The Magazine of Mars Hill University | Spring 2022
The Mars Hill University
Campus Center Together We Rise
The Magazine of Mars Hill University | Spring 2022
MAGAZINE STAFF: Editor: Teresa Buckner, Director of Publications Associate Editor: Mike Thornhill ’88, Director of Communications Additional Contributors: Gerald Ball, retired Director of Institutional Technology; Laura Boggess, Instructor of Biology and Environmental Studies; Samantha Fender, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications; Jaime McKee ’00, Director of Online Presence and New Media; Beth Vogler ’81, Professor and Chair of Social Work; Adam Williams, Director of Athletic Communications
President’s Leadership Team: Tony Floyd, J.D., President Tracy Parkinson, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Provost Rick Baker, Director of Athletics Grainger Caudle, Ph.D., Senior Director of Planning and Strategy Bud Christman, Vice President for Advancement Samantha Fender, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Joy Kish, Ed.D. ’82, Senior Director of Alumni and Trustee Relations Jennie Matthews, Director of Human Resources Rev. Stephanie McLeskey, University Chaplain Dave Rozeboom, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Life Roger Slagle, Vice President for Finance and Administration Kristie Vance ’07, Director of Admissions 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. Email 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. Email tbuckner@mhu.edu. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Alumni Office, Mars Hill University, P.O. Box 6792, Mars Hill, N.C., 28754. Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.
Cover photo: an artistic rendering of the Mars Hill University campus center with Lunsford Commons in the foreground. At right: faculty, staff, and students gathered on the quad for a brief memorial service following the death of student J’son Pitts in November. See story, page 14.
2 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
Design Development - Campus Center Exterior Views
6
17
12
20
22
IN THIS ISSUE Letter from the President.......................................4 Grads Return to Moore for Graduation ....................5 The MHU Campus Center........................................6 The Embodiment of MHU’s Ideals
The MHU Campus Center...................................... 10 Symbol of a Student-Centric Mission; Q and A with President Floyd
Faculty Focus: Laura Boggess............................... 12 She’s Really Likin’ the Lichens
A Season of Loss.................................................. 14 MHU Loses Four Members of the Campus Community
Honors Students Give TED-Style Talks................... 15 Campus News...................................................... 16 Bailey Mountain Cloggers Invited to Perform in Greece MHU Honors Four for Community Engagement Work Landry Phillips Selected for Wood Scholarship Upgrades Are Ongoing in Chambers Be the Match Event Allows Students to Sign Up as Donors MHU Ethics Bowl Goes Undefeated David Holt Receives Lunsford Award
Donor Generosity................................................. 19
Sarah Lucile Lawton Dickinson ’42 Leaves a Transformative Gift
MHU Honors Benefactors and AOY......................... 20 Athletics.............................................................. 21 Lion Athletes Recognized by the SAC Historic Seasons for Football and Soccer Smith Chosen to Represent the SAC at NCAA Workshop
Class Notes.......................................................... 23 Tributes to Two Long-Time Mars Hillians................ 31 Dr. Walt Stroud and Claude Vess
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 3
7
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Spring in Mars Hill is special and it feels a lot like moving into a new adventure. Bailey Mountain begins to thaw and a whole new and fresh ecosystem comes to life. This year, spring is especially welcome as we all seek to get back to living life. As you look through this edition of the magazine, it is hard not to feel excited about a new adventure and a new season! We have so much happening on our beloved campus. A new campus center will become the heartbeat of student and campus life; our impressive academic work is continuing; renewed athletic successes are emerging; we are scaling new heights; and we are rising! Campuses that prioritize students, student life, student well-being, and building community, thrive. We must ensure that this university thrives in years to come and we want our students to have an incredible experience on THE HILL. We are determined to invest in our young people. It is important that we connect them to faculty and key staff who have great positive influence in their lives and will elevate their preparedness for success when they leave and head out into a complex world. We strongly believe that having a new campus center will help to create a great atmosphere to give our faculty and students more tools to build community and interact daily. When you see the plans for the new campus center, you will see that great thought and energy have been invested to rekindle that sense of pride that is so powerful among our Mars Hill University community. We want this project to stir your memories of why you love and believe in Mars Hill and we hope that you see the ways we are making a difference in students’ lives. Our alumni are collectively making a difference in the world and we want to ensure that this continues for the generations to come. The world, more than ever before, needs more Mars Hill Lions! This is a historic moment and a historic investment in the main area of our campus. As we work to renew hallowed grounds that many have walked since 1856, we acknowledge and give thanks that those who came before us paved the way for us to be a thriving and impactful university in the 21st century. Your prayers, gifts, and support are the backbone of what we do. We honestly cannot do this without you. Thank you for being a part of a special place that has changed the trajectory of so many lives over the years. We are rising; we are determined more than ever to scale new heights; and will continue to work with all of our might to make you proud of Mars Hill.
Tony Floyd, J.D. President
4 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
August and December Graduates Come Back to Moore For Commencement Ceremonies Mars Hill University conferred degrees on 57 graduates during its December commencement ceremony in Moore Auditorium on Friday, December 17, 2021. Of the graduates, four received master’s degrees, with the other 53 earning bachelor’s degrees in arts, music, science, or social work. The graduates completed their degree requirements in August or December of 2021. Student speakers were Angie Borbon, a theatre arts major from Greenville, South Carolina, and Brett Smythe, a graduate student in criminal justice from Boca Raton, Florida. Jordan Martindale, a recreation and sport management graduate from Albuquerque, New Mexico, delivered the invocation. Tyler Brownwood, a music performance major from Morganton, North Carolina, performed a musical selection. This was the university’s first indoor commencement since December 2019. ---------------Top: Trey Giles crosses the stage to receive his diploma; Left, top: Jeff Jamerson, Assistant Director of MHU Safety and Security, receives his diploma; bottom: graduates listen to the graduation speakers.
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 5
THE MARS HILL UNIVERSITY CAMPUS CENTER The Embodiment of MHU’s Ideals Connection and relationship have long been qualities that have defined the culture of Mars Hill University. The creation of a new, centrally-located campus center aims, not just to provide space for all the student-centric organizations which are now far flung across campus, but to literally embody that ethos, giving it space to thrive and flourish. The as-yet-unnamed campus center is the single funding focus of the Together We Rise Capital campaign, which has been in the quiet phase of fundraising since January 2021. As of this printing, Mars Hill has raised over 75% of the $20 million campaign goal to renovate and expand Blackwell Hall into a new and vibrant hub of campus activity that will literally and figuratively bring the campus community together.
A TRANSFORMATIONAL CAMPUS HUB “I have from the beginning looked at this as more than just a building. It is a significant way in which the ethos of this institution, meaning the high-quality relationship-building and personal education that characterize Mars Hill, can be further fostered,” said Bud Christman, Vice President for Advancement. “This project is part of our ongoing goal of elevating the student experience at Mars Hill,” he said. Christman and his team in the Office of Advancement, together with President Tony Floyd and the Together We Rise Campaign Steering Committee, have been leading the charge to get alumni and friends of the university excited about being part of this new step in Mars Hill’s future. “This will be the kind of transformational center that will impact not just one area of the university, but everybody on campus,” Christman said. “Furthermore, this is a future-oriented facility that will mark the next era of 6 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
I am so excited for how this student center will benefit the Bonner program! This new student center will allow Bonner Scholars, through the Center for Community Engagement, a new and bigger space to be able to continue to reach out to the community and accommodate their needs. And being so close to other student-focused departments will allow Bonner Scholars to be better supported by the leaders of MHU. Lauren Sermersheim, Religion & Philosophy major, Bonner Scholar and class of 2024
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 7
Present and future students want to be in a place that values them for the unique individuals they are. It is the mission of the MHU Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to create opportunities for our students to learn from DEI-centered experiences. By locating the CDEI in the new campus center, MHU will be spotlighting its commitment to empowering our students with the skills needed to create and maintain a DEIaware campus community. Jonathan McCoy, Director of the Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
service for Mars Hill to students, to the community at large, and to our incredible alumni.” Sitting on the high ground of the Lunsford Commons, the campus center will change the face of the university’s upper quad, its entrance, and in fact, the campus as a whole. The renovation will more than double the square footage of what is now Blackwell Hall. The three-story building will include multiple student-centric offices, including the Cothran Center for Career Readiness; campus ministry; diversity, equity, and inclusion; student leadership; financial services; admissions; community engagement; student life; a state-of-the art fitness center; and administrative offices for the president, provost and chief financial officer. And—just as importantly—there will be plenty of room for students, faculty, and staff to “hang out” together. Gaming areas, dining, and comfortable seating areas, including a fireplace lounge, will be an integral part of the building. Attractive spaces surrounding the building will include an amphitheatre constructed into the southern slope toward the lower quad, a terrace featuring a spectacular view of Bailey Mountain, and a pavilion nestled into the heart of Lunsford Commons.
who want the support of the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion must go to Renfro Library. Activities associated with campus ministry are centered in Broyhill Chapel and Bentley Fellowship Hall, Bonner Scholars’ central location is in Wall Science Building, and students who want the services of the Cothran Center for Career Readiness must go to Day Hall. “This beautiful building will be the first thing that prospective students and their families see when they approach the campus. Furthermore, its position on higher ground on the campus makes the gorgeous mountain surroundings more visible,” Christman said.
AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME According to Christman, the campus center is a project whose time has come. Early building ideas explored creating a new facility or renovating McConnell Hall or the current Wren Student Center. Although the renovation of Wren was included in the recent Building Our University comprehensive campaign, the project failed to garner widespread excitement and proved to be cost prohibitive. Conversations about a campus center took a back seat, until President Tony Floyd came to the helm of the university in 2018. “At that time, there was a lot of conversation from various constituent groups that there was an obvious void in our institutional wellbeing. A campus center fills that void by encouraging the things that MHU is all about: community, engagement, support for students, and a unification of town and gown,” Christman said.
“It will be a vibrant and exciting place to be,” Christman said. “The difference this campus center Credo, a higher education consulting group came in will make on campus cannot be overstated. At to lead discussions and conduct feasibility studies. present, most of the services to be provided in the campus center are so dispersed, they require a map to find, severely We are looking forward to being in a more visible inhibiting the community nature for location, where students, faculty, and staff can which Mars Hill has been so revered.” easily stop in to chat, and the proximity to other Right now, students who are active in the Student Government Association, for example, have office space in Wren Student Union, while students
offices will allow for even stronger partnerships and collaborations. Some of the best ideas we have explored and put into practice began as off-the-cuff hallway conversations, and we’re excited about the increased contact with our students and our colleagues. Chaplain Stephanie McLeskey
8 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
Examination of the space on campus and a foot traffic study made it obvious to the group that the campus center should be on the upper quad. Then in late fall of 2019, the Mars Hill University Board of Trustees approved the renovation of Blackwell Hall, based on Credo recommendations. Wayne Higgins, trustee and the chair of the Together We Rise Campaign Steering Committee, said the idea of a new campus center has been a topic of discussion for university leaders for several years. “I am excited about the opportunity to be involved in this project. The thing I tell others on the steering committee is that this project is all about the students; it is about enhancing their Mars Hill experience and giving them a place of belonging.” Higgins said he believes the campus center will not only help students to connect to each other and to faculty and staff, but in the end, it will also draw in the surrounding community and create excitement about the university. “I truly do believe that this is a historic time for Mars Hill,” Higgins said. The positive growth that will come from the Since being here on campus, I’ve heard students voice the concern that the current fitness center doesn’t really meet their needs. For that reason, many students go to other facilities off campus. I’m looking forward to a new fitness center that will hopefully inspire more students to stay physically active and healthy. Overall, I think the new student center is going to be terrific for all students. I hope that it will help us enjoy our college experience. There will be lots of places to kick back and enjoy ourselves and have fun. I’m looking forward to it. William Brawley, Nursing major, Bonner Scholar, and class of 2022
campus center, he said, is part of a continuing movement that began with the construction of Ferguson Health Science Center, Day Hall, and new residence halls in recent years, as well as renovations of numerous spaces on campus. “We’re going to look back 30, 40, 50 years down the road and realize what a dramatic impact these projects have had on enrollment, retention, and the overall student experience at Mars Hill,” he said. You can be part of this exciting time at Mars Hill University! Simply return the remittance envelope in this magazine with your gift, marked “Together We Rise,” or go to mhu.edu/together to give online.
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 9
The Campus Center: A Symbol of MHU’s Student-Centric Mission Q and A with President Tony Floyd According to President Tony Floyd, the construction of a new campus center on the Blackwell Hall site is a strategic decision that will bring everyone together in the heart of the campus and will invigorate student life and the student experience on the Hill. Floyd sees it as a powerful symbolic gesture that will convert administrative space into a vibrant, supportive, student–centric area. It will always serve as a reminder that students are at the very center of the university’s mission. Why did university leadership see the campus center as an important project to move forward with? The need for a campus center has been a primary concern in the minds of trustees, alumni, faculty, and staff for a long time. Dr. [Dan] Lunsford had worked with architects and engineers during his administration to consider renovating Wren. Later, our leadership considered an addition onto McConnell. The renovation of Wren became one of the funding objectives of the last capital campaign. After I became president, we continued looking into the costs of renovating Wren, but realized that Wren needed so much work that the cost would be prohibitive and it still would not be an optimal, stateof-the-art campus center. We abandoned the idea of Wren renovations as a campus center when cost estimates exceeded $14 million. But we didn’t give up on the building entirely: we worked with Chartwells Dining Services to 10 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
upgrade the Lions Den facility; we built new esports lounges; and we recently renovated the Blue Lounge. In 2019, we hired a higher education architectural firm to conduct studies and offer suggestions on the location and design of the campus center. It was a very comprehensive process which included students, staff, and faculty conversations, and we considered a number of options. A foot traffic study done by the group was a deciding factor in showing us that from Day Hall down to Renfro Library, and then from Blackwell Hall, across Highway 213 to Pittman Dining Hall is the “student interstate” on campus. Blackwell Hall is at the very crossroads of that student traffic, so this location made a lot of sense. So was the location of Blackwell Hall the primary driver of its choice as the site of the new campus center? Having a central location was certainly a driver. We also realized that we did not want to add buildings to the campus and that we wanted to be good stewards and invest in an existing structure in a way that made sense. Blackwell was already in need of a new HVAC system and some renovation. We will therefore realize a lot of savings by renovating it rather than building a completely new building. You already have the walls, floors, steel, roof, balconies, etc., and you’re just adding to it, not starting from scratch. The centrality of it, the convenience of it, is significant, and it’s
important that we are dedicating ourselves to the idea that the future of the university is going to be centered on the Lunsford Commons and not in an outlying area of the campus. Having the campus center in this location will also focus our eyes on Bailey Mountain. I can think of no more beautiful view than Bailey Mountain from the Blackwell Hall area. I believe that it is a great place to tell the compelling Mars Hill story and showcase the beauty and splendor of this area. What are you most excited about? I’m excited about the young people on our campus having a comfortable, dynamic space in which they can engage with each other and the people who work here. I’m excited about being able to show off Mars Hill University and Bailey Mountain on recruiting visits. I’m excited about the Student Government Association having office space and getting reengaged on campus. I’m excited about the Chaplains’ Office being right at the front door so that young people will see it every day and hopefully get engaged with spiritual life on our campus. I’m excited that they’ll be able to see the Cothran Center and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Center. I want us to have vibrant, strategic plans for these centers to engage all of those offices in our students’ lives, more and more.
How do you think the campus center will change the ethos of Mars Hill University? It’s going to change the way we interact with each other. It’s going to pull us together and help our paths cross more intentionally. The campus center is going to be the crossroads of the campus. It’s going to have a lot of comfortable spaces to grab a friend and sit and have coffee or lunch. It’s going to be a place to receive your packages and your mail. It’s going to have a dining facility where you can go eat. And I think it will be full of students.
I’m excited about seeing the Lunsford Commons come alive and be lit up at night from the new lighting and the new building. Our campus is too dark and too quiet at night. A college campus should be vibrant and alive. All of that will build on this theme of making the historic part of our campus a place that is filled with activity and engagement.
Building the campus center here, in the center of campus, says something very important about our mission. Our mission and purpose is to develop young people, academically, spiritually, and personally. A Mars Hill education is more than getting a college degree; it is seeking and finding a meaningful life. Being engaged on campus, being comfortable so that you can learn, crossing paths with faculty members, all these things are a huge part of any college experience, but especially at Mars Hill.
I’m excited that our alumni will have a place to gather for reunions, for meeting spaces, or just to eat on a Saturday game day. We will no longer have to go off campus to restaurants for alumni events. We can have catered events right here on campus, and that excites me.
It’s not just about just having a flashy building and a fitness center. There’s a strategy behind the way we are doing this. It is not just about building buildings— it is to support our students through all the studentcentric offices that will be located in the center and help them.
My office will be in the building. I don’t know that being in an energetic hub will be a great fit for every president that comes after me, but I get energy from it and I want to be a part of our students’ lives.
And honestly, I think there’s no better metaphor than turning over administrative turf to the students. They must come first and we will always fight for them.
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 11
12 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
faculty focus
She’s Really Likin’ the lichens Biology Professor Laura Boggess Studies Lichens as a Gauge for Ecosystems by Teresa Buckner, Director of Publications
Every time we step outside, we are likely to see, touch, or interact with a fungus-like growth on trees, rocks, and soil called lichen. Most of us think of this growth as pretty or interesting—but for Laura Boggess, instructor of biology at Mars Hill University, lichens are a fascinating subject of research that provides clues to understanding the natural world and humans’ impact on it. But what are lichens? Boggess explains: lichens are not actually plants, nor are they fungi alone. Instead, they are organisms that result from a symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae. Take away the fungi or the algae and the lichen can’t survive. Boggess’ enthusiasm for lichens is impressive. “Lichens are amazing,” she said. “Even though they are often overlooked, they are beautiful, intrepid, and important members of the ecosystem. They grow in these beautiful forms, patterns, and colors; they have the ability to grow in very challenging environments; they cycle nutrients through the food chain; they serve as food and habitat for many species; and they are useful to people as natural dyes and as medicines. Lichens play an important role in soil formation, and maybe most importantly, they provide clues to the health of the forests and air quality which all living things depend on.” During the 2019-2020 academic year, Boggess received a fellowship through the City University of New York (CUNY) to study lichens at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). NYBG is a respected institution that hosts the largest lichen collection in North America. From August 2019 until March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, she lived and worked near the NYBG, identifying collections of lichens, and creating and curating data sets that will open new doors in lichen research in the years to come. Lichens are both tenacious and sensitive, Boggess said. One species, the reindeer lichen, lives in the arctic and provides food for reindeer even in the coldest winters. Yet in spite of such tenacity, lichens are sensitive to the encroachment of humans into
their environment. This sensitivity means they can serve as a gauge for air quality. For example, many lichens are killed by air pollutants created by burning fossil fuels. Not surprisingly therefore, the area around New York City is home to a fraction of the lichen species that live in western North Carolina. Boggess said, “Our behaviors certainly influence lichens, which then influence nutrient cycling, or soil production, which then influences the health of all the plants and animals in an ecosystem, including us. Understanding those relationships and helping sustain them is what my work is all about.” Though Boggess’ time in New York has come to an end, her study of lichens and their role in the cycle of life continues. Much of her research, data collection, and analysis will take place in western North Carolina and will consider the ways that humans impact cliffs and cliff lichens through rock climbing and bouldering. As a rock climber herself, the topic is important for Boggess, and one that she knows will interest her students at Mars Hill University. In fact, one of the things Boggess said she has enjoyed is being able to involve students in her research. One such student is Tyler Pesce, a senior environmental studies minor, and a rock climber, who helped Boggess with her work this summer. According to Boggess, Tyler seemed to love getting out to do fieldwork on the rocks as much as she did. Boggess looks forward to involving Tyler and more Mars Hill University students in aspects of the ongoing project. “For students who are interested in scientific research as a career,” she said, “their involvement in data collection will be invaluable to their understanding of what it means to be engaged in original scientific research.” Page at left: Professor Laura Boggess gets a closer look at lichen species on a tree. Inset: Student Tyler Pesce has volunteered to work with Boggess in several of her research projects.
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 13
A Season of Loss MHU Loses Four Members of the Campus Community Faculty, staff, and students gathered around the fountain on Lunsford Commons on March 4 to honor the life of Daniel Hudgins, a student who, three days before, had lost his courageous battle with liver cancer. “I got to watch him grow up, develop, cultivate his passion to help others as the nurse he dreamed of being,” said Professor Marc Mullinax, who was Daniel’s godfather, “As he grew, he developed a 200-watt infectious smile, a smile that was the prelude of his compassion.”
Daniel Hudgins
As Mullinax and other speakers remembered the young man—with his ready smile and kind ways— the scene was all too familiar. It was the fourth time in a little more than a year that the campus community had gathered in just this way to remember the loss of one of their own. Cindy Moore Coffey of Mars Hill, a member of the housekeeping staff, passed away on August 29, 2021 after an illness. The campus community gathered on September 1 to remember her. April Hamby, Cindy’s coworker, said that it was “a blast” to work with Cindy. “Cindy told the funniest jokes while we were working,” she said. “She kept us all laughing.” Cindy loved her family and often talked about her twin granddaughters and her grandson. She was a caregiver to her husband and was always taking care of others before herself, Hamby said.
Cindy Coffey
“Cindy was a joy to work with and she is greatly missed,” she said. The campus community was shaken again October 29 when J’son Pitts, a sophomore student from Gastonia, passed away during a weekend trip home. On the first day of November, the campus community met on the quad for yet another memorial. Coach Tim Clifton remembered the young man as someone who wanted to use his life to help others. “J’son was a very caring young man who never met a stranger. He had great aspirations in life and was looking forward to helping others, especially young men, become successful,” he said. Longtime volleyball coach Raoul “Tony” Fontanelle, who passed away February 15, 2021, was remembered in the spring 2021 issue of Mars Hill the Magazine. Fontanelle had coached at MHU since 2004.
J’son Pitts
MHU Director of Athletics Rick Baker said, “Tony was a great friend and a great coach. He cared deeply for his players and loved coaching. Tony was always willing to help wherever needed. He was devoted to coaching his teams and serving our university.”
14 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 Above: as the campus community gathered on Lunsford Commons for a memorial for Daniel Hudgins, the scene was all too familiar.
Tony Fontanelle
Honors Students Give Ted-Style Talks Online Public speaking is an element of almost any professional career. For that reason, learning to present ideas clearly, understandably, and with some degree of zeal is a fundamental skill for successful university graduates. Practicing and teaching those skills, however, is especially challenging in the age of COVID-19 and increased online learning. Dr. Ethan Mannon’s senior honors seminar at Mars Hill University has mitigated this difficulty by incorporating online TED*-style talks into the curriculum. Mannon said he chose to incorporate TED-style talks into the curriculum because it was something a bit different from the average academic presentation. This style, he said, was designed to help students experience and call on a broader set of skills than they might normally encounter in a university class. “I think students see a lot of academic-style presentations in college, both from professors and from each other,” he said. By academic-style, Mannon said he is referring to fact-heavy presentations with power point slides and (if relevant) charts that convey a great deal of researched information. By contrast, he said, “TED-style talks are designed to be more personal and less reliant on slides or an avalanche of data. TED-style talks are driven by the speaker’s personality, and his or her passion for the subject.” By planning this style of talk for the course’s final project, Mannon said he hoped to encourage students to research a topic they truly enjoyed and gain skills in conveying information—as well as some of their own passion—about the topic to others. Some of the topics covered by “TED-style” talks from honors students this semester were: • •
Student Maggie Langheim (shown above with Professor Mannon, and over Zoom) was one of several students who gave online TED-style talks as part of the senior honors seminar course.
•
The Effects of Cerebral Palsy and Mental Health (Marin Sebestyen)
•
The Mental Health of Female Athletes (Maggie Langheim)
•
The Psychosocial Effects of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers (Morgan Hall)
•
What it Means to be Part of Foster Families (Claudia Chandler)
•
Athletes and Depression (Gini Joy)
•
The Corporate Culture at Google (Tanner Hodgson)
The Intersection of the LGBTQIA Community and Christianity (Emily Kraft)
•
Teaching Leadership in the Elementary School Classroom (Alyssa Jamerson)
The Economic Value of Biodiversity (Sarah Bracken)
•
Classical and Neoclassical Art and Its Influence on Trends in Fashion (K.D. Adaire Cromer)
Readers can access the MHU students’ TED-style talks at www.mhu.edu/honors.
*“TED talks” are conference presentations about technology, education, and design, which are coordinated by TED Conferences, LLC, at events all over the world.
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 15
Campus News
Bailey Mountain Cloggers Invited to Perform at Festival in Greece The Bailey Mountain Cloggers, Mars Hill University’s precision dancing team, have been invited to perform at this summer’s Festival Days in Greece. The international folklore festival will be held June 22–26, 2022, in Paralia, a tourist seaside village on Greece’s eastern coast. “Traveling abroad to represent the USA, North Carolina, and our university is an absolute honor,” said Danielle Plimpton ’06, managing director of the Bailey Mountain Cloggers. “Not only do we share our dance and music traditions with the world, but we have the chance to experience other cultures and learn dances from several countries.” The team’s most recent international trip included performances in Ireland and Portugal in 2019. In fall 2021, BMC won its 29th national championship in October and performed in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade in November. During the trip to Greece, the cloggers hope to visit the Areopagus, or Mars Hill, in Athens. The university’s name comes from a New Testament
16 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
passage about the Apostle Paul’s visit to the site. The Bailey Mountain Cloggers were organized in 1974 by students at what was then known as Mars Hill College, and were influenced by an older championship team, the Bailey Mountain Square Dance Team, which began performing in 1950. The Bailey Mountain name is derived from the mountain adjacent to the college campus. They serve as ambassadors of goodwill for the university and the dance traditions of the Southern Mountains. During their history, the Bailey Mountain Cloggers have performed throughout the United States and internationally in countries including Austria, Canada, England, Ireland, Mexico, Portugal, and Scotland. The Bailey Mountain Cloggers dance company has established a national and international reputation for American clog dance excellence. The Bailey Mountain Cloggers are led by managing director Danielle Buice Plimpton and assistant director Dallas Moffat. For more information, visit www.baileymountaincloggers.com.
Mars Hill University Honors Four for Community Engagement Work The Center for Community Engagement recognized three individuals and one organization in December for their work in the Mars Hill community or their local community. The Bryan Awards are given annually in honor of the late Dr. G. McLeod (“Mac”) Bryan, who was a member of the Mars Hill class of 1939 and a professor at Wake Forest University. Eric Stone, the student recipient of the Bryan Award, is an integrated education major from Zacapa, Guatemala. He was nominated for the award because of his work volunteering with Children First Communities in Schools Afterschool Program, the Madison County Public Library, and Project Transformation in Texas, transcribing documents for the Library of Congress, among other service activities. Kelly Spencer, Ph.D., LCMHCS, ATR-BC, is an assistant professor at Mars Hill, teaching in the art therapy, psychology, and women’s and gender studies programs. She was recognized with the faculty/staff Bryan Award for her work with community partners and students, integrating art therapy course work with community engagement. The Community Engaged Partner Award recognizes a partner that has shown commitment to providing meaningful and innovative academic community engagement projects. Jodi Brazil, coordinator of the Madison County Health Consortium, accepted the award on behalf of the health department. The Bonner Alumni Award goes to a former MHU Bonner Scholar who has maintained and sustained the Bonner Common Commitments to community building, civic engagement, spiritual exploration, diversity, international perspective, and social justice. Selena Hilemon, class of 2001, is this year’s recipient. Hilemon is executive director of Hands and Feet of Asheville, one of nine national sites for the Young Adult Volunteer program of the Presyterian Church (U.S.A.). Left to right below: Eric Stone and Kelly Spencer, Jodi Brazil, and Selena Hilemon.
Landry Phillips (center) with Bob and Corny Wood, Art Wood’s son and daughter-in-law
Landry Phillips of Spruce Pine Selected for Wood Nursing Scholarship James Landry Phillips of Spruce Pine, N.C., is the fall 2021 recipient of the Arthur Everett Wood Endowed Nursing Scholarship. Phillips is a senior in the pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in the university’s Judge-McRae School of Nursing, and is president of the senior nursing class. He has worked with several community outreach programs, including COVID-19 shot clinics, and has worked with Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge, in Spruce Pine. Phillips earned his associate degree from Mayland Community College before enrolling at Mars Hill. The Wood Scholarship is awarded to a student with demonstrated need who maintains high grades overall and is passionate and compassionate, as well as invested in and committed to the calling of nursing. It was established in memory of Art Wood, a member of the Mars Hill class of 1947 and a Mars Hill professor of mathematics and physics from 1949 to 1991.
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 17
Campus News
Upgrades Are Ongoing IN Chambers Work is ongoing in Chambers Gymnasium to upgrade the lobby, bathrooms, and basketball locker areas into state-of-the-art space that not only boosts morale but enhances Mars Hill University as a competitive institution. Over $100,000 necessary to complete the renovations was raised entirely by the Lions Athletic Club. Stuart Jolley ’86, president of the LAC, said, “Enhancing this space will lead to more satisfied players, a boosted sense of morale, better recruitment, higher retention, and more games
won. It is not simply an investment in a building, it is an investment in the Mars Hill University community.” More pictures of the rebuild will be coming in the fall issue of Mars Hill, the Magazine. For more information on the Lion’s Athletic Club, or to donate, visit: www.mhu.edu/athletics/lions-athletic-club/
More than fifty people joined the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) through a Be the Match® drive on campus February 16. Be The Match is a nonprofit organization that connects patients with their donor match on the registry for life-saving bone marrow and stem cell transplants. Below, left: MHU Student Jesse Clark swabs his cheek to join the National Marrow Donor Program. Below, right: Be the Match representative Taylor Durell meets President Floyd.
Four students representing MHU were triumphant in the 11th annual NCICU Ethics Bowl February 11. They delivered and defended oral arguments on three case studies considering this year’s theme, “Ethics in Democracy.” The MHU team of (l-r) Marcus Orta, Lauren Sermersheim, Cassie Berrie, and Ciara Mitchell, went undefeated, winning their rounds against Belmont Abbey College, N.C. Wesleyan College, and St. Augustine’s University. Advisor for the team is Ryan Bell (far right).
The Memories Collection Website is up and running!
Grammy-winning entertainer, musician, storyteller, historian, and television host David Holt is the recipient of this year’s Bascom Lamar Lunsford Award. The award has been given yearly since 1980 to “an individual who has made significant contributions to the folk, musical, and/or dance traditions of the southern mountain region.” The award usually is presented during the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Mountain Music Festival , which was canceled this year due to COVID-19.
18 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
Information about The Memories Collection, a living history project featuring the personal reflections of over 100 people associated with Mars Hill University, is now available on a website dedicated to the project. Alumni, researchers, and other interested parties may access information about the collection, and even view portions of selected interviews, at thememoriescollection.org. Physical copies of The Memories Collection DVDs are housed in the Renfro Library and may be viewed in the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies located on the lower level of the library.
Donor Generosity
Sarah Lucile Lawton Dickinson ’42 “A Remarkable Woman” Leaves a Transformative Gift to MHU by Teresa Buckner, Director of Publications
When Sarah “Lucile” Lawton Dickinson ’42 passed away in May 2019, she left a substantial sum from her estate to her alma mater, Mars Hill University. Her gift has been used well: it has funded student scholarships and ongoing capital projects, and it has offset debt on the Ammons Athletic Field House. Perhaps most significantly, the funds from the Dickenson Estate have provided a solid foundation for the Together We Rise campaign.
When the Dickinsons returned to the states, they set up residence in Boynton Beach, Fla., where Lucile taught English at Palm Beach Junior College until her retirement. Many years after Blair Dickinson passed away, she continued educating, teaching technology classes to “the old people,” on ocean cruises in her 80s.
President Emeritus Dan Lunsford and former First Lady Beverly Lunsford were close to Mrs. Dickenson in the final years of her life and said she would be pleased with the ways her gift has been used on campus. “We believe she would appreciate the impact her gift will make, now and far into the future,” Dan Lunsford said. So, who was this woman who is making an impact today on the MHU campus? She was a proud alumna of Mars Hill College, who arrived on campus in 1940 with $12 and a suitcase. She talked often, the Lunsfords said, of her admiration for Dr. Robert Moore (president, 18971938), and her affection for Spilman Hall, where she lived and worked in the basement dining hall to earn her way through college. She was a veteran, who, after completing her bachelor’s degree at Florida College for Women (now Florida State University) joined the Women’s Air Corps (the 1940s-era “women’s auxiliary” of the Marine Corps). Throughout the war, she worked in a factory in San Diego, Calif., to refit airplanes for service overseas.
Above: Dr. Dan Lunsford visits with Lucile Dickenson around 2012. Right: Lucile Lawton, as she appeared in the 1941 Laurel.
She was an educator. After World War II, Miss Lawton went to Duke University to obtain her master’s degree and then she joined the English faculty of N.C. State University. There, she met and married another member of the English faculty, Blair Dickinson. When N.C. State would not allow the Dickinsons to teach in the same department, they resigned and set off to teach English overseas. For around 20 years, they taught in American schools in Germany, Japan, Italy, and other countries throughout Europe.
She was an independent woman, who talked of joyfully swimming in the ocean three times a week, well into her 80s. She also made headstrong (and usually beneficial) investment decisions with her money, sometimes in complete defiance of the money managers she had hired. Thanks to her transformative gift to MHU, Mrs. Dickinson’s spirit and her affection for Mars Hill can now live on. “She was a remarkable person,” Beverly Lunsford said. “It was a privilege to know her and keep the connection alive for her with Mars Hill.”
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 19
MHU Honors Benefactors and Alumnus of the Year by Mike Thornhill, Director of Communications
Mars Hill University honored several key supporters of the university during its annual President’s Recognition Reception, held September 16, 2021, at the Crest Center in Asheville. Charlie Trammell of Memphis, Tennessee, was recognized as Philanthropist of the Year. He has been a major catalyst in the “Together We Rise” campaign to build a new campus center. Trammell also has responded to tangible opportunities and needs across the campus, providing funding for summer student work opportunities, air conditioning for Huffman Residence Hall, capital campaign marketing materials, refurbished athletics locker rooms, and seed money to begin the new acrobatics and tumbling program, among others. A university trustee and graduate of the class of 1959, Trammell is founder and president of Retirement Companies of America. Other benefactors recognized at the September event were: Philanthropic Service Award: Gerry Hutchinson of Stone Mountain, Georgia, a member of the alumni board and class of 1976. This award is presented to the volunteer whose service to Mars Hill University is both selfless and inspirational. Board Leadership: Wayne Higgins of Weaverville, North Carolina, a university trustee and member of the class of 1975. The award recognizes a trustee whose support of the university serves as an example to others. The university also recognized Stuart Jolley of Mars Hill as Alumnus of the Year. Jolley is in his 40th year as the public address announcer for Mars Hill athletics. He began announcing women’s basketball and volleyball games in 1982 and added football and men’s basketball before he graduated. Jolley earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Mars Hill in 1986 and a master’s degree in education from Western Carolina University in 1988. He spent his working career as a teacher and administrator in Yancey County Schools, and twice was named Teacher of the Year for Mountain Heritage High School. He is an elected member of the Town of Mars Hill’s board of aldermen. Jolley is president of Mars Hill University’s Lions Athletic Club, which has raised more than a half-million dollars in its first two years. He was elected to the university’s athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. _________________
Left, top to bottom: President Floyd and Charlie Trammel ’59; Vicki and Gerry Hutchinson ’76; President Floyd with Wayne Higgins ’75; Stuart ’86 and Jackie Jolley with Tony and Terry Floyd.
Athletics
Lion Athletes Recognized by the SAC by Adam Williams, Director of Athletic Communications
The fall semester saw numerous individual accolades awarded to Mars Hill student-athletes.
Willoughby-Williams was named the SAC Freshman of the Year.
Mars Hill football saw six athletes be named to the South Atlantic Conference Offensive and Defensive First Teams, respectively. On the offensive side were Leondre Andreas, C.J. Thompson, and Ty Snelson and on the defensive end, Tristan Rankin, Dexter Fitzpatrick, and Landon Honeycutt were first team selections. Justin Bullock was named to the All-SAC Offensive Second Team.
Bertilsson went on to add the honors of being named to both the D2CCA and United Soccer Coaches AllSoutheast Region Second Team.
Rankin and Snelson capped off their phenomenal seasons by being declared All-Americans by Associated Press and the D2CCA.
Leondre Andreas
Sebastian Bertilsson
Peter Plougmand
C.J. Thompson
Jeppe Christensen
Kevonte WilloughbyWilliams
Ty Snelson
WOMEN’S SOCCER
MEN’S SOCCER
FOOTBALL
Men’s soccer saw Sebastian Bertilsson and Jeppe Christensen named All-SAC First Team selections for the first time in their careers while the freshman duo of Peter Plougmand and Kevonte WilloughbyWilliams were named to the All-SAC Second Team.
Sanne Martinsen of the Lions’ women’s soccer team was named an All-SAC Second Team selection for the third time in her career. Mars Hill volleyball saw four players named to All-SAC teams, led by Sarah Goddard’s second team selection. Jana Cuk and Ully Martins were named as third team selections and Nikkayla Stewart was chosen for the All-Freshmen team. Martins closed out a truly sensational career by being named to the D2CCA All-Southeast Region Second Team and was an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention. She also won her second straight SAC Volleyball Scholar Athlete of the Year award.
Tristan Rankin
Sanne Martinsen
Dexter Fitzpatrick
VOLLEYBALL
Snelson, Rankin, and Honeycutt each went on to be named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Super Region 2 All-Region First Teams in their respective positions. Fitzpatrick was a second team selection.
Christensen was named a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District selection and later named an Academic All-American honoree with his third team selection.
Landon Honeycutt
Jana Cuk
Ully Martins
Justin Bullock
Sarah Goddard
Nikkayla Stewart
Historic Seasons for MHU Teams Mars Hill athletics saw its most successful fall season in several years during 2021 with two teams playing for South Atlantic Conference Championships and one making its first NCAA Tournament appearance. The Lions football program posted an 8-3 record, tying their winningest season in school history set a decade prior. They played Wingate for the SAC Championship, but ultimately fell by a score of 26-19. Despite the heartbreaking end to a phenomenal run, several individuals were recognized for their accomplishments, highlighted by freshman defensive back Tristan Rankin and senior tight end Ty Snelson’s All-American selections from Associated Press and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association. The Mars Hill men’s soccer program competed for their first SAC Championship since 2012 when they took on Coker in the finals. The run was truly memorable with back-to-back overtime game-winning goals scored by freshman Peter Plougmand. Plougmand, along with fellow freshman Kevonte Willoughby-Williams and senior attacker Sebastian Bertilsson were the most dominant offensive trio in the league, combining for 33 goals. In head coach Mike Smith’s first full season with the volleyball team, the Lions took their game to another level. The team won 21 matches during the 2021 season, the most since the team won 32 in 1998. Despite an early departure in the SAC Tournament—their fifth straight appearance being the longest active streak of any team on campus—their incredible campaign continued with the program’s first selection into the NCAA Tournament. Above: Seniors Ty Snelson (right) and Sebastian Bertilsson (left) led their respective teams to historic seasons for the Lions. Photos by Mike Thornhill.
22 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
Athletics
Smith Chosen to Represent the SAC at NCAA Workshop from several departments including the Sport Science Institute, championships, academic and membership affairs, and governance. The South Atlantic Conference has selected three head coaches to represent the SAC at this year’s NCAA DII Identity Workshop for Coaches. The other two coaches were Bart Lundy, head coach of Queens University Men’s Basketball and Caitlyn Corace, head coach of Catawba College Women’s Lacrosse. Mars Hill Head Volleyball Coach Mike Smith was selected by the South Atlantic Conference to represent the league at the NCAA Division II Identity for Coaches Workshop to be held in June. The Division II Identity Workshop will be held June 7-9, 2022, in Indianapolis. A wide range of topics will be covered that directly impact the coaches on Division II campuses. The coaches in attendance will have an opportunity to learn more about the NCAA
“What an honor to be selected by The South Atlantic Conference to represent them and Mars Hill University at the NCAA II Identity Workshop,” Smith said. “Spending time learning at the NCAA from their many departments and meeting new colleagues from all over the country is a great opportunity. Enhancing my personal and professional development will allow me continued growth in my profession. I am grateful for this opportunity and will make the most of it.”
Class Notes Mars Hill, the Magazine of Mars Hill University welcomes your personal snapshots 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 6792, Mars Hill, N.C. 28754. 1950s
Maj. Gen. James Dozier ’51 has written a book titled Finding My Pole Star. The book is a memoir of Dozier’s 35-year military career, including his 1981 kidnapping and 42-day captivity by Red Brigade terrorists in Verona, Italy. His subsequent rescue by a special operations team was front-page news around the world. Max Burgin ’54, a member of the MHU Board of Trustees, is the subject of a book written by Pat Jobe and Mattie Lackey titled, It’s About Jesus, It’s Not About Max Burgin: stories from an extraordinary career as an army chaplain, Baptist preacher, and friend to so many. The book was published in 2021 and is available on amazon.
John Luther Stancil, Sr. ’68 married Heather Presley on October 17, 2021. The couple resides in Lakeland, Fla. 1970s
Kay Huffman Gregory ’73 published an updated and expanded family memoir in August 2021, which is based on writing by her paternal grandmother. The book is titled Isma: Memoir of a Catawba Valley Family. Gregory was a member of the Mars Hill University English faculty
1960s
Dr. Jerry C. Davis ’65 will transition to the role of chancellor for the College of the Ozarks, effective June 1, 2022. He has been president of the college since 1988, after having served as president of Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Kentucky, for eleven years. His tenure of 44 years in the college presidency is among the longest in the United States.
Dr. Jerry Davis ’65
John ’68 and Heather Stancil
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 23
Class Notes
from 1976-1987. She retired from Catawba Valley Community College in 2016, where she served as dean of the School of Academics, Education, and Fine Arts. Dr. John Glenn McNutt ’74 has been awarded the status of professor emeritus from the University of Delaware’s Biden School of Public Policy and Administration. McNutt retired in August of 2021 after a 40-year career as a professor of social work practice and public policy. He has also been a frequent presenter and John McNutt ’74 the author of numerous articles and books centered on his research areas of nonprofit organizations and technology. He lives in Newark, Del. Lawrence Edward “Larry” Pike, III ’75 has published a collection of poetry titled Even in the Slums of Providence in October 2021. The collection is available through Finishing Line Press. Larry, who lives in Glasgow, Ky., was a regular contributor to the Cadenza during his time at Mars Hill, winning first place in poetry in 1973 and in fiction in 1975. Carolyn “Jayne” Jaudon Ferrer ’78 of Greenville, S.C., has published a new book titled, Poems to Lift You Up and Make You Smile. The book is an anthology of 100 poems especially selected for their upbeat perspective, feel-good scenarios, and humor. Jayne has been the host and editor of www.YourDailyPoem.com since 2009. This is her sixth published book. 1980s
Tim Greene ’82 has retired as the county manager of Mitchell County, effective December 31, 2021. He previously served as the county manager of Avery County and vice president of administrative services at Mayland Community College. He served as the finance officer in Avery County before taking the manager position in Mitchell County in April 2020. Russell (Rusty) Enscore ’82 retired from the Centers for Disease Control (Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Fort Collins, Colo.) in May 2021, completing a career in public health that spanned 37 years. Rusty completed graduate work at East Tennessee State University and Colorado State University. He then spent 11 years with the Indian Health Service followed by 26 years with CDC where he conducted research and public health interventions for vector-borne infectious diseases all over the world. He said he would love to hear from old friends. Contact alumni@mhu.edu for his email address. Rev. Barry John Morris ’83 retired from Randolph Health in Asheboro, N.C., as Director of Spiritual Care and Community Integration in 2020. Morris completed
24 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
David Sawyer ’79 has received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine upon his retirement from the U.S. Wildlife Resources Commission. Sawyer served the agency for more than 30 years before his retirement in 2019. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is the state of North Carolina’s highest civilian honor. It is bestowed by the governor on those who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments. Sawyer is shown at right receiving the award from Brad Howard, Chief of the Wildlife Management Division of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. a two-year residency in clinical pastoral education at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C. at Atrium Health. He served six years as a chaplain at Gaston Hospice before finished his career at Randolph Health. Morris said he found his calling at Mars Hill College, where campus friendships and involvement at Trinity Baptist Church solidified what God was doing in his life. Norma Hefner Duncan ’89 has served for the past two years as Madam Speaker of the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature, an informational and advocacy group for N.C. senior citizens created by the General Assembly. Duncan, who is a delegate from Mitchell County, was also recognized as the Outstanding Senior Tar Heel Legislature/Regional Advisory Committee Member 2021 by the High Country Council of Governments for distinguished service and contributions while serving as a member of the board. 1990s
Jonatha Paige Cook ’91 has been selected as the 2021 Dance Teacher of the Year by the Physical Education Association of NC SHAPE, the professional organization representing K-12 health and physical education teachers in the state. Cook teaches at North Buncombe Elementary School in Weaverville, N.C. Aleisa Alexander Baker ’96 has been selected as North Carolina’s 2021 High School Choral Section Teacher of the Year. Baker is the chorus director at T.C. Roberson High School in Buncombe County. She also serves as the color guard instructor and visual designer for the T.C. Roberson Marching Band and directs the school-wide musical each spring. Baker is the chair-elect of the NC
Music Educator Association High School Choral Section. Martin J. Gilbert ’99 was named to the NCAA Division II Implementation Committee in December 2021. The committee will review the division’s rules and policies and make recommendations to ensure that changes are consistent with the principles agreed upon in the division’s new constitution. Gilbert is an associate professor of computer science at Mars Hill University. Walter “Walt” Summerlin ’99 has been hired as a park ranger at the Cliffs of the Neuse State Park in Goldsboro, N.C. He comes to the park after nine years as a ranger at Mayo River State Park in Mayodan, N.C. Summerlin said he caught the “bug” to be a ranger during trips out west with the recreation club at Mars Hill College. 2000s
Jessica Blanford Wildfire ’09 received her Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of West Georgia in the fall of 2021. Jessica’s dissertation focused on the leadership identity development of student-athletes. 2010s
Johnathon “John” Carl Faircloth ’13 has been named the new head football coach of R-S Central High School in Rutherfordton, N.C. Faircloth comes to the position from a coaching position at Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania. He will be teaching physical education at R-S Central in addition to coaching.
Samantha Burdick ’15 has been hired as the new town planner for Beaufort, N.C. After completing her degree at MHU, Burdick earned a M.S. at Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment. Prior to the new job as town planner, Samantha held positions with N.C. Division of Coastal Management, N.C. Coastal Reserve and Estuarine Research Reserve, and Duke Marine Laboratory. Ashley Michelle Staton ’16 married Austin Williams on September 29, 2021 in Hendersonville, N.C. Both of the Williamses work for the City of Hendersonville, N.C. Elizabeth Kihm ’18 has been hired as a teacher assistant at T.C. Henderson School of Science and Technology in Lake Toxaway, N.C.
Ashley ’16 and Austin Williams
Several members of Pi Kappa Phi (now Delta Kappa Theta) organized a reunion in February 2022, in Spartanburg, S.C. Shown are, front L to R: Paul Powell ’79 (current trustee), Wayne King ’79 (former alumni board member); Back L to R: Tony Charping ’79, David Mathis ’79, Lynnwood Roach ’80, Woody Sprouse ’80 (former board of advisors member).
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
Josephine West Shultz ’39, Tesuque, N.M., July 29, 2021 Sara Orren Yount ’39, Clayton, N.C., July 3, 2019 1940s
Mary Catherine Adams Brothers ’40, Deland, Fla., March 11, 2021 Kenneth Charles Ward ’41, Greensboro, N.C., October 16, 2021 Pearl Edith “Edie” Franklin Bridges ’42, Kings Mountain, N.C., May 30, 2019 Lt. Col. James “Jim” Monroe Hardin Sr. ’42, (U.S. Air Force, retired), Shelby, N.C., September 2, 2021
Elizabeth Lois Higgins Morgan ’43, Marion, N.C., July 23, 2021 William “Bill” Turman Reece ’43, Virginia Beach, Va., May 9, 2021 Clarence “Pete” Davis Scott ’43, Ferndale, Md., September 29, 2021 Norma Wayne Brooks Funderburk ’44, Monroe, N.C., April 24, 2021 William “Bill” Royall Martin, Jr. ’44, Raleigh, N.C., March 16, 2020 Clara Lee Dedmon Shive ’44, Greenville, S.C., January 23, 2022 Marian Grace Anderson Bradley ’45, Asheville, N.C., December 4, 2021
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 25
In Memoriam William “Jennings” Brooks, Sr. ’45, Shelby, N.C., April 13, 2020
Sarah E. Johnston Allen ’49, Greenville, S.C., August 5, 2021
Margaret “Willadean” Day Rector ’45, Drexel, N.C., March 3, 2021
Walter Egbert, Jr. ’49, Viera, Fla., May 12, 2021
Louvene Elizabeth Jordan Cooper ’46, High Point, N.C., August 29, 2021 Marilyn Deal Harrington ’46, Statesville, N.C., January 28, 2019 Elsie Densmore Anderson Morris ’46, Hillsborough, N.C., July 11, 2020 Margaret “Estaleen” Digh Rockett ’46, Morganton, N.C., October 6, 2020 Mildred “Millie” Irene Leath Shuford ’46, Matthews, N.C., October 30, 2021 Betty Rae Carter Watson ’46, Tuscaloosa, Ala., April 23, 2021 Charles Ashford Barefoot ’47, Lexington, N.C., April 6, 2021 Beulah “By” Upchurch Yates Collins ’47, Gastonia, N.C., January 22, 2022 Hilda Kathryn Bean Cowsert ’47, Jacksonville, N.C., November 6, 2021 Eula Mae Coffey Fox ’47, Boone, N.C., April 10, 2020 Hazel Louise Hodge Rathel ’47, Americus, Ga., June 22, 2021 Ferne Helen Wall Spillman ’47, Yadkinville, N.C., September 16, 2021 Betty Jane Sisk Swain ’47, Asheville, N.C., January 12, 2021 Iris “Mildred” Nix Whitted ’47, Maggie Valley, N.C., November 18, 2019 James “Jim” Nielson Andrews, Sr. ’48, Cary, N.C., September 17, 2021 Peggy Dawn Johnson Barnes ’48, Fuquay-Varina, N.C., January 24, 2020 Rev. Clay “Hudson” Favell ’48, Fort Smith, Ark., May 25, 2021 Mary Lena Green Mayberry ’48, Pinellas Park, Fla., September 27, 2021 Dr. John Robert “Bob” McClure ’48, Greenville, S.C., November 5, 2021 Betty Lou Steelman McNeil ’48, Thomasville, N.C., July 23, 2020 Molly Lou Cox Nolen ’48, Nashville, Tenn., December 17, 2021 Dr. Aubert “A.C.” Calvin Snow ’48, Raleigh, N.C., January 14, 2022 Ruth Virginia Simmons Wright ’48, Clifton Forge, Va., November 20, 2021
26 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
Christine Love Jones Long ’49, Roxboro, N.C., March 23, 2021 Elsie Lee McFarland ’49, Rocky Mount, N.C., September 5, 2021 Emerson Charles “Charlie” Metcalf, Jr. ’49, Asheville, N.C., December 11, 2020 Shirley Dale Robertson ’49, Richmond, Va., November 1, 2021 Charles Everette Sharpe, Sr. ’49, Canton, N.C., January 15, 2020 1950s
Joyce Louise Parsons Campbell ’50, Freeport, Fla., February 9, 2021 Alta Wendallyn “Winnie” Pringle Crawford ’50, St. Petersburg, Fla., December 28, 2021 John Henry Falkner ’50, Henderson, N.C., April 23, 2021 Norma Jean Fannon Lewis ’50, Salisbury, N.C., November 3, 2021 Marie Young Messer ’50, Asheville, N.C., February 18, 2021 Rev. Mark Owens ’50, Holden Beach, N.C., July 8, 2021 Col. Robert “Bob” Garrett Ray ’50 (U.S. Air Force, retired), Niceville, Fla., June 28, 2021 Betty June McCracken Ray ’50, Waynesville, N.C., December 29, 2020 Hobart Clark Stafford ’50, East Bank, W.V., June 19, 2019 Rev. Abraham “Odell” Breland ’51, Orangeburg, S.C., July 11, 2021 William Louis Gulley ’51, Lake St. Louis, Mo., March 8, 2021 Vera W. Brown Jarvis ’51, Statesville, N.C., October 25, 2021 Betsy Brooks McGee McLean ’51, Greensboro, N.C., September 9, 2021 Betty June Wallin Morgan ’51, Weaverville, N.C., January 22, 2022 Robert “Bob” Lee Smith ’51, Winter Park, Fla., August 30, 2021 Rev. Dr. Robert Smith Dendy, Sr. ’52, Laurinburg, N.C., July 31, 2021 Anne Geraldine “Gerry” Ott Harrelson ’52, Charleston, S.C., April 27, 2021 Rev. Jarvis McDonald Hearn, Jr. ’52, Sperryville, Va., April 6, 2021
William Eugene Hudson ’52, Jacksonville, Fla., July 10, 2021
Mary Lou Martin Gentry ’55, State Road, N.C., September 7, 2021
Betty “Maxine” Myers Ray ’52, Boonville, N.C., February 13, 2020
Sadie “Joyce” Allen Guffey ’55, Florence, S.C., March 21, 2021
Rev. Ralph William Riley ’52, Fort Mill, S.C., November 4, 2021
James “Jim” Marion Lee, Jr. ’55, Pfafftown, N.C., February 19, 2020
Theresa Freezor Bolick ’53, Lexington, N.C., April 10, 2021
Ann Kierulff Wilkins Lorge ’55, Brevard, N.C., January 16, 2022
John Nelson Hutchins ’53, Asheville, N.C., April 21, 2020
Jennis “Redell” McLamb ’55, Calabash, N.C., October 7, 2021
Caroline Hartsell McCauley ’53, Greenville, S.C., June 23, 2021 John Dalas Vance, Sr. ’53, Zebulon, N.C., May 29, 2020 Martha “Marty” June Miller Brown ’54, Fort Collins, Colo., August 27, 2021 Rev. James “Ward” Burch ’54, Greensboro, N.C., July 11, 2021 Carl Glenn Godfrey, Jr. ’54, Eden, N.C., February 4, 2019 Dr. Bruce Hugh Hawkins, Sr. ’54, Mount Holly, N.C., April 16, 2021 Mary Ruth Rice Higgins ’54, China Grove, N.C., February 11, 2019 Stokes Allen Hughes ’54, Newland, N.C., September 8, 2021 Nancye Anne Sugg Johnson ’54, Dunn, N.C., September 13, 2021 Vivian Mae Jenkins Kruse ’54, Wake Forest, N.C., April 2, 2021 Mildred L Scroggs Martin ’54, Brevard, N.C., July 26, 2021 Janice Dawn Aydelette Neese ’54, Greensboro, N.C., October 3, 2021 Mary Sue Paysour Rainey ’54, Clover, S.C., December 21, 2020 Shirley Jean Winn Spargo ’54, Gastonia, N.C., September 2, 2021 Rev. Paul Weagley Stouffer ’54, Centerville, Tenn., June 19, 2021 Kenneth Edward Woodard, Sr. ’54, Landrum, S.C., November 11, 2021 Joe Burton Young ’54, Walkertown, N.C., January 11, 2020 Mollie Jane Parrish Barrow ’55, Deland, Fla., April 27, 2021 Charles “Scott” Briers, Jr. ’55, Shady Spring, W.V., August 31, 2020 Shirley Anne Starnes English ’55, Raleigh, N.C., November 22, 2021
Betty Doris Merritt Turner ’55, Evergreen, N.C., September 11, 2019 Dr. Robert Earnest Gray ’56, Weaverville, N.C., June 20, 2021 Gerald Everett Hewitt ’56, Hendersonville, N.C., July 15, 2021 Jeanine Benton Hughes ’56, Hampton, Va., October 26, 2021 Sarah Jo Allen Phillips ’56, Mount Pleasant, N.C., September 26, 2021 Danny Norman Young ’56, Swannanoa, N.C., March 4, 2019 Hardie William Ammons ’57, Asheville, N.C., February 3, 2019 Chief Master Sgt. James “Josh” Edward Brisson ’57, (U.S. Air Force, retired) Fayetteville, N.C., January 19, 2021 Olin Clark ’57, Kingsport, Tenn., June 7, 2021 Theodore “Ted” Charles Conrad ’57, Spartanburg, S.C., June 27, 2021 Charles Finley Cook ’57, Hiddenite, N.C., March 22, 2021 Rev. William “Bill” Jackson Corey, Jr. ’57, Hanover, Va., October 10, 2021 Jewell “Dean” Brigman Icard ’57, Kannapolis, N.C., September 14, 2021 Kenneth “Ken” William Parker ’57, Advance, N.C., December 13, 2019 Richard Alan Phillips ’57, Richmond, Va., February 18, 2021 Kirby Devane Powell ’57, Clinton, N.C., March 1, 2020 Dr. Donald Lewis Shaw ’57, Chapel Hill, N.C., October 19, 2021 Vivian Leigh Wood Wade ’57, Charlottesville, Va., January 16, 2022 Lt. Col. John Lewis Whaley ’57, (U.S. Marine Corps, retired) Wilmington, N.C., November 16, 2020 Stuart Dean Dale ’58, Morganton, N.C., August 12, 2020
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 27
In Memoriam Norman Dixon Faircloth ’58, High Point, N.C., January 27, 2021
James Gaston Harron, Jr. ’60, Pisgah Forest, N.C., June 16, 2020
Charles “Martin” Johnson ’58, Mooresville, N.C., July 29, 2020
Rev. Harry Ellsworth Miller ’60, Spanish Fort, Ala., October 21, 2020
Nancy Ella Miller Lawrence ’58, Mars Hill, N.C., November 30, 2021
Bert Allen Price ’60, Stoneville, N.C., August 3, 2020
Margaret Yvonne Duncan Morrison ’58, Winston-Salem, N.C., June 9, 2021 Rev. Dr. Ted Lee Purcell ’58, Durham, N.C., June 24, 2021 Barbara Ann Griffith Ray ’58, Waynesville, N.C., September 7, 2021 Roy William “Bill” Reece, Jr. ’58, Candor, N.C., August 24, 2021 Patricia “Pat” Ann Smith Stewart ’58, Winston-Salem, N.C., August 11, 2021 Thomas “Tom” Arthur Tillman ’58, Charlotte, N.C., August 23, 2021 Carl Jerry Ball ’59, Horse Shoe, N.C., April 12, 2020 Gerald “Jerry” Young Brown ’59, Buies Creek, N.C., December 11, 2019 James “Jim” Coe Chernault, Jr. ’59, High Point, N.C., January 16, 2021 Capt. Johnny Lee Elliott, Ph.D. ’59, Cornelius, N.C., August 21, 2021 Betty Austine Drum Griffin ’59, Maiden, N.C., July 5, 2021 Elianor “Ellie” Francis Riley Kamp ’59, Charlotte, N.C., June 26, 2021 Robert “Bob” Cooper Malpass ’59, High Point, N.C., June 28, 2020 William “Bill” Patterson Sudderth ’59, Asheville, N.C., November 21, 2021 Benjamin “Ben” William Swank ’59, Glendale, Ariz., March 29, 2021 Dr. David Edmond Trawick ’59, Charlotte, N.C., December 7, 2021 Harold Garry Wilde ’59, Woodstock, Ga., February 1, 2021 1960s
Lelon Russell Bulluck ’60, Kill Devil Hills, N.C., February 28, 2020 Carol Ann McCarthy Crymes ’60, Alexandria, Va., April 25, 2020 James “Jim” Howard Early, Jr. ’60, Winston-Salem, N.C., June 21, 2021
28 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
Paul Richard “Dick” Stewart ’60, Stanley, N.C., November 5, 2020 Clyde Smith Triplett ’60, Granite Falls, N.C., March 16, 2020 Jimmy Ray Beasley ’61, Morganton, N.C., January 29, 2021 Leonard Ray Beaver ’61, Salisbury, N.C., March 16, 2021 Dr. James “Jim” Clyde Elliott, Jr. ’61, Asheville, N.C., July 16, 2020 Walter “Jake” Vincent Ferguson ’61, Glen Alpine, N.C., July 7, 2020 Cebron Douglas Fussell ’61, Clinton, N.C., June 10, 2021 Major Eddie Lee Hackworth, Jr. ’61, Hampton, Va., April 9, 2019 Dixie Yvonne James Jones ’61, Summerfield, N.C., February 2, 2021 Mamie L. Purvis Murray ’61, Bennett, N.C., March 3, 2021 Richard Thomas Prince, Sr. ’61, Afton, Okla., September 5, 2020 Leon Little Rhyne, Jr. ’61, Chapel Hill, N.C., November 25, 2020 Rev. Timmie “Tim” Allen Sellers ’61, Lumberton, N.C., November 26, 2021 Howard Wayne Shook ’61, Canton, N.C., December 31, 2020 Samuel James “Jim” Showalter, III ’61, Greenville, S.C., June 13, 2021 William “Franklin” Smith ’61, Raleigh, N.C., November 4, 2020 Jackie “Jack” T. Street ’61, Johnson City, Tenn., November 20, 2019 Dr. Larry Albert Williams ’61, Benson, N.C., August 18, 2021 Charles Guy Wilson ’61, Sylva, N.C., December 19, 2020 Walter “Doc” Burton Altizer, Jr. ’62, Martinsville, Va., February 16, 2021 Margaret Reid Ridenhour Falcetta ’62, Rock Hill, S.C., October 20, 2021 Giles Donald “Don” McLane ’62, Ninety Six, S.C., August 4, 2021 Joseph Hubert Voss, Jr. ’62, Hickory, N.C., June 5, 2020
William Earl Whitaker, Sr. ’62, Wytheville, Va., December 16, 2021
Donald Rufus Gilreath ’69, Charlotte, N.C., December 14, 2021
Norman Frederick Arant, Jr. ’63, Garner, N.C., July 1, 2021
James Darwin “D” McIntyre ’69, Raleigh, N.C., June 29, 2021
Perlie “Edwin” Cabe ’63, Franklin, N.C., November 7, 2021
1970s
Anne Betha “Beth” Powers Taylor Norman ’63, Woodstock, Ga., March 6, 2021
Doyle Willard Ammons ’70, Mars Hill, N.C., September 23, 2021
Gladys Louise Ponder Ball ’64, Mars Hill, N.C., July 22, 2021
Susan Esther Baker Bell ’70, Clayton, N.C., February 25, 2019
Fredrick “Fred” Eugene Hundley ’64, Swainsboro, Ga., March 11, 2021 Patricia Anne Burgess Nott ’64, Richmond, Va., July 13, 2021 John “Moe” Clarence Richardson, Jr. ’64, Williamsburg, Va., December 19, 2021 Jack Dillard Reece ’65, High Point, N.C., October 20, 2020 Lynda Gail Whitaker Rothwell ’65, Irmo, S.C., June 29, 2021 Robert Lee Watkins ’65, Black Mountain, N.C., October 22, 2019 Linda Grace Pierce Adcock ’66, Trinity, N.C., December 8, 2020 Rev. Ronald Charles Coward ’66, Scranton, S.C., May 17, 2021 Janet Lee Blakeley Hogan ’66, Winston-Salem, N.C., November 3, 2019 David Henry Patton ’66, Marion, N.C., September 30, 2021 Miriam Jean Stone Funderburk ’67, Charlotte, N.C., December 4, 2021 Joyce Annette Pace Johnson ’67, Anderson, S.C., November 22, 2021 Lewis Samuel Rudisill ’67, Asheville, N.C., January 29, 2021 Lawrence “Bryce” Whitmire ’67, Brevard, N.C., September 29, 2021 Charles “Sandy” Hugh Boykin, Jr. ’68, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., June 14, 2020 Sybil Marie Fain ’68, Landrum, S.C., September 4, 2020 Dorothy Jane Thompson Key ’68, Forest City, N.C., February 19, 2021 Charles “Michael” Parrish ’68, Pfafftown, N.C., February 5, 2021 James “Felton” Stephens ’68, Inman, S.C., January 2, 2022 Donnie Michael Dees ’69, Fayetteville, N.C., January 2, 2022
Lee Odus Burry ’70, Mars Hill, N.C., March 20, 2019 Gerald “Jerry” Ronald Davis ’70, Burnsville, N.C., July 3, 2021 Anthony “Tony” Ralph DiNapoli ’70, Holly Springs, N.C., October 17, 2021 William “Marty” Phillips ’70, Hickory, N.C., April 25, 2021 Roger Lewis Pittman ’70, Spruce Pine, N.C., December 11, 2021 Donald “Don” Lee Suggs ’70, Wilmington, N.C., November 3, 2021 Ford Bruce West ’70, Davidsonville, Md., February 14, 2021 Ronald “Ron” Neil Glass ’71, Greensboro, N.C., December 11, 2021 Patricia Ann Brown Griffin ’71, Asheville, N.C., July 28, 2021 Marshall Allen Hill ’72, Rock Hill, S.C., March 2, 2021 Margaret Hawkins Knight ’72, Advance, N.C., October 30, 2021 Othella May Rice Ogle ’72, Marshall, N.C., September 10, 2021 Marlene Gertrude Peeler ’72, Shelby, N.C., September 2, 2021 Harold “Hal” Mellanchamp Reeves, Jr. ’72, Everett, Wash., June 15, 2021 Jane Elizabeth Lorenz Boberg ’73, Supply, N.C., January 27, 2020 Mark Ashton Cope ’73, Anderson, S.C., July 5, 2021 Ruth Hensley Decker ’73, Asheville, N.C., November 12, 2021 Robert E. Lee Gaskey, Jr. ’73, Greensboro, N.C., July 24, 2021 Nancye Laurice Duncan Johnston ’73, Greenville, N.C., August 6, 2021 Joe Murry Carter, Jr. ’74, Chimney Rock, N.C., November 24, 2021 James Robert Dixon ’74, Leeds, Ala., January 19, 2019
Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 29
In Memoriam Bonnie Sue Collins Kennedy ’74, Mooresville, N.C., February 10, 2019
Rev. James “Jimmy” Herbert Paul ’89, Mebane, N.C., January 9, 2022
Robert “Kirk” Randleman ’74, Clyde, N.C., October 10, 2021
Talitha McDaris Price ’89, Weaverville, N.C., September 5, 2021
Margaret Elizabeth “Betsy” Rusby ’75, San Diego, Calif., August 29, 2021
Jeffrey Neil Swain ’89, Murphy, N.C., January 4, 2020
John Calvin Critcher, IV ’76, Arden, N.C., June 12, 2019
1990s
Amy “Reva” King King ’76, Waynesville, N.C., August 15, 2021
Samuel Webster Gore ’90, Wilmington, N.C., August 2, 2021
Susan Stewart ReMine ’76, Fletcher, N.C., January 9, 2021
Dr. Amelia Beth Easlic Pierce ’90, Oliver Springs, Tenn., January 27, 2022
Roger Dean Allison, Sr. ’77, Marshall, N.C., July 26, 2021
Jeanetta “Diane” Satterfield ’90, Hendersonville, N.C., July 16, 2019
Roger “Dean” Foster ’78, Clemmons, N.C., August 24, 2019 Bishop Rickey Dale Hayes ’78, Elkin, N.C., May 5, 2021 Michael Ray Johnston ’78, Charlotte, N.C., February 22, 2021 Rev. Roger Wayne Alewine, Sr. ’80, Gulfport, Miss., January 7, 2021 1980s
Charles Timothy “Tim” Carter ’80, Taylors, S.C., January 19, 2022 Rev. Roy Mace Honeycutt ’80, Asheville, N.C., December 10, 2019 Charles Fred Middleton ’81, Youngsville, N.C., December 25, 2020 Samuel Love Fox ’82, Gainesville, Fla., September 27, 2021 Perry Allen James ’82, Fairview, N.C., January 28, 2021
Janine Kaye Lankford Waits ’90, Harrisburg, N.C., July 10, 2021 Randy Howard ’91, Asheville, N.C., September 19, 2021 Darryl Kent Gosnell ’93, Asheville, N.C., January 25, 2022 Steven “Steve” Daniel Ledford ’93, Canton, N.C., September 2, 2021 Myra Pate Fields ’95, Knoxville, Tenn., September 7, 2021 Howard “Malcolm” Owen, III ’95, Burnsville, N.C., December 22, 2021 Teresa Dianne Guthrie Buckner ’96, Weaverville, N.C., October 10, 2021 Robert “Jason” Dickert ’97, Murphy, N.C., September 16, 2021 Crystal Dora “Gail” Norton Baines ’98, Marshall, N.C., November 18, 2021
Terry Ray James ’82, Robbinsville, N.C., April 19, 2021
Genell Rice King ’99, Marshall, N.C., December 16, 2021
John Paul Marion, Jr. ’84, Greensboro, N.C., December 3, 2020
2000s
Pamela Dawn Taylor ’85, Cherokee, N.C., May 15, 2020 Nancy Robinson Brittain ’86, Mars Hill, N.C., July 15, 2021 Timothy “Tim” Jay Pritchard ’86, Morganton, N.C., September 7, 2021 Patricia Louise Kincade Lausch Engle ’87, Hendersonville, N.C., May 2, 2020 Ruth Elliott Neal ’87, Shelby, N.C., January 10, 2022 June York Patton Biggs ’88, Morganton, N.C., August 21, 2021
Dr. David Wayne Robinson ’03, Mars Hill, N.C., January 25, 2022 Steven Christopher “Chris” Spurrier ’06, Candler, N.C., November 9, 2021 Faculty/Staff
George Kelly Humphries, adjunct faculty, Barnardsville, N.C., December 21, 2021 Dr. Walter Lee Stroud, Jr., retired faculty, Weaverville, N.C., July 4, 2021
John Arthur Dodson ’88, Marshall, N.C., January 1, 2019
Dr. Margaret “Pat” Merchant Verhulst, retired faculty, Burnsville, N.C., October 12, 2021
Tracy Ulysses Barnes ’89, Moravian Falls, N.C., March 25, 2021
M. Claude Vess, Jr., retired CFO, Burnsville, N.C., May 23, 2021
Linda Ford Gregory ’89, Waynesville, N.C., December 25, 2020
30 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
Dr. Walt Stroud: Role Model and Mentor Retired Professor of Psychology by Dr. Beth Vogler
Dr. Walter (Walt) Stroud was a treasured member of the MHC community from 1972–2010. He served as my advisor as a student, a dean as a colleague, and above all, a role model and mentor throughout my time at Mars Hill. Walt was intentional in his work, which included many administrative responsibilities in addition to teaching. He was someone who truly listened to others, and this quality made him quite respected in his work. As a student, I looked forward to Walt’s classes, and I spent many hours in his office in Founders Hall. It never occurred to me that he had anything else to do, as he always welcomed time with his students. As
a colleague, he was gracious to new faculty, offering tips and advice on teaching and course management. I so appreciated his assistance in my transition to teaching – and you could still find me in his office! Outside of school, Walt’s many interests included a love of Celtic music. I doubt he missed an episode of “Celtic Winds” on Sunday afternoons. He could also repair and build anything. In Founders Hall, Walt’s bookcases and shelving units can be found in many faculty offices. Overall, Walt was a generous, kind soul. In Walt’s obituary, his family writes this: “What Walter may be most remembered for, however, is the way he lived his life – with kindness, thoughtfulness, and a deep appreciation for his friendships.” Anyone who had the good fortune of studying under or working with Walt Stroud can attest to this sweet sentiment.
Claude Vess: Friend, Christian Brother, and Boss Retired Chief Financial Officer by Gerald Ball
It has been said that a man is very fortunate if he has one very close friend. Fortunate indeed I have been in my relationship with Claude Vess. When I first met Claude, I invited him to go see where I worked in the Information Technology Department of the college, and it became obvious to each of us that we just might become close friends when our conversation moved to each other’s Christian faith. Thus began our 40-year friendship. Right away we connected in a “closer than a brother” way as we each shared our life experiences and heard how much we had in common. In a few months, we began meeting at 7:00 a.m. to share life happenings, personal celebrations, and struggles. We then routinely prayed together before we went to our separate offices. This began a 24-year sharing time every Friday morning in my office with two to six guys invited to join with us in praying for Mars Hill College, as well as the personal concerns we shared. A year or so after coming to the college, Claude became my boss. We never had difficulty in this
arrangement, because each of us had respect for authority and employee/supervisor relations. In another department on campus, there was a situation where an employee came to work intoxicated. Claude became aware of the situation and went to talk to him. The man was very embarrassed and Claude responded by putting his arm around the guy’s shoulder and praying for him before sending him home to recover. There were other situations where he dealt with the problem in a compassionate way because he was more concerned about the person than the issue at hand. My close friend did many good deeds, loved on many people right where they were, and loved his family dearly. “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” ...and he did! Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022 31
P.O. Box 370 Mars Hill, N.C. 28754
D A 3 Y 4 31 M 22 H U
Thank You!
Thanks to our generous donors, MHU surpassed the 2022 goal for Day4MHU, raising over $319,000 (with gifts still coming in) and setting a new record for Day4MHU! A total of 328 friends and alumni gave so that MHU students can continue to MOVE MOUNTAINS and TRANSFORM LIVES.
32 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
#DAY4MHU
