Divisionof Communications Drama opens door forGarlock

Perhaps itwas hischildhood experience on stage or perhaps it came from observing Sir Laurence Olivier on Broadway and studying drama under Jerry Lewis and Gene Kelly.

Whatever thecause Dr Don Garlock admits that the theater hasnever quite left him thesame use drama toreach thesecular world.

"You never get over the theater," Garlock said,"Youalways miss it."

"For solong the attitudes of church people have been that actors are second-class citizens," hesaid, "But I believe that by doing good,quality drama people will understand itisatool for witnessing."

Garlock finds histeaching postion at LBC very fulfilling

"Seeing my students learn to communicate makes itall worthwhile,"he said "Iwouldn't want to do anything else."

Garlock smiles and leans back in his chair "We have potential Jerry Falwells atthis school. Iwould like to say that oneofthose kids wasin one of my plays—that Imade an important contribution totheirlives."

Garlock, professor ofdrama atLBC, has awide background inacting, but believes that acting isnothisareain the theater.

"I never considered myself as having acting ability,"he said,"butI do have theability to direct."

Garlock has always been fascinated with directing—especially young people—and feelsthis isthe main reason he never took up acting as a professional career

"Seeing young kids whoare scared, unable to communicate and poor in self-discipline with self-control and confidence makes directing very rewarding," he said

For Garlock drama is a "slice of life" and he believes that if a person can become agood actor he canlearn to communicate in every area of life.

"The communication process is 17 percent verbal and83percent is nonverbal,"hesaid, "Ifyou can teach that 83 percent communication you have your basic skills in communicating."

Garlock isdedicated tohis jobas a teacher and director. He believes in training Christian young people to

Lynn Ridenour, English faculty member, stops toadmire hisnewly-invented diagraming technique during an English 101class. English 101 isa required prerequisite to English 102, another graduation requirement.

Dr. Don Garlock, chairman of the department of drama,converses witha student concerning class requirements. Recent LBC accreditation broughtnumerous curriculum changesto many LBC programs.

Ridenour's life is changed by fire

For Lynn Ridenhour, second and third degree burns over 65 percent of hisbody were thebest thing that happened to him

Ridenhour, an all-star athlete in high school, made all-state in track and lettered in baseball and basketball

"Sports had been everything,"Ridenhour said "Ithought Ihad lost it all."

Ridenhour wasworking ina newspaper print shop when a panof gasoline overturned, saturating his clothes

Gas seeped to the corner of the room and the hot water heater supplied thespark.

There wasanexplosion and Ridenhour was engulfed in flames For 3 months hefought for hislife, submitting to17skin graft surgeries lasting 7 to8 hours each.

Ridenhour's first glimpse of his charred body sent him into shock

"It was ugly No skin,no muscle," he said, "just coagulated blood and flesh lying on a board. Itdidn't even seem a part of me."

Another surgery was completed Swathed in bandages with holescut so he could see,eatand breathe,Ridenhour laywasting away.

"I lay there too frightened to live and too frightened to die," he said, "but Icried out to God and He met me, in all my loneliness, in all my fears."

Three months later, Ridenhour's body healed and he went home. But the physical and emotional scarsremained

Ridenhour had every intention of returning tothe basketball courtafter his release from the hospital His doc- tors, however, did not share his confidence.

"They never thought I'd play ball again," Ridenhour said "Iwasdetermined toshow them."

And show them hedid. But theroad back was rocky

"It took allthe strength I hadfor theballtoreach thehoop," Ridenhour said "But Ipracticed I jumped rope I jogged around the gym I lifted weights."

Ridenhour won a basketball scholarship to Memphis State University his senior year in high school.

"I had worked hard," Ridenhour said. "But therewere some things un- settled And God knew it."

The tragedy had taken itstolland Ridenhour's personality changed. "I became more outgoing," he said. "I was trying tosurvive."

Ridenhour's emotional adjustment to his scar-laden body lasted two years.

"God healed me emotionally," he said. "But Iremained more outgoing it's menow."

-Lori A. Davis fj