Mars Hill: The Magazine of Mars Hill University - Fall 218

The Magazine of Mars Hill University | Fall 2018

MAGAZINE STAFF:

Editor:

Teresa Buckner, Director of Publications

Associate Editor:

Mike Thornhill ’88, Director of Communications

Additional Contributors:

Rick Baker, Sports Information Director

Beth Hardin ’08

James Knight, Director of the Mars Hill Fund

Dan Morris, Director of Student Involvement and Campus Recreation

Marc Mullinax ’73, Professor of Religion

President’s Leadership Team

Tony Floyd, J.D., President

John Omachonu, Ph.D., Provost

Grainger Caudle, Ph.D.,Executive Director of Planning and Auxiliary Services

Bud Christman, Vice President for Advancement

Samantha Fender, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications

Joy Kish, Ed.D. ’82, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources & Strategic Initiatives

Stephanie McLeskey, M.Div., University Chaplain

David Riggins, Director of Athletics

Neil Tilley, Vice President for Finance and Facilities Management

Mindy Bliss, Associate Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students

Mars Hill [mahrz hil]

1. A site in Athens, also known as the Areopagus, where Paul used persuasive reason and logic to preach Christ to the intellectuals of first-century Greece, as detailed in Acts 17:21 of the Bible.

2. A town in the mountains of North Carolina known for the beauty of its surroundings and its welcoming, small-town atmosphere.

3. A university in the town of Mars Hill which strives to provide the best in liberal arts education for its 1200-some students.

4. A concept (esp. for faculty, students, staff, and alumni of Mars Hill University) signifying that place where faith meets reason, to lay a foundation for a life of character and compassion.

Mars Hill, The Magazine of Mars Hill University is published regularly by the Office of Marketing and Communications. It is distributed, without charge, to alumni, donors, and friends of the university.

Notices of changes of address and class notes should be addressed to the Alumni Office, Mars Hill University, P.O. Box 6792, Mars Hill, N.C., 28754. Phone 828/689-1102. E-mail alumni@mhu.edu.

Letters to the editor and all other correspondence regarding the magazine should be addressed to the Office of Marketing and Communications, Mars Hill University, P.O. Box 6765, Mars Hill, N.C., 28754. Phone 828/689-1304. Fax 828/689-1105. E-mail tbuckner@mhu.edu.

Postmaster: Send address changes to the Alumni Office, Mars Hill University, P.O. Box 6792, Mars Hill, N.C., 28754.

Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.

Cover photo: Tony Floyd stands outside his new office in Blackwell Hall. Table of Contents photo, Bald River Falls, near the N.C./Tenn. line by Marc Mullinax ’73

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Terry, Sarah, Olivia and I would like to thank you for the kind, warm welcome we have received from the Mars Hill community since early June. The famous mountain hospitality has exceeded our expectations. We are excited to begin this journey with you.

I have had an incredible schedule during my first few months at Mars Hill. I have been spending a lot of time listening and learning about what is important to our faculty, staff, trustees, town leaders, and alumni. New social media outlets for the university are being used to communicate the activities that are happening on campus.

During my visits across campus I frequently get asked, what is your vision? What is your leadership style? I want you to know that Terry and I aspire to be servant leaders, knowing that we are “works in progress.” We have come to Mars Hill University to model our core values to serve you and the institution so that the mission of the institution thrives. We believe that our core values are in alignment with the heart of Mars Hill and that these core values and dreams for the university will become contagious and spread throughout the organization and specifically to our students. It is my hope and dream that Mars Hill University will create another generation of servant leaders and that we will send them out into the world to do great things, to find their own personal missions and callings in life. Living out those individual callings will contribute to a world that is much better and more just, a place where they and other young people can thrive.

We have learned that Mars Hill University is not just a set of classrooms, offices, museums, theatres, departments, committees and boards; we are one university. We are a place that values learning, mentoring, quality teaching, and above all, transforming young lives. We are a place that has said to the world that we value critical thinking, skilled writing, and scholarship. We value the liberal arts, first generation students, and those who may come from challenged financial backgrounds. We value and are determined to educate those who are seeking their place in the world. Mars Hill is a place where young people can come and study with the finest academic leaders that are motivated to help them discover their gifts.

Terry and I have come here to work with you to transform lives. We want to serve you and serve the community, and we want to export Mars Hill University to the world. We are thankful for your prayers and support and can’t wait to meet you and share our lives with you.

Tony Floyd, J.D. President

President Tony Floyd

A Man on a Mission

Tony Floyd, cont...

Tony Floyd is a man on a mission.

“I’ve come here to transform lives,” he said.¬

“I’ve come here to do that and whatever mountains we’ve got to move to do that, we’re going to do that.”

Since Floyd took the reins of Mars Hill University as president in June, he has hit the ground running, meeting with faculty, staff, trustees, donors, local officials and business leaders, and most importantly, getting to know the students of Mars Hill University. In a short period of time, he is tasked with learning all there is to know about the history and operations of Mars Hill University.

It’s no small task, but one that has not distracted him from being true to his central belief about his chosen vocation: that students’ lives are transformed by a liberal arts education that teaches them critical thinking and writing skills, leadership, and character.

purpose of such a goal is even bigger than education itself. “For me, part of being here is really believing in the liberal arts,” he said, “and part is wanting to prepare young people for the world we live in, and to equip them with the tools they need to put that liberal arts experience and understanding to work for good.”

Growing Up in Hartsville

Floyd was born in Columbia, S.C., but spent most of his life in Hartsville, a small town that he describes as “a close-knit community, where church and sports were the center of life.” His father ran an auto body shop and his mother was an elementary school teacher.

“No matter what calling you have in your life, you will be working with other people and in order to make a difference, you need to be able to write and speak and think and lead,” he said. “I think leadership is a dimension that some liberal arts universities hide from. But when you couple leadership and the ‘soft skills’ with a liberal arts undergirding, it is a powerful force.”

Floyd speaks of the power of a liberal arts education with passion, and yet, the ultimate

Growing up in South Carolina in the late 60s and early 70s was an eventful time, and Floyd remembers vividly that one of the most influential experiences of his life was in elementary school in March of 1970. Darlington County, S.C. was in great turmoil, as the schools were being integrated.

“I remember that I really wanted to ride the bus to school, but my mom wouldn’t let me, because some threats had been made. And as a matter of fact, there were some incidents where school buses were overturned,” he said. “But I just remember the tension and nervousness at that point that no child should ever have to feel. And I can’t imagine what some of my African American friends felt.”

Along with the many tasks of the presidency, both Tony and Terry Floyd have been diligently working to get to know the students of MHU.

Despite the tension of the time, Floyd says he was deeply impacted by watching and experiencing a community in “this incredible time of learning how to live together.” His world view was profoundly shaped by both white and black teachers, he said, and by growing up playing sports with a diverse group of friends.

In 1985, Floyd graduated from the University of South Carolina, and then headed straight to law school at Campbell University. During the summers, he worked in his Dad’s body shop, bagged groceries at the local Piggly Wiggly at night and on weekends and worked as a law clerk. During college he was also able to work as a clerk at the South Carolina Indigent Defense Commission and as a page in the office of South Carolina Senator Ed Saleeby. These jobs, he said, helped him “get excited about law and politics.”

need to intervene in people’s lives before they reached the point where crime seemed a valid choice.

Soon after law school, Tony met Terry Lynn Springs at a funeral visitation for a family friend. They married in 1990.

After law school, Floyd was recruited by multiple law firms, and eventually, decided to practice law at Driggers and Baxley law firm in Hartsville for five years. During that time, he also worked as a public defender for both juvenile and adult clients.

Looking back, Floyd says he realizes that this too, was an impactful experience. Representing people, and particularly youths, at some of the lowest points in their lives, convinced him of the

By 1993, Floyd had built his practice to the point where he decided to “hang his own shingle.” He practiced alone for six years, then added another attorney, his best friend from high school to the practice, to become Floyd and Gardner, PC. During this period, he became involved in politics and served as a city councilman in Hartsville for five years.

Also during this time, the Floyds’ daughters Olivia and Sarah were born, in 1994 and 1996. When another attorney in Hartsville was suspended, the South Carolina Supreme Court appointed Floyd to take over the attorney’s clients. Among them, was Coker College.

Soul-Searching

Over the next few years, Floyd formed positive working relationships with two Coker presidents. Between the projects at Coker, and work for his other clients, Floyd had a thriving practice, but he felt something was missing.

“I had spent close to 25 years in law and politics,” he said. “I had all the attention that those

Tony and Terry Floyd pose with their girls, (l-r) Sarah and Olivia, in 1998.

Tony Floyd, cont...

careers bring. But on Sunday evenings, I would just dread Monday mornings. Practicing law was no longer fulfilling. I enjoyed helping people, but I did not long to continue practicing law.”

His discontent was obvious to his wife. “He was just consumed with the law,” Terry Floyd said. “He was working long hours. But he also wasn’t happy.”

During that period of soul-searching, Floyd’s community involvements led him into coaching a traveling basketball team at the local YMCA after work and on weekends. That group of 13and 14-year-old boys would prove to be pivotal in the next stage of Floyd’s life. In the arena of basketball, the team was successful. They were dominant in their league and Floyd traveled with the boys to tournaments throughout the state. But on a personal level, something entirely different was happening.

“I went to coach at the YMCA to try to make a difference in their lives, and they ended up changing my life,” he said. “And I realized that in the big scheme of things, I wanted to work with young people more than I wanted to practice law.”

In 2012, Dr. Robert Wyatt, president of Coker College, asked Floyd to join the college as vice president for administration and legal counsel. And so, for Floyd, the move to Coker seemed both logical and providential.

By 2016, Floyd had decided that he would consider a college or university presidency. He was nominated by Dr. Wyatt and was accepted into the American Council on Education Fellows Program. The following year he was selected to participate in the Council of Independent Colleges Presidential Mission and Vocation Program. Both programs allowed him to spend time learning from a number of college presidents, on a number of college campuses.

And finally, in 2017, he was nominated for the presidency of Mars Hill University. In February of 2018, the MHU Presidential Search Committee, with approval from the Board of Trustees, selected Floyd as the 22nd president of Mars Hill, to succeed retiring president Dan Lunsford.

Finding New Roles

The Floyds recently sold their home in Hartsville and moved to Mars Hill. Their daughters are attending graduate schools in South Carolina. Their oldest daughter, Olivia, is a student in the leadership and management masters program at Coker College in a program that Floyd helped to get off of the ground. Their youngest daughter, Sarah, has entered the opera program at the University of South Carolina.

Like other presidential spouses before her, Terry Floyd knows that her role will develop over time in concert with her personality, but her ultimate goal is to support her husband, the students, and the university in any way she can.

“I really see my role as fitting in where I am needed. If Tony needs me to do something, I’m more than willing to do it to support him,” she said.

Terry has spent 21 years working as an administrative assistant at Hartsville First Baptist Church, where the family attended church. She said she is not, generally, a person who seeks the spotlight, but she enjoys working and making a contribution.

“I have always worked,” she said. “I can’t see me not getting a job, unless Tony keeps me busy visiting donors and doing volunteer work.” She also looks forward to getting involved in Mars Hill and Madison County, through community ministries and charities.

“You will not generally see Terry at the microphone,” Tony said. “You will see her,

instead, behind the scenes doing some very important things, and treating Mars Hill students like her own. I predict she will find her own way of serving and she will be very good at it.”

Climbing New Mountains at MHU

Floyd says he has tremendous respect for the accomplishments of Dr. Dan Lunsford, (who was named president-emeritus upon his retirement). Floyd also recognizes that there will be new and different “mountains to climb” in the years ahead.

Some of the most immediate, he said, are: being a public advocate for the value of a liberal arts

education, cultivating strategic cooperative relationships with other institutions and the local community, helping Mars Hill move into the digital age, working to bring high demand academic programs, looking for ways to invigorate the Adult and Graduate Studies sites, building a strong career services office, and creating an athletics environment that will allow the Lions to be a contender to be reckoned with in multiple sports.

It’s a huge task, but Floyd doesn’t intend to do it alone. “I’m so optimistic,” he said. “We’re all in this together, and we’re going to climb mountains together.”

The Floyd Family: (l-r) Terry, Tony, Olivia, and Sarah.

Initial Goal

$30,000,000

Revised Goal

$42,000,000

Final Total

$53,436,992

Building our University Campaign Surpasses All Goals

In June 2013, Mars Hill University launched the Building Our University Campaign. As the name implies, this five-year comprehensive fund raising effort focused on shaping the future of Mars Hill University by building and updating facilities as well as boosting financial foundations for academic excellence.

As we concluded the campaign this past May, we have been awed by the spirit of generosity, struck by the depth of affection shown for the institution by our alumni, and humbled by the response from each donor.

This campaign was born out of a recognition that growth and change are crucial for the success and survival of any institution in this highly competitive higher education climate. We wanted to create the kind of learning environment the future demands, while upholding the values and teachings that have made Mars Hill a special place for 165 years. With the conclusion of this campaign, we feel we are well on our way to charting a solid course and future for the school.

THE CAMPAIGN FOR

Vice President for Advancement Bud Christman has help from students in revealing the final amount raised by the campaign.

The Building Our University campaign launched in 2013 with an initial goal of $30 million. Later, the goal was moved to $42 million. When university official unveiled the final total during a celebratory event on Friday, September 21, 2018, it eclipsed the goal by more than $11 million, coming in at $53,436,992.

The Building Our University Campaign Steering Committee:

Brenda Nash, Chair

Troy Day

Bruce DeWeese

Carolyn Ferguson

Dixon Free

Wayne Higgins

A.C. Honeycutt, Jr.

Mike Kelly

Ilda Hall Littell

Linda Judge-McRae

Chris Pappas

Cheryl Pappas

Charles Trammell

Jean Freeman

Sally Duyck

Campaign Goals:

Endowment of Student Scholarships

Renovation of Wren

Student Center

Development of Nursing Program

Renovation of Huffman Residence Hall

Endowment of Faculty Development Fund

Enrichment of Mars Hill Fund

Construction of Day Hall

Construction of Athletic Fieldhouse (in process)

“This campaign has created, and will continue to create, a value added opportunity for all,” said President Emeritus Dan Lunsford, who led Mars Hill University during the five years of the campaign. “We do not yet know the full impact of this campaign, but we know that faculty, staff, and students will achieve great things at Mars Hill. But they will achieve even more because of the donors who believed in this place. But really, what they believed in was the purpose, the vision, and the people.”

President Tony Floyd, who took the helm in June following Lunsford’s retirement, pledged to build on the work of his predecessor and the donors who made this campaign so successful. “The torch is being passed from a campaign well done, but it’s being passed to us with a responsibility to build on it and keep the momentum going and shatter records in the future,” he said. “When you really boil it all down, it’s not about the buildings, it’s not about the money. It’s about our Lions. It’s about sending our Lions--exporting them to the world. The world needs Mars Hill graduates, coaches, theatre directors, fathers and mothers, and grandparents. The world needs Mars Hill.”

President Tony Floyd

President Emeritus Dan Lunsford

The most visible projects funded by the campaign are buildings, new and renovated. Two of those buildings opened for the fall semester of 2016: Day Hall, which includes classrooms, the university bookstore, a cafe, a black box theatre, and the box office for adjacent Owen Theatre; and Ferguson Health Sciences Center, which houses the Judge-McRae School of Nursing, itself a product of the campaign. Huffman Residence Hall, built in the 1950s, was fully renovated as part of the Building Our University campaign. Currently under construction, with opening targeted for February 2019, is the Jo Ellen Ammons Athletic Field House. It will include locker rooms, athletic training facilities, and coaches’ offices, and will serve as a new entry to the athletic stadium where the Lions’ football, lacrosse, and soccer teams play and practice. Less visible, but incredibly important for students, are campaign priorities of student scholarships and faculty development funds. Campaign contributions have resulted in endowment of several dozen new scholarships, funds which will make it easier for more students to afford private higher education. The increased faculty development resources will help ensure that professors have ongoing opportunities for study and research, keeping the Mars Hill academic experience relevant and contemporary for students.

“The generosity of alumni and friends has provided the campus with the new Ferguson Health Sciences Center; the Judge-McRae School of Nursing; Day Hall, which houses our business school; completely renovated Huffman dorm; numerous scholarships; and funds for faculty development. We are extremely grateful!”

Brenda G. Nash Campaign Chair

Counterclockwise from top: Day Hall, Ferguson Health Sciences Center, Huffman Hall, the new box office, and Ammons Athletic Field House

Day Hall

Dr. John Omachonu Chosen as Provost

John Omachonu joined Mars Hill University in August as provost and will be the chief academic officer for all academic and student development programs. President Tony Floyd said, “I believe that he will be a great partner in our quest to continue to strengthen the academic core of our university and will be able to lead us forward as we seek to explore and innovate in academics.”

“Being selected as provost at Mars Hill University is a great honor — one that will remain memorable to me for a long time,” Omachonu said. “Mars Hill University is an institution that sincerely cares about student success. President Floyd has already set a 21st-century agenda for the university and I look forward to working with him and the leadership team to do great things for the students and the community of Mars Hill.”

Omachonu was selected from a field of candidates that had been narrowed to four finalists. “First and foremost, Dr. Omachonu was very much at ease interacting with our faculty, staff, and the leadership team,” said President Floyd. “He brings incredible academic credentials but yet was very humble. Those are traits that I believe the Mars Hill University community will embrace.”

Omachonu is a proponent of the liberal arts, crediting his own liberal arts education with instilling in him a broad knowledge of the world, good interpersonal skills, adaptability, and a passion for lifelong learning. As academic institutions face challenges on connecting degree offerings with employability, Omachonu sees opportunities for universities like Mars Hill to become more proactive and intentional in their focus on student success. Omachonu has extensive experience in higher education administration, serving most recently as senior vice provost for academic affairs and professor of communications at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. Before that, he was vice provost for academic affairs and chief diversity officer at Middle Tennessee State University, where he held increasingly senior faculty administrative positions over eleven years. Earlier in his career he served at William Paterson University, Fort Valley State University, Florida A&M University, BethuneCookman University, and Howard University. He received his own education at Howard, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology/zoology, a master’s degree in mass communication, and a Ph.D. degree in mass communication.

Dr. John Omachonu

It’s a Thing Family

Mars Hill…it’s a family thing. Not in the way that my grandma, dad, aunts, or uncles ever said, “You should go to Mars Hill,” which I’m sure wasn’t said to them either. We heard the stories, we saw the impact, we wore the blue and yellow shirts, and we knew it was a special place because of the special people in our lives who told us so.

It wasn’t until I was seventeen when we did our usual Mars Hill drive-by on vacation that I knew what my college plans would look like. They would look like golden maples and a quaint quad and mountains surrounding it all. Nothing could stop me because I could see myself there, towered by the beautiful mountains throwing a Frisbee with my classmates. It was one of the few things in my life I’ve ever been so sure of, and my college plans were set into motion.

Somehow after being the tenth Hardin to make this same decision, I felt like it was all mine. Much like in 1949, when Grandma Dixie decided to go to school twelve hours away from home even though she wouldn’t know a single soul. It changed the course of many of our lives. Thank you, Grandma.

Since all of us came from Florida, I think “The Hill” had an extra allure for us. For the first time, we were able to experience season changes. Fall felt like MAGIC. I took a picture of the sugar maple in front of Spilman every single day to document the changes. Snow fell and I couldn’t sleep, I sat on the heater in Fox Dormitory and watched the snow falling for hours. Spring brought hikes to Bailey Mountain, which my dad had spoken of highly, like 3,200 feet highly.

by Beth Hardin

I was able to learn from Dr. Lenburg, just like Dad did. I enjoyed way too much fried okra and apple butter in the caf, just like Dad did. I loved trips to Asheville with friends just like Grandma, but her trip included an all-day chaperoned bus ride and white gloves while mine included a Geo Prism and too many Red Bulls.

My grandma came to visit me on The Hill over fifty years after she graduated and when we walked into the caf, Dr. Virginia Hart immediately said, “Hi, Dixie Foshee!” It blew our minds at first, but since we both know Dr. Hart well, we really weren’t too surprised at her astute memory.

This year I’ll celebrate my tenth year reunion. It all makes me want to settle down so I can have a little one and tell them of the magic of this place and its people, all while letting them make their own precious decision of where to go to college someday.

Mars Hill’s “Legacy Families”

For some families, Mars Hill University is family tradition. Those families have multiple siblings or generations who call themselves “Mars Hill alumni.” We have gathered a few photos of these “legacy families,” on the following pages.

Hardin family alumni, in 2004: front: Beth Hardin ’08; 2nd row, l-r: Dixie Foshee Hardin ’51; Yvonne Hughes Hardin ’87; Bette Hardin English ’87; back row: George Hardin ’77; John Hardin ’86; Alan English ’84; not pictured: Henry Hardin ’53 and Carol Hardin Thompson ’76

’08

Mars Hill Family Ties

The Huff family can trace its Mars Hill roots back to founder Edward Carter, his daughter Brejetta Carter Huff, and her son, Joseph Bascomb Huff, who graduated in 1898. Pictured are (left) Alfred ’39 and Dorothy Robinson Huff ’38; and (right) their granddaughter Rebekah Huff ’10 and their son, James Huff ’72.

Kelly Elizabeth Holdway ’02, is a current Alumni Board member. She is shown at left at her graduation with her parents, Roger “Gene” Holdway ’74, a former member of the board of trustees, and Susan Austell Holdway ’75, a former alumni board member. She is shown in the inset at her very first homecoming as an infant. Susan’s parents, Samuel Harold Austell ’41 and Patricia Richardson Austell ’43 are shown at right. They are both former alumni of the year and trustee emeriti at MHU.

Mary Kate Christian Deal ’10 (top) is shown at her graduation with her parents (left): Dan Christian ’76, a former trustee, and Debbie Hendrix Christian ’76. Her grandmother, Annie “Hope” Blanchard Christian ’46 (right) also came for graduation.

Ben Powell (far left) began Mars Hill in August 2018. He is shown with his sister, Peyton Powell ’18, and his parents, Allen ’83 and Denise Clark Powell ’92. Allen is shown with his sisters Frances Powell and Carol Powell Evans; and his father, Dr. Ernest Powell, who was the MHC infirmary doctor for many years.

Peter Alexander ’94 (far left), a current member of the MHU Board of Advisors, is pictured with his parents, Jim ’66 and Estelle Jordan Alexander ’67, who are members of the MHU Alumni Board. At right, Peter is shown with his grandmother, Catharine Wilder Jordan ’38. (Not pictured: John Jordan ’38, Peter’s grandfather.)

Professor of Education Susan Stigall ’84 (left, pink shirt) can boast that all three of her children have chosen her alma mater as their university of choice. They are pictured at left: Eric Stigall ’20; Susan Stigall, Jessica Stigall ’18 (currently an MHU master’s student), Rachel Stigall ’22.

Rebecca Cody ’77 (left, purple shirt) is a professor of Apparel and Interior Merchandising at MHU. She is shown with her parents, sons and daughters-in-law, all of whom are Mars Hill alums. They are: (l-r) Jennifer ’03 and Casey Kruk ’01 (sons Kampbell and Cooper), Doyle ’52 & Judy Phillips Cody ’53, Becky, Lucas’11 and Maasa Kruk ’10 (daughter Ember).

Becky’s great-grandmother, Rosalie Ramsey Redmon (class of 1911, right, with Lucas and Casey) was a descendant of founder Rev. William Keith.

Sherry Ball Masters ’85 (near left) is shown with her mother, Gladys Ponder Ball ’64 (center); and her grandmother, Delda Buckner Ponder ’23 (far left).

Brothers David ’90 and Kyle ’94 Randleman (near left) are shown with their father Richard ’58. James ’37 & Louise McCracken Randleman ’33 (right) are Richard’s parents.

Amanda Pressley Habich ’99 is pictured at left with her grandmother, Anne Pressley ’36, and with her father (left inset), Michael Pressley ’69, a member of the MHU Board of Advisors. Anne is pictured at right with her daughter Elizabeth “Liz” Pressley Hill ’71 . Anne’s brother, Frances Huggins, Jr. ’40 (not pictured) was also an alum.

Drs. Larry and Teresa Metcalf Stern ’68 (near left) taught at Mars Hill College for a combined 82 years. They are shown with their sons Marc ’08 and Lucas, and Teresa’s mother, Irene Metcalf ’64. Teresa’s parents, Talmadge ’33 and Irene Metcalf ’64 are shown at right. Teresa’s brothers, Randall ’70 and Monty ’74 Metcalf, and her sister-in-law Cheryl McCormick Metcalf ’72 (not pictured) are also alums.

Moving Heaven and Earth Amazing Alums: Clint Lawing ’11 and Brad Bassinger ’11

by Dan Morris

Mars Hill University graduates Clint Lawing and Brad Bassanger (both class of 2011) are making a name for themselves in the world of heavy machinery.

Brad and Clint met as students at Mars Hill during their freshman year in 2007. Both earned degrees in Business Administration in the spring of 2011; Clint graduated with a focus in marketing and Brad in economics. After their graduation, both enrolled in the same cohort in Western Carolina University’s Master of Business Administration program.

After completing their M.B.A.s in December 2012, Brad and Clint branched out into the workforce, initially heading in different directions. In the spring of 2015, Clint joined a company called dieseljobs (www.dieseljobs.com), which was looking to begin a new venture called Used Equipment Guide (UsedEquipmentGuide.com). Clint was instrumental in helping recruit Brad to dieseljobs for this new venture. Under the leadership of the company’s founder Jeremy Balog, UEG officially launched in January 2017 and just closed it’s multi-million dollar seed funding round May of 2018.

Used Equipment Guide is the world’s only true online search engine for used heavy equipment. Clint is the director of marketing for the business, while Brad is the business services manager.

Clint describes the business this way: “The last time you searched online for a hotel, flight, or a car, you most likely used a search engine. A search engine allows you to only do one search as opposed to having to search thousands websites to find what you need at the best price. We’re applying that search engine model to used heavy equipment,” he said. “Our website does not buy, sell, or list the equipment, but it does help buyers find what they need when they need it.”

Used Equipment Guide has managed to do what all businesses aim to do: find a niche and be the first to fill that need.

Brad and his wife Emily currently reside in Alexander, N.C., while Clint and his wife Chelsea recently moved to Chattooga, Tenn., where Used Equipment Guide’s marketing and sales functions now operate.

Mars Hill University is ecstatic to see these two men fully utilize their educations and represent the school in the professional world.

Photo by Omkar Patyane from Pexels

Brad Bassanger (right) and Clint Lawing (far right) have put their business degrees to work in the world of used heavy equipment.

Faculty Focus

Dr. Rick Cary, professor of art and dean of the Division of Fine Arts, in addition to being a teacher of art is also a scholar, a writer, and an artist who works in multiple art mediums, including photography and ceramics. His work is in private collections and has been exhibited in various locations in the eastern U.S., including most recently at Weizenblatt Gallery on the MHU campus, and Hunter College and Abrons Gallery, both in New York City.

He also has published scholarship on art-related and social justice subjects, including an article titled Critical Arts Pedagogy: Foundations of Post-Modern Art Education and a chapter in Measured Lies: ‘The Bell Curve’ Examined, a book that won an international human rights award for its disavowal of racism.

Cary is also the winner of the 2009 Gibbs Outstanding Teaching award and the 2014 MHU Alumni Heritage award.

(Read a full list of Cary’s scholarly articles, accomplishments and exhibitions on his faculty profile, at www.mhu.edu/staff/cary-richard/.)

Cary’s photography is documentary rather than strictly fine art. Perhaps he is most well known for his photographs of signs-following believers, an exhibition called “Credo,” which is Latin for “I believe.”

The photographs in Credo document moments in the religious lives of small congregations of signs-following believers , which regularly include handling serpents and fire, and drinking poison, and are based on the King James Version of Mark 16:17-18:

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.*

He said: “My primary interest is in making images that convey the lived experiences of real people, in real time, in a real place, doing real things that are meaningful to them,” Cary said. “I never orchestrate the activities of my subjects, and I am present among them with their consent. I work to make images that, although they are subjective reflections of finite moments, may serve as texts that embody universal human experiences, or at least fragments of them.“

Cary’s most recent exhibition is called “Post Portraits.” The subjects of these photographs are parts of papier-mache Mardi Gras parade floats dismantled and stored after Mardi Gras, to be recycled with new identities for future parades.

“For me, these images are visually compelling,” Cary said. “Conceptually, the float relics challenge the common intuition that our identities are immutable extensions of our inner selves. The spectacle of the dismembered float figures becomes a metaphor for the inexorable, mysterious recycling of our own personas that takes place as we live our lives.”

Photos from Credo: “Signs Follower with Serpent” (above); and “Girl Handling Fire” (near right).

From Post Portraits: Pampant” (center right).

“Putti” (far right) and “Horse.”

Rick Cary

Examining Faith and Life Through Documentary Photography

Winning Lacrosse Coach Becomes A Lion

by Rick Baker

Brendan Storrier has been named the men’s head lacrosse coach at Mars Hill University.

Athletic Director David Riggins stated, “Brendan Storrier is a perfect fit for the Lions’ lacrosse program. He brings a track record of not only success but recognizable success having participated in five NCAA Championship contests. He has worked in our geographic footprint, so his success is no secret in the Southeast. It will be fun to watch our program evolve under Brendan’s guidance.”

Storrier was an assistant at Limestone College, a perennial national DII power in men’s lacrosse, from 2010-18. Storrier was also a two-year member of the Saints men’s lacrosse program (2008 & 2009).

Storrier has twice been named Assistant Coach of the Year during his tenure with the Saints, earning the distinction from the USILA in 2014 and from the IMLCA in 2017.

Storrier stated, “First, I would like to thank President Tony Floyd and Athletic Director David Riggins for trusting me with the responsibility of leading their men’s lacrosse program. I am very excited to be the head men’s lacrosse coach at Mars Hill University. While visiting campus and meeting with Coach Riggins and the committee, I knew right away I wanted to be a part of Mars Hill University and this athletic department. I am looking forward to working with these young men as we add to an already great foundation of Mars Hill lacrosse. This is an exciting time for me and my family as we are so proud to be a part of this great Mars Hill community.”

In his eight seasons on the sidelines, Limestone has an impressive resume that consists of a 140-18 overall record, a 44-1 mark in Conference Carolinas play, eight straight Conference Carolinas Regular Season Championships, seven conference tournament titles, seven consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, five National Championship Game appearances, and three NCAA Division II National Championships.

Storrier helped guide the Saints to a third NCAA Division II National Championship in four years during the 2017 season as his offensive unit once again led the nation in scoring with 16.09 goals per game. Limestone also paced the Division II ranks in points (384) and points per game (23.09) while finishing second in total assists (154) and scoring margin (8.14).

He helped mentor a record-breaking offensive unit during the 2016 campaign as the Saints set

Brendan Storrier

NCAA Division II benchmarks in wins (21), points (664), goals (424), and assists (240). The 664 points the team recorded that season ranked the highest across all three NCAA Divisions. He coached one the nation’s best offensive players in Mike Messenger, the 2016 Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award winner as the Most Outstanding Player in Division II and the 2016 Lt. J.G. Donald MacLaughlin, Jr. Award as the Most Outstanding Midfielder in Division II.

In 2015, he played an important role in guiding the Saints to a second straight NCAA Division II National Championship. Under his guidance that season, Limestone led the nation in several offensive categories: scoring offense, scoring margin, points, points per game, assists, and assists per game.

Storrier and his wife, Hollie, have a daughter, Harper, and they reside in Fletcher, N.C. He graduated from Limestone in 2010 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Sport Management.

Nagel Named Track/Field, Conditioning Coach

Exciting changes will occur in the Mars Hill Cross Country and Track and Field programs at Mars Hill University.

Mike Owens will continue to serve as men’s and women’s Head Coach for Cross Country. Since beginning these two programs in 1992, Coach Owens has won 29 South Atlantic Conference Championships and 12 NCAA Regional Championships. His men’s teams won 18 consecutive SAC Championships between 1996 and 2014. During his career as the head coach for cross country, Owens won 30 SAC Coach of the Year Awards and has been named as the NCAA Regional Coach of the Year on 12 occasions. Owens recently finished his 25th year as the head coach for the cross country programs and his 30th year at Mars Hill University.

coaches in South Atlantic Conference history. We are happy that he will continue to build that legacy for years to come as a valued part of our athletic family.”

Coach Brad Nagel will be introduced as the new Head Track and Field Coach effective immediately. Coach Nagel has served as the assistant coach in cross country and track and field since 2009. He will continue to hold the assistant’s position in cross country. Brad was a stellar track and field athlete at Mars Hill and still holds the decathlon record at Mars Hill. Coach Nagel is also being named as Mars Hill’s strength and conditioning coach.

Riggins stated, “Brad is one of the up and coming coaches in the NCAA. Our studentathletes will benefit from Brad’s knowledge of and passion for the sports he coaches.”

According to Athletic Director David Riggins, “Coach Owens is one of the most decorated

Nagel resides in Asheville with his wife Emily, and their two sons, Faxon and Titus.

L-r: Mike Owens, Brad Nagel, President Tony Floyd and David Riggins

Bailey Mountain Hike–Renewing a Tradition Around CAmpus...

Bailey Mountain has long been meaningful for people associated with MHU as an iconic sentinel over campus. This year, President Tony Floyd, together with the Center for Student Success, sought to renew the Mars Hill tradition of climbing Bailey, and make it a metaphor for students as they began their college journeys.

The Labor Day hike involved the new freshman class as well as any others–upperclassmen, faculty, staff, and alumni–who wanted to join.

Floyd addressed the group at the first station up the mountain. “When you hit a tough spot this year, think about how you pushed yourself up this hill,” he said. “I want you to always know that you can do anything you put your mind to.”

In the past few years a lot of work has been done to clear trails and provide access to the mountain, much of it led by Mars Hill students, faculty, and staff, working with the Bailey Mountain Park Project through the Richard L. Hoffman Foundation.

Becca’s Feat on Feet

Becca Pizzi ’02, the two-time winner of the World Marathon Challenge, was the speaker for the Fall 2018 Presidential Lecture and Performance Series, September 10. “Find your own World Marathon Challenge,” she said. By setting goals and believing in yourself, you can meet that challenge.

Educator Receives Order of Long Leaf Pine

Dr. Virginia Hart ’43, longtime MHU coach and professor, received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine on July 10, 2018. The award, conferred by the Governor of North Carolina, is one of the most prestigious civilian honors in the state. Hart is perhaps best known for having founded the women’s varsity athletic programs at Mars Hill, and she is a charter member of the Mars Hill University Athletic Hall of Fame. She served as coach of men’s and women’s tennis, coach of women’s basketball and volleyball, director of May Day programs, chair of the faculty development committee, and sponsor of the majorettes and cheerleaders. She retired in 1985, but returned to work on campus in the dining hall from 1999 to 2017, when new generations of students came to know her as “Miss Virginia, the omelet lady.”

A line of students, faculty, and staff begin the trail up Bailey Mountain

Virginia Hart (center) is pictured with President Tony Floyd (right) and Colby Cochran (left), who nominated Hart for the award.

Bailey Mountain Cloggers Represent USA in Finland

The Bailey Mountain Cloggers traveled to Warffum, Netherlands from June 25- July 2, 2018. They participated in the 53rd Op Roakeldais Folk festival for music and dance (see website: www. oproakeldais.nl).

BMC represented the USA at the festival. Other countries represented were Mexico, Russia, Moldova, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ghana, Colombia,

First Ladies

It’s unusual to find three First Ladies in one place, but that’s what happened at the August meeting of the Mars Hill University Retired Personnel Group.

Pictured are (l-r): Doris Bentley, wife of Dr. Fred Bentley (1966–1996), Terry Floyd, wife of Tony Floyd (2018– ) and Beverly Lunsford, wife of Dr. Dan Lunsford (2002–2018).

Photo by Ellen Coomer, retired MHU Infirmary Nurse.

and Serbia. All groups performed their folk dance and music throughout the festival for a wide array of audiences including one performance for 1500 school children. Dancers from the various teams also had the opportunity share their dance traditions and music with each other. The team stayed with host families in the a small village of Uithuizen.

Friends and Family Day

The Beto family went all out for Friends and Family Day, September 22, by having MHU t-shirts made for the whole family. Friends and Family Day allowed firstyear students to invite their family members to campus for the weekend. The event included a meal in Pittman Cafeteria, a music department concert, an MHU football game against Catawba, and a special event called “Parent to Parent” which allowed first-year parents to ask questions of sophomore, junior, and senior parents.

Around Campus

Students Build Heritage Garden

Sophomore and junior honors students constructed a Heritage Garden during the spring of 2018, with help and direction from Dr. Ethan Mannon, professor of English and regional studies. The garden is a Regional Studies project that will focus on growing garden plants with special connections to the southern Appalachian region.

Currently, the garden has beans (including greasy beans from staff member Deborah Shelton) and squash (north Georgia candy roaster). Readers may follow the garden’s progress on Facebook on the “MHU Honors Bean Project” page.

Softball Field Renovated

Campus Granted Arboretum Status

Mars Hill University has been accredited as an arboretum on ArbNet, an international community of arboreta and tree-focused professionals.

Drs. Scott Pearson and Nicole Soper Gordon applied for arboretum status after creating the MHU Tree Trail on campus. The trail is a walking tour of significant specimen trees on the main portion of the university campus. Each tree on the trail has labels attached which lists the common name and scientific name of the species along with its native region.

The trail follows sidewalks and paved paths and is approximately 0.75 mile (1.2 km). Learn more about the trail on the MHU website, at: www.mhu.edu/about/what-to-do-and-see/tree-trail/

The Lions softball team will be able to return to their own field next spring after drainage issues forced them to play away from home throughout the 2018 season.

This summer, MHU sponsored extensive work on the field, including laser grading and fill dirt in the infield, laser grading, extensive draining, and new sod in the outfield, construction of a bullpen, new paint on the existing dugouts and new batting cage netting. The work was done by TurfPlaner of Carolina.

Softball coach Monica Polizzi is excited for the 2019 season to begin, and appreciates MHU’s commitment to the softball team and its facilities.

“Games Unplugged”

Renfro Library has a new exhibit of games that do not require a computer, or even an outlet.

“Games Unplugged” exhibits a wide variety of vintage and modern games, including some popular games that have evolved for decades. The exhibit will be up for the next two years, so there is time to stop by and see it.

The exhibition was created by Dan Koster, Reference & Public Services Librarian, who is shown here with a wall of Clue games.

Manufacturing Art Park Unveiling

The first piece of the Madison County Manufacturing Art Park was unveiled in July on the Otis Duck Greenway, located on the MHU campus.

The art park will highlight the relationship between artists and the manufacturing industry while also adding a public art program to

Class Notes

Mars

your

when you send in news of weddings, babies, accomplishments, etc. Send your news and photos to alumni@mhu.edu, or Alumni Office, P.O. Box 370, Mars Hill, NC 28754.

1950s

Capt. Ivan Lumsden Joslin ’55 (U.S.N.-ret.) and his wife, Marjorie, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on November 9, 2018, while attending his 65th high school reunion in Raleigh, N.C. The Joslins live in The Villages, Florida. They have five children, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Ivan finished his degree at Western Carolina University in 1958 after finishing at Mars Hill in 1955. He spent 38 years in the U.S. Navy, 29 of those years in conventional and nuclear submarines.

Charles Thomas “Tom” Bodkin ’57 is currently serving as pastor in the interim at Littleton Baptist Church, Littleton, N.C. He is in his 52nd year of ministry. In July of this year, Tom and his wife, Betty, also celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary.

Madison County. The first piece, called the “Mars Cutter” by David Sheldon, was selected through a competitive juried process. It is located near the greenway entrance behind Ponder Field (softball field).

1970s

James Benjamin Smith ’75 was inducted into the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in March 2018. Smith coached at high schools in Hillcrest, Bennettsville, and Mayo, S.C. During his career, he won 432 games and captured two state titles.

Betty Jane Ramsey ’78, Ph.D., has written a nonfiction book titled Vision in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (2015). The book is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other bookstores.

1980s

William “Will” Frederick Hoffman, III, Ph.D., ’80 was selected as superintendent of Madison County Schools in April 2018. He began his new role July 1. Hoffman is a Madison County native and has worked in public education for 20 years.

Capt. David Andrew Shealy ’87 was honored at a retirement ceremony at the Naval Operations Support Center in Fort Jackson, S.C., after a distinguished 29-year career in the U.S. Navy. During his career, Shealy completed four successful sea tours, including deployments

Mars Hill, the Magazine | Fall 2018 27

Ivan and Marjorie Joslin

Hill, the Magazine of Mars Hill University welcomes

personal snapshots

Class Notes

during Operations Desert Shield, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and JTF Liberia. He also served on the U.S.S. Makin Island, in addition to several shore assignments, and was part of the U.S. military delegation to NATO in Brussels Belgium in June 2015. He is a native of Greer, S.C.

1990s

Ricky Marcell Warren ’93 has been named head boys’ soccer coach at Pisgah High School (Canton, N.C.). Previously, he spent 16 years as head coach at Canton Middle.

Stephanie Rene Chandler Haecherl ’94 has been selected as the 2018 Charleston County (S.C.) School District Teacher of the Year. Haecherl is a second grade teacher at Whitesides Elementary in Mount Pleasant, S.C., where she has taught for ten years.

Martin J. “Marty” Gilbert ’99 and his wife, Sarai, welcomed a son, Preston J. Gilbert, on August 6, 2018. The family lives in Mars Hill, N.C. Marty is a professor of computer science at Mars Hill University.

2000s

Rev. Felicia Maria Fox ’04 has joined the staff of First Baptist Church of Gastonia (N.C.) as Associate Pastor for Youth, Children, and Discipleship.

Ray ’04 and Cathy Jo Lewis Bailey ’06 welcomed their daughter, Adalyn Rae Bailey, on July 16, 2017. Adalyn weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz., and was 20 1/2 inches long. The family lives in Longs, S.C.

Dr. Daisha Merritt ’07 has accepted a position with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in the Department of Management of the College of Business, located in Daytona Beach, Fla.. She will be an instructor of strategy in addition to leading a new strategic initiative on community engagement and engaged learning.

Clyde “Kenny” McKinly Williams ’08 and his wife, Evette, welcomed a son, Clay McKinly Williams, on June 8, 2018. The family lives in Aberdeen, Miss.

2010s

Tiffani Page Taffer Ferguson ’12 was selected as the Asheville Chevrolet Coach of the Month in May 2018. Ferguson is the North Buncombe High School (N.C.) varsity softball coach and in 2017, she was selected as the western North Carolina Coach of the Year.

Laura Marie Rice ’13 has been named as the Development and Event Coordinator for Blue Ridge Humane Society in Hendersonville, N.C.

Wayne ’13 and Olivia Buckner Ellis ’13 celebrated the birth of their daughter, Quinn Jude Ellis, on April 15, 2018. The family lives in Spruce Pine, N.C.

David Campbell, IV ’16 has been named the Recreation Coordinator of St. Andrew’s Parks and Playground in Charleston, S.C.

Quinn Ellis

Clay Williams

Marty, Sarai and Preston J. Gilbert

In Memoriam

Since the last issue of Mars Hill, the Magazine, we have learned of the following deaths of alumni and other members of the MHU community.

1930s

Gertrude “Trudy” Hinson Small Robertson ’31, Clinton, S.C., April 24, 2018

Dorothy Smith Goins ’34, Charlotte, N.C., May 15, 2018

Bertha Lee Thompson Cummins ’36, Jeffersonville, Ind., April 16, 2018

Margaret “Helen” Thomas Hall ’36, Mills River, N.C., June 29, 2018

Mary Douglas “Dou” Tinnin Turner ’36, Jamestown, N.C., July 27, 2018

Miriam D. Tuten Paulk ’37, Tallahassee, Fla., November 9, 2016

1940s

Claudius “Claude” Edmond Huggins, Sr. ’41, Tabor City, N.C., June 28, 2018

William Robert McCracken ’42, Waynesville, N.C., February 1, 2018

Mary “Wilda” Varner Bryson ’43, Franklin, N.C., June 16, 2018

William Evan Hall ’43, Winston Salem, N.C., April 11, 2018

Virginia Catherine Gilley Hobbs ’43, Winston Salem, N.C., March 16, 2018

Mary “Augusta” Reece Hockaday ’43, Durham, N.C., February 25, 2018

Frances Jane Johnson Cagle ’44, Moore, S.C., July 3, 2018

Sara “Jean” Webster Ellis Underwood ’44, Portland, Texas, December 5, 2016

Beulah Hill Tinsley ’44, Laurens, S.C., March 2, 2018

Phyllis G. McNeill Beckner ’45, Kingsport, Tenn., April 12, 2018

Janet Lee Reed Brank ’45, Weaverville, N.C., January 18, 2018

Nelda Cenia Jones Dula ’45, Lenoir, N.C., May 26, 2018

Dorothy Elizabeth Baldwin Edwards ’45, Clemson, S.C., July 16, 2018

Grovene Morrow Clark Russell ’45, Waynesville, N.C., February 20, 2018

Bessie McManus Vaughn ’45, Lexington, S.C., May 24, 2018

Hazel Virginia Miller Winfree ’45, Cooleemee, N.C., June 14, 2018

Lou Ella Hoots Angel ’46, Greensboro, N.C., June 11, 2018

Betty Jane Boyette Hoyt ’46, Columbia, S.C., May 25, 2018

Alice “Louise” King Morgan ’46, Brevard, N.C., July 19, 2018

Elaine Marilyn Thompson Burrell Gambrell ’47, Anderson, S.C., June 24, 2018

Hilda Marie Olive Nelson ’47, Rochester, Minn., May 3, 2018

Audrey Marie Blevins Welch ’47, Columbia, S.C., February 11, 2018

Ernest Lawrence Melin, Sr. ’48, Mt. Pleasant, S.C., July 18, 2017

Marion Schuyler Homan Mitchell ’49, Durham, N.C., April 2, 2018

M. Claire Bowers Rector ’49, Weaverville, N.C., April 22, 2018

Claude Coke Warren ’49, Raleigh, N.C., June 5, 2018

1950s

Frank Anderson Billings ’50, Raleigh, N.C., November 14, 2014

Paul “Pete” Stanley Davis ’50, Morganton, N.C., March 4, 2018

In Memoriam

Johnny Curtis Johnson ’50, Hendersonville, N.C., July 23, 2018

Jerry Liner, Jr. ’50, Dahlonega, Ga., May 9, 2017

James “Jim” Clement Ratliff ’50, Phoenix, Ariz., April 30, 2018

Thomas Irvin Watkins ’50, Sarasota, Fla., March 18, 2018

Betty Bryan Bennett ’51, Raleigh, N.C., April 26, 2018

Howard Montague Finch, Jr. ’51, Oak Ridge, Tenn., April 13, 2018

Mildred Villeret Smith Roseberry ’51, Hernando, Fla., June 30, 2017

William “Bill” Raymond Yarbrough, Jr. ’51, Charlotte, N.C., March 23, 2018

Helen Deane Hutchens Andrews ’52, Elkin, N.C., November 4, 2017

Mary Ellwood Green Bryant ’52, Chesapeake, Va., April ’, 2018

Corbin Leno Cooper ’52, (Honorary Trustee)

Penney Farms, Fla., March 21, 2018

James Young Greene, Sr. ’52, Chapel Hill, N.C., March 3, 2018

Vivian Grisette Mull ’52, Jacksonville, Fla., January 27, 2018

Cora “Jean” Smith Satterfield Penland ’53, Candler, N.C., July 29, 2018

Doris Kay Rhyne Thompson ’53, Spruce Pine, N.C., August 13, 2018

Jo Reta Love Vansickle ’54, Lincolnton, N.C., March 26, 2018

Thomas “Tom” Waitt Fryer, Jr. ’56, Palm Coast, Fla., November 16, 2017

Robert “Casey” Lowery Jones, Jr. ’56, Marietta, Ga., July 3, 2018

Clarence “Clancy” Elmer Griggs ’57, Pineville, S.C., September 2, 2017

Thomas Franklin Harkins, Sr. ’57, Laurens, S.C., February 2, 2017

Pattie Sue Hackney Hewitt ’57, Campobello, S.C., June 13, 2018

Barbara Ann Locke Murray ’57, Raleigh, N.C., January 29, 2018

Charles Marvin Shupe ’57, Williamston, S.C., May 26, 2018

Barbara Dawn Smith Kitchen ’58, Seneca, S.C., February 6, 2017

Carol Ann Jones MacDonald Perry ’58, Fort Myers, Fla., March 7, 2018

Aggie Nora McCall ’58, Charlotte, N.C., February 2, 2018

Sarah Rhuemma Carter Miller ’58, Pisgah Forest, N.C., May 24, 2018

Janelle “Midge” Martin Turner ’58, Calhoun, La., October 6, 2017

Joe Ball ’59, Candler, N.C., April 19, 2018

Betty Sue Spillers Fleming-Jones ’59, Klamath Falls, Ore., January 27, 2018

Calvin “Larry” Roberson ’59, Myrtle Beach, S.C., July 21, 2017

1960s

Frank Vincent Atlee, III ’61, Paradise Valley, Ariz., April 28, 2014

William “Bill” Gordon Bradley ’61, Mills River, N.C., March 26, 2018

Kenneth Wayne Forester ’63, Asheville, N.C., March 20, 2018

Vann Allan Cox ’64, Pilot Mtn., N.C., March 16, 2018

Catherine Powell Farrar ’64, Valdese, N.C., March 28, 2018

Larry Eugene Honeycutt ’64, Mt. Pleasant, N.C., June 4, 2018

Nancy Hall Snead ’65, Morganton, N.C., June 21, 2018

George Dewey Evatt, Jr. ’66, Surfside Beach, S.C., June 23, 2018

In Memoriam

Rachel “LaVann” Troutman Fagan ’66, Mocksville, N.C., November 4, 2017

Jean Stewart MacLean ’66, Southbury, Conn., February 17, 2018

James “Jim” Henry Fisher ’67, Cullowhee, N.C., March 8, 2018

Wade Dennis Tucker, Sr. ’67 (Alumnus of the Year, 2005), Lexington, N.C., June 3, 2018

Leslie Howard Childers ’68, Lancaster, S.C., May 4, 2018

James Ronald “Ronn” Deaton ’68, Charlotte, N.C., September 10, 2016

William “Bill” Clarence Harrell ’68, Waynesville, N.C., September 7, 2016

Shirley Louise Roberts Wilde ’68, Alexander, N.C., July 27, 2016

Ronnie “Ron” Rex Black ’69, Central, S.C., July 7, 2018

William “Darrell” Floyd ’69, Marion, S.C., August 13, 2018

David Shimp Loveland, III ’69, Hockessin, Del., April 15, 2018

George Warren West, III ’69, Greenwood, S.C., February 25, 2018

1970s

John Walton Swaim ’70, Elkin, N.C., November 17, 2017

James “Jim” Henry Crawford, Jr. ’71, Lawrenceville, Ga., April 7, 2018

David Carrington Cuningham ’71, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 29, 2018

Susan Helen Farkas Maney ’71, Weaverville, N.C., March 15, 2018

James Richard Sykes ’72, Lawrenceville, Ga., January 11, 2018

Mary Brooks Barringer ’74, Florence, S.C., February 13, 2018

Thomas Robert Mullinax, Jr. ’76, Greenville, S.C., April 21, 2018

Jeffery Allen Stapleton ’77, Kingsport, Tenn., September 2, 2013

Herman Stokes Cornett, Jr. ’78, Valdese, N.C., June 18, 2018

Sharon Yvonne Thomas Deyton ’78, Burnsville, N.C., February 9, 2018

Neil Gordon Taylor ’78, Candler, N.C., February 26, 2018

Wilbur Jackson “Jack” Rider, Jr. ’79, Chapel Hill, N.C., January 29, 2018

1980s

Roberta “Bobbie” Sue Hyatt Nave ’81, Asheville, N.C., March 7, 2018

John Willie Patterson, Jr. ’81, Fort Valley, Ga., March 18, 2018

Donald “Scott” McLeod ’85, Pisgah Forest, N.C., April 1, 2018

Diane Head ’86, Salem, S.C., July 18, 2018

1990s

Cheryl Cathleen Dougherty Bos ’91, Kennesaw, Ga., April 2, 2018

Lisa Ann Ramsey Marshall ’91, Mars Hill, N.C., April 9, 2018

Bryan Lee Kinser ’96, Clemmons, N.C., June 11, 2018

2010s

Samuel Benjamin Hartshorn ’11, Black Mountain, N.C., September 8, 2017

Trustees

Jack Dillard Lovin, Former Trustee, Robbinsville, N.C., February 26, 2018

Ammie “Lee” Royal Honorary Trustee, Greensboro, N.C., February 20, 2018

M A R S

Friday, November 9, 2018 10:30 a.m. Moore Auditorium

R S I T Y • 1 8 5 6 • Mars Hill University Announces the Inauguration of our Twenty-Second President

John Anthony Floyd