From These Stones - Winter 2010-11 by Mars Hill University

Winter 2010-11

Volume 13, Number 2

Magazine Staff EDITOR :: Mike Thornhill ’88, Director of Communications ASSOCIATE EDITOR :: Teresa Buckner, Media Relations Coordinator CONTRIBUTORS :: Amy Carraux-Price Stan Dotson ’84 Barbara Hassen Tiffany Hill ’01 Tim McClain

On the cover: Bailey Mountain on a cold winter’s morn. Photo by Dr. Marc Mullinax ’77, MHC Assistant Professor of Religion

Nick Petrone

Mars Hill College Administration PRESIDENT :: Dr. Dan G. Lunsford ’69 EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT :: Dr. John Wells VP OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT :: Bud Christman VP OF FINANCE :: Neil Tilley EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING & AUXILIARY :: Dr. Grainger Caudle

From These Stones: The Mars Hill College Magazine is published regularly by the Office of Communications. It is distributed, without charge, to alumni, donors, and friends of the college. Notices of changes of address and class notes should be addressed to the Alumni Office, Mars Hill College, P.O. Box 370, Mars Hill, NC 28754. Phone 828.689.1102. Fax 828.689.1292. E-mail alumni@mhc.edu. Letters to the editor and all other correspondence regarding the magazine should be addressed to the Office of Communications, Mars Hill College, P.O. Box 6765, Mars Hill, NC 28754. Phone 828.689.1298. Fax 828.689.1105. E-mail mthornhill@mhc.edu. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Alumni Office, Mars Hill College, P.O. Box 6665, Mars Hill, NC 28754. Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

From These Stones – The Mars Hill College Magazine

In This Issue

Winter 2010-11 Volume 13, Number 2

Readership Survey

Students Experience Metanoia

A Heritage of Grace

G. McLeod Bryan

MHC 2011

Alumnus Leaves a Legacy

Athletics News

A History of Diversity

Musical Heritage

Homecoming

Class Notes

Help us bring you the best possible alumni magazine

Fall break brings mission opportunity

Remembering Dr. Robert Melvin

A reflection on a man who left quite a mark on the world

Pull-out wall calendar with spring semester highlights

Dr. Robert Graham’s ongoing impact on MHC

News and notes from MHC sports

Founders Week explores complicated, progressive history

New Harmonies exhibit wraps up; alumna celebrates MHC’s folk influences

Looking back at 2010 and planning for 2011

Keep up with your MHC classmates

From These Stones – Fall 2007

Help Us Bring You the Best Possible Alumni Magazine In an effort to provide an alumni magazine that best serves the Mars Hill College community, please complete the following survey and return by mail in the envelope provided. The survey can also be completed online at www.mhc.edu/ alumni/magazine-survey. What years did you attend Mars Hill College? ____________________________ How much of the alumni magazine do you typically read?

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 Class Notes  Sports  Stories about alumni/former professors  Stories about current students/faculty  Other: ____________________________________

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 Reminds me of my experiences at MHC  Encourages me to volunteer my time to MHC  Encourages me to support MHC financially  Helps me to feel more in touch with my MHC classmates  Other: ____________________________________

How do you feel the alumni magazine fails to strengthen your connection to Mars Hill College (check all that apply)?

 The magazine does not address topics of interest to me  The magazine does not reflect my experience with Mars Hill College  The magazine is not an objective source of information about Mars Hill College  The magazine is primarily a fund-raising tool  Other: ____________________________________

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From These Stones – The Mars Hill College Magazine

Students Experience Metanoia for Fall Break by Teresa Buckner

While many college students were using their fall break to take a well-deserved vacation from classes, catch up with friends and family, or make up school work, eight students from Mars Hill College used their recent fall break to experience “Metanoia.” “Metanoia” is a Greek word used several times in the New Testament which means “pushing forward” or “creating positive change.” Metanoia is also the name of a ministry in North Charleston, South Carolina, which has sought to help a community “push forward” by working with residents in the community to tackle social problems from the inside out. According to student Annie Sutton, this is the third year that a group of students from Mars Hill have gone to work at Metanoia over fall break. As missions chair for the Mars Hill College Christian Student Movement, Sutton was responsible for planning the trip. “It’s just such a great community and it’s really inspiring to see the work that they do,” Sutton said. “And since we already had a connection there, the fall break trip was just a good way to continue to build community and to continue to build that relationship.” Students from Mars Hill College who worked at Metanoia Community Development Ministry over fall break: (front l-r) Paige Bedard, Rachel Connor, Jameson Donnell, (back, l-r) Annie Sutton, Chandler Hill, Shelby Johnson, Breanna Mason, and Hilary Modlin.

Although their trip was relatively brief, students from Mars Hill accomplished a lot. They painted the entire interior of a house, and then helped tutor children in the Metanoia after school program. They also got a lesson in the issues faced by residents of North Charleston. Metanoia Community Development Corporation began in the North Charleston suburb of Chicora Cherokee, and has now expanded into other nearby suburbs. Unlike Charleston proper, North Charleston is an area riddled with poverty and crime. The ministry undertakes to address negative influences in the community by majoring on community assets. Metanoia addresses needs through a housing program that helps renters become home owners in the community; an afterschool program that teaches children to be young leaders and entrepreneurs; and financial education for adults designed to help them make responsible decisions for themselves and their families. Sutton described the Metanoia model this way: “The whole point of Metanoia is working from the inside out, so instead of coming in and just giving people money

Paige Bedard and Jameson Donnell prepare to paint.

From These Stones – Winter 2010–11

or giving food, they are trying to teach them how to take care of themselves and families.”

new venture business startups for the children who are involved in the businesses,” he said.

Metanoia’s housing program involves buying foreclosure homes in the community, fixing them up and then helping community residents buy the home. According to Metanoia, the increase in home ownership automatically decreases the crime rate, because home owners “take ownership” of their community, report crimes, and take

Hill, a former resident of Charleston, was anxious to participate in the trip. “As soon as I heard that there was a service opportunity in Charleston, I was all on it. And now, I would highly recommend this trip to anyone next year.” This was the third trip to Metanoia that junior Paige Bedard had made. “I feel like I could open up my own painting business after all the painting we’ve done!” she said. Bedard, a political science and Spanish major, said those experiences taught her not just how to paint a house, but what kind of impact simple gestures like painting can have on the life of an individual. “On our first trip, I thought, ‘we’re just painting a house, what kind of impact can that have?’ Bedard said. “But then, the last day we were there painting, the woman who lived there showed up, and she was in tears because a group of students who were strangers to the community had spent their fall break painting her house. That was such an amazing experience, seeing how grateful she was. That trip gave so much more to me than we could ever give to her by painting her house.”

Shelby Johnson and Hilary Modlin at work in a home in the Chicora Cherokee community.

steps to keep their neighborhood safe.

Like Sutton, Bedard has seen and experienced the growing relationship between the residents and staff of Metanoia and Mars Hill college students, and believes that both groups have benefitted from that relationship.

Chandler Hill, a freshman member of the Mars Hill team, was impressed with the way the ministry uses a business “Over these past three years, I feel like a part of me has model to address community needs, and to give children become invested in North Charleston. I honestly would an avenue for success in the future. The centerpiece of have no problem someday working in North Charleston the leadership program for children is entrepreneurship and being a part of what they do there. It’s a program to programs, he said. While younger children simply enjoy be proud of,” she said. afterschool activities, older boys in the afterschool care In addition to Annie Sutton, Paige Bedard and Chanprogram have a t-shirt printing business, and older girls dler Hill, the students from Mars Hill who went on the have a jewelry making business. mission trip to Metanoia were: Breanna Mason, Rachel “Metanoia takes the profits from those businesses, they Connor, Jameson Donnell, Hilary Modlin and Shelby match them, and they put into fund for scholarships or Johnson.

From These Stones – The Mars Hill College Magazine

Faculty & Staff News Dr. Chris Cain, associate professor of education, has been chosen to participate in a consortium working to support teachers in improving the learning of students with significant cognitive disabilities. The Dynamic Learning Map Alternative Assessment System Consortium is comprised of professionals from eleven states. Dr. Cain (at right, working with a student) is the only member representing a private college. His primary responsibility in the project will be to lead efforts to create professional development content related to K-12 mathematics for teachers in the eleven states. Dr. Carol Boggess, professor of English, published “Letters of Content, Common Understanding: James Still’s Correspondence with Marjorie Rawlings and Katherine Anne Porter, 1936-1945,” in the Fall 2010 issue of Appalachian Heritage. Dr. Noel Kinnamon, professor of English, published a sixth book, The Correspondence (c. 1626-1659) of Dorothy Percy Sidney, Countess of Leicester, with Margaret Hannay and Michael Brennan. This edition is a companion volume to Domestic Politics and Family Absence: The Correspondence (1588-1621) of Robert Sidney, First Earl of Leicester, and Barbara Gamage Sidney, Countess of Leicester, also with Hannay and Brennan. Both titles are part of the series titled the Early Modern Englishwoman 1500-1750: Contemporary Editions. “Credo,” an exhibit of the artwork of Dr. Rick Cary, professor of art and chair of the Division of Fine Arts, was exhibited in the fall of 2010 at the Abrons Art Center in New York City. The photographs in Credo document moments in the religious lives of a small congregation of Signs Following believers at the Church of God in Jesus’ Name Only in the southern Appalachian Mountains. The exhibition is one of the outcomes of his sabbatical last spring. Reverend Jimmy Morrow Taking Up a Copperhead (2010) - by Rick Cary

Amanda Randolph Willis, director of financial aid, received her master’s degree in higher education administration from Western Carolina University in December.

Remembering a professor, a mother and a friend by Ilana Howard of the Hilltop student newspaper staff

On Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010, Dr. Janet Cummings Fortune, an associate professor of education at Mars Hill College, passed away in Asheville after a battle with cancer. She was 58. Fortune was the daughter of the late Porter Fortune, a former chancellor of the University of Mississippi, and Elizabeth Fortune. She was born in Hattiesburg, Miss., in 1952. Fortune left behind her mother, Elizabeth, and a son, Jacob Fortune Kidd; brothers, Phil Fortune and Carey Fortune and two sister-in-laws, Jan and Regina; and a sister, Jean Kaplan and her husband. She served as the elementary education coordinator and co-coordinator of the Integrated Education Program at Mars Hill College. She was an associate professor of education at Greensboro College from 2006-2009 before joining MHC. “I’m going to miss having her to turn for guidance and support in my educational career,” said Kelsey Sawyer, a student at Mars Hill College. On Tuesday, Oct. 26, Crossroads held a candlelight services of prayer and mediation open to the community. Paper was provided for anyone who wished to write her family a note, which was to be compiled and given to her son. She requested cremation. “If I could say something to her family,” said Sawyer, “I would tell them that I’m sorry for their great loss. We will dearly miss seeing her sweet face and happy personality every day.” Fortune had a passion for her students, playing the banjo and drums, reading and spending time with the Mars Hill Ladies Lunch Club. From These Stones – Winter 2010–11

Dr. Robert Melvin Leaves a Heritage of Grace by Teresa Buckner

“There is a heritage that we leave behind, an influence that we leave on people,” said Dr. Thomas Sawyer recently. “Bob did it well.” Sawyer is one of many people in recent weeks who has tried to put into words the heritage left behind by Dr. Robert Melvin, who passed away on Thanksgiving morning, November 25. Melvin’s legacy includes over 38 years as both religion professor and chaplain for Mars Hill College, as well as interim pastorates all over Buncombe, Madison and Yancey counties. Those who knew Dr. Robert Melvin best describe a man who was defined, in essence, by the loves of his life. Their words paint him as a man who was devoted to his family and relished his role as husband, father and grandfather; who loved the town and the college of Mars Hill and deliberately immersed himself in its small-town life; and who loved teaching and dedicated himself to the highest standards of scholarship. Above all, Melvin was a Christian whose authentic love for Christ infused every other love with sweetness and passion. Tom Sawyer got to know Melvin very well during the more than 20 years they taught religion together from the mid70s through the 90s at Mars Hill College. “He was a trusted friend,” Sawyer said. “I would trust him with my life, in fact. He was a person of tremendous integrity. He took life seriously; he took education seriously, but that doesn’t mean he was somber and solemn either. He had a good sense of humor.” Together with Dr. Page Lee, Dr. Ellison Jenkins and Dr. Earl Leininger, Sawyer and Melvin educated hundreds of religion majors who would go on to serve throughout the region as pastors, educators, writers and academicians. 8

From These Stones – The Mars Hill College Magazine

According to Sawyer, it was a working relationship of incredible harmony and synergy. “As far as I know, the five of us never had a disagreement. We had some different viewpoints theologically, but we were not antagonistic with each other; we got along very well.” Each professor had a specialty in the religion department. It is fitting, according to Sawyer, that Melvin’s expertise was church history, particularly the period of the Reformation. “Bob believed in grace.” Sawyer said. “His expertise was the Reformation Period, and Martin Luther was his hero. In fact, ‘grace’ was a good word to describe Bob.” For Melvin, religion was more than an academic subject, Sawyer said. It was a vocation and a calling. In addition to teaching future preachers, Melvin was a preacher himself, and was often sought for interim pastorates and memorial services throughout the region. “He had good content; it made sense. He was not a loud preacher, but his messages had a lot of heart. The message clearly meant a lot to him, and when he spoke, you wanted to listen,” Sawyer said. “Bob served in two roles here at Mars Hill. When I came, he was the chaplain of the college, so he was sort of our spiritual leader at the college. But also, he was considered somewhat of a spiritual leader for the whole Mars Hill community,” Sawyer said. Melvin also enjoyed an excellent relationship with his students, Sawyer said. “I never met a student who did not appreciate Bob and hold him in high esteem. That doesn’t mean everybody liked him equally because he was a tough professor and he didn’t give grades away. But they all considered him to be a person of integrity, a good scholar, and an interesting teacher. His courses were popular

and he had a close relationship with a good number of the students. They sought him as a counselor and they considered him a friend. He was what I would call the ideal teaching professor,” Sawyer said.

Melvin had a natural way of doing that,” he said. Cort said he came to Mars Hill College in 1991, feeling certain that he had been called to preach, but very uncertain about how to perform that awesome task.

Dr. Melvin’s long association with Mars Hill College began when he “I prayed that the Lord would send arrived as a student in 1949. After two years at Mars Hill, he completed someone to help guide me, to teach me what vocational ministry is, to his bachelor’s degree at Baylor Unihelp me flesh that out. I wanted versity in Texas, and then obtained a mentor to help me understand a Bachelor of Divinity and Master scripture better and to challenge me of Theology degrees at Southeastto reach others for Christ.” He said. ern Baptist Theological Seminary. It “I believe the Lord answered that was in 1963 that Melvin joined the prayer through Dr. Melvin. ” faculty of Mars Hill College as a professor of history and religion. Later According to Cort, Melvin oversaw his duties would expand to include a classroom where students could a lengthy period in the chaplaincy. ask questions without being made He completed his Doctor of Divinity to feel foolish. “He was very good at degree from Vanderbilt University in facilitating discussion in the class1975, and became a full-time profesroom, and he had a deep knowledge sor of religion from 1980 until his and grasp of the scriptures that I had retirement in 1997. not encountered up to that point. He had a great way of taking a simple One of the students Melvin influunderstanding of scripture and helpenced during that long career was ing you understand the deep wisdom Alec Cort, a 1995 graduate of Mars and truth in it. ” Hill College, and now the senior pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in But to Cort, the wisdom displayed Greenbrier, Tennessee. in the classroom was confirmed for those students who got to know Mel“I should have become a better student to please the Lord, but in truth, vin on a personal level. “He not only taught with a deep understanding of I became a better student to please the Bible, but he modeled it as well. Bob Melvin,” Cort said. He was a very authentic individual A mediocre student in high school, that could both teach the Christian Cort said the relationship he devellife, and live it out in his life.” oped with Dr. Melvin was a turning In the years after his graduation, point in his career and in his perCort got to know Melvin as a friend, sonal life. “Once I developed a and eventually served as youth pasrespect for him as a teacher, it was tor at Cane River Baptist church in my desire to do as well in that class Yancey County, where Melvin was as I could. That was the first thing in “interim” pastor for over 20 years. college that propelled me to seek a higher standard of academic achieveDuring those years, he said he came ment for myself,” he said. to know Melvin as one of the most selfless people he ever knew. “He was According to Cort, Melvin was able always there for his family, but then to be a friend to students withthere were numerous friends, family out sacrificing his authority in the members, college students, church classroom. members, that he would give his “I think it’s difficult to bridge the gap time and check on them, call them, between teacher and friend, but Dr. visit them, help them with physical From These Stones – Winter 2010–11

and financial needs. It was almost like the man could be in more than one place at a time.”

Jonas has followed Melvin’s footsteps in becoming the professor at Campbell whose expertise lies in church history. But he finds himself emuCort also saw Melvin as a husband lating Melvin and other professors and a father worth emulating. “Dr. from Mars Hill in other ways too. For Melvin was the greatest example of example, he has served 11 interim a man loving his wife that I’ve ever pastorates during his tenure as a seen,” Cort said. “I’ve known some professor at Campbell. “I remember wonderful people, and seen some thinking, ‘that’s the kind of religion wonderful marriages, but to me, Bob professor I want to be. I want to and Ann Melvin were the epitome of have one foot in the academic world what a successful marriage looks like. and one foot in the church,’ because He also taught me that the greatest I think there needs to be way to love your children is to love more of a bridging between their mother.” what can be different worlds sometimes,” he said. Dr. Glenn Jonas was another student who looked up to Robert Melvin. “I Clearly, Melvin left his loved the man dearly, and was really mark on the future preachsorry to hear of his passing,” he said ers who crossed his path. recently. But according to Dr. Scott Jonas, now chair of the religion department of Campbell University, said he appreciates the role that Melvin’s sense of humor played in his classroom. He said Melvin was a professor that was both entertaining and effective. He said he finds himself using humor in the classroom to emphasize a point, much like Melvin did. Jonas also credits Melvin with the direction of his education, and ultimately that of his life’s work. Jonas said: “The most important course I had under Dr. Melvin was church history from reformation to present. That course is ultimately why I ended up doing a Ph.D. in church history. I fell in love with church history during Dr. Melvin’s class. He had a way of making those characters from church history just come alive.”

Like Jonas, Pearson was touched by Melvin’s capability as a teacher, but also his capacity to model what he taught.

Pearson, now professor of biology at Mars Hill College, Melvin also made an impression on those who were meant for other paths in life.

Pearson was one of a group of Church Leadership Scholars when he came to Mars Hill College as a student in the early 1980s. Melvin played an important role in advising and mentoring that group of students, and in fact, he taught one of Pearson’s first classes, aimed specifically at the Church Leadership Scholars.

“I remember in class he gave us an orientation to college, but the course also had content about what it means to be Baptist and what it means to do ministry, and as a class we explored Like Cort, Jonas remembers Melvin those topics in a wide variety of ways,” as a demanding teacher, but one that Pearson said. earned his students’ respect. “I made an A in that course, and I remember According to Pearson, the unexthinking ‘this is one of my most trea- pected result of the course was a sured A’s.’ He expected a lot of us, but realization that became foundational because of my respect for him I did in his choice of career. not want to disappoint him,” Jonas said. “That was a point in my life that I clearly realized that one can be

involved in ministry no matter what your paying job is. I found pretty quickly that my skills lay not in church work, but in science. But through that course, Dr. Melvin helped me realize that I could still engage in ministry through science,” Pearson said.

From These Stones – The Mars Hill College Magazine

“On the one hand Dr. Melvin brought a great intellect and wisdom into the classroom, but he was able to translate that in such a way that it met us where we were. Whether it was a lecture or an open discussion, the topic wasn’t above our heads; he made it interesting and relevant to our lives,” Pearson said. “I think that it’s a special person who has that gift of professionalism. No one ever forgot that he was our teacher and our mentor yet at the same time his interactions had a loving personal touch. That’s one of the things I would aspire to, to be

that kind of mentor to my students,” he said. One of the people who experienced Melvin’s loving personal touch as a pastor was Marie Nicholson, Dean of ACCESS adult education at Mars Hill College. A member of Cane River Baptist Church, Nicholson sat under Melvin’s preaching for the 20-plus years of his “interim” pastorate there.

“It was the joke of Cane River,” she said. “He never would let us call him the pastor, even in year 19. And nobody could have been more pastoral than he was.”

the pulpit as well as a pastor and a preacher. He could interpret scripture from the academic perspective and give you a whole new perspective on scripture, and then tie in stories from years gone by, with bits of poetry and Christian literature. He just had an amazing mind.”

Though never a student in his class, Nicholson and all of Cane River Church benefitted from Melvin’s deep understanding of the scriptures According to Nicholson, Melvin’s commitment to the church and all for all those years. The preaching its needs was especially meaninghour was a time for learning as well as worship. “He was a professor from ful in light of his total dedication to

Bob Melvin, Colleague and Teacher By Kathy Meacham Bost Professor of Philosophy

Bob Melvin was an important teacher to me, as I learned what it meant to teach at Mars Hill College. When I began teaching here in the spring of 1989, I was the first non-Baptist, non-male, non-ministerial member of the Religion/Philosophy Department. Dr. Melvin was my teacher in Baptistology, beginning with how to pronounce it: he had a wonderfully amusing phonics lesson to correct the common mis-pronunciation “Babtist.” His voice, his skills in elocution, and his care with words were shared generously with the entire community, as he was often asked to emcee gatherings, to preach, and to lecture. His care with words was revealed in his consistent lessons to students about why they should actually write out prayers and write out sermons, calling on the authority of the great Baptist preacher and theologian Carlyle Marney. He also was a strong defender of women’s calling into ministry, and while he mentored many young men with a calling into ministry, he also supported many of Mars Hill’s young women. When that became an issue in the early 1990s, after the Southern Baptist seminaries began reversing their long tradition of supporting the ordination of women, Dr. Melvin led an in-depth study of Paul’s writings. He made the strong argument that a proper reading of Paul did not exclude women from the ordained ministry, but rather, supported it. At the MHC commencement last year, Baptist historian Bill Leonard spoke of the new book recently published entitled A Genealogy of Dissent: Southern Baptist Protest in the 20th Century, by David Stricklin. Bob Melvin’s doctoral dissertation from Vanderbilt in the 1950s served as one of the main sources for Stricklin’s work. Dr. Melvin uncovered the influence of MHC philosophy professor Walt Johnson, who published the pamphlet with the article by Martin England that inspired Clarence Jordan to start Koinonia Farms—the intentional Christian community in Americus, Georgia, that served as model of interracial harmony, living out a New Testament model of community. The people at Koinonia started Habitat for Humanity, which has changed the world. Bob Melvin played a role in telling the story of the kind of Baptists that founded Mars Hill College, who were fighters for social justice and supporters of religious liberty. Everything that Bob Melvin did was done with care, with humor, and with a commitment to “loving God with the mind” as well as with the heart and soul. When he announced that he was retiring, I said to him, “Bob, what are we going to do without you?” He laughed and replied, “Oh…it will be easy! No one is indispensable!” Just last summer, he was walking up the sidewalk in Mars Hill, greeting me with his irrepressible grin, and when I asked him how he was, his voice was clear: “Wonderful! I’m just wonderful.” And he was.

From These Stones – Winter 2010–11

the needs of his wife Ann, who has suffered from Parkinson’s disease for many years. “We were often left wondering, ‘how could anybody do all that, knowing that he had another job, and a family and a life; how could he be everywhere all the time?’ No matter what was going on, the Melvins were always there, even if they didn’t have to be, and usually with cookies,” she said.

move in and out of so many different circles with such comfort and ease. He was just a rarity; he was one of the greats of Mars Hill College, and we are better because he was here,” Lunsford said. According to Lunsford, Melvin had a gift for beautiful words, and beautiful, heartfelt prayers. That’s why he was one of two people that Lunsford asked to offer prayers during his presidential inaugural service.

An aspect of Melvin’s personal“The inaugural prayer offered by Bob ity that permeated his presence Melvin was especially meaningful, at church events was his ability to because it was so well crafted, but focus intently on individuals. “He also so heartfelt and thoughtful,” always made you feel like you were Lunsford said. “Two things stand the most special person on earth,” out to me about my inauguration. It Nicholson said. “Whatever may have wasn’t what I said. It was Bob Melbeen going on in his life, you were vin’s inaugural prayer and my dad’s important to him.” benediction. If ever two men could invoke the presence of God, it was It is a tribute to Melvin’s legacy that Bob Melvin and my dad.” Cane River Baptist Church built the Bob and Ann Melvin FellowMelvin’s renowned way with words ship Hall during his tenure there. “I was one of the reasons that Dr. wonder how many ‘interim’ pastors Virginia Hart had already spoken to have a fellowship hall named in their him about conducting her funeral honor?” Nicholson said. service someday. Melvin was chaplain when Dan Lunsford, now president of Mars Hill College, came to Mars Hill as a student in 1965. Later, when Lunsford joined the faculty of Mars Hill, he came to know Melvin as a recently-retired colleague. “He was a man who was extremely knowledgeable and learned in a wide variety of things, far beyond what one would call biblical studies,” he said. “He was also a very caring, pastoral person, who was concerned not only about Mars Hill College, but about the whole community. And he could

“He was supposed to bury me,” she said recently. More important than Melvin’s way with words was the long relationship she had with Melvin as a colleague. The two were cosponsors of several senior classes in earlier years at Mars Hill. One of those groups was the class of 1960, which at its 50th reunion created the Hart-Melvin Research Fellowship in honor of these two beloved professors. “I was very, very fond of him,” Hart said.

Perhaps no one could better express the heritage left by Bob Melvin than his children: Vera Melvin Williams, Laurie Melvin Halvorsen and Bailey Melvin, their spouses, and between them, their 13 children. In addition to Melvin’s friends and pastors Rev. Sue Fitzgerald and Rev. Tommy Justus, several members of the family spoke eloquently of Melvin’s life and legacy at his memorial service, held at Mars Hill Baptist on December 4. During the service, Melvin’s son, Bailey, described a father and grandfather who was as authentic at home as he was in the classroom and in the pulpit, a man who lived every day with faith, gratitude and good humor, and who made sure that his wife, children and grandchildren knew they were cherished. “Daddy gave us an unconditional love. He wrapped us in a warm embrace, he encouraged us, and he was the most positive man I have ever known…Vera, Laurie and I could not have been luckier to have daddy as a father and we will forever be proud to be known as Bob Melvin’s children,” he said. At the service, Alec Cort, asked to speak by the family, shared a quote attributed to James S. Stewart. According to Cort, the quote was one of Melvin’s favorites, and fit his life, his ministry and his legacy. “The giving of ourselves to Christ is not the decision of an hour or a day, it is the work of a lifetime, with a new commitment every morning and a fresh surrender every night, until finally death seals our offering and our commitment is complete.” Indeed. Rest in peace, Dr. Melvin.

HART-MELVIN RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its graduation from Mars Hill College, the class of 1960 endowed an archival research fellowship, named for Dr. Virginia Hart & Dr. Robert Melvin. The Hart-Melvin Archival Research Fellowship will help fund faculty-student research teams who will investigate the rich archival collections of the Southern Appalachian Archives and develop teaching materials drawing on the resources in those collections for Mars Hill College courses. 12

From These Stones – The Mars Hill College Magazine

G. McLeod “Mac” Bryan 1920 – 2010

G. McLeod “Mac” Bryan ’39, namesake of the annual Caring Awards presented by Mars Hill College, died September 29 at the age of 90. We asked former Dean of LifeWorks Stan Dotson ’84, who was instrumental in connecting Dr. Bryan with the Caring Awards, to share some thoughts.

Without a doubt, the highlight of my twelve years of work at Mars Hill was the privilege I had to work with Mac Bryan and his wife, Edna. We worked together on the G. McLeod Bryan Caring Award, a recognition for significant community engagement that the college gives each year to a student and a faculty/staff member. It all started in 1997 when the college received a generous gift to start the Caring Award, and President Max Lennon asked me to find an alum for whom we could name the award. It was only a few days later that I found myself in line behind Mac and Edna Bryan at Wake Forest Baptist’s church supper, and I discovered that Mac had

graduated from Mars Hill in 1939. Having been aware of Mac’s lifelong advocacy for human rights and his tremendous legacy around issues of peace and justice, I knew I needed look no farther for the Caring Award honoree. Dr. Lennon had asked me to “vet” whatever name I brought to the table with some of the retired faculty and staff of the college, and I got enthusiastic confirmation from Emmett Sams, Bob Melvin, and Robert Chapman, all of whom said we couldn’t find a better person for the award. It would take more than a magazine article to describe McLeod Bryan’s impact on the world; that

will be the job of his biographers and others who will research his many books and articles, his work on civil rights, and his tenure of teaching at institutions around the world, most notable Mercer and Wake Forest. What I will add here is the amazing impact he had on individuals who went on to do incredible work in a wide variety of social justice causes. Year after year we had distinguished lecturers come and give the G. McLeod Bryan Caring Award Lecture, and every year I would hear the stories of how Mac had been a prime influence on his or her life and lifework. These stories came from people like author Will Campbell, biblical theologian Phyllis From These Stones – Winter 2010–11

Trible, world religion scholar Huston Smith, AIDS prevention advocate Elizabeth Onjorou, and Congressman David Price. The testimonies all added up to what Mac’s friend and fellow Mars Hill student Carl Harris calls “the ripple effect of a life welllived.” I was able to visit Mac and Edna several times in the last year of his life, and was deeply moved when he asked me if I would deliver the eulogy at his funeral. Unfortunately for me, I was in Cuba when I heard the news of his death, and was not able to make it back for the service. Edna did ask if I would write something and send to the family to be read at the graveside funeral service at the home church where Mac was baptized and ordained. Below is the text of what I sent. Dear Edna and Family and Friends of McLeod Bryan: Mac gave me one of the highest honors when he asked me several months ago to speak at his funeral. It grieves me to miss out on that opportunity, but I am glad to send some of my reflections, and I want you to know that we will be praying for you and remembering Mac in our church service Sunday in La

Vallita, Cuba. He has many kindred spirits here and they have resonated deeply with the stories we have shared.

Another thing that I greatly appreciate about Mac was his ability to connect the extraordinary, larger than life work of peace and justice around the world to the ordinary, On several occasions Mac shared everyday work of individuals like with me his memories of being in me. He looked at us the same way church as a child, listening to the he looked at the world, through gospel stories, and being fascinated that knothole – helping us to see by a knothole in the wall that gave ourselves with far greater possibilhim a view of the outside world. That ity than we could have imagined hole in the church wall became a otherwise. When Kim and I were lens through which he envisioned co-pastoring the little church in the and dreamed of what life could be little town of Stoneville, Mac had like out in the world. One thing that us convinced that we were engaged I have always appreciated about Mac in the most significant work in the is that he never left the church, he world. Later, when he got involved never quit listening to the gospel in my work at Mars Hill, he gave the message, and he never quit looking faculty and staff of that struggling out that knothole to dream about college that same gift. Every year he what the beloved community could would come and give the benediction be. And he worked his whole life to to the service we had in his honor, help give shape to that community. and his good word always left us feeling like Mars Hill was light years I cherish my copy of Mac’s first essay ahead of Yale and Harvard. in his freshman English class at Mars Hill, where he laid out his sense Finally, I give thanks for Mac’s ability of vocation and his plans for the to teach us that life, even with all future. His experience in that little its tragic flaws, is indeed a divine church and in that rural community comedy. He inspired us to laugh at had given him some incredibly farour foolishness and our surprising reaching dreams of work for racial experiences of grace. Life can cerand economic justice in the US and tainly be depressing at times, and the around the world. And his lifework work for peace and justice can be a demonstrates how faithful he was to difficult struggle, but it’s hard to stay that dream. depressed for long with the image of Mac’s wide-open-mouth laugh punctuating our life and our work. His laugh is the exclamation mark to the story of a life well-lived, and he has indeed left quite a mark on the world.

Mac Bryan presents former Dean of LifeWorks Stan Dotson with an honorary “Bryan Caring Award” at the 2009 awards banquet.

From These Stones – The Mars Hill College Magazine

MARS HILL COLLEGE - 2011

ACCESS First Short Term Begins & New/Late Registration In Ofﬁce ...........August 8 Residence Halls Open For New Freshmen & Transfers/Orientation Begins ..August 19 Residence Halls Open For Registered Continuing Students...........................August 21 Traditional Classes Begin At 8 A.M. - Tuesday ..............................................August 23 Opening Convocation .....................................................................................August 30 Last Day To Apply For Graduation In December ........................................... October 3 Madison County Heritage Festival-Fall .......................................................... October 1 Homecoming, Alumni Day - Fall.................................................................... October 8 ACCESS Second Short-Term Begins ............................................................ October 10 Founders Week - Fall ..................................................................................... October 10 Fall Break .................................................................................................October 17-19 Early Spring Registration.......................................................................... Oct 21-Nov 4 Thanksgiving Holidays ........................................................................November 22-23 Last Day Of Regular Classes .......................................................................December 6 Reading Day, Evening Exams Begin ...........................................................December 7 Regular Day Exams Begin ...........................................................................December 8 Examinations End; Christmas Holidays Begin ..........................................December 14 Graduation Exercises .................................................................................December 16 Administrative Ofﬁces Close For Christmas Holidays..............................December 16

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Choral Festival-Spring ............................................................................... February 4-5 Last Day To Apply For Graduation In May Or August .....................................March 1 ACCESS Second Short-Term Begins ................................................................March 7 Spring Break Begins At End Of Classes ..........................................................March 11 Administrative Ofﬁces Reopen After Spring Break ........................................March 16 Spring Break Ends and Classes Resume, 8 A.M.............................................March 21 Early Fall Registration ........................................................................March 28-April 1 Student Liberal Arts Mosaic (SLAM)................................................................April 13 Good Friday Holiday ........................................................................................April 22 Last Day Of Regular Classes .............................................................................April 27 Reading Day, Evening Exams Begin .................................................................April 28 Regular Day Exams Begin .................................................................................April 29 Examinations End .................................................................................................May 4 Final Grades Posted By Faculty............................................................................May 5 Graduation Exercises ............................................................................................May 7 Summer Term I Begins (Subject To Change) .....................................................May 23 Summer Term II Begins (Subject To Change) ....................................................June 27 Independence Day Holiday ................................................................................... July 4 ACCESS Registration On IQ.Web .......................................................June 1-August 8

Softball vs. Chowan @ Lexington, N.C. (@ N Davidson HS) .......Mar. 6, 1 pm, 3 pm Baseball vs. Pfeiffer @ Misenheimer, N.C. ........................................ Mar. 8, 2:30 pm Softball vs. Carson-Newman @ HOME ...............................Mar. 8, (DH) 2 pm, 4 pm Tennis vs. Lenoir-Rhyne @ HOME ........................................................ Mar. 8, 2 pm Baseball vs. Pfeiffer @ HOME .......................................................... Mar. 9, 2:30 pm Lacrosse vs. Belmont Abbey @ Belmont, N.C. ....................................... Mar. 9, 4 pm Baseball vs. Lincoln Memorial @ Harrogate, Tenn. ............................. Mar. 11, 4 pm Track & Field NCAA Nat’l Championship Meet @ Alburquerque, N.M. . Mar. 11-12 Baseball vs. Lincoln Memorial (DH) @ Harrogate, Tenn. .................... Mar. 12, 1 pm Lacrosse vs. Limestone @ HOME ........................................................ Mar. 12, 1 pm Baseball vs. St. Andrews (DH) @ Laurinburg, N.C. ............................. Mar. 15, 1 pm Softball vs. St. Andrews @ Laurinburg, N.C. ....................Mar. 15, (DH) 2 pm , 4 pm Baseball vs. UNC Pembroke @ Pembroke, N.C. .................................. Mar. 16, 2 pm Softball vs. UNC Pembroke @ Pembroke, N.C. ................Mar. 16, (DH) 2 pm, 4 pm Lacrosse vs. Rollins @ Winter Park, Fla. .............................................. Mar. 16, 4 pm Track & Field Shamrock Invitational @ Conway, S.C. .............................. Mar. 17-19 Baseball vs. Brevard @ Brevard, N.C. .................................................. Mar. 18, 3 pm Baseball vs. Brevard (DH) @ Brevard, N.C. ......................................... Mar. 19, noon Softball vs. Newberry @ Newberry, S.C. ...........................Mar. 19, (DH) 1 pm, 3 pm Lacrosse vs. Florida Southern @ Lakeland, Fla. ................................... Mar. 19, 1 pm

ATHLETIC CALENDAR (COMPOSITE, SPRING SPORTS ONLY) Baseball vs. Limestone @ Gaffney, S.C. ...................................................Feb. 1, 2 pm Basketball vs. Newberry @ HOME ..................................Feb. 2, 6 pm (W), 8 pm (M) Baseball vs. Blueﬁeld State (DH) @ Blueﬁeld, W. Va. ............................Feb. 2, 2 pm Baseball vs. North Georgia @ Dahlonega, Ga. ........................................Feb. 4, 4 pm Softball vs. Glenville St. @ Gastonia, N.C. ..............................................Feb. 4, 2 pm Softball vs. Belmont Abbey @ Gastonia, N.C. .........................................Feb. 4, 4 pm Tennis vs. Coker @ Rock Hill, S.C. .........................................................Feb. 4, 1 pm Basketball vs. Anderson @ Anderson, S.C. .....................Feb. 5, 2 pm (W), 4 pm (M) Baseball vs. North Georgia @ Dahlonega, Ga. ........................................Feb. 5, 1 pm Softball vs. Salem International @ Gastonia, N.C. ..................................Feb. 5, 2 pm Softball vs. Johnson C. Smith @ Gastonia, N.C. ......................................Feb. 5, 4 pm Lacrosse vs. Presbyterian (Scrimmage) @ HOME ..................................Feb. 5, 1 pm Swimming vs. Warren Wilson @ HOME ..................................................Feb. 5, 1 pm Track & Field VMI Winter Relays @ Lexington, Va. .........................................Feb. 5 Baseball vs. North Georgia @ Dahlonega, Ga. ........................................Feb. 6, 1 pm Basketball vs. Lincoln Memorial @ HOME ...................Feb. 9, 6 pm (W), 8 pm (M) Baseball vs. North Greenville @ Tigerville, S.C. .....................................Feb. 9, 2 pm Softball vs. Virginia Intermont @ HOME .................................................Feb. 9, 2 pm Softball vs. Virginia Intermont @ HOME ................................................Feb. 9, 4 pm Softball vs. North Greenville @ Tigerville, S.C. ....................................Feb. 11, 2 pm

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MARS HILL COLLEGE

Start Something at...

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Softball vs. North Greenville @ Tigerville, S.C. ....................................Feb. 11, 4 pm Basketball vs. Brevard @ HOME .................................Feb. 12, 2 pm (W), 4 pm (M) Baseball vs. Fairmont State (DH) @ HOME .........................................Feb. 12, noon Softball vs. Bellermine @ HOME ..........................................................Feb. 12, noon Softball vs. Bellermine @ HOME ..........................................................Feb. 12, 2 pm Track & Field Carolina Invitational @ Chapel Hill, N.C. ................................Feb. 12 Baseball vs. Fairmont State @ HOME ...................................................Feb. 13, 1 pm Tennis vs. Young Harris @ HOME ........................................................Feb. 13, 1 pm Baseball vs. Belmont Abbey @ Belmont, N.C. ......................................Feb. 15, 2 pm Softball vs. North Georgia @ Dahlonega, Ga. .................... Feb. 15, (DH) 2 pm, 4 pm Basketball vs. Carson-Newman @ Jefferson City, Tenn. Feb. 16, 6 pm (W), 8 pm (M) Baseball vs. Tusculum @ HOME ............................................................Feb. 16, 2 pm Lacrosse vs. St. Andrews @ Laurinurg, N.C. ....................................Feb. 16, 3:30 pm Baseball vs. Wingate @ Wingate, N.C. ..................................................Feb. 18, 6 pm Softball vs. Salem International @ HOME .................................Feb. 18, 2 pm, 4 pm Swimming vs. ASC Championships @ Athens, Ohio ................................. Feb. 18-19 Tennis vs. Limestone @ Gaffney, S.C. ...................................................Feb. 18, 2 pm Basketball vs. Wingate @ Wingate, N.C. .......................Feb. 19, 2 pm (W), 4 pm (M) Baseball vs. Wingate (DH) @ Wingate, N.C. .........................................Feb. 19, 1 pm Softball vs. King @ HOME ............................................... Feb. 19, (DH) 1 pm , 3 pm Lacrosse vs. Molloy @ HOME ..............................................................Feb. 19, 2 pm Track & Field Gamecock Invitational @ Columbia, S.C. ................................Feb. 19 Tennis vs. UNC Asheville @ Asheville, N.C. .........................................Feb. 20, 3 pm Baseball vs. Young Harris @ Young Harris, Ga. ....................................Feb. 22, 2 pm Tennis vs. Lander @ HOME ...................................................................Feb. 22, 2 pm Basketball vs. Catawba @ HOME ..................................Feb. 23, 6 pm (W), 8 pm (M) Softball vs. Belmont Abbey @ HOME .............................. Feb. 24, (DH) 2 pm, 4 pm Baseball vs. Catawba @ HOME .............................................................Feb. 25, 2 pm Basketball vs. Tusculum (Senior Day) @ HOME ..........Feb. 26, 2 pm (W), 4 pm (M) Baseball vs. Catawba (DH) @ HOME ....................................................Feb. 26, noon Softball vs. Pikeville @ HOME ......................................... Feb. 26, (DH) 1 pm , 3 pm Lacrosse vs. Lenoir-Rhyne @ HOME ....................................................Feb. 26, 1 pm Tennis vs. Anderson @ HOME ..............................................................Feb. 26, 1 pm Softball vs. Lees-McRae @ HOME ................................... Feb. 27, (DH) 2 pm, 4 pm Basketball vs. SAC Tournament Quarterﬁnals @ Higher Seed ......................... Mar. 2, Baseball vs. Belmont Abbey @ HOME .................................................. Mar. 2, 2 pm Softball vs. North Greenville @ HOME ..............................Mar. 2, (DH) 2 pm, 4 pm Softball vs. Young Harris @ HOME ............................................. Mar. 3, 2 pm, 4 pm Baseball vs. Newberry @ HOME ............................................................ Mar. 4, 2 pm Lacrosse vs. Mercyhurst @ HOME ......................................................... Mar. 4, 3 pm Basketball vs. SAC Tournament Semiﬁnals @ Higher Seed .............................. Mar. 5 Baseball vs. Newberry (DH) @ HOME .................................................. Mar. 5, noon Softball vs. King @ Bristol, Tenn. ................................................. Mar. 5, 2 pm, 4 pm Tennis vs. Longwood & Gardner-Webb @ Boiling Springs, N.C. ...... Mar. 5, 10 a.m. Track & Field Last Chance Meet @ Blacksburg, Va. ........................................ Mar. 5 Basketball vs. SAC Tournament Finals @ Hickory, N.C. (CVCC) .................... Mar. 6

Tennis vs. Milligan @ Johnson City, Tenn. ........................................... Mar. 21, 3 pm Baseball vs. King @ Bristol, Tenn. ........................................................ Mar. 22, 3 pm Lacrosse vs. Lees-McRae @ HOME ..................................................... Mar. 23, 4 pm Baseball vs. Carson-Newman @ HOME .............................................. Mar. 25, 3 pm Tennis vs. Wingate @ Wingate, N.C. ..................................................... Mar. 25, 2 pm Track & Field Raleigh Relays @ Raleigh, N.C. .............................................. Mar. 25 Baseball vs. North Greenville @ HOME .............................................. Mar. 23, 3 pm Baseball vs. Carson-Newman (DH) @ HOME ..................................... Mar. 26, noon Softball vs. Wingate @ Wingate, N.C. ...............................Mar. 26, (DH) 1 pm, 3 pm Lacrosse vs. Catawba @ Salisbury, N.C. ......................................................... Mar. 26 Track & Field Asics Invitational @ Rock Hill, S.C. ........................................ Mar. 26 Tennis vs. Tusculum @ HOME ............................................................. Mar. 29, 2 pm Baseball vs. Young Harris @ HOME .................................................... Mar. 30, 3 pm Softball vs. Lenoir-Rhyne @ HOME .................................Mar. 30, (DH) 2 pm, 4 pm Baseball vs. Anderson @ Anderson, S.C. .................................................Apr. 1, 7 pm Lacrosse vs. Saint Leo @ HOME .............................................................Apr. 1, 4 pm Tennis vs. Catawba @ HOME ..................................................................Apr. 1, 2 pm Baseball vs. Anderson @ Anderson, S.C. .................................................Apr. 2, 1 pm Softball vs. Brevard @ Brevard, N.C. .................................. Apr. 2, (DH) 1 pm, 3 pm Track & Field Terrier Relays @ Spartanburg, S.C. ............................................Apr. 2 Lacrosse vs. Wingate @ Wingate, N.C. ....................................................Apr. 3, 2 pm Softball vs. Catawba @ HOME ............................................ Apr. 5, (DH) 2 pm, 4 pm Tennis vs. Brevard @ HOME ...................................................................Apr. 5, 3 pm Baseball vs. Limestone @ HOME ............................................................Apr. 6, 3 pm Baseball vs. Tusculum @ Greeneville, Tenn. ...........................................Apr. 8, 7 pm Tennis vs. Newberry @ Newberry, S.C. ...................................................Apr. 8, 3 pm Baseball vs. Tusculum (DH) @ Greeneville, Tenn. ..................................Apr. 9, 1 pm Softball vs. Lincoln Memorial @ Harrogate, Tenn. .............. Apr. 9, (DH) 2 pm, 4 pm Lacrosse vs. Queens @ HOME ................................................................Apr. 9, 1 pm Track & Field Furman Invitational @ Greenville, S.C. ......................................Apr. 9 Tennis vs. Lincoln Memorial @ Harrogate, Tenn. ..................................Apr. 11, 2 pm Baseball vs. King @ HOME ...................................................................Apr. 12, 3 pm Lacrosse vs. Deep South Quarterﬁnals @ Higher Seed ....................................Apr. 12 Softball vs. Tusculum @ HOME ........................................ Apr. 13, (DH) 2 pm, 4 pm Lacrosse vs. Deep South Semiﬁnals @ Higher Seed ........................................Apr. 14 Baseball vs. Lenoir-Rhyne @ HOME ....................................................Apr. 15, 3 pm Tennis vs. Carson-Newman @ Jefferson City, Tenn. ..............................Apr. 15, 2 pm Track & Field Johnson City Relays @ Johnson City, Tenn. ....................... Apr. 15-16 Baseball vs. Lenoir-Rhyne @ HOME ....................................................Apr. 16, noon Softball vs. Anderson @ Anderson, S.C. ............................ Apr. 16, (DH) 1 pm, 3 pm Lacrosse vs. Deep South Finals @ Saint Leo, Fla. ...........................................Apr. 17 Baseball vs. SAC Tournament @ Forest City, N.C. ................................... Apr. 20-23 Track & Field NCAA SE Region Championship Meet @ Hickory, N.C. .. Apr. 22-23 Lacrosse vs. Pfeiffer @ HOME ..............................................................Apr. 23, 1 pm Track & Field Georgia Tech Multi’s @ Atlanta, Ga. .................................. May 14-15 Track & Field NCAA National Championship Meet @ Turlock, Calif. .... May 26-28

Alumnus Leaves a Legacy in Many Ways Dr. Robert Graham, who passed away in October, 2010 was a man who never forgot his alma mater, despite a journey through life that took him around the world. After graduating from Mars Hill College in 1940, he went on to attend or teach at Ohio State, Wake Forest, Duke, Temple, Johns Hopkins, Harvard and Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. He served in both World War II and the Korean War. His professional career included 31 years with Equitable Life in New York, retiring as the Vice President and Principle Medical Officer. Dr. Graham was a member of many professional organizations as well as a consultant to local, state and federal agencies. President Ronald Reagan appointed him as his Personal Representative to the Commission to End World Hunger. His affiliation with Mars Hill did not end with his graduation. He served as a member of the Board of Advisors and on the Commission on the Future of Mars Hill College. For six decades he shared his time, talent and treasure with the college. Dr. Graham was named the Alumnus of the Year in 1993 and was later awarded the Distinguished Service Award for his years of dedication. He was a forward thinker in every respect. It was this attitude that led Dr. Graham to consider that his success could help students of Mars Hill College long after he was gone. In 1995, Dr. Graham established his will and in it he provided his legacy. He bequeathed half of his Dr. Robert Graham with President and Mrs. Lunsford in 2006. estate to the Ramsey Library at Mars Hill, a gift that will have an impact on generations of Mars Hill students. But he wasn’t finished just yet… In 2008, He established a Charitable Gift Annuity with Mars Hill. This gift provided him an income stream for the rest of his life and upon his death the remaining balance of the annuity (almost $60,000) came to Mars Hill to support the NEH Challenge Grant for the Southern Appalachian Archives in the Ramsey Center. Looking back, Dr. Robert Graham planned and provided for not only himself and his loved ones, but also for his alma mater. It is this type of forethought that has sustained Mars Hill College for 154 years. And it is the type of thoughtful legacy planning that is necessary amongst other passionate alumni in order for Mars Hill to continue to provide a rich, relevant educational experience. If you’ve ever thought about putting a charitable giving plan together, or simply would like to “brainstorm” about opportunities available, contact Tim McClain, Director of Major and Planned Giving, tmcclain@mhc.edu, (828)-689-1435.

Using Your IRA to Your Advantage

Estate Planning

Minimum Distribution from your IRA is required at age 70 ½. Your distribution will be taxed, but you can use this to your advantage. By making a gift of your payment, you can offset most if not all of the tax incurred. The Advancement Office at Mars Hill can run calculations the will show you the amount of your charitable deduction based on the size of your gift. Then you will know the size of gift needed in order to offset the taxes from the distribution.

When considering you and your family’s estate plan, be sure to include all of your assets. This process is very important to seeing your wishes through and should be done deliberately with the help of your chosen advisors (attorney, CPA, etc.). The Mars Hill College Planned Gift Office is here to help you through this process and help you understand all of your options. From These Stones – Winter 2010–11

Ministering Through Sport The game of soccer has inspired Mars Hill women’s soccer midfielder Misha Price throughout her life. During the past summer, she used the game she loves to inspire and minister young children 8,000 miles away. “Several years ago, a mission trip in nearby Weaverville brought me to Mars Hill,” Price said. “We used the gym to clean up after a construction project, and I fell in love with the area and decided to come here to school.” While attending MHC, Price found Biltmore Baptist Church in Asheville, and decided to continue her missionary work with its congregation. After fundraising for the trip, Price traveled with approximately 20 missionaries from the church to aid workers in Kijabe, Kenya, in late May and early June. While in Kijabe, in addition to working on construction projects and at Little Lambs orphanage and Kure Hospital, which both specialize in children’s needs, Price ran a soccer clinic for students from Rift Valley Academy, a Christian boarding school for young children, and the Kijabe Girls High School. She donated Mars Hill blue jerseys to Kijabe Girls High School and white jerseys to Rift Valley Academy. “It was amazing to see everyone’s response to caring,” Price exuded. Price, who has worked on other mission trips in Gulfport, MS, for Hurricane Katrina relief and within the inner city of Raleigh-Durham, NC, loved the time she spent in Kenya. “Donating jerseys is one thing, but a simple smile or conversation is something they enjoyed a lot more,” Price said. “They made a lasting impression on me that is almost indescribable.” Price says she constantly reflects back on the trip that brought so much joy to youth half a world away. “Seeing the kids so passionate about the sport that I’m passionate about had a profound impact on me,” Price

Women’s Soccer Gives Back The Mars Hill women’s soccer team took time off the field last fall to share their skills with a younger generation of soccer diehards. The Mars Hill women’s soccer team partnered with Biltmore Baptist Church and Upward Sports for a free soccer clinic for boys and girls ages four to 12. Upward Sports emphasizes healthy competition, sportsmanship, skills building and fun for children and youth sports leagues.

“It was a great opportunity for us to build a relationship with Biltmore Baptist Church and its Upward Soccer Program,” Mars Hill head women’s soccer coach Ken Miller said. “We want to expand on other community service outreach programs in the future.” The goal for all involved is to provide a relaxing atmosphere and promote the game of soccer. The Mars Hill players taught the children the fundamentals of passing and dribbling. “I thought it was awesome to teach kids about the game of soccer,” freshman defender Danielle Franco said. “It was a great opportunity to get involved in the local community.” In addition to teaching soccer skills, the team played games with and signed autographs for the children at the clinic. “It was a great team-building experience,” freshman midfielder Leah Taylor said. “We all enjoyed the experience. The kids looked at us like we were superstars.” commented, adding, “I enjoy the game for the root reason of love. I enjoy interaction with other people, and seeing the game through their eyes was a fantastic experience I will never forget.”

From These Stones – The Mars Hill College Magazine

Hall of Fame Adds Four New Members David Cassell, Denise Shelton, Stacy Mark, and Mickey Hoyle (pictured below, left to right) were inducted into the Mars Hill College Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 13. Cassell was a member on the Lions’ football team from 1998-2001; Hoyle was a member of the basketball and golf teams from 1957-1959; Mark was a member of the Lions’ cross country and track & field teams from 1999-2002 and Shelton was a member of the Lions’ women’s basketball team from 1998-2002. There are currently 88 members in the MHC Athletics Hall of Fame. You can read about all of the Hall of Fame inductees on the Lion athletics website www.mhclions.com. Click on the Athletic Information tab and then click on Hall of Fame to read about the members.

Two Lions Selected for Cactus Bowl Mars Hill College’s Marzarius Samon and Allen Woerner each recorded a solo tackle for his respective team at the 2011 Cactus Bowl, the NCAA Division II Senior All-Star Game, held January 7 at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Samon started a defensive tackle for the Red Storm. Woerner started at tight end for the Blue Devils. Proceeds from the Cactus Bowl go to the Shriners Hospital for Children. Since its inception in 1994, more than 100 players have been signed by NFL teams after playing in the all-star game.

MHC Cycling Ranked #1 Mars Hill College Cycling raced to a 2nd place in the Collegiate National Cyclocross Championships on Sunday, December 5. The strong performance moves MHC into the #1 national ranking among Division II schools. The ranking is a year-long competition that combines results from collegiate cycling’s four national championships: mountain biking, track, cyclocross, and road. MHC was also named Collegiate Club of the Year by the USA Cycling governing body. Mars Hill will host a Southeastern Collegiate Cycling Conference road race weekend on April 2 and 3. Road nationals will be held on May 6-8 in Madison, WI.

From These Stones – Winter 2010–11

Founders Week Honors A History of Diversity by Teresa Buckner photos by David Moore

From the day its doors opened, Mars Hill College was co-educational, accepting both male and female faculty and students, a concept that was unbelievably progressive in the South in 1856. African-Americans had a more complicated start at Mars Hill College, as illustrated through the story of Joseph Anderson. A young black man who “belonged” to founder J.W. Anderson, Joe spent a few days in an Asheville jail in 1859, serving as collateral for the debt on the original building of the college. With a theme of “Diversity,” Mars Hill College celebrated the second week of October as Founders Week, and examined its long and remarkable relationship with both women and minorities. In 154 years, Mars Hill has evolved from a school which, regardless of intention, was founded at the cost of human bondage, to a campus which boasts the most diversity of any institution of higher learning in the region. Today’s Mars Hill students come from many states and 18 different countries; 74% are white; 16% are Black; 1% are Native American; 1% are Asian; and 3% are Hispanic. Over 50% of the Mars Hill College student body is made up of first generation college students. College historian Richard Dillingham believes that Mars Hill’s history with diversity continues to affect the campus culture to the present day. He agrees with the late long-time professor of religion Bob Melvin, who once postulated that the nurturing environment long noted at Mars Hill is the result of having so many women in leadership positions throughout its history. Dillingham said: “We are distinctly different in our ethos because so many of our leaders and faculty have been women. This differs from other Baptist schools where the leadership was overwhelmingly male.” Dillingham also believes that, although all the original founders were white, the variety of professions among them made for a socially egalitarian culture. “If you look at the founding families, they represent at least 22

From These Stones – The Mars Hill College Magazine

fifteen different professions, from farmer to miller to preacher to legislator, so we’re celebrating that professional diversity as well.” In 1932, Joseph Anderson’s grave was moved to a site overlooking the campus, on what would one day be known as “Dormitory Drive.” Then, in 1999, the Joseph Anderson family was recognized among the 23 Founding Families of Mars Hill College. Several descendants of Joseph Anderson and Jane Ray, the family matriarch, were present for both events. Descendants of the family were present on Monday, October 11 when the road sign was unveiled noting the change from “Dormitory Drive” to “Joseph Anderson Drive” in honor of the Anderson family. The ceremony included unveiling a memorial to Jane Ray, near Joe’s grave. The Crossroads chapel service during Founders Week included recognitions of famous women in Mars Hill’s history, such as Ellen Keith Ramsey who cashed her $100 gold piece wedding dowry and paid a college debt in the 1870s; Helen McMasters, one of the first members of the faculty, who placed a strong emphasis on the arts, especially music; Edna Corpening Moore, dorm matron and bursar who built a strong business model for the college; and her daughter, Nona Moore Roberts, who taught French and music and composed the melody for the college Alma Mater. Several of the notable African-Americans in Mars Hill’s history are, appropriately, descendants of Joe Anderson and Jane Ray. Some of these notable descendants recognized during the same Crossroads service include: Oralene Graves Simmons, the first African-American student admitted to Mars Hill College in 1961; Doskie Anderson McDowell, who retired from the college after over 36 years of service to the school; and Charlene Ray, who became the first Appalachian Scholar at Mars Hill and who graduated with honors in 1981. Founders Week 2010 also featured a centennial celebration of the iconic Marshbanks Hall.

A traveling Smithsonian exhibit wrapped up its stay at Mars Hill College on November 6. More than 4,000 individuals explored “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music,” “Roots Music in Madison County,” and “SodomSong” during the New Harmonies program’s run from September 25 – November 6, 2010. More than 500 people attended the Grand Opening, and another 460 people toured the exhibi- Above: President Lunsford checks out the exhibit. tion the following weekend with the 43rd Left: Students in MHC’s Honors Program helped Annual Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival set up the exhibit. and “Harmonies on the Hill” homecoming events. More than 250 people enjoyed Kids’ Day and nearly 1,600 public school students toured the exhibition and visited Mars Hill College – including all of Madison County 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music” was a part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.

Mars Hill College – Music for the World By Sheila Stephenson Lindsey (Class of ’69 and ’71)

This is no small insignificant college tucked away in the hills of Western North Carolina. This institution and the music pouring out of it has been world-changing. It has been people changing and heart-changing. It changed us. If you think the story of folk music ends with Pete Seeger, think again. Mars Hill is credited with the beginnings of the folk music era, via Bascom Lamar Lunsford. The Smithsonian Institute has well-documented the progression of music from these very mountains, beginning with shape notes, to gospel, spirituals, bluegrass, blues, country, folk all the way to Pete Seeger’s “protest songs”. In our recent visit to homecoming ’10 we saw the Smithsonian exhibit on loan at Moore Auditorium. It is a great exhibit but stops too soon. The folk music of Mars Hill does not end with Pete Seeger. Pete’s music lead to a whole generation of folk singers and Mars Hill had their very own “hootenanny” group in December’s Children in the class of ’69. This group consisted of Andy Biro, Buki Wright, Sheila Stephenson, H. Fields “Butch” Young, Joe Bingham, Tim Elmore, Ginger Jones, Gary Sturgis and later Beth Foster and others. We practiced almost daily at Owen Theater and out of that group came a coffee house in the basement of that building. We sang many Pete Seeger creations. While Pete Seeger is remembered for his many songs of the sixties, i.e. “This Land is Your Land, Michael Row the Boat Ashore,

etc.” His songs became legendary as themes for the Civil Rights Movement with “We Shall Overcome” and “I Shall Not Be Moved.” All this is well documented in the PBS Special on Pete Seeger’s life and the Smithsonian Exhibit at Mars Hill. Three members of Mars Hill’s December’s Children later joined the international cast of Up with People, originally known as Sing-Out. Those three, Buki Wright, Sheila Stephenson and Andy Biro, sang around the world for several years and carried the Mars Hill spirit with them every step of the way. Up with People may not have been considered “protest” music, as we were of the clean-cut wholesome variety, but we were the first group of young people to be integrated and share that with the world. There were many shows in the south where our performances were protested because of this. One of our most famous songs was “What Color Is God’s Skin.” That was always a show stopper and on occasion it was a protest stopper, too! The international cast formed a local group in Asheville, known as Sing-Out Asheville. I am sure there were later Mars Hillians who had some involvement with Up with People, but Andy Biro, Buki Wright and Sheila Stephenson were the first. We are proud of our time at Mars Hill and consider our roots there. We are proud of our contributions to Up with People and we are enormously proud of the impact that the music of the mountains – our very own Mars Hill mountains –has had on our world. So, the next time you find yourself reveling in the classic “This Land is Your Land,” remember the foundations of that music – it began right here and came “from these stones!” From These Stones – Winter 2010–11

President’s Recognition Dinner Several awards were presented at the President’s Recognition Dinner, held in September at The Venue in downtown Asheville. Members of Delta Kappa Theta fraternity provided valet parking for the event. Entertainment was provided by the Bailey Mountain Cloggers and by student Britney Acosta (right), who performed several songs she’s written. Presentations were made to (left to right): ΕΕ Max Lennon: Class Reunion Fundraiser of the Year ΕΕ Sheila Triplett-Brady of the Broyhill Family Foundation: Foundation/Corporation of the Year ΕΕ Carolyn & Jack Ferguson: Presidential Philanthropic Award ΕΕ Tom Davis: Loyalty Award ΕΕ Ed Hoffmeyer: Faculty/Staff Heritage Appreciation Award ΕΕ Ron Brown: Board Leadership Award ΕΕ James C. Taylor (not pictured): Philanthropic Impact Gift of the Year

An Ireland Adventure Mars Hill College Alumni & Friends invite you to join them on the 2011 summer tour. The Ireland Adventure Tour is June 24 – July 5. Estimated cost (based on number of participants and on exchange rates) for this unforgettable journey is $3,295 per person. For more information contact Ophelia DeGroot in the MHC alumni office at fdegroot@mhc.edu or (828) 689-1438.

From These Stones – The Mars Hill College Magazine

Homecoming 2010 by Bill McNeil ’69

The 2010 Mars Hill Homecoming EXTRAVAGANZA, which was a “Happening” on Friday, October 1, was a tremendous success! Those who attended the festivities thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Those who did not attend certainly have something to look forward to for next year. The 2011 Mars Hill Homecoming EXTRAVAGANZA will be held on Friday, October 7, 2011, being kicked off with the Alumni & Friends of Mars Hill College Golf Tournament at The Grove Park Inn; again followed by a buffet dinner and concert by The Imperials, back at the Mars Hill campus. The 2010 Alumni & Friends of Mars Hill College Golf Tournament kicked-off its shotgun start promptly at 12:00 noon at Reems Creek Golf Club, hosting 88 players. This was up from 40 golfers in the 2009 tournament. We also had many more sponsors than last year, and the prizes were really special this year; golf bags, drivers, putters, wedges, 2 nights at The Inn at Mars Hill (B&B), dozens of golf balls, and head covers.

After the golf tournament, we all met back on campus at Chambers Gym where golfers, non-golfers, Alumni and Friends of Mars Hill College enjoyed a pulled-pork barbeque with all the fixin’s. John McManus, Pittman Dining Hall manager (Chartwell’s), and his staff put on quite the spread. As folks were completing their barbeque dinner, Skip Liles (Golf Tournament Chairman) and David Riggins (MHC Athletic Director) awarded

one enjoyed and danced to selections of “Under the Boardwalk,” “Stay,” “How do you Stop,” “Knock on Wood,” “Midnight Hour,” and as we would all like to remember our years at MHC – “Be Young, Be Foolish, but Be Happy”. A good time was had by all. And not only that, but

BEAT TUSCULUM in the annual Homecoming football game in front of a

packed Meares Stadium. We hope that all alumni will put Homecoming 2011 on your calendar for the weekend of October 7 & 8. It’s a great time to see Great Friends, have a Great Weekend, and continue to participate in a GREAT COLLEGE! SEE YOU IN OCTOBER!

prizes and announced raffle prize winners. Culminating the evening, we all enjoyed two sets of music from THE IMPERIALS (you may remember them as Bob Drake & The Imperials). After 41 years, they came back together solely to provide us with Homecoming weekend entertainment. Aside from a very short power outage during their 2nd set (guess they were just crankin’ out the music), every-

we raised over $16,000 for our endowed athletics scholarship coffers. Then, on Saturday, October 2, under gorgeous Carolina blue skies and shirt-sleeve temperatures, the Town of Mars Hill held its “Fall Heritage Festival” in conjunction with the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival and a traveling Smithsonian Museum Rural Harmonies Exhibit. Five stages displaying local musical talent, and tents with crafts, vendors, exhibits, and food, filled Main Street and the Campus and gave the many in attendance, a full day of fun. And to top off everything else, MARS HILL

For further information about how you can get involved with the golf tournament and Extravaganza, contact: · Bill McNeil (’69): mcneil47@atmc.net, (910) 575-5846 · Skip Liles (’69): lfliles@ carolina.rr.com, (704) 2932447 · Bob Suttenfield (’69): Bsutt613@aol.com, (704) 827-8265

From These Stones – Winter 2010–11

2010 Alumni of the Year Jo Ann Thomas Croom graduated from Mars Hill in 1957, then went to North Carolina State University for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. In 1992 she added a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee. She spent most of her teaching career here at her alma mater. She joined the Mars Hill College biology department faculty in 1976, following terms of service at UNC-Asheville, Warren Wilson College, St. Genevieve of the Pines Academy, and Homewood School at Highland Hospital. Jo Ann has received numerous awards and recognitions over the course of her educational and work careers, including the Gibbs Outstanding Teacher Award in 2000 and the MHC Outstanding Faculty Award in 2003. She was married to the late Richard Croom, also a member of the MHC class of 1957. Since retiring following the spring semester, Jo Ann has more time to devote to her grandson, her church, and her other interests and hobbies. David Price pursued a pre-civil engineering curriculum at Mars Hill College, but his time here lured him to the humanities. He won a Morehead Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, from which he graduated in 1961 with majors in history and mathematics. David then took a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Yale University, followed by a Ph.D. in political science. In 1973 he joined the faculty of Duke University, teaching American politics and political theory and helping found what is now the Terry Sanford School of Public Policy. David took a leave from Duke in 1984 to chair the North Carolina Democratic Party and then ran successfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986. He currently serves on the Appropriations Committee where he chairs the Homeland Security Subcommittee. He also initiated and now chairs the House Democracy Partnership, a bipartisan commission that works with legislatures in emerging or re-emerging democracies. David and his wife Lisa live in Chapel Hill. They have two grown children and two grandchildren. Mary Hebert Dawson received her Bachelor of Science from Mars Hill College in 2001 and her Doctor of Medicine from East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine. She completed her family medicine residency at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in June and now is a family physician at Mountain Magnolia Family Practice in Abingdon, Virginia. In 2006 she and her husband Brian founded ChooseAneed.org, a website network on which the Dawsons and the various members of the ChooseAneed board post needs from around the globe so that interested donors can literally “choose a need” and fund it. Mary and Brian have two children: Evan, who is 4, and Blaine, six months. Brian Dawson graduated from Mars Hill College in 2002 and earned his M.D. at the Brody School of Medicine. He completed his emergency medicine residency at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in 2009 and served a year in the emergency room at Lenoir Memorial Hospital in Kinston, North Carolina. He is now a full-time emergency medicine physician at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Virginia. Along with wife Mary he founded ChooseAneed.org and continues to serve as the organization’s chairman.

2010 Alumni of the Year: (left to right) Jo Ann Croom, Brian Dawson, Mary Dawson, David Price

From These Stones – The Mars Hill College Magazine

2010 Educational Alumni Leadership Awards The Mars Hill College Teacher Education Program presented its annual Educational Alumni Leadership Awards in November. Karen Wilson Fox ’89 received the Teacher Award. She taught for a dozen years at Bald Creek Elementary before moving to South Toe Elementary, where she was named Yancey County’s Teacher of the Year for the 2005-06 school year. She’s now back at Bald Creek as the school’s Exceptional Children’s Teacher. Karen achieved National Board Certification in 2003 and earned her MA in Special Education from Western Carolina University in 2005. She is active in professional and civic organizations, including serving on WCU’s Special Education Advisory Board; and as a volunteer with Family Support Network of NC, which helps families of children with disabilities. Karen is married to David Fox and has two children. Dr. Tony Tipton "84 received the Administrator Award. After receiving his BA in Elementary Education Tony continued his formal education with his MA and Ed.S. degrees earned at Western Carolina University (in 1988 and 1994, respectively), and his Ed.D. from East Tennessee State University in 2007. Tony has served schools in Yancey and Madison counties as a teacher and administrator. He is currently principal of Madison High School and was named the Wachovia Principal of the Year in 2010 for Madison County. He is married to Dr. Barbara Tipton (MHC 1981) and one of their three sons, Cody, is also an MHC alumnus.

December Grads Join Alumni Ranks Senior sociology major Michele Riley told her fellow graduates that they share a bond in the common memories they hold of their four years at Mars Hill College. “This college nestled in the small town of Mars Hill is going to become a great memory we hold throughout the steps of our lives; it will be stories one day told to our kids, niece and nephews, and even one day our grandchildren,” she said. “We together now leave this behind, a memory of professors, friendships, relationships, and everything that was a part of our lives throughout the time spent here.”

“Thank you for having a program with the flexibility, dedication and commitment that allows non-traditional students to be challenged and to pursue intellectual concerns, while maintaining life, as we know it,” he said. The most common majors for all graduates were business and education.

Riley was one of 56 December graduates who received diplomas at graduation ceremonies, Friday, December 17, in Moore Auditorium. In addition, six August graduates were eligible to participate in graduation ceremonies. Andre’ Wilson, who completed a business management major through the adult ACCESS program at Mars Hill, compared the program to a vehicle which older students may use to reach their educational goals in life.

Brandon Burford (l) and Kristina Donahue (r) prepare to receive their diplomas

From These Stones – Winter 2010–11

Class Notes

Class notes information is compiled from alumni submissions, news media reports, and other announcements. The Alumni Office welcomes pictures and/or news of weddings, babies and events (advanced degrees, career changes, church or community honors, etc.) from our alumni. You may e-mail alumni@mhc.edu or mail to Alumni Office, P.O. Box 370, Mars Hill, NC 28754.

1920s Class of 1929 oy Briggs Smith F celebrated her 100th birthday in October 2010 with a party organized by her church, First Baptist of Lake Alfred, FL. She’s lived in Lake Alfred since 1948 and is still active in her church and community.

1930s Class of 1939 ucile Roberts celebrated L her 90th birthday in November. She is retired from the Madison County (NC) Public Library and on the library’s 55th anniversary celebration was honored as one of the four “Original Librarians of the Madison County Public Library.”

1940s Class of 1949 harles Baker is still C running track, long after 28

his days on MHC’s track team in 1948 and ‘49. He now competes in track and field events in the Senior Olympics, still wearing a Mars Hill uniform (donated by MHC’s track coach). At the last Nationals in which he competed, he won two gold medals (400 meters and 4 x 100 relay) and three silver medals (100 meters, 200 meters, long jump).

1950s Class of 1955

to start the race and the oldest to finish.

Class of 1958 Last summer Ann Walker Blankenship celebrated 50 years as the organist at First Baptist Church of Swannanoa, NC.

1960s Class of 1967 First Baptist Church of Morganton, NC, celebrated Minister of Music and Administration Rev. Bill Rotan’s 30 years of service to the church

arol Guth, MD , received C the Distinguished Service Award from the Medical Alumni Association of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Class of 1957 erb Brown completed H his third Ironman triathlon last summer in the Adirondacks near Lake Placid, NY. At age 73 he was the second oldest

From These Stones – The Mars Hill College Magazine

last July. He has overseen the musical content of more than 1500 Sunday morning services, periodically conducts the annual Morganton Area Combined Choirs

Concert, and founded the Morganton Area Handbell Festival. Bill and his wife, Nancy (Clements) ’68 , have three grown sons, John, Aaron, and David, and four grandchildren.

Class of 1969 ichard Thomas Vann R Jr. joined the faculty of Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, TX, last July as director of the Chaplaincy Ministry Program and professor of Christian ministry. A retired U.S. Army chaplain, he served from August 2004 until June 2010 as associate professor of pastoral ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to the former Marta Lucile Atwell of Rancho Cordova, CA, with six children and 14 grandchildren.

1970s Class of 1970 arcia Gay Perry was M named Principal of the

Class Notes Year for Buncombe County (NC) Schools. She is principal of Haw Creek Elementary School. She says what she likes best about being a principal is “the opportunity to have an impact on the lives of the students in my school. I believe my primary role is to be their strongest advocate.” First Baptist Church of Tarboro, NC, recently recognized Rev. Robert Sparks for his ten years of faithful service as minister of music and worship.

Class of 1972 r. Michael Rickman , D professor of piano in Stetson University’s School of Music, has been honored by Steinway & Sons as a new member of its prestigious roster of Steinway Artists. Michael says, “I am both honored and humbled. To be endorsed by Steinway is the highest honor to which a pianist could aspire. It is the pinnacle of a career!” Michael has served on the Stetson faculty since 1983.

Class of 1975 llen Brown received the E Richard Keasler Middle School Teacher of the Year

recognition presented by the North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA). Ellen joined Gaston County Schools in 1983 and is the choral director at Holbrook Middle School. She received the highest honor given to a Middle School choral teacher during the NCMEA conference in Winston-Salem in November.

named Assistant Principal of the Year for Union County (NC) Public Schools. She is assistant principal at Porter Ridge Elementary School.

Class of 1989 cott McKinney S has joined AshevilleBuncombe Technical Community College as vice president, business and finance/CFO.

Class of 1976 reg Clewis is retiring G as athletics director at Myers Park High School in Charlotte. He’s been at Myers Park since 1980, with the exception of three years at another school, and has been athletics director since 1997.

Class of 1978 iane Covington received D the North Carolina Music Educators Association Choral Teacher of the Year award at the NCMEA conference in November. She has been choral director at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh for the past 15 years.

1980s Class of 1987 Lisa Long Taylor was

1990s Class of 1996 T ajsha Eaves has been promoted to full-time English instructor at Cleveland Community College in Shelby, NC. She has served as ad adjunct English instructor at CCC since 2007. ichael Shannon Lee M married Katherine Jane Nevius in July. He is manager of Cobble Creek Nursery. The couple lives in Waterville, VT.

2000s Class of 2000 Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin Brooks deployed last fall aboard the USS Ponce in support of humanitarian

assistance and disaster relief in Pakistan. T erry Allen Buchanon married Miranda Lynne Potts in June. He is employed by the City of Belmont (NC) Police Department. T J Farmer married Glenda Collins Bradley in October. TJ is an associate dean, health teacher, and JV baseball coach at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Mount Hermon, MA.

Class of 2001 eidi and Shane ’03 H Allison welcome the birth of their son, Aedan Miles Allison, born in November 2010. Heidi is principal at Barnardsville Elementary School and Shane is a coach and PE teacher at North Buncombe Middle School. teven James Pack S received his master’s degree in school administration from Gardner-Webb University. He is a physical education teacher at Burns Middle School in Cleveland County, NC, and is also the assistant head coach of the Burns High School football team.

From These Stones – Winter 2010–11

my Elizabeth A Panikowski married Robert Scott Hussey on May 22, 2010, in Jacksonville, FL. Following graduation Amy joined the Peace Corps and spent her tour in Malawi, Africa. She taught school in Tampa, FL, received her master’s degree in geography from the University of Florida and is now working on her doctorate in geography in Southern Africa.

Class of 2004 tan Dotson is Director S of inourelements.com, a web-based set of resources for engaged learning, and also author of Poor Memory, a novel available on the website

and on Amazon.com

Class of 2005 eth Atwell Graham S married Hillary Allison White in August. Seth is assistant baseball coach at Catawba College and is employed by Concrete Forming Associates. The couple lives in Mt. Ulla, NC.

Class of 2006 athy Jo Lewis married C Raymond Everett Bailey ’04 in August 2010. She works for Myrtle Beach Physical Therapy and he works in the mental health care field. The couple lives in Myrtle Beach. erri Lee Piercy married K Jonathan Steven Craven

in August. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in secondary math education from Appalachian State University and is a math teacher at Draughn High School in Burke County. The couple lives in Granite Falls, NC.

Class of 2007 arolyn Hunter Guess C married Kevin Scott Huggins in September. After attending MHC, Carolyn earned her BA degree in communication/ journalism from USC Upstate. She is currently employed at Olive Garden Italian Restaurant. The couple lives in Spartanburg, SC.

Class of 2008 Army Spec. Michael Davis has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, OK. eather Dawn Eavenson H married Rufus Joel Downs in May. She is employed by Haywood County Schools at Jonathan Valley Elementary School. The couple lives in Waynesville, NC.

2010s Class of 2010 arrett Patton has joined G Clinton (SC) Elementary School as the physical education teacher. She also coaches girls basketball at Bell Street Middle School.

Where Are They Now? Mars Hill College alumni are scattered across the country, and even around the world. But no matter where their lives have led them, our alumni all share a common bond—and that’s the place they started out. That’s why Mars Hill College is working on a new publication designed to help bring our alumni back together. This new Alumni Today publication will include comprehensive biographical listings with contact information, career overviews, and family highlights of our graduates. Plus, a special section about the school will help you reminisce as you read about our past and learn what’s in store for the future. To make sure our Mars Hill College Alumni Today is as up-to-date as possible, our publisher, Harris Connect, will contact alumni to verify that the information we will print is accurate and complete. Harris Connect has more than 45 years experience researching and publishing alumni and membership directories (including MHC’s last several alumni directories). Please help us make this publication full of the latest information about you and your fellow alumni. It will be a fun and useful reference, as well as helpful in keeping Mars Hill alumni in touch with one another.

From These Stones – The Mars Hill College Magazine

In Memoriam Since our last publication we have received word of the passing of the following members of the Mars Hill College family.

George Kuszmaul ’40

1950s

Hugh Wilder ’56

Frances Ellis Payne ’40

James Diamond ’50

Alfred Kimble ’57

George Blake ’42

Margaret Stewart Edmisten ’50

1960s

1920s

Jessie Juanita Edwards Carter ’42

Mattie Snider Colvard ’29

Ann Harris Whaley ’42

Garvin Martin ’50

1930s

Jack Gates ’43

Marjorie Dukes Martin ’50

Nettie Ballew Fowler ’31

Harriet Lee Gibson ’43

Pearl Floyd Saleeby ’50

Burgess Leonard ’31

Vernon Westmoreland ’43

Russell Taylor ’50

Ella Keller ’34

Margaret Hoyle Correll ’44

Gerald Webb ’50

Janie Britt Silver ’34

Rachel Bailey Million ’44

Mildred East Cockman ’51

Helen Roberts Crowder ’35

John Rea ’44

Joseph Davis ’51

Frances Tucker Nelon ’45

Robert Melvin ’51

Montise Marlin Wrenn ’45

Carolyn Winberry Phillips ’51

Nina Likes Greene ’35 Elizabeth Johnson Bingham ’36

Doris Chambers ’46

Roderick Cartier ’37

Nancy Billings McCoy ’46

Ollie James Shouse ’38

Patsy Ingram Medlin ’46

George McLeod Bryan ’39

James “Al” Dennis ’47

Robert Vann Carter ’39

Joyce Harrell Hodge ’47

Rachel Templeton Crawley ’39

Catherine Rhea Dennis ’48

Jane Heading Schlehr ’39

Evelyn Anderson Duck ’48

1940s

Donald Gulledge ’48

Robert Graham ’40

Frances Parkman Wilson ’48

Sara Womack Halsey ’40

Jack Harrelson ’50

John Jordan Jr. ’60 James “Al” Stevens ’60 Robert Green ’61 Libby Auten Sandbank ’61 Billie Bowling Nuckolls ’65 Harold Smith ’68 Fran Carter Streng ’68

1970s Charles Barger, Jr. ’71 Warren Watkins ’79

1980s

Lewis Taylor ’51

Kenneth Sewell ’80

Truett Allen ’52

Jack Hill ’84

Oberia Fox McTyre ’52

Sharon Crisp Lowry ’85

Cozzette Draffin Duncan ’53

Kevin Whiteside ’85

Clayton Mann ’53 Daniel Pace ’54 Carrol Woenby ’54 James Cole ’55

1990s Joseph Underwood ’96

2000s Nancy Ammons ’06

Tommy Pearce ’55

From These Stones – Fall 2007

Mars Hill College PO Box 370 Mars Hill, NC 28754

Save the Date

Homecoming 2011

October 6-8 Partial List of Activities: Thursday, October 6: Lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Growl Friday, October 7: Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament Alumni Extravaganza featuring the Imperials Saturday, October 8: Class reunions Football game vs. Wingate Alumni band performance at halftime Alumni of the Year presentations More information coming soon at www.mhc.edu/alumni