s volleyball program.

Chris has spent the last 13 years serving as the assistant coach of the Lady Tornado volleyball team and knows the team well.

“It is a neat opportunity for me to be able to follow in my mother’s footsteps,” Chris said.

“What a blessing it has been to learn from her and Coach Chris Toomey see the impact she has made on so many lives here (‘97) at King! It will be a challenge, but I am looking forward to all that the future holds for King College volleyball.”

Chris is taking over at a high point in the history of King’s volleyball program. Last season the team cinched the Appalachian Athletic Conference championship and went on to qualify for the NAIA national tournament.

“I have every confidence that Chris will continue the winning tradition that his mother has established with the program,” said Burns.

“He has the knowledge, drive and ability to lead our volleyball team to a successful 2007–2008 season and beyond.”

EARL CARTER

development of King’s new physical education major and the physical demands of coaching as reasons for the change.

Athletic Director Dale Burns (‘69) said that while her coaching presence on the volleyball court will be missed, he is thrilled about the experience that Toomey will bring to the athletic department in her expanded administrative role. “Her knowledge of the collegiate athletic process is one of our athletic department’s most valuable resources,” he said.

Dr. Gregory D. Jordan, King College president, praised Toomey’s countless contributions to the volleyball team during her coaching career. “The success that our women’s volleyball program has garnered over the years is a direct result of the talents and dedication of Susie Toomey,” he said. “Her leadership and commitment to excellence, both on and off the court, have provided an example for our other coaches and students to follow,” he said.

As Toomey steps into her new role, she carries with her unforgettable memories.

“Twenty-two years ago I began a wonderful journey at King College. Because of the many young ladies that I have had the privilege of working with, that journey has been a fun and tremendously rewarding experience. All the young ladies who have been a part of this program through the years have blessed me beyond belief,” she said.

Susie Toomey steps down as the winningest

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The perfect spring weekend T

hanks to a great turnout and abundant sunshine, the 81st Dogwood Weekend, April 20–21, was a success. More than 300 alumni, friends, staff and faculty attended the twoday event. Some highlights from the weekend include:

associate professor of theatre, the play is based upon the Gospel according to St. Matthew and focuses on Jesus’ use of parables and storytelling to preach His message of love and tolerance.

Jay Baumgardner Memorial Golf Classic

Alumni reunion events were chaired by Jerry and Rose Enos, Gil and Carolyn Bailey, Jane Boyd, and Anne Liston (’57); Ed Whitehead (‘67); Jerry Wolfe (‘77); Jon Harr (’87); and Ben Cherry (‘97).

John King, director of alumni and annual giving, hosted the alumni luncheon and recognized the Class of 1951 for the highest percentage in annual giving this fiscal year as well as the class of 1959 for giving the highest dollar amount this fiscal year. LeAnn Hughes, associate vice president of marketing and development, presented the following alumni awards at the luncheon: Volunteer of the Year and Graduate and Professional Studies.

On Friday, the Country Club of Bristol hosted the annual Jay Baumgardner Memorial Golf Classic with 16 teams competing. ACS Benefit Services of Winston-Salem, N.C., won the event. Winning team members included, from left: Pete Holler (‘67), Lisa Scalzo, Tal Brown, and chaplain Errol Rohr.

Neal and Alice Caldwell Art Collection

Alumni Reunions and Luncheon

Distinguished Alumni Saturday afternoon, more than 200 people of the Year Award took advantage of a The Distinguished Alumni of the special showing of the Year Award went to Max Weaver Neal and Alice Caldwell (’58). A native of Ashe County, Art Collection in the N.C., Max received a B.A. in E.W. King Library. chemistry from King College and The collection is an M.S. in chemistry from East Neal and Alice (Morrow) considered one of Tennessee State University in 1963.

Caldwell (‘51) the most extensive in the southeast and features works by Volunteer of the Year Rembrandt, Corot, Toulouse-Lautrec, Bettie Hite (’63) was named as Volunteer Picasso, Whistler, Marsh, Chagall, Dalí of the Year. After graduation from King, and Matisse. she earned an M.A. in English from East Tennessee State University, and Godspell continues to serve as both a reunion Approximately 700 people attended the chairman and class agent. Bettie moved production of the musical, Godspell, at back to Bristol to reconnect with the the Paramount Theatre on Thursday, King College community in time to Friday and Saturday. Directed by chair her 40th class reunion in 2003.

Elizabeth Dollar, King’s Performing Since her return, Bettie has been heavily & Visual Arts Department chair and involved both on and off campus.

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DOGWOOD PHOTOS BY EARL CARTER

2007 Dogwood Weekend brings out the best

Conor Lumb enjoys endless bubbles.

Graduate & Professional Studies Award

Sarah (Hudson) James (‘05) was the recipient of the Graduate and Professional Studies Award. Sarah graduated from King College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She is an operations manager for Wellmont Health System.

Young Alumni Achievement Award

Amy Ryan (’91) received the Young Alumni Achievement Award. Established in 2004, the award recognizes young alumni who have made outstanding professional contributions to their field with commitment to the service of others. After graduation from King College, Amy went on to receive her M.D. from the University of Virginia and is now a pediatrician with Eastover Pediatrics in Charlotte, N.C.

Save the Date: April 18–20, 2008

Dogwood Weekend 2008 There will be more to celebrate in 2008! Plan now to attend Dogwood Weekend, April 18–20, 2008.

King’s Herald

FEATURES

Appalachian writers gather at King Noted author Sharyn McCrumb and Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Dot Jackson featured at July conference ing College welcomes the 2007 Appalachian Writers Association (AWA) to campus from Friday through Sunday, July 13–15. Nationally recognized author Sharyn McCrumb is this year’s keynote speaker, with award-winning novelist and Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Dot Jackson hosting Saturday’s plenary session.

“We’re delighted to welcome these accomplished women to the AWA and to our campus,” said Juli Hale, AWA president. “Their regional heritages and resonant familiarity with the land brings a tremendous richness to their work, and we look forward to sharing their wisdom on the craft of writing.”

McCrumb is applauded for her haunting tales, which include the popular Ballad Novels. Movie rights to The Rosewood Casket have been acquired

by Lizcat Films, with filming planned

to be complete by the end of 2007. Her most recent release, 2007’s Once Around the Track, is her second NASCARthemed novel and centers around an all-female team that hires a “pretty” male driver.

Jackson is well known as a long-time columnist and reporter for the Charlotte Observer. Her time with the paper presented the opportunity to collect Appalachian stories and folklore, a process that resulted in her first novel. Published in 2006, Refuge tells the story of a 1920s Charleston matron who departs “proper” society and finds her place in a remote and haunted mountain cove.

Participants and guests are invited to attend the keynote banquet on Friday, July 13 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $30 each.

Seating is limited. Attendance at the plenary session requires registration for the conference. For reservations, registration or additional information, please email awa@king.edu or visit www. king.edu/awa.

LAURA MCCRUMB

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Sharyn McCrumb is the keynote speaker at this year’s gathering of the Appalachian Writers Association. Recognized for her haunting tales and Ballad Novels, McCrumb’s recent works have dealt with the colorful world of NASCAR. Photo above, McCrumb with driver Phillip Morris, winner of the 2006 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series.

Kayseean recognized for quality KC newspaper wins first place among national school newspapers he American Scholastic Press Association based in New York, N.Y., has recognized the Kayseean with a first place distinction in their 2006–2007 annual newspaper review and contest. The contest evaluates quality in school publications, including newspapers and yearbooks, based on style, format, content and presentability.

“I am proud of the Kayseean staff’s work this year,” said Kayseean faculty adviser Kim Holloway. “This honor is a much-deserved recognition of their dedication to excellence.”

The contest judges publications on page design, story layout, graphics, headlining, cover design, advertising placement, photography and a variety of other criteria. Each school publication is scored on a point system and is awarded a first, second or third place in its classification.

Summer 2007

Judges for the contest are educators with extensive experience as faculty advisers for scholastic presentations.

As a first place winner, the Kayseean staff will receive an award certificate as well as a listing in the American Scholastic Journalist along with other award-winning schools.

Holloway has served as the faculty adviser for the Kayseean since 2005 and Melissann Herron, now a 2007 alumna, served as the editor-in-chief. The Kayseean is printed four times each semester.

The Kayseean has been the campus newspaper for King College since the 1930s.

STEPHEN NEWTON

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King College junior Ashley Norton, a Kayseean staffer, reads a recent issue of the award-winning student publication.

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STAFF & FACULT Y NOTES

Henryson’s medieval memoirs Dr. Craig McDonald’s first novel tells the story of a 15th century poet and schoolmaster during a pivotal period in Scotland’s history.

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raig McDonald’s novel, Among His Personal Effects, published this year by Capstone Fiction, draws upon his doctorate studies of Robert Henryson, 15th century Scottish poet and schoolmaster. Although little has been written about Henryson’s life, he did produce a large body of published work, which many scholars agree was inspired by events of the time.

“About 15 years ago, I worked on a novel focusing on this same period of history, which I now see as practice for Among His Personal Effects,” McDonald says. “I was interested in Henryson because he was a teacher and I wondered if his poetry reflected this period of political unrest, and how it affected the lives of his students.”

In order to write the book, McDonald says he had to rely on Henryson’s poetry and a host of legends and surmises, as well as his extensive research into historic Scottish manuscripts.

Written as a fictional memoir, the novel centers on an historic event during the reign of James III when members of the Scottish nobility hanged rebellious courtiers at Lauder Bridge

in 1482. Coincidently, McDonald’s daughter lives near Lauder Bridge, so he was able to visit the area to research 15th century Scottish culture and customs as well as explore the monastery where Henryson spent the last days of his life.

“Each chapter of my novel is based upon a different Henryson poem,” McDonald explains. “Most of his poems were adaptations of Aesop’s fables, various short poems and two longer works—The Testament of Cressida and Orpheus and Eurydice. I linked those poetic themes to the lives of four fictional students and then based upon my own teaching experiences, I tried to imagine what it must have been like to be a medieval school teacher faced with his students’ aspirations bent, broken or refashioned by the twists and turns of providence.”

Among His Personal Effects is available for sale through Capstone’s online bookstore (http://capstonefiction.com) and from other major online booksellers, such as amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and christianbook.com.

MORE S TAFF & FACULT Y NEWS Bloomer studies asteroid solar orbits at Air Force Academy observatory

During the month of May, Ray Bloomer and two of his students studied the solar orbits of asteroids and a group of stars with special astrophysical interest at the Air Force Academy’s Observatory in Austin, Texas. The students, physics major Shane Morrison, and biology major Andrew Stuart, joined Bloomer in the research thanks to two Col. Lee B. Ledford Awards valued at more than $2,000 each that they received from the Appalachian College Association.

It was the sixth student trip for Bloomer, who designed the Air Force Academy’s observatory.

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John Graham finishes his sabbatical in Sheffield, England

John Graham has been doing neurological research on rats for the past year at the University of Sheffield to determine the physiology of movement.

“The experiments for my first project are now done, so we have to finish ‘crunching’ the data and write the paper,” Graham writes. The University of Sheffield is ranked 8th in the U.K., 20th in Europe and 70th in the world. The university can claim five Nobel laureates as either alumni or former faculty.

Graham has taken the opportunity to travel through much of England and Scotland with his wife, Alice, and their daughter, Elizabeth, who has been attending elementary school in Sheffield.

New band program at King College

Lonny Finley became King’s director of bands and instrumental activities and an assistant professor of music in January. Finley earned his B.S. and M.A. in music education at the University of Alabama. Before coming to King he was the band director at Pace High School in Pace, Fla. “We are building a band program from the ground up,” Finley says. “My goal is for King to have a 60–75 piece concert band in three years. Along the way we will also develop a big band style jazz ensemble. I am also scheduled to teach a guitar class in the spring of ‘08.”

King’s Herald

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SULLINS COLLEGE ARCHIVES

SULLINS ALUMNAE NEWS

Jane Fagan Cartwright (’69), age 57, passed

away Monday, April 16, 2007, after a brief illness. She was a loving mother to her three children, Katie Elizabeth, Laura Frances and David Stuart.

She is survived by her mother, Rosamond Gemmell Fagan (’43); sisters Carole Fagan Harris and Maggie Fagan Mailman (’73); brother Patrick Dennis “Pete” Fagan III; 11 nieces and nephews; several aunts, great-aunts, uncles, great-uncles and many cousins. Cartwright was also considered a “surrogate mother” by many of her children’s friends, as she always had an open door and open heart.

Cartwright was an accomplished professional. She was employed by King Pharmaceuticals Inc., where she was an integral employee in the company’s formation and development. Over the years, she served various roles in the finance department and compliance office.

She was extremely dedicated and upheld the highest standards of ethics and integrity in all that she did.

She was a 1969 graduate of Sullins College and also received a bachelor of arts in accounting, summa cum laude, from the University of Virginia in 1995. Cartwright was a lifelong parishioner of St. Anne’s Catholic community and enjoyed traveling, reading, spending time with family and friends, outdoor activities and researching the cutting edge of compliance and fraud investigation methods.

The family received friends and family at St. Anne’s on Friday, April 20, 2007. The funeral was held on Saturday, April 21, 2007, at St. Anne’s with the Rev. Timothy Keeney and the Rev. Harry Hall officiating.

Burial followed in the St. Anne’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request donations be made in her name to the Patrick D. Fagan Sr. Scholarship Fund, St. Anne’s Catholic School, 300 Euclid Ave., Bristol, VA 24201.

Summer 2007

Sullins College alumnae reconnect Sullins reunion activities held during Dogwood Weekend

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s part of the annual King College alumni activities scheduled for Dogwood Weekend 2007, a special schedule of events was held for Sullins College alumnae, faculty and staff on Saturday, April 21. These reunion activities are now a permanent part of Dogwood activities each year.

The day began with attendees touring the Sullins archives and memorabilia at the United Company corporate offices in Martin Hall on the former Sullins College campus. A reception followed on the King College campus in the Sullins Parlor of Parks Hall. Sullins alumnae then enjoyed viewing pieces from the Neal and Alice Caldwell Art Collection at King College in the E.W. King Library. The day ended with a party on Saturday evening at the home of Ruth King, former dean of women. Also in attendance was F. William Thomas, who served on the music Martin Hall faculty and was choral director from 1970 to 1976.

Those also in attendance for the day’s activities included: Jean (Jackson) Alley (’56 academy) (’58 college), Angela (Hulan) Dickens (’65), Lucretia ‘Lucy’ (Vance) Gilmer (‘47), Glenda (Adams) Holcomb (’57), Tere (Dobbs) Land (’74), Lora Lynn Jones (‘70), Brenda (Wilson) McSurley (’70), Ann Sandidge Pope (’65), Sheila (Pederson) Smith (’73), Clare Snyder-Branch (‘73), and Judy (Brady) Wilkens, (’70). The King College Alumni Office also received more than 40 responses from those who were not able to attend but hoped to attend activities Sullins College Chapel in the future. The Alumni Office would like to thank all those who attended and the many alumnae who responded to assist with upcoming reunions and activities. Next year’s Sullins reunion activities during Dogwood Weekend will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2008.

Attention all Sullins alumnae!

Mark your calendars now for next year’s reunion, planned for Saturday, April 19, 2008! Save this day for a visit to Martin Hall, gatherings and meals with friends, and additional activities to be planned throughout the coming months.

More details will be available as the date draws closer. For questions, contact information or suggestions, please e-mail alumni@king.edu or call John King, director of alumni and annual giving, at 423.652.4864.

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ALUMNI NEWS

King helped Jeremiah Caleb reach for the stars he day Jeremiah Caleb (‘02) visited King College for the first time changed his life in a number of ways.

The son of a missionary, Caleb was looking for a college that could foster his spiritual as well as his educational growth. He was immediately struck by the intimate atmosphere that seemed such an integral part of campus life.

“A student worker chatted with me as she gave me a personal tour of the campus,” Caleb recalls. “One of the last places I saw was the Fine Arts Building.

I fell instantly in love with the old architecture and the character of it. I still can’t describe it, but at that moment, I felt a peace and joy deep down and knew that I belonged here. I had no idea at that time that I would become an actor and this building would play such a huge part in my foundation.”

Thanks to King’s scholarship programs, Caleb was able to make his dreams come true. He pursued a

performing & visual arts and father died three weeks English double major and before my graduation,” after graduation attended Caleb explains. “They were the American Musical and at the memorial, and they Dramatic Academy in New went the extra mile to make York City. sure I made my exams to be “At King, I thought the able to graduate.” possibilities were limitless,” Working and living Caleb says. “I got to do in New York City as a Jeremiah Caleb (‘02) anything I ever wanted to full-time actor in film and try—ministry teams, residence life, television has been the ultimate payoff mission trips, writing for the paper, for Caleb. In addition to television directing plays and writing my own commercials, he’s appeared on NBC’s musicals. I even got to choreograph my Law and Order and has roles in two last two Dogwood musicals. I was given feature films to be released this fall. He’s the chance to reach for the stars. So also working on a first novel, He Walks when I graduated and went out into the with Me, chronicling the life, conversion real world, I felt ready for anything.” and ministry of his late father.

Caleb valued his interaction with “I got so much from King College King’s faculty and their support both because I was given the opportunity to in and out of the classroom, which, he make the most out of it,” Caleb says. “I claims, contributed to who he is today. got much more than just an education, “Perhaps most special of all was the I discovered the man I was destined to way faculty surrounded me when my become.”

PHOTO BY RICK DAY

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A family that runs together…

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tays in better health together. Just ask Bronson Pasko, King’s associate dean of students, and his wife Deborah (Burns) Pasko(‘00). For 12 weeks, Bronson, Deborah, and the wives of Deborah’s three brothers, many of whom are King alums, trained to prepare for their run in a half marathon.

Their motivation was simple: to get in better health through exercise.

“It’s just a goal that we decided to set for ourselves,” said Bronson. The family then set its sights on completing 13.1 miles of the Country Music Marathon, held April 21, 2007, in Nashville, Tenn.

Bronson and Deborah trained with Jane (Scanlan) Burns (’96), wife of Tim Burns (’95); Sunshine (Decker) Burns (attended), wife of Peter Burns (’97); and Meredith Burns, wife of Daniel Burns (’99). Over the course of the 12-week

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From left, sisters-in law Deborah Pasko, Sunshine Burns, Jane Burns and Meredith Burns proudly wear the medals they received for completing half of the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, Tenn.

training, each person ran more than 180 miles to prepare for the marathon.

Their hard work paid off because each completed the race in less than two and a half hours.

“For me, the best part of participating

in this race was running it with my sisters-in-law,” commented Jane Burns.

“I had never run before, so going from nothing to 13.1 miles in four months required amazing support. It made it so much easier knowing that they were training with me and encouraging me every step of the way! I couldn’t have done it without them, or my husband, Tim, who had to watch all four kids so I could run all the time. But I’d love to do it again, especially if Meredith, Sunshine and Deborah do it with me!”

A few other members of the King College family also participated in the run, including Seth Penley (’97), who counts this as his sixth full marathon completed, and Nathan McClure (‘06), who completed the half-marathon.

Congratulations to all who participated.

King’s Herald

CONNECTIONS

King College recalls “Death Valley” Days Elizabeth Young has fond memories of life at King College in the ’30s and ’40s, when her husband, Jack, coached football n 2004, Elizabeth Young established the Neil F. (Jack) Young and the Teams He Coached Scholarship in her husband’s memory. He was the last football coach at King. In those days, more than half a century ago, the football field was known as Death Valley because Coach Young believed that promoting physical fitness, including no smoking or drinking, was essential to building a great team. Some of his students went on to play professional football and were inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

“Jack practiced what he preached and was always in top physical condition,” Young said. “He was able to do a hundred pushups easily and often challenged his players to match him.”

According to Ken Fowler (’41), who played football at King with his brother Bob, Coach Young did an outstanding job with few resources.

“Jack carried the program alone,” Fowler said. “He had no assistants, limited facilities, and even a roll of tape was precious. He was a no-foolishness type who never complained to us about the austere situation or let it discourage us. We all thought he was successful by any win-loss standard. There were very few coaches who could have done as well when you factor in all of the tribulations of the times.”

During those years, when both faculty and students

Be ready to hear from your student caller in October, and please make a gift to the Annual Fund for Scholarships & Programs.

Thank you!

Summer 2007

Neil F. (Jack) Young

Ken Fowler, class of ‘41

often lived on campus, the Young family lived in an apartment over the dining hall, which was located in the current Fine Arts Building.

“Times were hard everywhere and especially for King College,” Young explained. “One year, a family paid part of their child’s tuition with a truckload of turnips. Etta Brogden, our beloved nurse and dietician, served us turnips every night for months.”

In addition to coaching, Young also taught mathematics and spent his free time tutoring students. When World War II started, he was asked to teach physics to the Air Force recruits. Young credits the Air Force with greatly assisting the college financially when they set up training facilities on campus and restored several buildings. After the war, Young returned to coach football as well as women’s basketball.

To be eligible for the Young scholarship, students must be in their junior or senior year, demonstrate a need for financial aid and major in math, physical science, medicine or engineering with high scholastic achievement. Nominations may be made by faculty in related fields.

Today, Mrs. Young lives in Roanoke, Va., where she volunteers three days a week for the Veteran’s Administration’s Alzheimer unit.

The King College annual phon-a-thon will begin in October! This is our most successful and important fundraiser of the year because:

• All proceeds benefit the Annual Fund for Scholarships & Programs, which provides financial aid to more than 98% of our students.

• Alumni and friends have the opportunity to talk to students and hear how a gift will directly impact their lives.

DAVID WOOD

KING COLLEGE ARCHIVES

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• It teaches student callers the importance of giving back to King.

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ALUMNI CL ASS NOTES Deborah (Grace) Staley (’86) is serving at Maryville College as a disability services specialist, focusing on working with students who are deaf or hearing impaired. She took on her new responsibilities in August 2006.

Debbie and husband Fred (’85) reside in Maryville, Tenn.

Dr. Carol F. Justus (’60) is serving as an adjunct associate professor in the Classics Department & Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

She has been developing a course on Indo-European Language and Culture with a four-year grant to continue development on the related Web site at http://www. utexas.edu/centers/lrc/iedocctr/ sitemap.html. She resides in Austin, Texas.

KC Hall of Fame member Brett Teach (’86) has been named the men’s soccer coach at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn. Most recently, he served for seven years as the head men’s soccer coach at Auburn University-Montgomery where he led the Senators to the NAIA National Playoffs all seven years. He was named the NSCAA/adidas® NAIA National Coach of the Year in 2000 and was honored as the SSAC Coach of the Year six times (2000–2003 and 2005–2006). He was also named Conference All-Sports Male Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2002.

PHOTO BY EARL NEIKIRK

Fred Manning, Jr. (’47) taught courses in theology and Bible with African Bible College at the Lilongwe, Malawi campus during the 2006-07 academic year. Manning served as interim professor for 180 students; when in North America, he resides in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The first week of March 2007 was an eventful time for Pete (’67) and Ann (Kelley) Holler (’68). On March 2, Pete (above) was recognized for his longtime service with the United Way of Bristol with the Mildred P. Morris Volunteer of the Year Award.

Holler has participated with the charitable organization for more than 30 years as a volunteer and officer. The successful 2006 United Way campaign, which raised a record $1.3 million for local organizations, was chaired by Dr. Gregory D. Jordan, president of King. On March 3, the Paramount Theater’s Paramount Players performed two pieces of music written by Ann. The works included a set of variations on the shapednote hymn tune KEDRON, plus a group of three Celtic-flavored tunes entitled “Appalachian Airs.” Ann is a lecturer of music at King and teaches music theory and piano in the Performing & Visual Arts Department.

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Lt. Col. Rodney Fogg (’87) took command of the 17th Corps Support Battalion at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in June of 2006.

In July 2006 Rodney transferred the unit to its new location at Fort Richardson, Alaska, just outside of Anchorage. In October it was transformed into the 17th Combat & Sustainment Support Battalion which provides logistics to infantry units. Rodney has served in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Janie (Kelly) Fogg (’85), live at Fort Richardson with their three daughters, Rachel, age 17, Katie, age 15 and Erin, age 7.

Rebecca (Albert) Wood (’88) has been admitted to the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law and will begin her studies in August 2007. She has been married to David Wood since August of 1990; they have two sons, Zachary, age 14, and Jacob, age 12. The Woods reside in Gainesville, Fla. Ed Couvertiere (’91) and wife Jeannine welcomed Sean Luis and Ethan Ingram, twin boys, to the family in October 2006. The twins join big sister Nicole, age 2. Ed works with Johnson & Johnson as a

professional pharmaceutical sales representative; the family resides in Knoxville, Tenn.

Johanna (Jole) Nestor (’94) recently became director of the Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Programs with the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Johanna was also accepted as a doctoral candidate at the Bloomsberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., and began the program in fall 2006.

Head Men’s Soccer Coach Matt Lavinder (’95) and wife Hollie welcomed daughter Lana Elizabeth (right) on February 28, 2007. Lana Elizabeth weighed 7 lbs., 11 oz. at birth, and mother and baby are doing well. Lavinder was also recently recognized for earning the prestigious United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National Goalkeeper License, the highest goalkeeper coaching license available in the United States. He already holds the three other highest licenses available in the country, the USSF A License, NSCAA Premier Diploma, and the USSF National Youth License. The Lavinders reside in Bristol, Tenn.

Tennessee House of Representatives Minority Leader Jason Mumpower (’95) was named Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Development District Association. The group is an association of nine development districts assisting with regional issues such as economic development, transportation, waste, housing, tourism, air quality, and services to the elderly, among others.

The award is based on nominations from each of the districts and recognizes those legislators who have shown leadership on behalf of their cities and counties.

Mumpower was also appointed

to the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Affairs. The commission consists of public officials from state and local government as well as private citizens. The group works to resolve intergovernmental problems, provide research and analysis to improve the overall quality of government in Tennessee, and improve the effectiveness of government.

Dr. Mary K. Boggs (’96) was the subject of a feature on surgery residencies filmed by Des Moines, Iowa, ABC affiliate WOI-TV. The station filmed the series to provide a real-life comparison of surgeons’ lives to those on the hit show Grey’s Anatomy. Mary writes “not that I need a TV show made about me…but it certainly is a compliment to have our residency picked over other residencies in the city of Des Moines.”

Crystal (’97) and Paul (’96) Davidson, Thomas and Rebekah (Fiedler) Copley (’98) and friends have released Instruments of Peace, a CD named for their worship group. The recording is, according to Crystal, “a collection of Messianic music with a touch of the Southern Gospel sound.”

Instruments of Peace started as an outreach ministry to churches teaching about the Hebraic roots of the Christian faith. Crystal notes that the group’s vision, and that of its home congregation Beth Shalom, is to “see Jew and Gentile become one new man in the body of Messiah.” To purchase a CD, email bethshalompaul@charter.net.

Micah (’98, ’03) and Amy (Campbell) Crews (’99) welcomed son Ian James (left) on December 13, 2006. Ian James weighed 9 lbs., 1 oz. and was 20.5 inches long at birth. The family resides in Bristol, Va.

King’s Herald

CONNECTIONS

Corey Welton (’98) and wife Qing Ye welcomed Ayden Daniel on February 11, 2007. Ayden Daniel (right) weighed in at 6 lbs., 5 oz. and was 18.5 inches long at birth. In addition to a new family member, Corey also has a new job with Red Hat, Inc. Stephen Gentry (’01) married Sara Ellen Akin of Lakeland, Fla. at Westminster Presbyterian in Atlanta, Ga. on March 24, 2006. Stephen is currently a CPA for Ernst & Young in midtown Atlanta; Sara is a high school math teacher at Norcross High School in the Atlanta area. The couple resides in Smyrna, Ga. Chris (’01) and Rachel (Taggart) Horton (’98) welcomed Caleb

Matthias to the world on November 28, 2006.

He joins brothers Josiah, born in 2000; Elijah, born in 2002; and Nathanael, born in 2004. The Hortons reside in Knoxville, Tenn.

Travis Cross (’02) graduated with his master’s in theology from Regent University in 2006. He married wife Rebekah in June 2006; the couple resides in Nashville, Tenn.

Pete (’02) and Katy (Morrow) Stigers (’02) welcomed Nell Elizabeth (right) on January 13, 2007. Nell Elizabeth weighed 9 lbs., 10 oz. at birth and 22 inches long. Katy completed a master’s degree in urban affairs with Saint Louis University in December 2006. The Stigers reside in Saint Louis, Mo.

Sara Williams (’03) married Jason McBride on Friday, Nov. 17, 2006, in Halifax, Va. Sara is working with Halifax County Middle School as an eighth grade English teacher; she and Jason reside in Nathalie, Va. Helen Christine (Tilson) Furches (’05) has enrolled in the master of arts program at Liberty University, where she is pursuing a degree in human services with a concentration in health & wellness.

She works for Keystone Education and Youth Services as a supervisor of medical records and an auditor.

She and husband James reside in Atkins, Va. Amanda Lewis (’05) is the recipient of a graduate student research grant from East Tennessee State University. She is pursuing a degree in history and

will use the grant for research on “Revolution in Kenya: Mau Mau in a Global Context.” Amanda resides in Bristol, Tenn.

Phillip Martin (’06) has been accepted into Nurse Anesthesia School at the School of Nursing at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, and will begin the program in fall 2007 via the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Va. Class notes may be submitted via e-mail to alumni@king.edu or mailed to the King College Alumni Office, 1350 King College Road, Bristol, TN 37620. All class notes may be edited or rewritten for length, style and clarity.

Thank you, class agents, for being a class act!

A

lmost a year ago in the fall 2006 King’s Herald issue, the call went out for participation in the class agent program and our alums have answered that call with great enthusiasm! Since then, more than 20 class agents have volunteered to help keep classmates connected with one another and to their alma mater. Additionally, the class agent program has led to more than $80,000 being given to KC by alumni through written appeals from agents. The program has also helped boost alumni giving up to 21%. For these great results, the King College Alumni Office is taking this opportunity to recognize our current class agents … many thanks to each of them!

1952 Class Agent Needed 1953 Class Agent Needed 1954 Emmett Bane 1955 Jean (Norman) Bane 1956 Bill Adams 1957 Mary Frances (Johnson) Cain 1958 Bill Heizer 1959 Miller Liston 1960 Les LaPrade 1961 Laura (Cloud) LaPrade 1962 Becky (Watson) and Edwin “Buzz” Smith

Summer 2007

1963 Ted Plott 1964 Carolyn Arbuckle 1965 Selma (Detman) Jennings 1966 Linda (Warren) and Jon Cornelius 1967 Ed Whitehead 1968 Nancy (Thomas) and Randy Cook 1969 Meg (Glass) and Jim Carter 1970 Class Agent Needed 1971 Class Agent Needed 1972 Class Agent Needed 1973 Class Agent Needed

1974 Paul Montgomery 1975 Nathan Vaughn 1976 Rea Jones 1977 Jerry Wolfe 1978 Terry Rodgers 1979 Carol (Smith) Green 1980 Liesa (Moore) Jenkins 1981 Nancy (Blankenship) and Phil Hillsman 1982 Class Agent Needed 1983 Class Agent Needed 1984 Kevin Kinback 1985 David Flanigan 1986 Scott Sheldon 1987 Jon Harr 1988 Joey Vance 1989 Tad Hutcheson 1990 Mark Ryan 1991 Rachel (Aeschliman) McVey 1992 Will McVey 1993 Alice (Woods) Sword 1994 Class Agent Needed 1995 Jason Mumpower 1996 Class Agent Needed 1997 Ben Cherry 1998 Class Agent Needed

1999 Anita (Whitaker) Fields 2000 Class Agent Needed 2001 Class Agent Needed 2002 Eric Fields 2003 Class Agent Needed 2004 Michael Fleenor 2005 Rachel (Hutton) Cobb 2006 Ryan Cobb

a There are still some classes without an agent, so these are perfect opportunities for alumni to get involved. If you are interested, please contact John King in the Alumni Office at alumni@king.edu or 800.KING.ALM. And remember, making a gift in response to a class agent appeal will help increase the alumni giving percentage for your class!

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ALUMNI PASSINGS

Col. Leonard Jackson Hutton, (USAF Retired), (’40), age 87, passed away of natural causes on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006, surrounded by his family at his home.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret; two daughters, Elizabeth George and Leslie Hutton; one son, Leonard Hutton; one stepson, Tommy Phillips; one stepdaughter, Susan Sheldon; a grandson; five granddaughters; two step-grandsons; two stepgranddaughters; three greatgranddaughters; a sister, Trula Curtis; one aunt; and many cousins and relatives in the Bristol area.

“L.J.” was a career Air Force officer and command pilot. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Air Force Commendation Medal and the President’s Certificate of Merit for his work on the President’s Missile Sites Labor Commission. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o M. Goldstein, 80170 Royal Birkdale, Indio, CA 92201; or the American Heart Association, c/o A. French, 10214 Reedy Creek Road, Bristol, VA 24202.

Mrs. Lorraine (Thompson) Lester (’42), age 86, passed away Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006, in Wellmont Hospice House of Bristol, Tenn. Lester was born May 10, 1920, in Tazewell County, Va. She taught school at Wallace Elementary School for 26 years.

She was a member of Maple Grove Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her husband, John K. “Kit” Lester; and two sons, Robert Lester of Abingdon, Va., and John T. Lester and wife Orangie of Mount Carmel, Tenn. She is also survived by two brothers, William Archie Thompson Jr. of Eustis, Fla., and John Estill Thompson and wife Marion of Charlottesville, Va.

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The funeral service was conducted at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral and the committal service was on Dec. 20, 2006, in Maple Grove Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers were family and friends. Those wishing to send memories or messages of sympathy may do so online by visiting www. farrisfuneralservice.com.

Albert Timothy Outlaw Jr. (’59) died Sunday, Feb. 11, at the Hilton Head Regional Medical Center.

He was born March 12, 1936, in Kenansville, N.C. A graduate of Kenansville High School, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from King College and a master’s degree from East Tennessee State University.

He was principal of Virginia High School for 25 years and served as a Presbyterian lay pastor and as an elder for Central Presbyterian Church for many years.

Additionally, he served on the Board of Directors for the Presbyterian Children’s Home in Wytheville, Va. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Helen Williford Outlaw (’60); and their two sons, Timothy and David. He is also survived by his sister, Sarah Outlaw Johnson of Kenansville and her family.

Visitation and memorial services were held on Thursday, Feb. 15, at Central Presbyterian Church of Bristol, Va. Memorial contributions may be made to Central Presbyterian Church, King College or the Presbyterian Children’s Home.

Walker Myron “Jack” Slaughter Jr. (’59), age 69, died Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006, at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., of complications from treatment for leukemia. Jack was born in Bristol, Va. on Feb. 5, 1937. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Russell Slaughter. Jack is survived by his sister, Shirley Slaughter, his aunt, Dora Jackson Shumate, his aunt, Eleanor Dean Jackson of Bristol, Va., his brother-in-law, Ronnie Russell, his sister-in-law, Belle Cameron Russell Pierce, and his two nephews and nieces.

The funeral service was conducted December 31, 2006, at State Street United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Paramount Foundation, King College, or State Street United Methodist Church. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com.

Nancy Wall (’59), associate professor of modern language at the University of Mobile, died Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006, after a brief illness.

Wall had been teaching full time at the University of Mobile for nearly 37 years, and continued teaching until Thursday, Oct. 5.

While at UM, she was instrumental in the formation of the Modern Language Club and in increasing student enrollment in foreign language classes. She also assisted the Murphy High School and UM theater departments with set and costume preparation.

A memorial service celebrating her life and impact was held Oct. 18 on the UM campus. Instead of flowers, the family requested that donations go to the Gay/ Spradlin/White Travel Study Grant at the University of Mobile, or to Government Street Presbyterian Church in Mobile, Ala.

William Edward “Bill” Hickman (ATTD), age 61, died Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center of T-cell lymphoma.

Bill attended King College and graduated from East Tennessee State University. He retired in 1999 from Eastman Chemical Company after 32 years of service and while there, he was responsible for the design of various engineering projects, both locally and abroad.

He worked as a tax preparer at H&R Block and did engineering consultant work during his retirement. He also taught several classes for the Kingsport City Schools Adult Program. Bill retired as first sergeant from TRP F 2/278th ACR of the Tennessee Army National Guard in 1994. Bill was a member of Cassidy United Methodist Church in Kingsport.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Nancy (Hubble) Hickman (’68); two daughters and a son-in-law, Reneé Hickman of Knoxville, Tenn., and Nicole and Rick Phelps of Asheville, N.C.; two granddaughters; sister, Barbara Sue Hickman and her husband Lynn; a niece; mother-in-law, Beulah Hubble; brother-in-law, Ronnie Hubble and his wife Laura; sister-in-law, Merlie “Chubby” Johnson and her husband R.B.; and brother-in-law, Roger Hubble and Ruth.

Graveside services were conducted at Gunnings Cemetery, with military rites by the Tennessee National Guard.

Memorials can be made to Cassidy United Methodist Church, 5801 Memorial Blvd., Kingsport, TN 37664; or the Sullivan County Humane Society, 2141 Idle Hour Road, Kingsport, TN 37660. Please visit www.hamlettdobson.com to send condolences to the family.

King’s Herald

CONNECTIONS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Friday, July 27 Alumni Gathering and Picnic* Tennessee Smokies vs.

Carolina Mudcats Smokies Park at Exit 407 off Interstate 40 near Sevierville, Tenn.

Picnic begins at 5:45 p.m. | Game begins at 7:15 p.m. | Enjoy a spectacular fireworks show after the game!

Friday, August 3 Alumni Gathering and Picnic * Atlanta Braves vs. Colorado Rockies Turner Field in Atlanta, Ga. Picnic at the City Scape Patio begins at 5:35 p.m.

Game begins at 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, September 15 Washington D.C. Alumni Gathering* 10:00 a.m. | Wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetary by King College students 7:00 p.m. | Dinner with alumni, faculty and students.

D.C. area alumni will receive further details in the mail.

Join King College founders

Thursday, September 20 Asheville, N.C. Alumni Gathering* Bonefish Grill, 105 C River Hills Road, Asheville, N.C. www.bonefishgrill.com 828.298.6530 The group will be seated at 6:30 p.m.

College. Mark your calendars now

EARL CARTER

Saturday, September 29 King College 140th Birthday Bash during Family Weekend Look for more details soon at www.king.edu/alumni.

Thursday, November 1 Charlotte, N.C. Alumni Gathering*

Rev. James King, Rev. James Doak Tadlock, and Rev. George A. Caldwell as they celebrate the 140th birthday of your King

and join us on Saturday, September 29, during Family Weekend.

* R.S.V.P. for alumni gatherings by contacting Cheryl Gorley at 800.621.5464, or via e-mail at clgorley@king.edu.

Harper’s Restaurant 6518 Fairview Road, Charlotte, N.C. www.harpersrestaurants.com 704.366.6688 The group will be seated at 6:30 p.m.

April 18 – 20, 2008 Dogwood Weekend 2008

HGD_8.75M_0607

Summer 2007

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KING COLLEGE ARCHIVES

Office of Marketing & Development 1350 King College Road Bristol, TN 37620

C e l e b r a t i n g 140 Ye a r s

The Class of 1957 gathers on the green after commencement exercises in the spring of 1957.

A LOOK BACK

Permit No. 16 Bristol, TN

PAID

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

The Class of 1957 held its 50th reunion at King College during Dogwood Weekend, April 20–22, 2007.

Longtime friends gathered together to reconnect, reminisce about their time here as students and come together once more for a group photo.