65 Years in the Making

Howard and Pauline Vincent Endowment

– 65 Years in the Making –

Elzan Vincent was ready to explore the world as a freshman coed. The country girl from Russell, Iowa, Howard and Pauline’s oldest of three, was anticipating the adventure of a lifetime. Enrolled at Harding College, she was leaving the family farm behind and headed to Arkansas… until Dale Larsen showed up at her house.

Larsen was traveling around the Midwest telling anyone and everyone about the small Christian college in York, Nebraska, that was reopening its doors under the oversight of the Churches of Christ. He was both seeking funds and seeking students to get the fledgling college up and running. This visit was about the latter and Elzan’s father found the conversation appealing.

A few years later, Larsen wrote in his dissertation—A History of York College: “The founders of the college, the first college in a vast underdeveloped area for the Church, envisioned what such a school would mean to the Church's growth. Students from small scattered congregations would attend, and in many cases, they would return to establish homes and assume leadership in the Church.”

Howard was convinced and it was decided that Elzan would be enrolled at York College with the first freshman class under the new administration. On September 10, 1956, Elzan quickly found her place among the 89 students that took that first leap of faith. She became the first president of the newly established drama club, and in 1957, when a student council was organized, Ms. Vincent served as its secretary-treasurer. Elzan’s high school sweetheart, Roger McMurry, Elzan Vincent transferred in as a Bible major her sophomore year, and the two were

married that winter.

Howard and Pauline were committed to York’s mission and sent their second daughter, Dianne, to YC in the fall of 1959. Social clubs were established on campus during the year and Dianne joined Delta Chi Alpha as a charter member with Mrs. Gayle Napier as sponsor. However, a young man in Frater Sodalis, Harold Mitchell, a sophomore music major from Lawrence, Kans., caught her eye and captured her heart. When Mitchell graduated that spring and transferred to Abilene Christian, Dianne followed suit.

Dianne Vincent (above) Howard and Pauline stand outside the Sunnyslope church with their three children in the mid-forties. Howard was a lay preacher and teacher in the church. Until recently, his son-in-law Harold preached at the same country church near Russell, Iowa.

Howard and Pauline weren’t detoured; after all, finding a potential Christian mate was one of the main reasons for sending their children to a Christian college. So when it came time for their youngest son Jacob to make his decision in 1962, York was both theirs and his choice.

Jake made his own mark as Jake Vincent a Vincent, chosen beau by the women of GATA, was president of the sophomore class, and voted by faculty in 1964 as Mr. York College Runner-up.

That same year, his father was asked to serve on the YC Board of Trustees and gave the commencement address at Jake’s graduation. According to his sister Dianne, the title of their dad’s speech, “How High” was a reference to Jake sneaking out of the dorm and climbing the water tower that used to be close to campus. Jake denied any memory of that speech but did add with a chuckle that partner in crime Bob Stevenson ’64 made the climb with him.

Jake has a vivid memory of making a trip with his father, then an Iowa State Senator, to visit Loy Hardesty, a prisoner at the Iowa State Penitentiary. Accompanied by classmates Jim Anderson ’64 and Lloyd Mansfield ’65, Senator Vincent wanted Jake and the other YC students to be an

encouragement to Hardesty as talk to him about York

Senator Vincent affectively adopted Hardesty instrumental in getting him The following year he York College as a Bible major. Loy Hardesty Affectionately thought of as a foster brother by the Vincent siblings, Loy went on to become a preacher and preached the Gospel for more than 50 years, retiring recently at the age of 80.

Howard and Pauline were known for bringing kids from Sunnyslope, the small country church near their home in Russell, to York for campus visits, many of whom attended as students. In 1976, the Vincents were chosen Christian Parents of the Year for their invaluable contributions to York College, especially those of instilling the importance of Christian education in their children and in so many others.

Howard served on the YC Board of Trustees for more than twenty years, and it was noted by Pauline that his work with York College “was one of the great satisfactions of his life. He was so convinced of the importance of Christian education and was so grateful to have had his children in such a school, that he felt it was a way to help make it possible that other young people could have the same advantages.”

Howard passed away in 1988 and Pauline in 2011. After the farm estate was sold the family wanted to do something special in their memory, establishing the Howard and Pauline Vincent Endowment at York College.

“Our parents were so dedicated to Christian education and we wanted to honor that commitment,” said Dianne.

Jake echoed that sentiment stating, “York College has been very good to our family. Dad was a farmer and a building contractor, but he built with more than lumber and bricks. He built with people. That was his spiritual legacy.”

When asked why the family wanted to fund an endowment for scholarships, Dianne put it simply, “We wanted to invest in people rather than buildings. This gave us the opportunity to invest in lives of young people directly.” n

photo courtesy 1972 Crusader

by Steddon Sikes '84

(above) In 1969, Harold (’60) and Dianne (Vincent ’61) Mitchell returned to York College with their four children. Harold taught Bible, psychology, and served as the Dean of Men until 1973. (l-r) Harold, Douglas (7), Paul (4), David (9), Martha (3), and Dianne – not pictured Sarah. Martha (Stock ’89) and Sarah (’96) both graduated from York College.

Roush Professional Collection Donated to Elijah A. Levitt School of Business

A year after her passing, the dedication of the Sue Roush Memorial Business Resource Collection took place at the York College Levitt School of Business on Thursday, January 28.

It is no secret that Sue Roush was a passionate woman. The wife of Dr. Clark Roush, endowed chair for the performing arts, and mentor to many, Sue left a lasting legacy of building others up, especially young women, in both their personal and professional journeys. Roush often made her knowledge of marketing and communications available as a resource to anyone. That legacy will now live on in the York College Levitt School of Business as the Sue Roush Memorial Business Resource Collection to be used by business majors and PBL competitors.

“She was a fierce advocate for the underdog, and she lived a life passionately devoted to creativity,” said Dr. Roush at the dedication. “She built an exceptional career as a strong, competent woman.”

“Her integrity was never questioned. Her work ethic was never questioned,” said Professor Nick DiToro ’78, chair of the Levitt School of Business. “Her passion for lifelong learning was so evident that it left an effect on our students and those around her.”

The collection includes many of the resources Roush used to craft her professional career. Roush most notably served as Deputy Communications Director for Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman from 2011-2014. She was a long-time employee of York College, serving in various roles from 1998-2011 including Director of Alumni and Community Relations. Her extensive career also found her serving as a media strategist and professor of marketing for numerous universities including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Concordia University, and Nebraska Wesleyan.

Roush received a Bachelor of Business from York College, a Masters of Integrated Marketing Communication from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and at her passing, she was in the process of earning her Doctorate of Business Arts in Marketing and Global Leadership from the University of Concordia-Chicago.

“It would make Sue so proud to know the resources that crafted her career, now donated in this collection, are being used by students as a part of their professional preparation,” Dr. Roush shared. “Use them to help you become the next generation of passionate creatives that make a difference — just as Sue was and did.”

Dr. Roush committed to the continual augmentation of the collection to ensure its relevance for students in the future. It was also announced that an additional eighty books have been donated to the collection in her honor.