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FALL 2010<strong>FOR</strong> <strong>ALUMNI</strong> <strong>AND</strong> <strong>FRIENDS</strong> <strong>OF</strong> <strong>THE</strong> UNIVERSITYFM10 Fall issue.indd 111/2/10 4:40 PM
<strong>Furman</strong><strong>FOR</strong> <strong>ALUMNI</strong> <strong>AND</strong> <strong>FRIENDS</strong> <strong>OF</strong> <strong>THE</strong> UNIVERSITYFALL 201010Volume 53, Number 3<strong>Furman</strong> magazine is published quarterly for alumniand friends by the Office of Marketing and Public Relations,<strong>Furman</strong> <strong>University</strong>, Greenville, S.C. 29613.EDITORDESIGNERCONTRIBUTORSEDITORIAL ASSISTANT/CLASS NOTES EDITOREDITORIAL ADVISORYCOMMITTEEJim StewartRoxanne ChaseJudith T. BainbridgeNancy R. FullbrightMartin GramlingPhil HowardVince MooreBrent NelsenAndy PetersLyn RiddleJohn RobertsRodney A. SmollaCindy Black SparksTom TriplittNell SmithTish Pearman AndersonRandall David CookNancy R. FullbrightSam HodgesFEATURES2 A New EraBY JIM STEWARTThe university celebrates the inauguration of Rodney A. Smolla in high style.6 Engaging the Mind and the SpiritBY RODNEY A. SMOLLA<strong>Furman</strong>’s new president issues a challenge to build a campus culture thatis a model for higher education, and by extension for society itself.10 Field of DreamsBY JUDITH T. BAINBRIDGEIn the 1920s and ’30s, Manly Field was a showplace for <strong>Furman</strong> football —and home to some powerhouse teams.14 Leap of FaithBY <strong>AND</strong>Y PETERSPaul Wallace has chosen to combine his academic foundation in physicswith his Christian faith in an effort to reconcile science and religion.PRINTING Hickory Printing Group, Inc.E-MAIL jim.stewart@furman.eduTELEPHONE 864.294.2185FAX 864.294.3023© <strong>Furman</strong> <strong>University</strong> 201018 Faulkner’s WorldDEPARTMENTSBY MARTIN GRAMLINGThe Nobel Prize-winning author’s characters and locations come to lifeduring a visit to the Mississippi county where he lived and worked.22 BECAUSE FURMAN MATTERS 34 <strong>ALUMNI</strong> NEWS24 FURMAN REPORTS 48 <strong>THE</strong> LAST WORDCover photo by Charlie RegisterFM10 Fall issue.indd 3-111/2/10 4:40 PM
A New EraRod Smolla’s inauguration was an inspirational andenergizing experience for the entire university community.The hawk appeared suddenly, glidingmajestically over the crowd, just asRodney Alan Smolla stepped to themicrophone to deliver his inaugural addressafter being sworn in as the 11th presidentof <strong>Furman</strong>.Rather than make a fly-by appearance,though, the bird decided to remain in thearea. Finding a perch near the stage in oneof the university’s signature oaks, it satquietly as the new president touched onthemes of civility, compassion and respectduring his 20-minute address.Although no official records havebeen kept, it is assumed that the hawkwas the first of its breed to be on handfor a <strong>Furman</strong> inauguration.Perhaps, somehow, it sensed theunusual nature of the occasion. As trusteechair Richard W. Riley ’54, who presidedover the proceedings, told the crowd,they were witnesses to a rare momentin <strong>Furman</strong>’s 185-year existence.“Presidential inaugurations have notoccurred very often in the life of thisinstitution,” he said. “Of the previous 10presidents, only two held office less than11 years. So it is with a keen sense ofhistory that we gather today.”Aside from the hawk’s appearance,several other firsts marked the installationof Rod Smolla on October 22.This was the first such ceremony totake place outside, at least on the currentcampus, and given the magnificent weather— 60 degrees at march time, with brilliantsunshine — the venue couldn’t have beenbetter. It was believed to be the first timethat Plyler Hall of Townes Science Centerhad been artistically rendered in cake form,courtesy of Kathy and Company of Easley,S.C. In addition, the inauguration featuredtwo world premieres of compositionsby music professor Mark Kilstofte, bothcommissioned especially for the occasion.One piece, “This Amazing Day,”took its inspiration from a poem by E.E.Cummings and expressed gratitude “foreverything which is natural which isinfinite which is yes.” For the other piece,“Sol La Fanfare,” Kilstofte harkened backto Renaissance times to honor Smollaby “carving” a musical subject fromthe president’s name. As the composerexplained, “The syllables sol la re proclaim,S[m]olla the King!” Both a capella pieceswere performed beautifully by the <strong>Furman</strong>Singers under the direction of their newconductor, Hugh Floyd ’84.As a whole, the inaugurationreceived rave reviews as a true “feel good”experience for the university community,an inspiring launch for the new president,and a fitting culmination to an intense72-hour period of events that began withthe L.D. Johnson “What Really Matters”lecture by philosophy professor DavidGandolfo on Tuesday, October 19.Rod Smolla’s wife, Michele, and family joined him on stage as he took the oath of office from trustee chair Richard W. Riley ’54. Photo by David Crosby.2 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 3FM10 Fall issue.indd 2-311/2/10 4:40 PM
Things moved into high gear onThursday afternoon, when Smollamoderated a panel discussion on“Civility and Public Discourse” in DanielRecital Hall. The 90-minute programfeatured students, faculty and alumni,including three participants on handvia remote hookups from Paris (NPRcorrespondent Eleanor Beardsley ’86),New York City (Carl Sullivan ’91, senioreditor for MSN.com) and Winston-Salem,N.C. (Randy Eaddy ’76, an attorney and<strong>Furman</strong> trustee).The panelists touched on a widerange of topics during the free-flowingexchange as they analyzed the Americanpublic’s growing inability to debate importanttopics without the conversationdisintegrating into shouting and namecalling.Several pointed to our “soundbiteculture,” in which people have onlyshallow knowledge of issues, and worldviews and opinions are summed up insuperficial, 30-second clips. Others touchedon a growing public unwillingness toengage in substantive conversations, or toacknowledge that reasonable people shouldbe able to disagree reasonably.The panel’s consensus was that, despitehaving the ability to communicate in manymore ways than in the past (Facebook,e-mail, blogs), people today are actuallycommunicating less, tuning out the oppositeside, and paying attention only to thoseopinions and sources that reflect theirindividual world views. As Cynthia King,a communication studies professor, said,discourse in American society today suffersfrom an overall “lack of good will, goodfaith and good intentions.”Smolla would use his inaugural addressthe next day to expand on many of thethemes and comments from the paneldiscussion. (See following story.)To view the panel discussion, visitwww.furman.edu/inauguration/index.htm.After a banquet Thursday evening,the university turned out for a concert bythe <strong>Furman</strong> Symphony Orchestra underthe direction of Thomas Joiner ’76. Theprogram featured Dvorak’s “CarnivalOverture,” Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4,and Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Themeof Paganini,” with professor David Gross aspiano soloist.Then it was time for the main event.And following the 90-minute inauguralceremony Friday morning, folks gatheredfor a casual lunch on the mall.Once the lunch crowd scattered,the mall was quickly cleared and <strong>Furman</strong>transitioned seamlessly from inauguralmode to Homecoming 2010. (See page 24.)The last official inaugural event followedon Tuesday, October 26, when HolmesRolston, professor emeritus of philosophyat Colorado State <strong>University</strong>, deliveredthe Charles H. Townes Lecture on Faithand Reason.Although the pomp and circumstancehad ended, the soaring high of InaugurationWeek — symbolically represented by thehawk’s presence at the ceremony — will nodoubt energize the campus for months tocome. It was a grand and glorious occasionat which <strong>Furman</strong> put its best foot forward,and the good will and excitement generatedwill serve the university well as it movesforward into the Smolla Era. |F|— JIM STEWART<strong>Furman</strong> Mall was the perfect spot for theceremony; Smolla chatted with formerpresident David Shi, Dick Riley, and Clemsonpresident James Barker as they “robed up;”macebearer Charles Brewer; the cake depictingthe front of the Townes Center was a tasty hit.Photos by David Crosby and Jeremy Fleming.4 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 5FM10 Fall issue.indd 4-511/2/10 4:40 PM
We cannot plausibly claim that we educate both the mind and the spirit,that we graduate students with an academic degree and a degree in character,unless we intentionally seek out students who yearn for engagement in both.Engagingthe Mindand theSpiritBy Rodney A. SmollaIn the very last paragraph of Mark Twain’s classic, The Adventures ofHuckleberry Finn, Huck tells us that he is planning to light out for theWestern Territory because his aunt is out to “sivilize” him. As Hucklaments, “I can’t stand it. I been there before.”Throughout the book Huck has his issues with both Aunt Sallyand Aunt Polly. At the risk of you thinking me a bit Pollyanna-ish myself,my opening theme is Huck’s closing theme: this problem he has withbeing “civilized.”I invite you to join me in reflection on the state of our contemporarycivility and its discontents.As a nation we are once again poised on the eve of an importantelection. Whatever your politics, whether you are liberal or conservative,Democrat, Republican or independent, you cannot help but notice thatin many political races throughout the country this year, as in so manyof our elections in recent years, the discourse has often been highlypartisan, highly personal and highly polarized.What is true of our politics extends more broadly across our culture,in this nation and around the world. At times it seems as if the wholeplanet is determined to work a cruel twist on the words of AbrahamLincoln, proceeding with malice toward all, and charity for none.There is a curiosity to this. We might well expect that the healthof our public discourse should be at an all-time high. Never have so manychannels been open to so many voices. From the new media of Facebook,Twitter and texting to such old-fangled modes of communication as e-mail,telephone, television, radio or cable, today we express and exchange viewswith such breathtaking speed and ease that we ought to be living in a“golden age” of public discourse, world-wide.Yet many of us feel a nagging disquiet. Quantity does not equatewith quality. Yes, we may talk more than ever before. But when we talk,particularly about issues that really matter — in politics, in religion, inscience or the arts — we have, as a culture, become more strident, moreshrill, more angry. Our discussions are increasingly laced with personalattacks, increasingly prone to caricature and superficial slogans and sarcasticsound-bites. Perhaps most fundamentally, we may be talking more,but we are listening less.And when we do listen, we may not be listening with genuinely openhearts and open minds. We may instead simply be listening tactically,listening for our cues, listening for our chance to pounce, our openingto launch a counter-attack.No one political party, no one religious viewpoint, no one spaceon the cultural spectrum has a monopoly on these bad habits. We areequal opportunity employers when it comes to the employment of devicesthat diminish the civility of our debates and in turn sap the strengthof our democracy.I urge you, however, to not despair!We have it in our power to effectuate a rescue. It can begin rightnow, and right here.JEREMY FLEMINGTo all of us at <strong>Furman</strong> <strong>University</strong> and in the world of highereducation, I issue this challenge: Let us take on as an assignmentthe constructive improvement of the civility of our public discourse.And let that effort begin right here, at <strong>Furman</strong>.What society sorely needs, and what we are uniquely well-suited tocontribute, are the habits of engaging minds and spirits to the service ofcivilized and constructive debate and deliberation. Let us be leaders inencouraging such habits as a genuine willingness to listen, an avoidanceof gratuitous personal attacks and cheap shots, a commitment to factualaccuracy and intellectual honesty in our own advocacy, a de-emphasison caricature, and a re-emphasis on character.I know, and I appreciate, that many of our students and facultymembers, our alumni and fellow citizens, have passionate feelingsabout the issues of our day. And in our passions we are often deeplyand intensely engaged.Trust me, I am not against that. I am not asking you to curb yourenthusiasm. This is not a crusade for superficial politeness or politicalcorrectness. This is not a crusade for blandness, for a discourse that issanitized and laundered so that it loses all its color, humor, bite and zip.Your passions are admirable. They are the stuff of a vibrant democracyand a vital marketplace of ideas.There is a critical difference, however, between being engaged andbeing enraged. <strong>Furman</strong> is a university of engaged learning, not enragedlearning, and we owe it to the nation — and to the world — to stand upand demonstrate the difference.And so my challenge is for us to unite to build a culture at <strong>Furman</strong>that is a model for higher education, and by extension for society itself.I challenge you to rise above the coarse and the common, and by yourleadership advance the common good.As we rise to meet that challenge, we might constructively beginright here, right now, with reflection on this university’s proud historyand defining values.On a formal level, of course, we are gathered to mark the installationof the 11th president of <strong>Furman</strong>. On a deeper and more resonant level,however, it is not the persona of the president that matters, but the identityof the university over which the president presides.<strong>Furman</strong> was founded in 1826 by Richard <strong>Furman</strong>. It strikes me as significant,in both substance and symbol, that he was both a preacher and apatriot who called on South Carolinians to join the American Revolutionfor the good of the American whole. Richard <strong>Furman</strong> must have seen thata spiritual life was consistent with earnest participation in civil society,and that the purposes of a university were consistent with both.His leadership would be followed by the leadership of presidentsJames Clement <strong>Furman</strong>, Charles Manly, Andrew Montague, Edwin Poteat,William McGlothlin and Bennette E. Geer. And as we approached moremodern times, by the leadership of <strong>Furman</strong>’s more recent presidents: JohnPlyler, who had the vision to move the university from downtown to thiscurrent location, which was once an expanse of flat cotton fields nestledin this valley, and to imagine this campus as we know it today, resplendentwith magnificent trees, ebullient fountains and graceful academic buildings;Gordon Blackwell, who had the moral courage to insist that <strong>Furman</strong> shouldnot be racially segregated; John Johns, who through indomitable spirit andhumane warmth expanded the size of the endowment and ensured thefuture of academic freedom at <strong>Furman</strong>; and David Shi, who guided <strong>Furman</strong>over the past 16 years with his commitment to engaged learning andpassion for sustainability.Yet while we may be tempted to mark the epochs of the university’shistory by the names of its presidents, what really matters is ourresolve to rededicate ourselves to drawing from the abiding valuesof our past as we recommit ourselves to shaping the guiding principles ofour future.To that end, let me now speak directly to our students.My hope is that every single student at <strong>Furman</strong> will pursue and willreceive a dual degree — one in an academic discipline, and a second in thedevelopment of character. My hope is that all of you choose to major in thelife of your mind and the growth of your spirit.As you have heard me say before, and as you may expect to hear merepeat again and again, this experience is all about you. That is to say, itis all about you learning that life is not all about you.The purpose of your education here, like the purpose of life itself,is not simply to acquire a credential. The point of life is not for you toenroll in the proper preschool so that you may enroll in an exemplaryelementary school and move up to the right middle school, and then theright high school, and then the right college, and then the right graduateor professional school, and then the right job, and then the right promotion,and on and on and on, reducing life to something like an amusementpark in which you traverse from ride to ride, or a video game in which youspend all your energy amassing points and powers and advancing from levelto level — but in the end have nothing to show for the effort beyond thepoints themselves.This is not to say that achievement has no place. It is to say that themeaning to be drawn from achievement must represent values deeper andcauses greater than the achievement itself.And so, at <strong>Furman</strong>, we would all deeply cherish the award of anotherNobel Prize to one of our graduates — not for the sake of the bragging6 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 7FM10 Fall issue.indd 6-711/2/10 4:40 PM
ights attached to the Nobel Prize, but for theunderlying betterment of humankind, the scientificdiscovery, the literary masterpiece, or the promotionof peace for which the prize was awarded. So, too, at<strong>Furman</strong> we would take deep pride in another nationalchampionship in any of our intercollegiate sports —not for the banner we hang in the arena or the trophywe place in the trophy case, but for the sacrifice,discipline, striving and character that the banneror trophy represents.To our students I thus say: For <strong>Furman</strong> to reallymatter to you, its meaning must extend beyond whatappears on your transcript, beyond the recitation of a major, a degree or agrade point average. For <strong>Furman</strong> to really matter to you, it must touch bothyour mind and your spirit, shape both your intellect and your character.This effort must be a partnership. <strong>Furman</strong> cannot implore you to beengaged in mind and spirit if <strong>Furman</strong> is not engaged in mind and spirit.We cannot implore you, our students, to refrain from thinking of youreducation as a compilation of numbers — as the acquisition of credentials— unless we refrain from defining you as numbers or credentials.This must begin even before our students arrive. It must begin withthe values we profess and the messages we send when inviting students toapply to this university. It must continue through the processes we employand the decisions we make in deciding whom to admit to this university.It must extend to all the classes we engage and the experiences we embraceonce students are enrolled at this university.We cannot plausibly claim that we educate both the mind and thespirit, that we graduate students with an academic degree and a degreein character, unless we intentionally seek out students who yearn forengagement in both. We cannot ask our students, once they have joinedus, to think of themselves as more than numbers unless we first think ofapplicants as more than numbers when we invite them to join us.And if, as a university, we are serious about attracting a more diversestudent body — a student body enriched by peoples of all culturesand by members of all the great religions of the world, a studentbody that transcends lines of nationality, race, religion, ethnicity, sex,disability, politics and poverty, a student body representative of all partsof our country and all countries of the world, a student body truly engagedin mind and spirit — then we must fulfill the promise of that diversity andthat engagement once our students arrive.Diversity is a shallow and hollow achievement if those who comprisethe community do not genuinely engage, interact and experience oneanother once here. Diversity becomes for the university itself a mere credential,a mere statistic, if as a university community we do not encourageour students, our faculty, our staff and our alumni tocross divides of generations and geography, of faith andpolitics, and to listen to one another with authenticallyopen minds and hearts.Let us be a community that moves beyond meregrudging tolerance or forced politeness into the realmof generous and genuine respect. As the great andsoulful Aretha Franklin spelled it out: “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,find out what it means to me!”Respect is at the heart of the liberal arts tradition.CHARLIE REGISTER Respect is at the heart of American democracy. For allour differences and divisions, what we in America maymost proudly and with unalloyed unity proclaim is our collective passionfor democracy, for equality, for freedom of speech, for freedom of religion,for respect for human dignity.Let all of us in higher education be keepers of that flame. As weparticipate in the global marketplace — in the global community —let us be a beacon of civility, compassion and respect.Let that respect come from our deepest beliefs in the essential dignityand the essential worth of every human being.And lastly, let us not forget the joy.Let us take joy in one another, and remember to count each day theblessings of liberty, the beauty of this lovely campus, the memories of ourbright college years, the gift of our families and our friendships.As you, our students, become our future, as you grow in mind andspirit to assume positions of leadership and service, may you never surrenderthe joy, the sweet innocence of childhood, the delight that you and yourparents and teachers felt as you first experienced the magic of discovery,from the electric charge of the lightning bolt to the enchanting charmof the lightning bug.May all who have been touched by the <strong>Furman</strong> experience, from those<strong>Furman</strong> graduates now in their 90s to those future <strong>Furman</strong> graduates bornin the ’90s, be emboldened by the words of two Dylans. By the poetry ofDylan Thomas, who urged that we not go gentle into that good night, andof the songwriter Bob Dylan, who expressed in song what I express for youas my closing prayer:May God Bless and Keep You AlwaysMay your wishes all come trueMay you always do for othersAnd let others do for youMay you build a ladder to the starsAnd climb on every rungMay you stayForever young. |F|A <strong>Furman</strong>-style Day of ServiceUp and down the eastern half of the nation, from Philadelphiato Jacksonville and points in between, alumni and friends turned outfor a Day of Service to kick off the university’s Inauguration Week.When alumni and friendswere invited to model oneof <strong>Furman</strong>’s core values —service — in honor of Rod Smolla’sinauguration, they responded October16 by taking part in a variety of projectsand activities.In Nashville, Tenn., <strong>Furman</strong> folkscontributed to Salvation Army efforts,while the Charlotte, N.C., crowdworked with a crisis ministry program.In Philadelphia <strong>Furman</strong> was wellrepresented in the Nephrotic Syndromecharity walk, while in Washington,D.C., alumni and friends helped with a walk for the homeless. GreenvillePaladins volunteered with the American Diabetes Association charityrun, and the Jacksonville group was involved with a program for thephysically challenged.Habitat for Humanity in Columbus, Ga., was also a beneficiary ofthe Day of Service. Cindy Black Sparks ’80, a member of the AlumniAssociation board, filed this report on the Columbus group’s experience:Alumni old and young, current students, parents, and other friendsof <strong>Furman</strong> joined forces in Columbus for the Day of Service in honor ofPresident Smolla. Wearing our <strong>Furman</strong> caps and commemorative bandanas,20 of us enjoyed catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.We did our share of work, too, raising the exterior walls of a housebeing built for an excited new homeowner. As we worked, we shared<strong>Furman</strong> stories, talking about which couples had become engaged duringtheir <strong>Furman</strong> years, who knew whom in school, and which dorms everyonelived (or lives) in. We also got the lowdown on the latest fraternity andsorority escapades.George Flowers ’13 joined us whilehome from <strong>Furman</strong> on fall break. Heoffered some astute observations aboutthe meaning of our efforts.He wrote, “The Habitat builddisplayed a characteristic that isembedded in the foundation ofthe <strong>Furman</strong> community. Creatingsomething together without seekingreward is a value we all share. Whetherwe learn it in our time at <strong>Furman</strong>(in or out of the classroom) or comewith prior understanding, each of uscan reflect on some time during our<strong>Furman</strong> careers where we were asked or required to fully engage in a tasklarger than ourselves without expecting anything in return.“I came to celebrate, build and share that bond with alumni, parentsand students. I hope that I will be able to some day grasp a small amountof the selflessness I found in talking to <strong>Furman</strong> alumni during this project.”Katie Martin Krieg ’04 provided an additional perspective: “I am soproud to be an alumna of a university that strongly encourages service.It was great to work with <strong>Furman</strong> friends to help make our local communitya little better.”There is, indeed, something about the <strong>Furman</strong> Family that drawspeople together. Even if it’s just passing a car with a <strong>Furman</strong> decal orseeing someone in a purple T-shirt, we immediately feel a connection.At our Day of Service, we made new friends, renewed old acquaintances,created special memories, and pitched in to support a greatcause. It was a pleasure to celebrate President Smolla’s inauguration bydemonstrating <strong>Furman</strong>’s never-ending traditions of service, support andcommunity outreach. |F|8 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 9FM10 Fall issue.indd 8-911/2/10 4:40 PM
<strong>OF</strong>nce upon a time, a long, long time ago,<strong>Furman</strong> was a football power that competedconsistently against Clemson, South Carolinaand Georgia. And Manly Field was its home.For 17 years, from the first home game of the1919 season until the last hurrah — a victory overThe Citadel on October 10, 1936 — “one of themost splendid athletic fields in the South” washome to many of <strong>Furman</strong>’s finest football hours.Located at the northeast corner of thedowntown campus, about where Greenville’sFamily Court building is today, Manly Fieldwas a modest structure. But since it offeredseating, an amenity unavailable at “the athleticgrounds on Augusta Road beyond PrentisAvenue” that had served the team since footballwas reinstated as a varsity sport in 1913, it wasenthusiastically welcomed.In 1916, the board of trustees, notoriouslytight with money, agreed that the alumni-runAthletic Association could raise funds to constructa football field to be named for <strong>Furman</strong>’ssecond president, Charles M. Manly. The boosterswent right to work, receiving $30,000 in pledgesfrom “alumni, friends, and interested people”within a year and a half, but first the war in Europeand then Spanish influenza slowed construction.Early in 1919, though, Gallivan Construction Co.promised to complete the job in time for the fallfootball season.It did so, and a record-breaking crowd of1,600 saw <strong>Furman</strong> play Oglethorpe College thereon October 4, 1919. Every seat in the home-teamgrandstand on the west side of the newly gradedfield was filled. (No other seats were provided.)A sportswriter, impressed that “the full field isseen at a glance from the concrete stands imbeddedin soil in amphitheatre style,” described thefacility as “a marvel of beauty where no expensehas been spared.”The grandstand lacked a roof, although treessurrounding the field may have offered some shade.At the 4 p.m. kickoff the temperature was 88degrees, but neither heat nor broiling sun affectedthe <strong>Furman</strong> players, as they defeated Oglethorpe13-0 and started a 17-year tradition.The statistics speak loudly: eight statechampionships, a record of 124 wins, 42 lossesand 7 ties, and no losing season. (A 5-5 record in1924 was redeemed by consecutive end-of-the-yearhome victories over Clemson, South Carolina andthe <strong>University</strong> of Mississippi.)The first eight years under W.L. (Billy)Laval represented a golden age. Laval compileda 69-19-3 record, beat Clemson and Carolina sixtimes each, and coached the 1927 squad to a 10-1record, including a 38-7 victory over Miami in thepredecessor to the Orange Bowl.by Judith T. Bainbridge10 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 11FM10 Fall issue.indd 10-1111/2/10 4:40 PM
Walk of FameNorwood Cleveland’s Victory MarchAs a young man, Norwood Cleveland was a devoted <strong>Furman</strong>football fan — so devoted that, in October of 1926, he madea bold promise. At a <strong>Furman</strong> practice, Cleveland, a member of theClass of 1913, vowed that should the Hurricane upset Georgia inAthens — a rare accomplishment for the teams of that day — hewould walk the 101 miles back to Greenville.You guessed it. On October 16, W.L. Laval’s squad stunnedGeorgia 14–7. The Greenville News reported that “men close tothe team believe [Cleveland’s] promise substantially aided <strong>Furman</strong>’smorale in the conflict.”And Cleveland was ready to make good on his commitment.Years later, in a 1972 interview with the News, the 81-year-oldCleveland described the situation. “There was no getting out of it,”he said. The paper had reported on his promise, “and everybodyknew about it.”laval’s success launched the universityinto big-time college football. While<strong>Furman</strong> continued to play state teams,other Southern Baptist colleges (Richmond,Wake Forest, Mercer), and Presbyterian rivalDavidson, under Laval it also scheduled (and lostto) Alabama, Georgetown, West Virginia, Armyand Bucknell, and defeated Virginia, Florida andeven (once) Georgia. That win was really the bigtime, since the Bulldogs consistently stomped onthe Hurricane.In his history of Greenville County, A.V.Huff, former dean and professor of history at<strong>Furman</strong>, tells the story of alumnus NorwoodCleveland, who swore that if his team finallybeat Georgia, he would walk the 101 milesfrom Athens to Greenville. When <strong>Furman</strong>accomplished that seemingly impossible feat in1926, Cleveland began hoofing his way north.Four days later, he entered Manly Field to theapplause of the entire student body — and severalhundred Greenvillians. (See accompanying story.)Perhaps coincidentally, the university as awhole improved dramatically during the goldenLaval years. It became one of the four collegiatebeneficiaries of The Duke Endowment, ensuringits future; it was accredited for the first time;President Joseph McGlothlin built five new buildings,doubling campus facilities; and enrollmenttripled from about 250 to more than 750.Although its size and reputation weregrowing, <strong>Furman</strong> was still a small school with asmall team. The 1927 squad, for example, had noman weighing more than 195 pounds. Most wereunder 160, and one player was described (notironically) as a “towering 6-foot-two-incher.”Sports administration was equally spare.A non-paid “graduate athletic manager,” AlesterG. <strong>Furman</strong>, Jr., was, in effect, athletic director.Laval coached football, basketball and baseballwithout an assistant.Even when the <strong>University</strong> of South Carolinalured Laval away after the 1927 season, theHurricane (also called the Purple Dervishes,Purple Paladins, Purple People and, later, theHouse of Magic) continued their winning waysunder first T.B. Amis (1928-1931) and then A.P.“Dizzy” McLeod.Manly Field served them well. Seating wasinexpensively expanded with wooden bleachers,and a press box with broadcasting facilities wasinstalled above the grandstand. In 1929, 5,000fans watched <strong>Furman</strong> beat Erskine 19-6 in SouthCarolina’s first night football game, lighted by1,000-watt bulbs mounted on 14 posts.Night lights burned in Old Main officesin the years of the Great Depression, asadministrators tried to balance books and payfaculty salaries. Enrollment fell and <strong>Furman</strong>’sdebt increased. Without funds from The DukeEndowment, the university would not havesurvived. But football fever still burned.Influential trustees and alumni soon grewunhappy with Manly Field. There wasn’t enoughseating, they complained. Because the field hadnever been sodded, injuries could be harsh. Andfederal funds were available.Although <strong>Furman</strong> president Bennette E.Geer was opposed, in 1934 the trustees voted toseek funds to build a new, bigger stadium. Theymortgaged property and borrowed $20,000 fromthe Coca-Cola Bottling Co. to buy the land.On Halloween Day in 1936, <strong>Furman</strong> christenedSirrine Stadium with a victory over Davidson.Manly Field was not abandoned. It hostedSally League baseball games, served as <strong>Furman</strong>’sfootball practice field, and became the university’sROTC drill ground. But never again would itecho with cheers of celebration or witness suchgolden victories. |F|This article first appeared in The Greenville News.Reprinted with permission of the author, a professoremerita of English at <strong>Furman</strong>. Photos courtesy<strong>Furman</strong> Digicenter/Special Collections and Archives.So he cheerfully began the journey from the goalpostat Georgia’s Sanford Field. A friend who had joined him at thegame agreed to accompany him on the first leg, and they madeit to Royston. The next day, Cleveland crossed the state line andmarched into Anderson.Initially, Cleveland recalled, he had planned to do the walkin three days, but arrangements could not be made for a Tuesdaycelebration. So “they sent a couple of reporters from the Newsdown to get me to put it off for a day.”There was just one problem. An acquaintance had madea $10 wager that “Naughty” could make it home in three days,and Cleveland didn’t want him to lose the bet. An agreement wasreached, however, and Cleveland remained in Anderson the extranight, where, he said, he spent most of his time “in a hot tub ofwater resting my feet.”Virtually the entire student body and several hundredtownfolk turned out to greet his arrival at Manly Field October20 — recorded at 4:12 p.m. He was met with cheers of “Naughty,you’re the best sport in Greenville,” treated to a parade downMain Street, crowned “king of sports,” and presented a footballautographed by the <strong>Furman</strong> team. “They even had me in the movienewsreels downtown,” he recalled. For his part, Cleveland had toldthe paper that he felt “joy in every step.”He went on to serve as postmaster of Marietta, S.C., for 39years and remained a staunch <strong>Furman</strong> supporter throughout hislife. When he died in 1987, his obituary listed his greatest claimto fame as his walk from Athens to Greenville.— JIM STEWART12 FURMAN | FALL 2010FM10 Fall issue.indd 12-1311/2/10 4:40 PM
After trying to make sense of the worldfrom an intellectual point of view,Paul Wallace now tackles the tough questionsfrom a spiritual perspective.By Andy PetersPaul Wallace spent a decade teaching Berry Collegestudents about quantum mechanics, general relativityand the history of astronomy. Before he became aprofessor, Wallace received training as an experimentalnuclear physicist on a particle accelerator at Duke <strong>University</strong>,where he earned his Ph.D. He later worked alongside NASAscientists analyzing data gathered from a gamma-ray observatory.Wallace chose that career path because, according to friendsand family members, he has always been preoccupied with figuringout how the world works.But over the past decade, Wallace gradually realized thatthose intellectual pursuits weren’t answering the questions thathe really wanted answered. Specifically, he decided he wanted tocombine his academic foundation in physics with his Christianfaith in an effort to reconcile science and religion.In a nutshell, Wallace wants to know the answers to life, theuniverse and, in general, everything. “I felt like I had gotten fromscience all I could get from it,” he says. “The questions I wanted toaddress weren’t really answered by science, questions of meaningand purpose. I don’t think scientific understanding is the onlyunderstanding that is important.”So Wallace, a 1990 <strong>Furman</strong> graduate, did what his professionalcolleagues and many family members least expected of him.In 2008 he quit his tenured job as an associate professor at Berryto enroll in divinity school.The career switch doesn’t include plans for Wallace, a 42-yearoldfather of three, to take a steady-paying job as a church pastoror a hospital chaplain, even though he will be ordained as a Baptistminister in 2011.Instead, he wants to pursue a ministry that primarily involveswriting for his blog, “Positive Science/Negative Theology,” which,among other things, engages its readers in dialogues about howthey reconcile their Christian faith with evolution and othertheories of science, and takes a critical look at pseudoscience,such as creationism. He plans eventually to convert the ideas,discussions and stories on his blog into a book. Visit the blogat http://psnt.net/blog.Wallace, an Atlanta native, says his wife, Elizabeth SidesWallace ’91, “thinks I’m crazy. Some family members do, too.” Buthe also points out that Elizabeth believes in him enough that sheleft her own job to return with him to his hometown while heenrolled in seminary.Through an Emory <strong>University</strong> program, Paul Wallace traveled to Indiato share his knowledge of physics with exiled Tibetan Buddhists.Keith Pierce ’88, a <strong>Furman</strong> friend who is married to Wallace’ssister, Kristen, says, “Paul gave up the kind of security most of usdream of for the leap of faith in which he still finds himself. It wasa scary move, and most people I know couldn’t sacrifice that kindof security to follow their call.”But another of Wallace’s <strong>Furman</strong> friends, Jerry Salley ’90, isn’tsurprised by the unorthodox career move. Nor is Salley flummoxedby his friend’s apparent lack of concern about what people think ofhis decision.“Without even mentioning a name, if you had told me abouta physics Ph.D. who was leaving his tenured professorship to enterdivinity school, I would have said, ‘Hmm, that sounds like PaulWallace,’ ” says Salley, who was Wallace’s bandmate in the punkrockgroup Biffen Gjaney that formed at <strong>Furman</strong> in 1989. “As far asI can tell, Paul never fit anybody’s exact model of anything, nor washe particularly concerned with doing so.”14 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 15FM10 Fall issue.indd 14-1511/2/10 4:40 PM
Wallace uses his blog to display an unwavering tolerance of ideas from all corners of intellectual thought,from cutting-edge particle physics to the attempts by the Creation Museum of Kentucky to disprovethe theory of evolution. His goal is to try to answer the ultimate questions about our existence.By happy coincidence, less than two years after he droppedhis gig as a professional physicist, Wallace was asked to putinto direct application his fascination with how science andreligion interact.After leaving Berry, Wallace enrolled in Emory <strong>University</strong>’sCandler School of Theology. In 1998 Emory, through itslongstanding relationship with the Dalai Lama, establishedthe Emory-Tibet Science Initiative to “expand the horizonsof knowledge for Tibetan monks and nuns” and to provide acomprehensive education in Western science, according to theuniversity. To carry out that mission, the university regularly sendsfaculty members to India to teach science to the Tibetan Buddhistmonks and nuns who are living in exile from the People’s Republicof China, which occupies Tibetan territory.Through Candler School connections, people involved inthe Emory-Tibet Science Initiative became aware of Wallace’sbackground in physics. When an Emory faculty member who wasscheduled to travel to India as part of the 2010 summer programbacked out because of a professional conflict, Wallace was askedto take his place.Once again, he found himself teaching astronomy — only thistime his classroom was located near the village of Dharamsala inthe Himalayan foothills of northern India, and his students wereTibetan monks who dressed in dark red robes and sat on the floor.Wallace’s lectures, about the life cycles of stars, were translated bya Tibetan interpreter.Wallace spent two weeks in India, where he ate plenty ofIndian food and tolerated two four-hour taxi rides between Delhiand the village near Dharamsala in which the taxi driver attackedthe roads as if he were playing a video game.The India trip was especially poignant for Wallace foranother reason. Long before his visitthere, he had developed a profoundand in many ways uncomfortablefascination with Buddhism. Many ofthe posts on Wallace’s blog deal withhis exploration of Buddhism and hisinterest in interfaith dialogue.His engagement with Buddhismhas become so intense that he callshimself “a Christian with a Buddhistresonance.” Moreover, the way hedescribes his religious beliefs haschanged over time. In earlier blog posts he said he was a Christianin practice and a Buddhist at heart.“I never wanted to be a Buddhist. I’m embarrassed to sayhow fascinated I am with Buddhism,” Wallace says, adding thatsometimes he feels as if he’s “sleeping around” on Christianity.Wallace says he and the Buddhist monks enjoyed interestingexchanges about theories of physics. Although the monks had beenexposed to modern science during their childhood years, someconcepts were completely new to them. Wallace’s description ofsubtle points of Einstein’s theories of general relativity and specialrelativity prompted one monk to tell him, “You are in error.”Wallace was later able to explain the concepts to the skepticalmonk’s satisfaction.But the monks were receptive to many other theories ofphysics and astronomy, such as the existence of black holes. Partof the reason they were so receptive, Wallace says, is that scientifictenets don’t challenge the principles of Buddhism.“None of those things conflicted with their Buddhist beliefs,”he points out. “They don’t have a problem with the idea of atime machine.”Wallace’s interest in Buddhism is rooted partly in its similarityto science. Buddhism has a “pragmatic, empirical, nononsense”approach to daily life, he says, and the Buddha didn’task questions like “Where is God?” or “Where did the world comefrom?” because those questions didn’t help him reach his goal ofrelieving the suffering of others.While Buddhism may not be concerned with these types ofmetaphysical questions, Wallace is. He wrestles with them on hisblog and plans to address them in his book. Having tried to makesense of the world from the intellectual point of view, he nowwants to tackle those questions from the spiritual perspective.“I’m a dig-down-deep kind of person,” Wallace says, “andpurely scientific questions are not what captivate me anymore.”Instead, he is now more interested in how the religious beliefsof people of faith are affected — either positively or negatively —by the discoveries of modern science.As is evident throughout his blog, Wallace doesn’t have muchpatience with the purveyors of pseudosciences like creationism.In one of his postings, he compares a passage from the Institutefor Creation Research about Earth’s position in the universe toan absurdist skit from the English comedy troupe Monty Python.The comparison isn’t meant to be flattering.A meeting with the Dalai Lama was a highlight for Wallace and his fellow teachers and translators.The Institute for Creation Research, a Dallas-based groupthat promotes Biblical creationism, tries to make the argumentthat the Earth’s position in the Universe is “located at a veryspecial location by design.”“That’s a big no-can-do, crackerjack,” Wallace writes. “Thepeople who write this stuff know that their arguments are nonsense.They’re much too smart to believe this stuff. It’s politics,folks, not science.”But Wallace’s blog is far from limited to poking holes inideological warriors like the Institute for Creation Research,although when he does sharpen his knives, he douses his critiqueswith an ample portion of humor and wit. Many of his posts arepersonal and discuss sensitive topics, such as the reasons he abandonedChristianity while at <strong>Furman</strong>, the conversations he hadwith believers while still in college, and how those conversationshelped him return to his faith.Nor is “Positive Science/Negative Theology” confined to themusings floating around in Wallace’s brain. Many posts find himresponding to intellectual ideas from a wide range of sources, suchas one entry about the philosopher-psychologist William James’descriptions of mystical experiences. Wallace is also engaged in anongoing on-line discussion with an atheist in Tokyo about whetherto trust your own mystical experiences.Some of his blog writings provide evidence that Wallaceis a prime example of a <strong>Furman</strong> student who really took theconcept of a liberal arts education seriously. One post exploresthe notion of symbolism by seamlessly fusing ideas from theBelgian surrealist painter René Magritte with the mathematicalequation from quantum mechanics used to describe the wavefunction of subatomic particles.More than anything, though, Wallace uses his blog to displayan unwavering tolerance of ideas from all corners of intellectualthought, from cutting-edge particle physics to the attempts bythe Creation Museum of Kentucky to disprove the theory of evolution.His goal is to try to answer the ultimate questions aboutour existence.The task is one that many people, of course, would findintimidating and daunting. Good thing there’s someone likeWallace who is willing to take on the challenge, says Jerry Salley,Wallace’s bandmate and friend at <strong>Furman</strong>.“Science and faith don’t always seem to mix together verywell,” Salley says, “but if there’s one person I’d trust with bothof them, it’s Paul.” |F|The author, a 1992 <strong>Furman</strong> graduate, is a reporter for the FultonCounty (Ga.) Daily Report. Photos courtesy Paul Wallace.16 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 17FM10 Fall issue.indd 16-1711/2/10 4:40 PM
FAULKNER’S WORLDA trip to Oxford, Mississippi, offers students the chance to experiencefirsthand the area that inspired the Nobel laureate’s work.By Martin GramlingPulling off Interstate 78 onto one of theMississippi backroads that presumably woulddeposit us pilgrims in Oxford, our Jerusalem,was a surreal experience.Interstate highways are always safe territoryno matter what strange country they may traverse.To exit the interstate, however, is an act of faithand fortitude, especially in a place like Mississippi,a place-name which even for a South Carolinaboy evokes tall tales of gruesome exoticism.As our car turned onto a narrow tree-shadedlane, which according to a faded road sign led toa place called “Pontotoc” (a neighbor of Oxford,we could only pray), I was reminded of WilliamFaulkner’s translation of Agamemnon’s lamentto Ulysses: “As I lay dying, the woman with dog’seyes refused to close my eyes for me as I wentdown to Hades.”Led by English professor Willard Pate, whosepassion for Faulkner knows no bounds, our class hadspent the 2010 spring semester studying the author’ssemi-fictional Yoknapatawpha County. Now eight ofus had come to Lafayette County, not only because itwas Faulkner’s home, but because Lafayette Countyis Yoknapatawpha County, and Oxford is Faulkner’stown of Jefferson. The characters and locations insuch novels as The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dyingand Absalom, Absalom! are modeled on the realpeople and places among whom Faulkner lived.Faulkner’s most famous line reminds us: “Thepast is never dead. It is not even past.” And indeed,the past hangs heavy over Mississippi.Vestiges of Faulkner’s life and times still hauntthe landscape. The sacred shrine of our pilgrimagewas Rowan Oak, Faulkner’s home in Oxford, whichhas been preserved almost exactly as it was whenhe died in 1962. Cedar trees, those ever-presentsentinels of southern graveyards, lined the graveldrive through the ruined garden (which Faulknerleft purposefully dilapidated) to his imposinglycolumned front porch.We toured the house and grounds, but it wasthe porch that most captivated my imagination.The front porch was the great inculcator of thesouthern oral tradition which is at the foundationof so much of Faulkner’s writing. It was the stage onwhich the southern bards told their stories. As wemilled about the grounds, I could imagine a silverhaired,exquisitely mustached Faulkner reclining inthe late evening on the porch with a glass of bourbon,half-listening to some friend’s tall tale while musingintently upon the peculiar nature of the evening lightin August.Not every aspect of our trip was strictly tied toFaulkner. One afternoon Dr. Pate suggestedwe visit a small dairy farm a few miles outside ofOxford, near the area Faulkner called Frenchman’sBend. The farm did, however, have a literary connection;it was run by Billy Ray Brown, son of thelate Larry Brown, a novelist, two-time recipientof the Southern Book Critics Circle Award, andauthor of a book of essays called Billy Ray’s Farm.The farm was picture perfect, set in a goldensea of blooming wildflowers and anchored by an oldwhite farmhouse. As we stepped out of our cars threesmall children charged down from the front porchand breathlessly introduced themselves. Blonde,7-year-old Molly was recovering from a recent visitfrom the tooth fairy. Her sister Emily, 6, was anaspiring teacher. Harris, a dusty 3-year-old boy, wasless enthusiastic about our intrusion and repeatedlywandered off to play with his trucks in a mud puddle.I’m normally no fan of small creatures that makeloud noises, but these children quickly captured myheart as they swept us off on a whirlwind tour of thefarm. “These are the chickens!” “Here’s the hog!”“One of the cows just had a baby. Wanna see?”FURMAN | FALL 2010 19FM10 Fall issue.indd 18-1911/2/10 4:41 PM
Perhaps the greatest difference between the real and fictional counties is that Yoknapatawpha is timeless,but Lafayette is not. Yoknapatawpha will always be available for exploration and discovery, but theLafayette County that Faulkner knew will eventually disappear.Of course we wanted to see, so Mollyand Emily introduced us to Harris Junior,a spindly legged, confused-looking bullcalf that epitomized the sort of warmthand fuzziness that attracts suburbanites tothe idea of farming. It’s the same sort ofwarmth and fuzziness that little boys areinnately motivated to destroy, and HarrisSenior, now provided with an audience,was no exception. He climbed thefence, ran up to the calf, and kicked thedefenseless animal squarely in the nose.This brazen act of aggression elicitedgasps and even screams from the audience,which only encouraged the young ruffianto follow up his first assault by hurling anempty plastic bucket at Harris Junior. The calf,which was actually taller than the boy (makingthe kick that much more impressive), did notseem overly shaken by the attack, but Harrishad made his point. His dominance asserted, heclimbed back over the fence, kicked off his boots,and returned to the solitude of his mud puddle.Molly and Emily now had us firmly withintheir power. They issued each of us a nicknameso they could better keep track of us. Jane-Allison was rechristened “Jennifer,” Jill became“Princess,” and Mary Elizabeth was inexplicablynamed “Toothless.” The little girls had littleuse for Calvin and me — Calvin was renamed“Meanie,” while I fared better with “Bob” —and we were soon ejected from the gamesof the group.I used this opportunity to try to track downsomeone on the farm who had progressed beyondthe first grade. It turned out there was only one— Paula Brown, the children’s mother and wifeof Billy Ray, who was away tending vegetablesand securing pizza for dinner.Mrs. Brown instructed us in the basics ofdairy farming. It’s an intensive process; the cowsmust be milked every day, “including Christmasand Easter,” she reminded us. We were invitedto become involved in a hands-on way. I confessthat my skill at milking cows is somewhat lacking,a fact that Molly and Emily made sure to rubin my face.We did enjoy tasting the end product. NormallyI don’t drink milk, except in conjunctionwith a sugary breakfast cereal, but the stuffproduced by the Brown farm was somethingdivine. Ice-cold, unhomogenized, and definitelywhole, its rich, smooth flow was something ofan epiphany.The sun was sinking low in the sky when wefinally left the farm, with Molly and Emilybegging us to stay. Harris merely glanced towardus from his mud puddle.As we pulled away, it occurred to me thathere were some of the same sorts of peoplethat inspired the characters that populatedFaulkner’s Yoknapatawpha — charactersquickened by the same loves and hatredsand fears and jealousies that animatedthe real inhabitants of Lafayette County.Part of Faulkner’s genius was his abilityto create characters and places that couldcarry the heavy weight of his symbolismwhile remaining realistic and believable.The locations might be spied along thedusty roads of Lafayette County, and thecharacters could well be walking the streetsof Oxford.Perhaps the greatest difference betweenthe real and fictional counties is thatYoknapatawpha is timeless, but Lafayette isnot. Yoknapatawpha will always be availablefor exploration and discovery, but the LafayetteCounty that Faulkner knew will eventuallydisappear. Farmlands will give way to suburbs(to “row after row of small crowded jerrybuiltindividually owned demiurban bungalows,”to quote The Sound and the Fury), and the lastcountry store will close or be transformed bythe forces of Disneyfied historicism intoa kitschy gift shop/museum — perhaps a fateworse than even the bulldozer.We witnessed this process firsthand.Dr. Pate, a frequent visitor to the area, mentionedas many structures that “used to be here”as she did those still standing. “There usedto be a big white house here,” on a spot nowoccupied by a mobile home (with a tacked-onporch wider than the actual residence). “I thinkthere’s still an old dogtrot house over there,”but it was gone.In the Ripley Cemetery, the stern statueof Faulkner’s great-grandfather now looks outover a Dollar General and Pizza Hut set amidan ashen sea of empty parking spaces. There’ssomething undeniably saddening aboutall this, and it reminds me of the changesin the area of my childhood in upstateSouth Carolina, where the once endlessrows of peach trees continue their longretreat before the onslaught of suburbia,their verdant shadows relegated toisolated patches tenuously holding outagainst extinction.Yet with this destruction comes akind of renewal. More than old buildingsare passing away in Mississippi andthroughout the South; so too is the oldsocial order.When we visited the <strong>University</strong>of Mississippi, we saw the monumentto James Meredith, whose admissionto the university in 1962 provokedmassive riots. If the physical reality ofYoknapatawpha County is fading intooblivion, so too are the rancid injusticesof the racial, sexual, and economicsystem that shaped and destroyed the lives ofsuch Faulkner creations as Joe Christmas, LucasBeauchamp, and the Compsons, McCaslins,Bundrens and Sutpens.The Lafayette County that Faulknerknew may have passed out of existence to joinhis solely owned Yoknapatawpha in the realmof legend and myth, but with it has expiredthe long and brutal reign of those garrulousold ghosts.Mississippi is not, in fact, Hades. But theredoes hang about some parts of Lafayette Countysomething otherworldly, and around its neatlytilled postage stamps of farmland somethingalmost primordial, as though here survives someantique vestige of rural America before thetriumph of suburbs.No, Mississippi is not Hades. In fact,as I thought as our car merged back ontoInterstate 78 to head for home, it is inexplicablycompelling. As field and tree again gave wayto asphalt and automobile, I thought I couldbe perfectly happy spending every day of mylife sipping bourbon with Billy Faulkner on hisfront porch, while Billy Ray’s kids run squealingthrough the yard.And I don’t even like bourbon. Or kids. |F|This article appeared in its original form in Engagemagazine, Volume 6, Issue 3, a publication of theOffice of Admission. The author (pink shirt above),a 2010 graduate from Charleston, S.C., works foran international design-build company. Although hemajored in political science, he says he most enjoyedthe classes he took in history and English — theformer for showing him that “a life devoted to thestudy of ninth century Norman clerical vestments isnot, in fact, wasted,” and the latter for encouragingin him “a pernicious vanity called writing.”Photo of William Faulkner: Library of Congress,Prints & Photographs Division, Carl Van VechtenCollection (reproduction number, e.g., LC-USZ62-54231). Other photos by Willard Pate.20 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 21FM10 Fall issue.indd 20-2111/2/10 4:41 PM
<strong>THE</strong> LATEST NEWS FROM <strong>THE</strong> UNIVERSITY’S COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGNCAMPAIGN: Not suchan intimidating wordWHEN <strong>THE</strong> WORD “campaign” is mentionedin relation to a fundraising drive, some peopleimmediately think only of large, transforminggifts. But most successful capital campaigns aremade up of many gifts from a variety of donors.The ambitious $400 million Because<strong>Furman</strong> Matters campaign will reach its goalif donors support the campaign with gifts that fitinto their particular philanthropic comfort zones.Corporations and foundations tend toprovide support to schools that have a significantlevel of participation in their annual givingprograms. They rarely ask, “How much did youralumni give?” Rather, they ask, “How many ofyour alumni made a gift to the university lastyear?” So no matter the size of your gift, it canlead to even greater support for the university.What exactly does a gift of, say, $50 do fora <strong>Furman</strong> student? Here are some possibilities: Pay a conference registration fee so a studentcan make a research presentation. Buy a publication or journal subscription. Help equip a classroom. Purchase a musical arrangement for aconducting class or performing ensemble. Provide fabric for costuming or pay theroyalties for a theatrical performance. Buy a Tyvek suit to protect a studentwho is conducting waste audits. Purchase books for reading programssponsored by Heller Service Corps.The point is, no matter its size, your giftdoes count. We invite you to join the manyalumni and friends who are making a differencethrough the Because <strong>Furman</strong> Matters campaign.The author is director of donor marketing at<strong>Furman</strong>.— PHIL HOWARDFriends help Bob Swofford’s legacy live onBOB SW<strong>OF</strong><strong>FOR</strong>D was a member of animpressive group of chemistry graduates in<strong>Furman</strong>’s Class of 1969. He and the six otherchemistry majors in the class — ColemanArnold, Dan Dennison, Jerry Dillashaw, RobertMcKeown, Bob Posey and David Shull — allwent on to earn either doctorates or medicaldegrees.Swofford received his Ph.D. in chemistryfrom the <strong>University</strong> of California, then workedas a research associate at Cornell <strong>University</strong> andas a research scientist in chemical and appliedphysics with BP Research. In 1993 he joined thefaculty at Wake Forest <strong>University</strong> and quicklybecame a highly respected teacher and mentor,receiving the university’s Advisor of the YearAward for his impact on students. When hedied last March, the Wake Forest communitymourned his loss.His obituary stated, “A passion foreducation and the pursuit of knowledge fueledhim every day. . . . [He] will be remembered forhis gentle spirit, his intellectual curiosity, andhis beautiful singing voice.”Swofford considered the <strong>Furman</strong> chemistrydepartment’s summer research program tobe a major factor in launching his career as ascientist and educator. Knowing of his respectfor the <strong>Furman</strong> program, friends and familyhave created the Robert L. Swofford EndowedFund in his honor to support summer researchat <strong>Furman</strong>.The fund will provide a stipend to studentswho major in chemistry and conduct researchfull time during the summer. Student recipientswill be designated Swofford Scholars.To support the Swofford Fund, or to learn moreabout establishing an endowed fund, contactbetsy.moseley@furman.edu, (864) 294-3491.KEN BENNETT/WAKE <strong>FOR</strong>EST UNIVERSITYParents, grandparents accept challenge, surpass $1 million in gifts<strong>THE</strong> 2009-10 FISCAL YEAR proved to bea milestone in fundraising among current andformer <strong>Furman</strong> parents and grandparents.For the first time, they combined to contributemore than $1 million to the universityto support annual operating needs.“<strong>Furman</strong> parents and grandparents continueto see firsthand the difference their contributionsmake in the educational experiences of theirstudents,” says Judy Wilson, director of parentsprograms. “These funds support a wide varietyof programs, including study away, athletics,undergraduate research and internships,Campaign progress to dateFURMAN IS MORE than three-quarters of the waytoward completing the $400 million Because <strong>Furman</strong>Matters campaign.At the close of the 2009-10 fiscal year June 30,the university had raised $307.5 million in gifts andpledges, and had celebrated such achievements asthe dedication of the Townes Center for Science,the launch of a permanent endowment for the LillyCenter for Vocational Reflection, and the creationof <strong>Furman</strong> United, a scholarship fund to aid studentswho are facing financial hardships.In the coming year, <strong>Furman</strong> will be revitalizingthe campaign under the direction of new presidentRod Smolla. The campaign will refocus on suchongoing goals as building the university’s endowment,boosting scholarship support, and expandinginternship, research, study away and faculty developmentprograms.sustainability, student life, performing and finearts, scholarships, and service learning.”Much of the impetus for the success ofthe Parents Fund drive came from a challengeintroduced by the Parents Campaign Committee,chaired by John and Ellen Yates. The committeeissued a $50,000 challenge to members ofParents Council, the volunteer leadership groupof current <strong>Furman</strong> parents. Parents Council,chaired by Buck and Debbie Wearn, matchedthe PCC challenge with an additional $50,000in leadership gifts.Says Buck Wearn, “<strong>Furman</strong> recognizes the$300$250$200$150$100$50$0$275$215great commitment parents and grandparentsmake to support the university’s mission. Weare proud of the strong support we’ve shown,and we look forward to providing continuedsupport for daily operations.”In all, <strong>Furman</strong> parents and grandparentshave contributed almost $25 million towardthe $400 million Because <strong>Furman</strong> Matterscampaign.Visit www.furman.edu/parents or e-mailjudy.wilson@furman.edu to learn more aboutparents programs.MILLIONS ENDOWMENT CURRENT CAPITAL NEEDS/$60$51OPERATIONS ORIGINAL GOAL COMMITTED(TO DATE)$65O<strong>THE</strong>R$4122 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 23FM10 Fall issue.indd 22-2311/2/10 4:41 PM
<strong>Furman</strong> REPORTSHomecoming highlightsWITH SUNNY SKIES, 70-degree weather anda perfect inauguration as a lead-in, Homecoming2010 October 22-24 was a major success. Alongwith the annual traditions — float building on themall, reunions and football excitement — severalalumni and current students were recognized fortheir accomplishments.Alumni who received top honors at the awardsbreakfast Saturday morning were (opposite page,bottom left): Greg Hill ’91, Nashville music industryexecutive, Distinguished Alumni Award; SusanThomson Shi ’71, educator, community leader andFirst Lady of <strong>Furman</strong> from 1994-2010, Gordon L.Blackwell Alumni Service Award; Chad Bennett ’03,vice president with Reveille, a television productioncompany in Los Angeles, Wayne and Rubye ReidAward for contributions to the career developmentof <strong>Furman</strong> students; and Lauren Killey Briles ’02and Timothy Briles ’01, Greenville business andcommunity leaders, Outstanding Young AlumniAward.Robbie Gilson ’13 of Norcross, Ga. (oppositepage, top left), endured various indignities (includingbeing required to dress like Buzz Lightyear) duringthe weeklong, Survivor-like HAVOC competitionto emerge in first place and claim $1,000 for hischarity, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.Before the football game against Tennessee-Chattanooga, junior linebacker and team captainKadarron Anderson (opposite page, middle) waspresented the Palmetto Patriot Award by SouthCarolina lieutenant governor Andre Bauer in recognitionof Anderson’s contributions and commitmentto his fellow citizens and the state of South Carolina.It is the highest honor the lieutenant governor canbestow. Anderson, who grew up in the ConnieMaxwell Children’s Home in Greenwood, wasrecognized for his work with young people. Hefrequently speaks in schools and other settings aboutthe values of determination and a positive attitude.PHOTOS BY JEREMY FLEMING24 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 25FM10 Fall issue.indd 24-2511/2/10 4:41 PM
<strong>Furman</strong> REPORTS$3.4 million gift to supportBridges’ expanded effortsWHEN CASEY CRISP was a student at Travelers RestHigh School earlier this decade, <strong>Furman</strong>’s Bridges toa Brighter Future program opened new worlds for her.“My experience with Bridges undoubtedly changedmy life,” she says. “I was a first-generation college student,and the support and encouragement I received from theprogram were essential parts of making college a realityfor me.”Crisp, a 2009 <strong>Furman</strong> graduate, is now in her second year of teachingsocial studies at Mauldin (S.C.) High School. She says, “While Bridgescertainly prepared me for the college admissions process, I found that itbetter prepared me for life. Bridges helped me become an open-minded,resilient and confident leader who could look beyond my circumstancesand imagine a better future for myself.”Which is exactly what it is meant to do: provide encouragement,support and academic enrichment opportunities to students in GreenvilleCounty high schools whose personal circumstances might otherwise preventthem from fulfilling their potential.Bridges was launched in 1997 by a founding gift from GreenvillianMamie Jolley Bruce, who received an honorary degree from <strong>Furman</strong> earlierthis year. Now, thanks to a $3.4 million commitment from an anonymousdonor, the program will expand its support beyond high school and provideits graduates with an array of services after they enroll in college. Thecommitment includes $400,000 to be paid over the next three years,and $3 million in the form of a bequest.Tobi Swartz, director of Bridges, says, “While 100 percent of theprogram’s students graduate from high school and more than 93 percentenroll in college, our college retention and graduation rates are not asstrong. To fully realize our mission, we must continue to support thesestudents into their college years.”The $3.4 million gift will allow Bridges to introduce an intensive,one-week summer program called “Crossing the Bridge,” which Bridgesgraduates will attend before they enroll in college. “Crossing” will alsoprovide advising and support for the students throughout their first yearin college.Mike Gatchell, <strong>Furman</strong>’s vice president for development, says, “Thedonor’s late husband received the sort of special attention in high schoolthat changed the direction of his life and led to a highly successfulcareer. Because Bridges is dedicated to recognizing students’ talents andencouraging them to pursue their dreams, she felt it was a worthwhileprogram to support.”JEREMY FLEMINGBridges students are from homes where the average income is lessthan $35,000. Many are also struggling to overcome personal and familyissues. They are nominated for the program as ninth-graders by teachersand counselors, and once selected they remain in the program throughouttheir high school years. They participate in an annual four-week summerresidential experience on the <strong>Furman</strong> campus and receive year-roundtutoring and assistance through a “Saturday College” program.In addition to <strong>Furman</strong>, members of the 2010 Bridges graduating classwere accepted to such institutions as Harvard, Wake Forest, New York<strong>University</strong>, Oxford College at Emory <strong>University</strong>, and Ohio State. Seventyfivestudents are participating in Bridges this academic year.Casey Crisp is just one of many Bridges success stories. After graduatingfrom high school and enrolling at <strong>Furman</strong>, she chose to give backby spending her summers as a counselor to Bridges students. It was then,she says, that she realized the program’s true value.“I watched students change from shy, insecure teenagers to confident,well-spoken and driven young people,” she says. “I’ve seen the joy on theirfaces after helping to deliver their college admissions letters. I’ve watchedthem cry and hug each other at the end of the summer because they didn’twant to leave the only place that allowed them to completely be themselves.Bridges is a haven for its students, a place where they begin to discoverwho they are and who they want to become.”When Crisp graduated from <strong>Furman</strong>, she stood even taller becauseher fellow graduates had designated their senior class gift of $43,650 tosupport a scholarship for a Bridges student. “It was incredibly rewardingto be able to share the program and my experience with classmates asthey began to see what an impact Bridges has on the young people in ourcommunity,” she says. “The scholarship will allow a very deserving studentthe chance to learn, grow and take charge of their future.”Just as she did.Photo: The 2010 Bridges graduating class, with director Tobi Swartz (front left).Story compiled from reports by Vince Moore and Jim Stewart.<strong>Furman</strong> Fellows named; Year of Global Citizenship beginsFURMAN LAUNCHED the “Year of GlobalCitizenship” at its Opening ConvocationSeptember 2.What does global citizenship mean?The <strong>Furman</strong> community will find out throughprograms, seminars and lectures designed todetermine how our actions as individualsand groups impact the world around us.(To learn more, visit www.furman.edu/globalcitizen.)Katie Shultz ’11 (middle in photo),a political science major pursuingconcentrations in poverty studies andenvironmental studies, is spearheadingthe student-led effort to analyze what itis to be a global citizen in today’s world.As the keynote speaker at convocation,she outlined the plans for the program,whose goal is to promote “criticalevaluation and responsible citizenship.”Shultz, from Hoover, Ala., is also one ofthis year’s <strong>Furman</strong> Fellows, all of whom wererecognized at convocation. The Fellows program,established by trustee Bob Buckman and his wife,Joyce Mollerup, recognizes five seniors each yearfor their contributions to the university and theirpotential for future success. Fellows are selectedbecause of their ability to think creatively andimaginatively and for their potential to make adifference in the world and in the lives of others.They receive $7,500.In addition to Shultz, the <strong>Furman</strong> Fellowsfor the Class of 2011 are, from left: Chemistry major Angela Zeigler ofSeneca, S.C. A Hollingsworth Scholar whoaspires to be a pediatrician, she spent the summerdoing research at St. Jude’s Children’s ResearchHospital in Memphis, Tenn. She has also captainedthe women’s rugby team and been avolunteer with several Greenville agencies.<strong>University</strong> adopts student-driven integrity pledge“It is the desire of <strong>Furman</strong> <strong>University</strong> to unite its members in a collectivecommitment to integrity. In so doing, <strong>Furman</strong> <strong>University</strong> strives to teach itsmembers to live lives of humility, respect, and responsibility. Therefore, it is theexpectation that all members of the <strong>Furman</strong> <strong>University</strong> community will conductthemselves with integrity in all endeavors. In honoring these values and idealsas <strong>Furman</strong> <strong>University</strong>’s foundation, it is with utmost faithfulness and dignitythat I will ascribe to them.”By reciting these words in unison at Opening Convocation September2, <strong>Furman</strong> students, faculty and staff gave voice to an “integrity pledge” todemonstrate, in a tangible way, that they hold themselves and each other to Reece Lyerly, an earth and environmentalsciences major from Roswell, Ga. He is therecipient of a Udall Fellowship, one of thenation’s most prestigious awards for studentsplanning careers in environmental work,and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and ofQuaternion, the university’s select men’sleadership organization. Michael Chiu of Johns Creek, Ga.He is majoring in history and communicationstudies, and plans to pursue a careerin communications and counseling. He is onthe board of directors of Greenville Forwardand was instrumental in the creation of<strong>Furman</strong> Forward, a project that links <strong>Furman</strong>students with community endeavors. Shannon Cantwell, an economicsand political science major from Fairhope,Ala. She is senior class president, a<strong>Furman</strong> Bisher Scholar and a member ofthe track team. She has participated in severalinternational mission trips and over the summerled four fellow <strong>Furman</strong> athletes on a service tripto Swaziland, Africa.More from Opening Convocation on page 37.Photo by Jeremy Fleming.a high level of behavior. The pledge had been in the works for severalyears. The student-driven initiative was approved overwhelmingly duringthe 2009–10 academic year.The purpose of the pledge is to formalize the character and principlesthat are already implicit at <strong>Furman</strong>. As a guide, it is meant to be an overarchingrepresentation of the more extensive and intricate rules andregulations that govern <strong>Furman</strong> academics. It is not to be mistaken foran honor code, although it is a possible step in that direction. (<strong>Furman</strong>students voted against creating an honor code in the 1990s.)The pledge has been posted in classrooms, residence halls and publicareas around campus.26 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 27FM10 Fall issue.indd 26-2711/2/10 4:41 PM
<strong>Furman</strong> REPORTS<strong>University</strong> continues to earn recognition from publications, agenciesWHEN PARADE MAGAZINE named <strong>Furman</strong>to its “A-List Colleges” in its August 22 issue,it marked another acknowledgment of theuniversity’s growing recognition as one of thenation’s leading institutions.The Parade list was determined by highschool counselors, whodesignated schools theysay offer “big-leagueeducation” but that oftenfly under the radar. <strong>Furman</strong>was one of seven liberalarts colleges listed, alongwith Colorado College,Kenyon (Ohio), Occidental(California), <strong>University</strong>of the South (Tennessee),<strong>University</strong> of Chicago, andWesleyan (Connecticut).Parade praised the schoolsfor “providing studentswith reading, writing andevaluation skills they canuse in any job.”In addition to Parade,the university has received anumber of other mentions inrecent months: <strong>Furman</strong> was ranked No. 41 amongnational liberal arts colleges in the 2010 editionof the annual U.S. News & World Report collegelistings. Joining <strong>Furman</strong> at the 41st spot wereConnecticut, Skidmore, Union, and Franklinand Marshall colleges.<strong>Furman</strong> was also included on the U.S.News list of 25 schools known for their efforts in“Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects,” inwhich students do “intensive and self-directedresearch or creative work that results in anoriginal scholarly paper or other product thatcan be formally presented on or off campus.” The Princeton Review called <strong>Furman</strong> oneof the nation’s best undergraduate institutionsand featured a profile of the university in the2010 edition of its annual college guide, TheBest 373 Colleges. The guide ranked the JamesB. Duke Library 12th among college libraries.The Review’s Guide to 286 Green Collegesalso named <strong>Furman</strong> one of the nation’s mostenvironmentally responsible colleges. Kiplinger’s magazine ranked <strong>Furman</strong> 38thamong its “100 Best Values in Private Colleges.”The magazine based its ratings on academicquality and affordability, with quality accountingfor two-thirds of an institution’s score. Washington Monthly’s 2010 “CollegeGuide” listed <strong>Furman</strong> as one of the top liberalarts colleges in contributing to the public good.<strong>Furman</strong> was ranked 40th among 252 liberal artscolleges that are considered “service-oriented”and meet “public obligations in the areas ofresearch, service, and social mobility.” The Sierra Club ranked <strong>Furman</strong> amongthe country’s top 50 eco-friendly universities.<strong>Furman</strong> was 40th on the fourth annual “CoolSchools” list compiled by the club’s magazine,Sierra. The university received high marks in allcategories except energy supply, indicating roomfor improvement in locatingcleaner sources of energy.<strong>Furman</strong> garnered the highestpossible grade (10 points) inenergy efficiency. For the thirdconsecutive year, the ArborDay Foundation recognized<strong>Furman</strong> as a Tree CampusUSA for dedication to campusforestry management andenvironmental stewardship.<strong>Furman</strong> met five requiredcore standards of tree careand community engagement:establishment of a campustree advisory committee,evidence of a campus tree-careplan, verification of dedicatedJEREMY FLEMINGannual expenditures for thecampus tree-care plan, campusobservance of Arbor Day, and the institution ofa service-learning project aimed at engaging thestudent body.On October 27, <strong>Furman</strong> was one of sixinstitutions nationwide invited to plant 50 treesthrough a program sponsored by the Arbor DayFoundation’s Tree Campus USA program. The Bing Travel website included <strong>Furman</strong>on its list of “Scenic College and Universities.”Other schools on the list included Pepperdine<strong>University</strong> in California, New York City’sWagner College, <strong>University</strong> of Hawaii at Manoa,and the <strong>University</strong> of Colorado.ARCHITECT <strong>OF</strong> <strong>THE</strong> CAPITOLWashington Center honors <strong>Furman</strong>FURMAN HAS BEEN NAMED Private <strong>University</strong> of the Year by The WashingtonCenter, an independent, non-profit organization that provides college students theopportunity to work and learn in the nation’s capital for academic credit. Foundedin 1975, the center serves a global network of students and colleges that extendsthroughout the United States and abroad.The award recognizes the longstanding collaboration between <strong>Furman</strong> and thecenter. <strong>Furman</strong> was honored October 4 in Washington.<strong>Furman</strong> students have taken part in the Washington Internship Program foralmost three decades, spending a spring or summer in the nation’s capitol and learningfirsthand about politics. Danielle Vinson, chair of the political science department,says nearly 900 <strong>Furman</strong> students have interned and earned academic credit throughthe center.Vinson says, “<strong>Furman</strong>’s partnership with The Washington Center has had atremendous impact on our students. I frequently hear stories from students about howthe program helped them decide on a career path and prepared them for the real world,or brought to life what they had been learning in their classes on campus.”The centerpiece of the program is an internship arranged and tailored to eachstudent’s individual interests. Interns may work on Capitol Hill or with a governmentagency, interest group, law office, or one of a myriad of other institutions.Michael B. Smith, president of The Washington Center, says, “Among our 500affiliated institutions, <strong>Furman</strong> has stood out for the seriousness with which it preparesstudents for their time here and for the active participation of faculty in the programitself. We are delighted to honor the university for the excellence of its program andthe efforts of all involved.”The <strong>University</strong> of Iowa was named the center’s Public <strong>University</strong> of the Year,and the <strong>University</strong> of Massachusetts System the System of the Year.The Washington Center program is the largest of its kind, with 70 full-time staffand more than 40,000 alumni.Professors appointedto endowed chairsSEVEN MEMBERS <strong>OF</strong> <strong>THE</strong> FURMAN FACULTYwere appointed to endowed professorships this fall.In making the announcement, John Beckford,dean of the faculty, said, “These outstanding professorswere selected in recognition of their recordof teaching, scholarship and service to <strong>Furman</strong>.We are fortunate to have the support of generousdonors who understand the value of a strongfaculty and the resources needed to help in itsdevelopment.”Gifts from donors and foundations support24 endowed professorships and six rotatingprofessorships at <strong>Furman</strong>.Faculty members who received lifetimeappointments were: Gilbert Allen, Bennette E. Geer Professorof Literature. Allen, an award-winning writer, hasbeen a member of the English faculty since 1977. Sam Britt, Gordon Poteat Professor of AsianStudies and Religion. Britt, a 1972 <strong>Furman</strong> graduate,joined the faculty in 1992. Kate Kaup, James B. Duke AssociateProfessor of Political Science and Asian Studies.She joined the faculty in 1997. David Shaner, Herring Professor ofPhilosophy and Asian Studies. He has taughtat <strong>Furman</strong> since 1982.Recipients of limited term appointments were: Suresh Muthukrishnan, Henry Keith andEllen Hard Townes Associate Professor of Earth andEnvironmental Sciences (two years). He has beena member of the department since 2002. Travis Perry, Henry Keith and Ellen HardTownes Associate Professor of Biology (two years).A 1992 alumnus, he joined the faculty in 2000. Doug Rall, Herman N. Hipp Professorof Mathematics (three years). Rall has taughtat <strong>Furman</strong> since 1976.28 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 29FM10 Fall issue.indd 28-2911/2/10 4:41 PM
<strong>Furman</strong> REPORTSPrior remembered for wit, compassion, dedication to teachingBookmarks: Featuring summaries of recent publications by alumni and facultyAS <strong>THE</strong> FALL SEMESTER BEGAN,<strong>Furman</strong> was saddened by the suddendeath of Richard Prior, associate professorof classics. He died August 24 atage 47 of complications from pneumonia.A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Prior, whohad taught at <strong>Furman</strong> since 1994, was aPhi Beta Kappa graduate of the <strong>University</strong>of North Carolina-Greensboro and helda Ph.D. from the State <strong>University</strong> ofNew York at Buffalo. He was the authorof five books, including 501 Latin Verbs,considered a seminal work in the field.Prior was known for his generousnature, razor-sharp wit and widespreadinterests. In a tribute, his departmentalcolleagues said, “His students will remember hisself-deprecating humor, his love of culture fromthe very high (Livy, Vergil) to the very, very low(velvet Elvis, bad movies from the 1960s), andhis willingness to share his life’s adventures andinnumerable enthusiasms (his dogs, oenology,re-enacting the Civil War, Asian cooking).”They will also remember his uncompromisingdedication to teaching and his tirelessscholarship on the pedagogy of Latin. Mostly,they will remember his ability to reach out tostudents who needed a counselor or simply afriend, and the fierce loyalty and boundlessgenerosity he offered with an open heart.”Mike Williams ’99 was one of thosestudents. As a freshman Latin student underPrior for three terms in 1995-96, Williamsdiscovered common ground with his teacher,including roots in the Northeast and a passionfor the National Hockey League.“We would find ourselves arguing before,after and during class about whether the [Boston]Bruins or the [Buffalo] Sabres would come outon top,” Williams writes. “Dr. Prior would oftenshow up to class wearing his Sabres jersey, whichonly made me wear my Bruins jersey more often.For a kid in foreign country, it felt nice to beable to relate to somebody, even if he was aSabres fan!”At the end of winter term that year,Williams developed mononucleosis. The illnessforced him to miss the first week of spring classesand, combined with other issues, made himquestion whether he should remain at <strong>Furman</strong>.When he stopped by Prior’s office oneafternoon shortly after his return, he recalls theprofessor greeting him with, “I’m worried aboutyou, Michael. You’ve had a tough year, and youlook like hell!”Then, for the next hour, they talked. Priorshared stories about his own college strugglesand of adjusting to life in the South.Williams writes, “At that moment I recognizedthat what I was experiencing was notforeign, that others had been through whatI had been through and had survived. I don’trecall saying more than 10 words in that meeting,but I felt like the weight of the world wasoff my shoulders.“That day left an indelible mark on me.Dr. Prior’s ability to connect on a human levelwith a lost and lonely student seemed so effortlessfor him. That he could sit in his office, or with anentire classroom of students, and relatestories about his personal successes andtriumphs made him real.“Looking back, it is easy to seewhat made him such a phenomenalteacher. He was a person withoutpretense. What you saw was whatyou got.”Illana Fisher Burkhart ’99 alsorecalls Prior’s compassionate nature.During a study abroad trip to Italy withPrior, she and some friends rescued astray puppy and “smuggled” it along ona tour of the ruins at Pompeii. Theyhovered near the back of the group totry to avoid being caught, but as the puppy grewrestless, it became a distraction to everyone,including the professor.Burkhart writes, “Finally Dr. Prior couldn’tstand it any longer and came to investigate.I just knew from the look on his face that wewere toast, but as soon as he saw the puppy andrealized what was going on, his face melted andall was forgiven.“Today,” she adds, “I can’t remember thedifference between declensions and conjugations,but I will never forget that Cicero means chickpea,where to find the best veal saltimbocca inRome, Dr. Prior’s hockey jerseys, and how hewould purse his lips and his face would turnbright red when he laughed.”Richard Prior is survived by his partner,Scott Henderson; his parents, Edmon Prior andStella Beaulieu; and two sisters. Memorials:Greenville Humane Society, 328 <strong>Furman</strong> HallRoad, Greenville, S.C. 29609.— JIM STEWARTPhoto of Richard Prior (left) and colleagueVic Greene taken by Illana Fisher Burkhartin Egypt in 1999. Prior had purchased the headscarves from the Bedouin boy.MARK ADAMS ’93 and Tommy Bassett,Just Coffee: Caffeine with a Conscience(Just Trade Center, 2009). The book was afinalist for the Independent Book PublishersAssociation’s Benjamin Franklin Award forBest Book in the Political/Current EventsCategory. The Tucson Weekly calls it “amoving, colorful and refreshingly optimisticprimer on how to solve the poverty thatdrives illegal immigration, one village at atime.” According to the Café Justo website(www.justcoffee.org), the Just Coffeecooperative was formed in Mexico toaddress the causes of labor migration fromMexico to the United States. By workingto guarantee that coffee growers receivea fair trade price for their product, thecooperative fights rural poverty and helpsensure a steady income for those involved,thus reducing the need to immigrate tothe United States to find work. Adams, anordained minister, lives in Douglas, Ariz. Heand his co-author work with Frontera deCristo, a Presbyterian border ministry, andhelped found the Just Coffee movement.BOB DAVID ’85, The Undaunted Life(On Demand Publishing, 2010). The author,who lives in Rockville, Va., is a former<strong>Furman</strong> football player who went on toa career in the financial services industrybefore launching his own business, inwhich he provides coaching, guidance,and advice for personal and professionaldevelopment. He says, “The cover andbook theme represent many of the lessonsand values forged from my <strong>Furman</strong>experience.” Reviewer Ruth Douilletteof Clarion Press says, “David’s energeticand enthusiastic presentation, coupledwith memorable examples and analogies,will resonate and encourage.” Visitwww.bobdavidlive.com to learn more —and see snippets from his “other career”as a Bill Clinton impersonator, includinghis appearances on “The Tonight Show.”AMY BUTTELL ’83, Bonnie Biafore andCarol Fabbri, Personal Investing: TheMissing Manual (O’Reilly Media, 2010).This book is designed to provide adviceand insight into the investment game inlight of the recent economic downturn.Buttell is a freelance journalist, editor andspeaker based in Erie, Pa. Her website,www.amybuttell.com, says the bookcovers “topics such as how to get startedin investing and how to save for college,retirement and health care needs. It aimsto demystify the often opaque subjectof investing by explaining concepts clearlyand simply and offering a step-by-stepprocess to investing in all areas of yourfinancial life.” Co-author Biafore haswritten a number of books on finance,and Fabbri is a financial planner.ROBERT PENDERGRAST ’79, BreastCancer: Reduce Your Risk with Foods YouLove (Penstokes Press, 2010). In 2004 theauthor was voted Educator of the Year bystudents at the Medical College of Georgiain Augusta, where he still teaches. Thepublisher says this book offers “the uniqueperspective of a pediatrician specializingin adolescent health.” Tieraona Low Dog,editor of Integrative Women’s Health, saysPendergrast “has written a book that ispractical, highly informative and easy tounderstand. Any woman who is looking togive herself an edge against cancer shouldread this book.” Pendergrast also has aprivate consulting practice in which hecombines his love of nutritional medicine,clinical hypnotherapy and herbal medicine.He and his wife, Gail, teach workshopsto help people take charge of their health.Visit www.holistic-medicine-md.com.MERRIE KOESTER SOUTHGATE ’78,Agnes Pflumm and the Secret of the Seven(Read for Science Publishing, 2010). Thisis the fourth and final novel in the AgnesPflumm science education series, whichthe author also illustrated. This time, youngAgnes must save the world’s oceans.The publisher says the book is designedto “inspire a quest for ocean knowledgeand an understanding of the need toprotect the sea.” While entertaining andinformative for students, the series isdesigned to help teachers understandthe value of incorporating such skillsas reflective writing, critical thinking andart into their science curricula. A residentof Charleston, S.C., Southgate is aveteran of 25 years in the classroom andnow works as a science educator andconsultant. Visit www.agnespflumm.comSTEVE PRESLEY ’71, The Magic Ant(PublishAmerica, 2010). The publisherdescribes this fairy tale as giving children“a feeling of hope. Perils exist amongthe ants both from the inside and outsideworld, [but] a hero appears to save theday.” The author lives in Peru, Ind., andhas published books of poetry and fiction.MICKEY BECKHAM ’61, MessengersAmong Us: A Medical Mystery and LoveStory (BookSurge Publishing, 2010). Theplot: A nurse at a major medical centeris the last to see three patients who areterminally ill. All miraculously recover,but the nurse is falsely accused of beingpart of a hospital cover-up. A cult accusesher of being a Satanist and tries to kill her.The story focuses on how she and herfiancé weather the storm. Beckham, whohas spent much of his career in collegedevelopment work, is the author of severalbooks. He lives in Rock Hill, S.C.FROM FACULTYPAUL THOMAS, Parental Choice?A Critical Reconsideration of Choice andthe Debate about Choice (InformationAge Publishing, 2010). The publisher says,“Since A Nation at Risk in the early 1980sand the [later] implementation of No ChildLeft Behind, a subtle shift has occurred inthe traditional support of public education— fueled by the misconception that privateschools out-perform public schools alongwith a naive faith in competition and thepromise of the free market. . . . Politicaland ideological claims that all parentsdeserve school choice have proven to becompelling. This book unmasks calls forparental and school choice [by examining]both the traditional bureaucratic publicschool system and the current patternsfound in the body of research on allaspects of school choice and privateschooling.” Thomas, author of severalbooks, has taught education at <strong>Furman</strong>since 2002 after a lengthy teaching careerin the South Carolina public schools. Visithttp://wrestlingwithwriting.blogspot.comand http://livinglearninginpoverty.blogspot.com.30 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 31FM10 Fall issue.indd 30-3111/2/10 4:41 PM
<strong>Furman</strong> REPORTSWounded Warrior Projectreceives university supportON JULY 11, 2007, while on combat patrol in Baghdad, Capt. WayneWaldon ’04 was injured when an IED (improvised explosive device) struckthe Humvee in which he was riding.Waldon, an Army Ranger and platoon leader with the 3rd infantry,suffered a severe injury to his right leg, to the point that it had to beamputated just above the knee. He would go on to receive the Bronze Starand the Purple Heart.Because of his determination, positive attitude and hard work duringand following his recovery, Waldon is credited with being an inspirationto others undergoing rehabilitation for similar injuries at Walter ReedHospital. He has also testified before Congress about meeting the needsof injured veterans.Now retired from the military and associated with defense contractorGeneral Dynamics in Fairfax, Va., Waldon is a strong supporter of theWounded Warrior Project. The non-profit, founded in Roanoke, Va.,is dedicated to helping those who have been wounded in the line of dutyas they make the transition, both physical and mental, from the front linesto the home front.THANKS TO A THREE-YEAR, $286,000 federal grantfrom the South Carolina Commission on National andCommunity Service, two 2010 <strong>Furman</strong> graduates areworking on campus this year as members of AmeriCorps.Jennifer Guinter and Ricky Harris are working with<strong>Furman</strong>’s Community Conservation Corps (CCC), agroup dedicated to energy conservation and financialstability for the Greenville community primarily throughthe weatherization of low-income homes. The federalgrant was awarded to Corps United, a partnership ofUnited Way of Greenville County, United Way ofPickens County, <strong>Furman</strong> and several area non-profits.Guinter and Harris led a CCC effort to weatherize10 homes this fall, with plans to do the same for upto 50 additional homes by the end of July 2011. Weatherization involvessuch measures as weather stripping doors and windows, adding insulation,exchanging incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescents, installingvapor barriers in crawl spaces, and fitting foam pads behind outlet andWaldon (left in photo) returned to campus October 9 for MilitaryAppreciation Day at the <strong>Furman</strong>-Howard football game. He was accompaniedby Harvey Naranjo, the adaptive sports program coordinator atWalter Reed.During halftime, the two accepted a check for $1,925 raised by<strong>Furman</strong> students and friends to support the Wounded Warrior Project.Visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org to learn more.2010 graduates head weatherization program through <strong>Furman</strong>, AmeriCorpsswitch plates, all in an effort to promote energy conservationand financial stability.“You don’t really think about weatherizing as a way toboost financial stability,” Harris said. “But for the residentswho pay up to one half of their fixed income to cover utilitybills, these weatherization techniques help them save money,get out of debt or use savings for other essentials.”<strong>Furman</strong>’s pilot weatherization project took place lastApril, when the CCC joined with Heller Service Corpsand the city to weatherize five low-income homes and acommunity center. The CCC operates through the DavidE. Shi Center for Sustainability.AmeriCorps programs engage approximately 85,000people each year through more than 3,300 non-profits acrossthe country. AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for Nationaland Community Service, a federal agency that involves five millionAmericans in service each year.JEREMY FLEMINGSchutz beats law of averages, lands job in NFL<strong>FOR</strong> <strong>THE</strong> BETTER PART of her four years at <strong>Furman</strong>, Kelly Schutzprepared for her job in the National Football League by studying mathematicalconcepts like the cosine rule, which can be used to find the thirdside of a triangle when any two sides and the angle between them areknown.While Schutz, who graduated in 2010 with a degree in mathematics,has yet to use the law of cosines in her job as a public relations assistantfor the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, she is a good example of how a liberal artseducation can push students along an entirely unexpected career path andprepare them for something they hadn’t quite imagined.“When I came to <strong>Furman</strong>, I knew I wanted to major in math andbecome a teacher,” Schutz says. “So that’s the path I took.”And that was the plan right up until she began looking for internshipopportunities in the summer before her senior year. But what was a mathmajor to do? Well, it might seem unconventional, but if you were born andhad lived until age 6 near Green Bay, Wis., and your family members werehuge Packer fans who returned to Lambeau Field at least once every season,why not take a shot at interning for a National Football League team?Even though she knew she would be vying against public relationsand sports management majors for an internship, Schutz sent résumés to30 of the 32 NFL teams. To gain experience, she got a job working in thepress box with <strong>Furman</strong>’s sports information office during the Paladins’ 2009football season.“We had Kelly for only one season, but I knew right away she hadmore than a passing interest in learning about what happens in the pressbox,” says Hunter Reid, assistant athletics director for sports information at<strong>Furman</strong>. “She was extremely bright and articulate, and she was one of thebest student assistants we’ve ever had.”Schutz actually was called to New York for an interview with the Jetsand was “heartbroken” when it didn’t work out. But not long after, she heardfrom the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They interviewed her over the phone,then invited her to come for a second interview in Charlotte, N.C., wherethe Bucs were playing the Carolina Panthers. Shortly thereafter, the Bucsoffered her the internship.“I didn’t get too many résumés from math majors, but that didn’tbother me at all,” says Jeffrey Kamis, former director of public relations forthe Bucs who now serves as executive vice president of business developmentfor the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team. “I liked that Kelly hadexperience in the SID office at <strong>Furman</strong>, and I was impressed that she waswilling to drive to Charlotte for an interview. That told me she was seriousabout the internship.”Kelly Schutz says she is “partial” to such “gentle giants” as Bucs’ linemen Davin Joseph (75)and Keydrick Vincent.So Schutz headed to Tampa in the spring of 2010 to fulfill her dreamof working for an NFL team. She wrote press releases, proofed copy, helpedproduce the media guide — whatever needed to be done.“We were wrapping up things at the end of the season and gettingprepared for the next one, and we were a position down at the time,” Kamissays. “Kelly stepped into her role so well and did such a great job that shewas much more than an intern. She was like a full-time member of the staff.When I left, I told them they would be making a big mistake not to hire herfull time.”After the internship ended, Schutz applied for the club’s open position,then packed up and headed back to <strong>Furman</strong>. Two days before graduation onMay 8, she learned she had the job.“When I began applying for internships, I never thought it couldpossibly lead to a career,” says Schutz. “But I loved working in the press boxat <strong>Furman</strong> and in the Buccaneers’ public relations office, and it didn’t takelong to know it was something I wanted to pursue seriously.”So it’s public relations in the NFL for now, although Schutz won’t ruleout working with the law of cosines again someday. “I might go back andteach math at some point,” she says. “I know it’s something I would loveto do. And it’s comforting to know that possibility still exists for me.”— VINCE MOOREThe author is director of news and media relations at <strong>Furman</strong>. Photo courtesyKelly Schutz.32 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 33FM10 Fall issue.indd 32-3311/2/10 4:41 PM
<strong>Furman</strong> <strong>ALUMNI</strong> NEWSCLASS NOTES, FALL 2010 ..................................................................................................................................................................................677582Kathleen Greer Rossmann, associatePeggy Ellison Good was presentedTom Gais has been named director of theJ. Carey Thompson has assumed dutiesprofessor of economics and associate deanthe 2010 Dan Foster Lifetime AchievementRockefeller Institute of Government of theas vice president for enrollment andof first-year programs at Birmingham-Award at the Hall of Fame Banquet ofState <strong>University</strong> of New Yorkcommunications and dean of admissionSouthern College in Alabama, was namedthe Salvation Army Boys & Girls ClubSeptember 16. The award recognizes79at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. Careyis a former director of admission at <strong>Furman</strong>interim provost of the school in August.She joined the BSC faculty in 1998.Greenville County residents who havemade significant contributions to theJeff Beggs has been appointed directorof athletics for the Atlanta Public Schooland was most recently vice president forenrollment and student planning services88community through volunteerism,System. This year he is also president ofat Centre College in Kentucky.Dale Akins of Bluffton, S.C., has beenSMOLLA ERA <strong>OF</strong>F TO AUSPICIOUS START ................................................................................................................................................HAVING JUST COMPLETED a rousing InaugurationWeek at <strong>Furman</strong> October 17-24, beginning with aseries of service projects among alumni throughoutthe Southeast and concluding with HomecomingWeekend, you’ll forgive thestaff of the Alumni Officeif we join together for acollective sigh of relief.But what a week it was!From the service weekendto the various activitiessurrounding the inaugurationRECENTLY I HEARD FROM MAC WALTERS ’42,who was among the first people to move into TheWoodlands at <strong>Furman</strong> continuing care retirementcommunity. Located just a mile outside the campusoff Old Roe Ford Road, The Woodlands, which hasbeen open for a year and a half, has attracteda diverse population of individuals, many of whom,like Mac and his wife, Donna, have close ties tothe university.Mac practiced tax law for 50 years, includingstints as the U.S. Commissioner of Internal Revenueand as an assistant attorney general. Since he’s keptCorps in Chile and ultimately to a Ph.D. in psychologyfrom Ohio State <strong>University</strong>. She taught education andpsychology at Oklahoma State <strong>University</strong>, Cornelland the <strong>University</strong> of Houston, from which she retired.Chuck Evans ’69 (M.A. ’71), a longtime teacherin Greenville County schools, is another chartermember. As a rabid fan of <strong>Furman</strong> athletics whois also involved in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute,a popular enrichment program for many area residents,Chuck especially enjoys The Woodlands’ proximity tothe campus.What draws these and others to The Woodlands?teaching, athletics, the arts, coachingor mentoring. Peggy was recognizedfor her work in such areas as communityimprovement projects, education andthe United Way.72John Wood has been promoted to seniordirector of agency relations (law andregulatory affairs) with Ecolab Inc. of St.Paul, Minn., a global leader in cleaning,sanitizing, food safety, and infectioncontrol products and services. John isresponsible for developing, maintainingthe Georgia Athletic Directors Association.80Tim Hayes of Chester, N.J., senior vicepresident and region head for BayerHealthCare’s Consumer Care Divisionin North America, has been appointedto oversee the division’s global businessdevelopment efforts.David A. Merline, Jr., a shareholder inthe Greenville firm of Merline & Meacham,P.A., was selected by his peers for inclusionin the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyersin America. He practices in the areas of83Robert Hill of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.,president and chief executive officer ofAcosta Sales & Marketing and a memberof the <strong>Furman</strong> board of trustees, has beennamed to the Supermarket News Power 50list, which recognizes the most influentialexecutives and leaders in the supermarketindustry.85Michael Hurdle has been nameda senior associate with the Bank ofgiven the prestigious AV® Preeminentrating by Martindale-Hubbell, the facilitatorof a peer review rating process. The ratingindicates that a lawyer’s peers rank himor her at the highest level of professionalexcellence.90Elizabeth Ouzts is working as an OracleBusiness Intelligence functional analyst atIngersoll Rand in Davidson, N.C.91NEXT REUNION IN 2011of Rod Smolla as <strong>Furman</strong>’stabs on his new neighbors, we asked him to tell usIn addition to the cultural, athletic and educationaland expanding key U.S. and Canada federalcorporate law, employee benefits, mergersNew York Mellon. He is also a pianistRandall David Cook of New York City11th president (see page 2) and on to Homecoming,about the variety of folks with <strong>Furman</strong> connectionsopportunities on campus, downtown Greenville, withagency relationships in regard to regulatoryand acquisitions, tax law, and trusts andat Blakemore United Methodist Churchwas once again the writer for the annualit was a period perhaps unsurpassed in universitywho now call The Woodlands home.its ever expanding attractions, is just a short drivepolicies, and assists in coordinating Ecolab’sestates.in Nashville, Tenn.Astaire Awards, which were presentedannals for sheer volume of activity and excitement.What struck me most, though, was the way<strong>Furman</strong> people — faculty, staff, alumni, students —came together to pull off such an impressive arrayof projects, many of which had never been attemptedbefore. Who would have believed what a greatsetting the main campus mall would be for the officialinstallation? The good vibes generated that dayand, indeed, throughout the week carried over intoHomecoming, where once again the <strong>Furman</strong> faithfulturned out to celebrate the past, marvel at the presentand anticipate the possibilities to come.Those of you who have met President Smollaand his wife, Michele, know that they have invitingpersonalities and a ton of positive energy, and thatthey have brought incredible style and enthusiasmto their demanding new jobs.One is legendary <strong>Furman</strong> professor CharlesBrewer, William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Psychology.While Brewer isn’t ready to retire from teaching,he has already prepared for that eventuality withhis new accommodations.Helen and Moffett Kendrick are other earlyenrollees at The Woodlands. Moffett was vicepresident for development at <strong>Furman</strong> from 1967to 1987, and Helen also worked at <strong>Furman</strong> in theaudiovisuals department.Among alumni living at The Woodlands is NedMabry ’40, who had a distinguished 30-year militarycareer during which he served under George Pattonand was awarded the Legion of Merit. In the mid-1960s Ned commanded the largest expansion of theArmy’s officer candidate program since World War II.After graduating from <strong>Furman</strong> in 1960, Marthaaway. Residents also have the opportunity to workwith <strong>Furman</strong> students, many of whom volunteer atthe retirement community or engage in research orinternship opportunities there.Moreover, The Woodlands offers a host ofresidential options. In addition to independent living,it provides long-term, customized care ranging fromassisted living apartments and memory support toskilled nursing suites.The Woodlands describes itself as “the retirementcommunity of choice by nurturing a distinctive cultureof enrichment for our residents.”To learn more, call (864) 371-3100 or visitwww.thewoodlandsatfurman.org.— TOM TRIPLITTThe author, a 1976 graduate, is director of theregulatory and legislative objectives. He isalso Ecolab’s representative on regulatoryconsortiums responding to agency-drivendata call-ins, and leads various tradeorganization regulatory projects withrespect to Canadian and U.S. regulatoryagencies.73Jim Howard, who coached high schoolfootball in Greenville County for more than30 years, was honored in August as a rolemodel and “Coach of Influence” by theFellowship of Christian Athletes. Jim nowteaches elementary physical education inHenderson County, N.C.81NEXT REUNION IN 2011Keith Lockhart has been named principalconductor of the British BroadcastingCorporation (BBC) Concert Orchestra. Hemade his debut with the group August30 at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Theorchestra toured the United States thisfall and performed in <strong>Furman</strong>’s McAlisterAuditorium November 13. Keith continuesas conductor of the Boston Pops and is alsoartistic director of the Brevard (N.C.) MusicCenter Summer Institute and Festival.David Ouzts has been appointed tothe executive board of the Associationof Anglican Musicians and chairs theProfessional Concerns and DevelopmentCommittee. He is sub-dean of theMemphis (Tenn.) chapter of the AmericanGuild of Organists and serves on theLGBT Ministry Task Force for the EpiscopalDiocese of West Tennessee.87Jane Harris Downey of Columbia, S.C.,was selected a 2010 SuperLawyer in thefield of bankruptcy and creditor/debtorrights. She was also selected by her peersas one of the “2010 Legal Elite” by GreaterColumbia Business Monthly.in June in recognition of outstandingachievements in dance on Broadway andfilm. A member of the board of directorsof the Japanese Exchange Teaching AlumniAssociation of New York, Randall was thekeynote speaker for the third year in a rowfor new JET teachers as they prepared toembark for their year of work. As part ofits national conference, the JET AlumniAssociation presented Randall’s play“Sake With the Haiku Geisha” August 13in Manhattan.BIRTH: Benjamin and Kimberly McDow,a daughter, Mary Grey, June 26, Greenville.If the first few months of the Smolla Era areCrawford Muncrief taught for a time in Atlanta.Alumni Association. Photo by Jonathan Andersen ’09.any indication, <strong>Furman</strong>’s future is indeed bright.She went on to a career that took her to the Peace34 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 35FM10 Fall issue.indd 34-3511/2/10 4:41 PM
<strong>Furman</strong> <strong>ALUMNI</strong> NEWS2010–11 <strong>ALUMNI</strong> BOARD <strong>OF</strong> DIRECTORSClare Folio Morris ’83, president; J. Chris Brown ’89, president-elect; HarrietArnold Wilburn ’74, past president; Rebecca Ann Armacost ’89; Lynn NeelyBailey ’78; N. Staten Bitting, Jr. ’75; Frank W. Blackwell ’90; Sidney R. Bland’59; Mary Lou Walch Cagle ’69; Tricia Morgan Carswell ’82; Paul D. Goebel ’63;Michael L. Guynn ’91; Shannon Scruby Henderson ’75; Gail Laible Hughes ’83;Kara Stewart has become pastor ofLiving Christ Lutheran Church in Flagstaff,Ariz.MARRIAGE: Monica ChristineRinkevich and Michael Eli Pathi,December 27. She owns a real estateinvesting firm, and Michael works forMicrosoft. They live in Atlanta.97William Priestley is a graduate assistantin the athletics department at Campbell<strong>University</strong> in Buies Creek, N.C., workingas a broadcaster and technician. He isalso studying for a master’s degree ineducation.Doug Reed has opened Electric CityLeigh Ann Williamson and ChristopherAllan Oden, May 16. They live in Columbia,S.C., where she is employed by theDepartment of Health and EnvironmentalControl and he by Blue Cross Blue Shield.BIRTH: Jamar and CameishaMerriweather Barnes, a son, Joel Elijah,June 20. They live in Lithonia, Ga.L. Yates Johnson, Jr. ’59; Gwinn Earle Kneeland ’89; C. Todd Malo ’95;James N. Martin ’79; Herman A. Matherson, Jr. ’79; Andrew C. Medlyn ’97;Matthew A. Miller ’99; Joseph C. Moon, Jr. ’76; William P. Morrow, Jr. ’54;Emmett L. Patrick ’56; Scott W. Raeber ’92; Gordon D. Seay ’61; Ellison L.Smith ’89; Leslie L. Smith ’91; Cynthia Black Sparks ’80; Connie GartrellWilliams ’74.Ex-Officio and Other Members: Rodney Smolla, president; Michael Gatchell ’91,vice president for development; Tom Triplitt ’76, director of Alumni Association;Tina Hayes Ballew ’78, associate director of Alumni Association; Cal Hurst ’04,president, Young Alumni Council; Kyle Volkmann ’11, president, StudentAlumni Council; Patrick Wallace ’11, president, Student Government Association;Shannon Cantwell ’11, president, Senior Class.9293Timothy Brown, drama teacher atTravelers Rest High School, was one of 10finalists for the 2010-11 Greenville CountyTeacher of the Year Award.Jason Hightower received the 2010Reba Ferguson Memorial Rookie of theYear Award from the Colorado Associationof Elementary School Principals. The awardrecognizes principals in their first threeyears of the profession who demonstratestrong leadership qualities. He is principalat Meeker Elementary School.Helen Rice is an associate with theAlpharetta, Ga., law firm of Robinson& Miller, P.A. She practices estate planning,probate, guardianship, real estate,corporate governance and business law.MARRIAGE: Ann Louise Eubanks andDavid William Schmitt, July 24. They livein St. Louis, Mo., where she is a physicaltherapist with Peg Therapies Inc. and heworks at Monsanto World Headquarters.Jeffrey Wilhelm practices real estatelaw with the Pittsburgh, Pa., firm of ReedSmith.94BIRTHS: Chris and Angie GlotzbachBryson, a daughter, Lily Reagan, June 16,Charleston, S.C.Gregory and Heidi Bullock Dickens, ason, Parker Penn, June 26, Brevard, N.C.95Vance Jenkins (M.A.) has beenappointed to the English faculty at theSouth Carolina Governor’s School for theArts and Humanities in Greenville. He alsoteaches in the Undergraduate EveningStudies program at <strong>Furman</strong>. He has beenadmitted to the doctoral program at Drew<strong>University</strong>, where he will begin his studiesin the summer of 2011.BIRTHS: Jeff and Melissa Hammer,a daughter, Sophia Caroline, August 17.They live in Simpsonville, S.C., where Jeffis a channel marketing manager forServosity. Missy is a department assistantfor the history and Asian Studies departmentsat <strong>Furman</strong>.Stephen and Heather VandeBrake ’96Hunt, a son, Stephen III, July 7. They livein Monterey, Calif., where Stephenis attending Naval Postgraduate Schoolin the field of operations research.Hadley and Laurie Steitler Panzer,a son, Ellison Walter Steitler Panzer,May 8, Asheville, N.C.Ben and Stacie Snyder, a daughter,Brookelyn Avery, June 21. Stacie is a nurseat Spartanburg (S.C.) Regional Hospital,and Ben is an assistant professor ofphysical education at the <strong>University</strong>of South Carolina Upstate.96NEXT REUNION IN 2011MARRIAGE: Edward Riley and EmilySchankweiler, May 14. They live in TravelersRest, S.C.BIRTHS: Greg and Kelly Riley Brooks,a son, Riley Jackson, February 25. They livein Longmont, Colo.Matt and Mari Walker, a son, Matthew,Jr., March 30. After 13 years with twocertified public accountant firms, Matt hasjoined First Bank of Miami (Fla.) as seniorvice president and controller.Eye Care in Anderson, S.C.BIRTHS: Noel and Caroline DillardBrownlee, a son, Benjamin DillardBrownlee, October 23, 2009, Greenville.Caroline is an internist at Internal MedicineAssociates.Barton and Marcela Jenkins, a daughter,Courtney Anne, July 28. They live in Clover,S.C.Jim and Amy Pattillo, a daughter, Abigail,May 14. Jim practices with the law firmof Norman, Wood, Kendrick & Turner inBirmingham, Ala. He has been namedsecond vice chair of the Defense ResearchInstitute Young Lawyers Committee andwill serve as chair in 2012-13.98BIRTHS: Thomas and Rosetta Mowbray,a daughter, Elizabeth Rose, June 27,Greenville.Jeff and Lauren Youngs, a daughter,Greyson Emery, August 27. Jeff is anoperations manager for USIS, the leadingprovider of background investigationsto the federal government. Lauren is aphysical therapist with Amedisys. They livein Cumming, Ga.99Aaron Merritt, a physical science teacherat Greenville High Academy, was one of 10finalists for the 2010-11 Greenville CountyTeacher of the Year Award.MARRIAGES: Heather Coffey andChristopher Farmer, July 3. They live inLeesburg, Va.00Tyler Thigpen of Cambridge, Mass.,began the Mid-Career Master in PublicAdministration degree program in July atHarvard <strong>University</strong>’s Kennedy School ofGovernment.Jordan Tidrick recently moved toShenyang, China, where she teaches highschool science at the Shenyang PacificAcademy. The academy is a new school forChinese nationals seeking Western-styleeducation in preparation for college in theUnited States, Canada and Europe.MARRIAGE: Ashley Wayne Lowderand Maya Eva Lake, March 27. He isemployed by Sunland Distribution and sheis self-employed. They live in Greenville.BIRTHS: Jeff and Kate Hanmer Elkins,a son, Jude Benson, June 28, Atlanta.Pete and Shana King, a daughter, AnnaMarie, May 11, Alexandria, Va. Petepractices business law and estate planning,and Shana teaches in the Fairfax CountySchools.Matt ’96 and Jennifer Elliott Mathis,a daughter, Ansley Cate, June 27. They livein Gaffney, S.C.Will and Reid Breckenridge ’01Murphy, a daughter, Bennett Elizabeth,June 6, Greenville.Robert and Kimberly Craig Proctor,a son, Levi Ellis Slate, March 16. Kimberlyis director of admissions for the Clemson<strong>University</strong> MBA program.Noel and Dayna Schoonmaker, a daughter,Nora Kate, July 20. They live in Valdese,N.C.Michael and Emily Smith White, a son,Samuel Carlton, July 30, Durham, N.C.TOP HONORS <strong>FOR</strong> SUSAN SHI, JEANNE DAVISFURMAN SHOWED ITS APPRECIATION for Susan for her commitment and devotion to alma mater.Thomson Shi, the university’s First Lady from 1994 to Described as “a role model for <strong>Furman</strong> volunteers,”2010, by awarding her an honorary Doctor of Humanities Davis is a member of the executive committee of thedegree during Opening Convocation September 2. Advisory Council and a past member of the AlumniShi (left in photo), who holds a doctorate inAssociation Board of Directors. She has been a classcurriculum and instruction from the <strong>University</strong> ofagent and a member of the Annual Giving Council,North Carolina, was recognized for her superb work and she has been active in reunion planning, the Paladinas an ambassador for <strong>Furman</strong> and for her extensive Club and the <strong>Furman</strong> Admission Network.contributions to public education in the city and state.The smiley-face stickers she and Shi wear are inHaving served on many boards and panels that have tribute to Davis’ late husband, Lonnie.worked to improve and expand opportunities for the<strong>Furman</strong> also announced that during the summerstate’s students, she is currently involved with the South it had awarded an honorary Doctor of HumanitiesCarolina Institute for Child Success, a collaborative effort degree to Mamie Jolley Bruce of Greenville. She providedthe founding gift for the Bridges to a Brighteramong agencies, educational institutions and nonprofitgroups through which the physical, emotional Future program, which for almost 15 years has helpedand developmental needs of the state’s young children high school students from economically challengedwill be addressed.backgrounds realize their dreams and pursue theirIn addition, the university presented the Bell Tower personal and educational goals. (See page 26.) BruceAward to Jeanne Saunders Davis ’56 of Lexington, N.C., was not able to attend the convocation.JEREMY FLEMING36 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 37FM10 Fall issue.indd 36-3711/2/10 4:41 PM
<strong>Furman</strong> <strong>ALUMNI</strong> NEWS01NEXT REUNION IN 2011Matthew Link of Richmond Hill, Ga., hasjoined the orthopaedic department at FortStewart Army Hospital.Richard McAdams is a writer for TheHeritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.BIRTHS: Morgan and Megan PalmerCamp, a daughter, Grace Caroline, April26. They have moved to Raleigh, N.C.,where Morgan is a radiologist at Duke-Raleigh Hospital.Erik ’02 and Heather Townes Madsen,a daughter, Claire Frances, March 16.Erik recently completed the M.D./Ph.D.program at Washington <strong>University</strong> in St.Louis (Mo.), earning a Ph.D. in molecularcell biology. He has begun a residency inpediatrics at Children’s Hospital in Boston.Erik Ching and Cathy Stevens, adaughter, Halle Cathryn Mikel, February3, Greenville. Erik is a history professor at<strong>Furman</strong>, where Cathy is coordinator of theRiley Institute’s Center for Education Policyand Leadership.Jonathan and Katherine HawkinsWatts, a daughter, Lydia, July 15, Dallas,Texas.02Rudy Currence of Rock Hill, S.C., aDisturbing Tha Peace Records artist, visitedmore than 40 colleges in 15 states duringhis 2010 spring college tour leading to therelease of his album “Black Keys and BlueSkies.” Visit www.rudycurrenceonline.com.Kristin Guilliams has become chiefresident of pediatric neurology atWashington <strong>University</strong> (St. Louis Children’sHospital) in Missouri.Becky Simonds McSwain of Bradenton,Fla., has been named one of the topvolunteers in the country by NorthwesternMutual for her dedication to Young Lifeof Manatee County. A $10,000 grant wasgiven to the organization on her behalfNEW CAREER PATH?WHEN A FURMAN STUDY AWAY GROUP making a stop in Donegal,Ireland, came across this storefront this fall, they did a double take. Hadthe university’s recently retired president decided to chuck his plans, moveoverseas and open a medical clinic, where he would dispense wisdom andengage patients in everything from acupuncture to massage? The notionseemed far-fetched, and yet the name was the same. Perhaps more telling,the building and sign were green — and wasn’t Shi all about sustainability?Upon further inspection, however, the group discovered that theclinic’s proprietor had no <strong>Furman</strong> connection. And additional legworkon this side of the Atlantic uncovered a number of David Shi sightings,confirming that he has remained in the States to retool, write, and prepareto teach again.as part of the company’s Community His dissertation focused on the literacyService Award program. She is alearning experiences of boys in singlegenderclassrooms.Northwestern representative withThe Teague Financial Group.MARRIAGES: Michelle Muro andApril Neslund Mucci recently became Andrew Heck, May 29. They live inprogram coordinator for Leadership Polk, Greenville.a county-wide program in central Florida. Jennifer Willis and Jon Girard, April 17.She lives in Lakeland.They live in Alexandria, Va.Josh Patterson received his Ph.D. in BIRTHS: David and Erin Lyttle Do,educational administration from thea daughter, Claire Elise, July 3. They liveJAY ONEYBrock and Carace Parmley MacKay,a son, Finley MacNeil, August 5, FortThomas, Ky. Brock is a landscape architectwith Viox & Viox, Inc., and Carace is apediatrician with Pediatric Associatesof Northern Kentucky.Doug and Mary Teal Mitchell ’07O’Neal, a daughter, Lucy Mae, March 11,Greenville.Beau and Hilary Eldred Seagraves,a son, Robert “Burke” Seagraves III,August 6, 2009, Athens, Ga.Matt ’03 and Molly Stokes Staab,a daughter, Lillian Belle, November 20,2009, Greenville.03Mindy Jones has joined the NationalCouncil on Aging in Washington, D.C.,as community and new media manager.NCOA is the leading non-profit servicesand advocacy organization for olderAmericans.Holly Chudalski Sharp is directministry representative with Young Lifein Greenville.MARRIAGES: Maggie Battcher andJason Hollis, June 5. They live in Roberta,Ga. Maggie is band director at CrawfordCounty Middle and High School, and Jasonis a LAN support specialist at the homeoffice of Georgia Farm Bureau.Kathryn Paige Harden and Elliot MaxTucker-Drob, June 19. They are assistantprofessors of psychology at the <strong>University</strong>of Texas.Elizabeth Ashmore Snipes and WestonBradley Rochester, May 22. They live inSpringfield, Mo., where she is an assistantprofessor of art at Missouri State <strong>University</strong>and he is an attorney.BIRTHS: Jonathan and KelleyFitzgerald Caskey, twin sons, RhysFitzgerald and Owen William, February 12,Spartanburg, S.C.Lloyd and Emily Flores, a daughter, ElyseDavid and Megan Mathis, twin sons,Coleman Richard and Carson Thomas, July1, Minneapolis, Minn. David is a theologicalassistant to pastor-author John Piper.Eugene and Anne Marie Tominack ’02Sibal, a daughter, Lennox Marie, February5. Eugene is a dental student at the Medical<strong>University</strong> of South Carolina. Anne Marie isan attorney in the U.S. Air Force stationedat the Air Force Academy in ColoradoSprings, Colo.Russell and Mary Beth LemmonsYoung, a daughter, Emary Claire, March16, Greenville.04Cameron Howard of Tampa, Fla.,graduated from Nova Southeastern<strong>University</strong> in June with a certificate inendodontics and a master’s degree indental science. His wife, Haley, graduatedfrom the Philadelphia College of OsteopathicMedicine-Georgia. Cameron hasjoined a group in the Tampa area, andHaley is pursuing a pediatrics internshipat the <strong>University</strong> of South Florida.Matt Lynn is Latin American projectcoordinator for BiblioWorks, an organizationbased in Asheville, N.C., thatprovides funding to equip and build rurallibraries in Bolivia, train library workersand teachers, and promote literacy.Before joining BiblioWorks, Matt servedin the Peace Corps for two years. Visitwww.biblioworks.org.Art work by Nikki Pressley is featuredin the California Biennial exhibition, whichruns through March 13 at the OrangeCounty Museum of Art. Nikki is one ofmore than 40 artists and collaborativegroups included in the exhibition, whosegoal is to present new developments incontemporary art and showcase emergingartistic talent.Lori Ann Forrest Ricklefs hasgraduated from West Virginia Schoolof Osteopathic Medicine with a Doctorof Osteopathic Medicine degree. Sheis pursuing an internship at Charleston(W.Va.) Area Medical Center.Franklin E. “Trey” Warren III hasbeen promoted to vice president ofQ10|Professional Mortgage Company.He has been with the Greenville-based Michelle Kannan has become managercommercial mortgage banking firm for six of alumni relations at Bishop O’Connellyears. He is a member of the Urban Land High School in Arlington, Va.Institute and is active in the Upstate ULI Kristin LaRoche has been named grantsYoung Leaders group.administrator in the Office of SponsoredMARRIAGE: Mandy Atkinson and Programs at Clemson <strong>University</strong>.Gordon Stallard, April 3. They live in Jessica Hawley Sharp graduated fromSimpsonville, S.C. She teaches French Converse College in July with a Master ofat Laurens District 55 High School.Arts degree in teaching in early childhoodBIRTH: Christopher and Joyce Monforte education. She is interim director of theHollins, a daughter, Meredith Joyce, Child Development Center at the YWCAFebruary 11. They live in Franklin, Tenn. of Greenville.ONE ALUM’S FURMAN HERO STORY ...........................................................................................................................................................IN <strong>THE</strong> SUMMER ISSUE of <strong>Furman</strong> magazine, weasked you to send us your story (or stories) aboutyour <strong>Furman</strong> hero — the professor,administrator or coach whose guidance,influence or counsel had a lastingimpact on your life.Among the earliest responses wereceived was one from John James, aretired Baptist minister and member ofthe Class of 1944. Now 87 years old,James, who lives in Charlottesville, Va.,recalls a seminal moment from his senior year.“The one person who actually changed my wayof thinking was [sociology professor] Laura Ebaugh,”he writes. “On one of her tests, she asked, ‘Who arethe Negroes?’ Like a nut, I answered, “The Negroeswere put on Earth to serve white people.” Whenshe returned the test to me, she scribbled on itsomething like, ‘Where did you get this idea?’This began a remarkable change in my attitudetoward African-Americans.”John James told his story in one shortparagraph. Even after 66 years, he still remembershow one pointed question from MissEbaugh (photo) led him to rethink his attitudesand reconsider his opinions.Isn’t this a major aspect of what a liberal artseducation is supposed to do — teach us to thinkabout, examine and re-examine ideas, howeveruncomfortable the process may be? To take whatwe learn and apply it in our daily lives?These are the kinds of stories that we’re continuingto collect. If you are willing to share your taleabout the person (or persons) who set the standard fora <strong>Furman</strong> education in your mind — who inspired an“aha” moment in you — we’d like to hear about it.Please send your story to jim.stewart@furman.edu,or mail it to Jim Stewart, Marketing and PublicRelations, <strong>Furman</strong> <strong>University</strong>, Greenville, S.C. 29613.We plan to publish the stories in some form, eitheron-line or in the magazine.05Caroline Bentley has been namedassistant women’s tennis coach at <strong>Furman</strong>.A three-time all-Southern Conferenceselection in both singles and doublesduring her undergraduate days, sherecently earned an MBA degree fromthe <strong>University</strong> of Alabama, where shewas a volunteer assistant coach. She hasalso been an assistant at the <strong>University</strong>of North Carolina-Charlotte.Justin William Cash earned a Masterof Laws degree in taxation from American<strong>University</strong>’s Washington College of Law.MARRIAGES: Tina Denmark and JustinJames Myers, August 21. They live in PrairieVillage, Kan., where Tina is a healthcareinformation technology consultant andJustin is a chef for the Hyatt.Jim Eubanks and Komal Patel ’06,August 21. Jim, who was profiled in thespring 2009 issue of <strong>Furman</strong> magazinefor his work as the youngest abbot of aBuddhist order, completed chiropracticstudy at Logan <strong>University</strong> in St. Louis, Mo.,while earning a master’s degree in sportsscience and rehabilitation and becominga certified strength and conditioningspecialist. He and Komal have moved tofrom the Northwestern Mutual Foundation<strong>University</strong> of South Carolina in August.in Antioch, Tenn.Jensine, June 7. They live in Irmo, S.C.38 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 39FM10 Fall issue.indd 38-3911/2/10 4:41 PM
<strong>Furman</strong> <strong>ALUMNI</strong> NEWSon the use of the tobacco mosaic virusPresbyterian Theological Seminary and isat Chapel Hill High School and is pursuing09MARRIAGES: Claire Carlton and PatrickArthur Wesley Holtzclaw and DeborahCLASS NOTES POLICYBECAUSE <strong>OF</strong> <strong>THE</strong> LARGE NUMBER <strong>OF</strong> SUBMISSIONS and clippings<strong>Furman</strong> receives for the magazine’s class notes section and the time neededto review, compile and edit so much information, news items frequently arenot published until five or six months after they are submitted.as a bionanoparticle. His wife, LaurenMobley ’07 Neely, works at The Oaksin Orangeburg, a retirement community.MARRIAGES: Dana Boltuch andAnthony Saxon, May 22. They live in Bear,Del. Dana is working on a Ph.D. in physicsscheduled to graduate in December. Laurais a study abroad advisor at the <strong>University</strong>of Kentucky.Jackie Gehner and Kevin Stackpole, May29. They live in Atlanta.Laura Caitlin Godfrey and Michaelhis master’s degree in counseling. Dana isa grant manager in the medical school atDuke <strong>University</strong> and is studying for an MBAthrough East Carolina <strong>University</strong>.Jennifer Watson and Carter Barfield’07, June 26. Carter is a graduate assis-Matt DeLaney graduated from theSimon School of Business at the <strong>University</strong>of Rochester in June with a Master ofScience degree in finance.Patrick Morgan, a graduate studentat Appalachian State <strong>University</strong> andGibson, June 10. They live in Nashville,Tenn., where Claire works with Teach forAmerica.Kristen Confer and Joseph Tenini,May 22. They are graduate studentsat the <strong>University</strong> of Georgia in Athens,Roos, August 7. They live in Charlottesville,Va.Alexander Pinson and Ellen Lightsey’08, June 26. Ellen has completed a master’sdegree in international relations and religionat Boston <strong>University</strong>, where she received the<strong>Furman</strong> magazine does not publish dated items (anything more thanand astronomy at the <strong>University</strong> of Dela-Russell Morris, June 26. They live in Boston.tant football coach at the <strong>University</strong> offormer middle-distance runner at <strong>Furman</strong>,Kristen in the Master of Social Workprize for excellence in international relations.18 months old at time of publication) or engagement announcements.ware, and Tony is a Linux administratorShe teaches voice lessons at Needham HighKentucky, and Jenny is an elementarywon the Bluegrass 10K race held July 3program and Joe in the mathematicsAlexander enrolled this fall at the CharlestonWhen sending news for class notes, please include your spouse’s or child’sfor TruPosition.School and also works as an office assistantschool teacher. They live in Lexington.in Lexington, Ky.Ph.D. program.(S.C.) School of Law.name, whether your spouse is a <strong>Furman</strong> graduate, and the date and cityJessalyn Davis and Craig Garvey, Augustat Revolution Partners/Morgan Keegan.where the birth or marriage occurred.7. They live in New York City where she isMichael is the support manager for RoamWhen sent electronically, news about alumni couples who graduatedin different years is included under the graduation date of the submitter.In other cases it goes under the earliest graduation date. It is not listedwith both classes.Send news to the Office of Marketing and Public Relations, <strong>Furman</strong><strong>University</strong>, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, S.C. 29613, or e-mail toalumni@furman.edu. Selected information submitted to the on-line alumniregistry (http://alumni.furman.edu) is included in class notes.Charlotte, N.C., where he is an associateat Priester Chiropractic Clinic and directorof the Bodymind Studies Institute, whichis devoted to the study of human performancetraining in sports, business andhealthcare. Komal earned a nursing degreefrom Barnes-Jewish School of Nursing andis a critical care nurse with the trauma unitof Carolinas Medical Center.Betsy Fischer and Will Rayel, November21, 2009. They live in Gaithersburg, Md.Nathan Henry Thomas Patton andKaren Louis Sandberg, July 3. Shereceived her master’s degree in schoolRob and Lauren Welch ’04 Langley,a daughter, Cameron Grace, June 17.They live in Dallas, Texas. Rob, whoreceived his MBA with distinction fromthe Kellogg School of Management atNorthwestern <strong>University</strong>, works for theRiverside Company. Lauren is a nurse.Brent ’04 and Megan RobinsonLineberry, a son, Elijah Grant, April 19,Atlanta.06NEXT REUNION IN 2011Hale Edwards (M.A.), a social studiesan associate with the law firm of Latham& Watkins LLP.Tessa Kay Jaeger and McNeill PalmerKirkpatrick, June 19. They live in Nashville,Tenn. He is a neurology resident atVanderbilt <strong>University</strong> and she is a middleschool librarian in Robertson County.Amanda Lea Owens and JeffersonMitchell Duncan, July 24. She is a Spanishteacher at Wade Hampton High Schoolin Greenville, and he is a social studiesteacher at J.L. Mann Academy.Claire Speer and Patrick Blake, July 24.Claire is a client partnership manager withAgile in Atlanta.BIRTHS: Philip and Lindsey RossStephens, a son, Philip Avery, May 23.They live in Riverview, Fla.Tom and Lauren Ourt Wieme,a daughter, Kristen Joy, July 3. They livein Augusta, Ga., where they work asphysician assistants.07Ian Duggan has graduated from lawData, Inc.Meredith Camby and Chris Hartman,July 3. They live in Clarksville, Tenn.,where Chris is a captain in the U.S. Armystationed at Fort Campbell.Anne Rone and Eric Carl McGovern,April 3. They live in Columbia, S.C.Paul Wisneski and Devon Michael,May 22. Devon is pursuing a teachingcertificate for secondary English atWest Chester <strong>University</strong> of Pennsylvania,and Paul is a service advisor for StillmanVolvo in West Chester.BIRTH: Mandrallius ’06 and PartheniaLuke Robinson, a daughter, ZoeParthenia, July 4, Greenville.08Joanna Hawley has earned a master’sdegree in wildlife and fisheries biologyfrom Clemson <strong>University</strong>, where she ispursuing a Ph.D. with an emphasis inquantitative ecology.Christina Henderson has enrolled in themaster’s degree program in public affairs atSILENTLY <strong>THE</strong>Y SHARE <strong>THE</strong> MUSIC <strong>OF</strong> LOVE .........................................................................................................................................PRISCILLA S<strong>OF</strong>EY HARRIS IS A MUSICIAN.She sings. She plays the clarinet. She directsthe choir for 5-year-olds at First Baptist Churchof Greenville, where she also coordinates thechildren’s choir programs.Music was one of her majors at <strong>Furman</strong>, fromwhich she graduated in 1992.Clearly, music has shaped her life, perhaps asprofoundly as the fact that both of her parents aredeaf. Her mother was born deaf, and her father losthis hearing at eight months during a bout with spinalmeningitis and a 105-degree fever.They’ve never been able to hear their daughtersing or play. And yet Billy and Suzanne Sofey alwaysattended her performances.“I try not to think too much about them notbeing able to hear me,” Harris says. “They’ve alwaysbeen so supportive.”Harris started playing the piano when she wasin the first grade. She came home one day and thereit was in the living room, a gift from her grandmother,a Cable upright, the same one Harris plays now.Her mother signed “The Lord’s Prayer” at Harris’wedding, and through the sunroof of the church camea beam of light that fell right on her. “It was like Godwas sending sunrays to light her up like an angel,”Harris says.Her mother hadn’t known whether she could doit on such an emotional day. But there she was, onceagain sharing music with her daughter.Harris’ father had a surprise of his own duringsurprise that Harris was not embarrassed by herparents, and Harris’ grandmother said, “It’s allin the way you perceive it.”Harris thought she wanted to teach, but notmusic — math, her other major at <strong>Furman</strong>. She taughtfor three years before realizing it wasn’t right for her.She and her husband, John Harris ’91, a <strong>Furman</strong>math professor, have a daughter, Sophie, and a son,Will. She taught both children to sign as babies, longbefore they could talk. Will could sign 60 words on hisfirst birthday.“The brain is ready to communicate, but the vocalchords are not,” she says.Over time, Harris began serving as an interpreterfor various organizations, <strong>Furman</strong> students, andpatients in the Greenville Hospital System. Sometimesshe signs for PTA meetings or parent conferenceswith the Greenville County Schools. “I feel good whenI’m doing it, to give back and help people,” she says.“Deaf people don’t take that for granted.”And Harris doesn’t take for granted the undyingsupport her parents have offered her through thepsychology from the <strong>University</strong> of Georgia,teacher at Riverside Middle School,school at the <strong>University</strong> of South CarolinaPrinceton <strong>University</strong>. She previously workedWhen Harris practiced, her mother would standthe wedding festivities. At the rehearsal dinner, heyears. She holds onto something her mother is fondwhere she is enrolled in the doctoralwas one of 10 finalists for the 2010-11and was scheduled to be commissionedfor North Carolina senator Kay Hagan.beside her and rest her hand on the top to feel theplayed a tape of his daughter as a small child singingof saying: “One day when I’m in heaven, I’ll be ableprogram. They live in New Rochelle, N.Y.,Greenville County Teacher of the Yearan officer in the U.S. Air Force JAG CorpsMARRIAGES: Cameron Babbitt andvibration. “I get my musical ability from my mother,”“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”to hear you.”where he teaches.BIRTHS: John ’03 and Paula BibleChesworth, a son, Jack, July 22,Knoxville, Tenn.Jason and Abigail Landis ’04 Kuder,a son, Clayton Ware, May 18. They livein Jacksonville, Fla.Award.Dee Moss completed his MBA degreeat Augusta (Ga.) State <strong>University</strong> and isemployed by SunTrust Bank in Augusta.Tony Neely is enrolled in the doctoralprogram in organic chemistry at the<strong>University</strong> of South Carolina, workingthis fall.Adam Dymond (M.A.) is now assistantprincipal for Rocky Creek ElementarySchool in Lexington, S.C.MARRIAGES: Phillip Braun and LauraPadfield, June 26. Phillip is studyingmarriage and family therapy at LouisvilleVaughn Layne, August 7. They live inMorgantown, W.Va.Christopher Jackman and LindsayLark ’09, May 15. They live in Greenville.Adam Sanders and DanaWeidenfeller, June 26. They live inDurham, N.C. Adam teaches social studiesshe says. “People think that’s strange.”But her mother was a majorette at the MississippiSchool for the Deaf, where her parents met, and candance better than half of the hearing people Harrisknows.“She signs music beautifully,” Harris says.“I didn’t remember my dad had this,” she says.“The fact he wanted to record me as a child and hecouldn’t even hear it was amazing to me.”She considers having deaf parents a blessing.They showed her people can overcome anything ifthey work at it. Once a fellow student expressed— LYN RIDDLEReprinted with permission from the June 25, 2010,issue of The Greenville Journal. Photo by Sophie Harris.40 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 41FM10 Fall issue.indd 40-4111/2/10 4:41 PM
<strong>Furman</strong> <strong>ALUMNI</strong> NEWS10Harry P. Covington ’40, July 1,Mary Black Hill ’45, July 19, AmeliaThomas Clyde O’Donnell, Jr. ’48, JulyState Bank in 1950 and retired as executivemany years. Later he was a salesman forMARRIAGE: Caroline Gustafson DavisBennettsville, S.C. A retired farmer, he wasIsland, Fla. She had many artistic interests,24, Greenville. He served in the U.S. Armyvice president. He served as treasurer ofBeach Ford in Norfolk, Va. He served inand John Robert Albea, June 19. Theya lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navyincluding acting, painting and dance. AfterAir Corps from 1943 until the end of WorldAmerican Legion Post 22 for more than 50the U.S. Army Air Corps.live in Durham, N.C. Caroline attends the<strong>University</strong> of North Carolina School ofDentistry, and John works in constructionmanagement.during World War II, serving on transportships.Benjamin Franklin Hawkins ’41, July4, Columbia, S.C. He was a Southernshe moved to Atlanta in 1944 to work as achemist for the U.S. Army and then for theFood and Drug Administration, she becamean important part of the city’s burgeoningWar II and was a flight engineer on A-26sand B-17s. He went on to work for LibertyLife Insurance Company, retiring from itstreasury department after 38 years.years, was a former member of the UnionRotary Club, and was a former director andtreasurer for the Union County United Way.Eleanor “Peetsie” Rhame GulledgeMary Lou Ellis Wilburn ’50, August3, Union, S.C. A retired educator andguidance counselor with the Union CountySchool System, she was a member of theMULHOLL<strong>AND</strong>:COMMITMENT KEYIN AFGHANIST<strong>AND</strong>EATHSCaroline Inman Crain ’31, July 3,Hendersonville, N.C. She was a secretaryfor the March of Dimes and was pianist atEnoree Baptist Church for 48 years.Bessie Margaret Barton McCarrell’32, June 19, Travelers Rest, S.C. She retiredas a first grade teacher at Slater-MariettaElementary School.Nancy McCain Clarke ’37, June 12,Baptist minister who served as pastorof Park Baptist Church in Rock Hill, S.C.,from 1944 to 1958 and of Fairview BaptistChurch in Greer, S.C., from 1958 to 1967.He was superintendent of missions in theGreenville Association and director ofstewardship development and cooperativeprogram promotion for the General Boardof the South Carolina Baptist Convention.He was director of missions for thePalmetto and the Reedy River Baptistdance scene as a teacher, as a performerwith the Ruth Mitchell Dancers, and as amember of the Atlanta Arts Council. Sheretired from the stage in the mid-1960sbut continued to teach ballet for anotherdecade.Sarah Lang Schober ’45, March 1,Berlin, Vt. She was an elementary schoollibrarian for 25 years in West Caldwell,N.J., before retiring to the family farmin Berlin. She was a volunteer withDorothy Mitchell Pittman ’48, May8, Pickens, S.C. She was retired from thePickens County School District as a thirdgrade teacher, spending most of her careerat Ben Hagood Elementary. She was alsoa guidance counselor at three elementaryschools. She was a member of YMCA SilverSneakers, the Pickens County HistoricalSociety, Upcountry Quilters Guild, andQuilters of South Carolina.Frederica Keys Trovillion ’48, August’49, August 22, Greenville. She was acharter member of the <strong>Furman</strong> Singersunder the direction of her father, DuPreRhame. She was an employee of GreenvilleTechnical College and was a past presidentof the Greenville Dental Auxiliary. Herfamily designated the DuPre Rhame VoiceScholarship Fund at <strong>Furman</strong> as a memorialoption.Margaret Welch Mardre Brockman’50, June 11, Greenville. She was aDaughters of the American Revolution, theUnited Daughters of the Confederacy, theCriterion Book Club, and Friends of theLibrary.Louis Gardner Green ’51, August12, Greenville. After completing militaryservice in Tokyo, Japan, he began hisbusiness career with Liberty Corporationin Greenville. He worked for Protective LifeCorporation in Birmingham, Ala., and latermoved to New Orleans, where he was<strong>THE</strong> WAR IN AFGHANISTAN is oneof will and commitment, and the sidewith the greatest desire for victorywill ultimately prevail.That’s the blunt assessment of Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland, Jr., a1978 <strong>Furman</strong> graduate who serves as commander of the U.S. Army SpecialOperations Command. Under the auspices of the Riley Institute, Mulhollandspoke October 11 before a packed crowd in Younts Conference Center.“At the end of the day this will be about our will, our commitment asa military, and our commitment as a nation to give the Afghan people theLouisville, Ky.associations, a past president of the Southnumerous organizations, including schools,26, Lakeland, Fla. In 1947 she andsubstitute teacher for the Greenvillea partner in an antique business and apeace they deserve,” said Mulholland. “No people, at least in the modernBetty Harris McGinnis ’37, August 20,Carolina Baptist Convention and its Pastorschurch, League of Women Voters, Newher husband, Frank, were two of fiveCounty School District and later worked asmember of the board of the New Orleansera, have suffered as much as they have.”Greenville. She was active in church andConference, and former vice president ofJersey Education Association, Americanrehabilitated polio patients invited toan adjuster for Allstate Insurance Company.Symphony.The country, he said, has been decimated by years of conflict andcommunity affairs, was a member of thethe General Board. He was a trustee ofAssociation of <strong>University</strong> Women, theparticipate in an International ConferenceAs a retiree she volunteered for Meals onHovie Dee Revis, Jr. ’51, July 6,neglect, and its extreme weather conditions (bitter cold, frequent sand-Retired Officers Wives Club (military), andwas on the board of the Sarah GossettNursing Home.Evelyn Keith Rodgers Easterling’38, June 8, Greenville. She was a retiredteacher with the Greenville County SchoolDistrict.Lenora “Pug” Russell Curry ’39, June20, Anderson, S.C. She was a bookkeeperfor Carolina Optical Supply.Dorothy Barton Lyday ’39, July 25,Bryson City, N.C. A teacher, she was alifetime member of the Swain CountyHospital Auxiliary and of the Bryson CityChapter of the American Association of<strong>University</strong> Women, and was a past boardmember of Marianna Black Library. DuringWorld War II she worked for the FBI.Amelia Beason Woods ’39, July 16,North Greenville College, Connie MaxwellChildren’s Home and New Orleans BaptistTheological Seminary. He also served asa chaplain to the South Carolina NationalGuard and was a member of the MasonicOrder. <strong>Furman</strong> awarded him an honoraryDoctor of Divinity degree in 1983.Lois Bolding McCrary ’41, May 30,Asheville, N.C. She began her career as ahome economics teacher in Liberty, S.C.,and later was the manager and buyer forBell’s Gatehouse. She was active in civiccauses and was a member of the Children’sWelfare League.Helen Miller Paul ’41, June 1, SullivansIsland, S.C. She was a former Miss SouthCarolina and an avid tennis player. Alongtime member of the Ladies BenevolentSociety, she was active in civic and chari-American Civil Liberties Union, and theBerlin and Vermont historical societies.Ellen Hodgens Bridges ’46, June 7,Jacksonville, Fla. She was a teacher whosecareer began in New York City. She laterspent 20 years in Augusta, Ga., where shetaught first grade and was involved withthe Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society.James Stuart Hepler ’48, June 29,Bennettsville, S.C. His <strong>Furman</strong> studieswere interrupted by World War II, whenhe entered the U.S. Army and servedthree years in the European theatre. Aftercompleting his undergraduate educationhe entered Southern Baptist TheologicalSeminary. All of his pastorates were inSouth Carolina, ending at First BaptistChurch of McColl, from which he retiredin 1982. Thereafter he continued to workon Polio. She was involved in manycommunity projects, including serving onthe boards of the Junior League of GreaterLakeland, VISTE and Lakeland Habitat forHumanity. She was a founding member ofher church, where she played piano for thechildren’s choir.Harry Howell Clyborne, Sr. ’49,August 15, Greenville. He was retiredfrom Metromont Materials.Margaret May Ferris ’49, June 29,Palatka, Fla. She was an English teacherat Osceola Middle School for 32 years. Shealso taught in Denver, Colo., and in Palatka.A longtime volunteer with Meals onWheels and at Munroe Regional MedicalCenter, she was a member of the RetiredTeachers’ Association and Delta KappaGamma.Wheels and the Greenville Free MedicalClinic, and for almost two decades shevolunteered at Project Host Soup Kitchen.Elizabeth Dobson Ellis ’50, June 24,Greenville. She taught English for 28 years,26 of them in Greenville County.Frances Irene Nuite Lofton ’50, June18, Mount Pleasant, S.C. A teacher, writer,horticulturist and floral designer, she wasowner of Lofton’s Landscape Nurseryfor 30 years. She was an award-winningmember of the Poetry Society of SouthCarolina and frequently conducted poetrysessions during the annual Spoleto Festivalin Charleston. She published three booksof poetry and a children’s book, as wellas a book about dealing with grief. In herlater years she taught English as a SecondLanguage to elderly students.Greenville. He served in the U.S. Army withthe last horse-mounted cavalry of WorldWar II, stationed in Italy. After attendingSoutheastern Baptist Theological Seminaryhe was a Baptist minister for more than 60years. He was a past president of the SouthCarolina Baptist Convention and served onthe Baptist Brotherhood Commission.Helen Jeffords Barham ’52, August 1,West Columbia, S.C. After servingas a resident counselor at the <strong>University</strong>of Florida, she was a librarian and readingspecialist in schools in Richland-Lexington(S.C.) District 5 and Richland District 1.She finished her professional careeras the director of prevention for theLexington/Richland Alcohol and DrugAbuse Commission. In 1991 she receivedthe South Carolina Association for Healthstorms) and geography (nearly impenetrable, mountainous terrain) makeproviding assistance difficult.The Taliban, a radical Islamic group, took over Afghanistan in 1996following a four-year civil war and began harboring terrorist groups, suchas al Qaeda. In late 2001 NATO and U.S. forces quickly overran the Talibanafter it refused to stop shielding al Qaeda members or to turn over OsamaBin Laden. Mulholland was involved in the 2001 action.In recent years, however, with the United States increasingly focusedon Iraq, the Taliban and al Qaeda have regained traction. “Afghanistan gotoff the radar screen,” said Mulholland. “Whether we lost an opportunitythere will be debated for many years.”Before assuming his current position, Mulholland, who received<strong>Furman</strong>’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009, was commanding generalof Special Operations Command Central at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.He has served as chief of the Office of Military Cooperation at the AmericanEmbassy in Kuwait, and commanded the Joint Special Operations Task Forceduring Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.— JOHN ROBERTSGreenville.table causes.Dorothy Brunson Green ’42, July 15,as an interim pastor.Elsie “Jean” Martin Holland ’48,Claude Daniel Finley, Jr. ’49, June2, Union, S.C. He was a veteran of thePhilip Garvin Pou, Jr. ’50, July 23,Saluda, S.C. He served on the BoardEducation Award. She also spearheadedthe 1991 LRADAC Red Ribbon Campaign.<strong>Furman</strong> magazine plans a more expansive profile of Mulholland in aForney, Texas. She was a teacher andAugust 26, Weddington, N.C. She wasU.S. Navy, serving during World War II.of Regents of Liberty <strong>University</strong> and wasAfter retirement she worked for severalforthcoming issue.guidance counselor.a teacher.He began his 40-year career with Arthuremployed by Ford Motor Company foryears with the adult literacy program in42 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 43FM10 Fall issue.indd 42-4311/2/10 4:42 PM
<strong>Furman</strong> REPORTSColumbia, and in 1979 she received theCol. S.L. Finklea Award for her volunteerwork with the American Cancer Society.She helped breast cancer victims throughthe Reach to Recovery Program and wasa longtime volunteer with the LexingtonMedical Center Volunteer Auxiliary.Mollie Geneva Lee Whisenhunt’52, June 9, Orangeburg, S.C. She servedas youth director of First Baptist Churchof Greer, S.C., education director ofNorthside Baptist Church of Orangeburg,and secretary for Estate Life InsuranceCompany and Hygrade Meat Products ofOrangeburg. She was a church organistand clerk for 40 years, was a memberof Edisto Fork Grange, and was countydirector for the Orangeburg HomemakersExtension Club and Council. She was alsoa partner in Dairy Equipment Co.Betty Jean Seymour ’53, June 6,Richmond, Va. She was a minister,teacher and scholar, and for more than40 years was a soloist in the choir ofRiver Road Baptist Church in Richmond.After graduating from Southern BaptistTheological Seminary she was a campusminister at four colleges between 1955 and1966, and she was a founding member ofVirginia Baptist Women in Ministry. From1960 to 1966 she was director of religiousactivities at Westhampton College of the<strong>University</strong> of Richmond, and from 1971until her retirement in 2003 she taughtin the religious studies department atRandolph-Macon College in Ashland,Va. At Randolph-Macon she was the firstfull-time woman faculty member andwas named assistant dean of students,in which capacity she worked with thefirst women admitted to the school. Shewent on to be the school’s first tenuredwoman faculty member, the first womanto chair a department, and the first womanto achieve the rank of full professor, andshe was co-director of the school’s firstwomen’s studies program. A three-timerecipient of the school’s Thomas BranchAward for Excellence in Teaching, shealso received the S.N. Gray DistinguishedProfessor Award, the Exemplary TeachingAward from the United Methodist Boardof Higher Education, and, in 2003, theFaculty Certificate of Appreciation. Uponher retirement the B.J. Seymour AlumnaAward was established in her honor. In2009 Randolph-Macon awarded her anhonorary degree.Lawrence Olin Way, Jr. ’53, June 30,Holly Hill, S.C. He was commissioned aNavy ensign in 1953. After his discharge,he was a cotton and grain farmer from1955 to 1980. He established Holly HillMilling Company, Inc., serving as ownerfrom 1957 to 1980, and later becameinvolved in purebred cattle ranching.He was on the board of directors ofthe American Beefalo Association andwas named Premier Breeder of theYear in 1982. Later he became involvedin addiction counseling and served asintensive treatment coordinator at theTri-County Commission in Orangeburg.He also served on the board of the Farmersand Merchants Bank of South Carolinafrom 1974 until his death.ELIZABETH McDAVID CAMPBELL, 1917–2010 .......................................................................................................................................WHEN ELIZABETH McDAVIDCAMPBELL ’38 died September6 in Naples, Fla., she left behindan exceptional legacy of advocacyfor children. Her caring andcreative assistance and handsonefforts enabled many youngpeople to overcome the challengesof poverty, emotional distress,illiteracy and abuse.A native of Greenville, sheearned a degree in history from<strong>Furman</strong> three months after marrying RobertS. Campbell, Jr., of Gaffney, S.C. Their partnershiplasted until Bob’s death in 2003. Bob was the founderof Campbell Limestone Co., which in 1968 mergedwith Vulcan Materials, the world’s largest supplierof crushed stone.The Campbells, models of business acumenand generosity, were strong <strong>Furman</strong> supporters.A scholarship program named for them providesfinancial support to 12 students annually. In return,the students commit to be tutors andmentors to local children.Tobi Swartz, who oversees theCampbell Scholars (as well as the Bridgesto a Brighter Future program), says thescholarship “combines financial supportto students who need assistance toattend <strong>Furman</strong> with an experiential workopportunity. The Campbells understoodthe importance of teaching collegestudents the value of service. Not onlyare the Campbell Scholars’ lives changedthrough their experience, but they enrich the lives ofthe children they work with.”Bob and Betsy Campbell were also members ofthe Richard <strong>Furman</strong> Society, which consists of thosewho provide annual unrestricted gifts of $10,000 ormore to <strong>Furman</strong>, and the Heritage Society, made upof individuals whose planned gifts will benefit theuniversity. In addition, the Campbells supported anumber of initiatives at Clemson <strong>University</strong>, where theBetsy M. Campbell Learning Symposium for Teachersand the Betsy Campbell Carriage House at the SouthCarolina Botanical Garden bear her name.Her generosity and civic-mindedness extendedto other areas. She was a leader in the EpiscopalChurch of the Incarnation in Gaffney, the first presidentof the Gaffney Friends of the Library, and a founderof the York (S.C.) Place Episcopal Home for developmentallyimpaired children, which honored her withits Henry B. Richardson Award. She was also a strongsupporter of Camp Kanuga, an Episcopal camp inNorth Carolina.She received honorary degrees from LimestoneCollege, Clemson and, in 2002, from <strong>Furman</strong>, whichrecognized her support of the university and her workon behalf of children. In 1998 she received the Orderof the Palmetto, the state of South Carolina’s highestcivilian award.As her obituary stated, “Betsy believed in helpingyoung people teach each other values, attitudes andskills that would enable each of them to contribute intheir community as envisioned by our Creator.”Mildred Crymes Young ’53, May31, Georgetown, S.C. She was ownerand manager of Hitching Post Farm inGreenville from 1967 to 1983. She wasalso an educator in the Greenville CountySchool District for more than 30 years.Holder of a Ph.D. in gifted educationfrom the <strong>University</strong> of Georgia, she wasinstrumental in developing programs forthe gifted and talented.Kaye Adams Cook Lamport ’54,August 1, Raleigh, N.C. She was alongtime community activist. She servedon the first Town of Wake Forest (N.C.)Good Neighbor Council and the WakeForest Tree Board, and was an officer onthe Wake Forest Community Council.She held multiple offices and leadershippositions in the Wake Forest Area MinistersAssociation, the Town of Zebulon Chamberof Commerce, and in the Wake ForestSchools PTA. She was minister of educationat Wake Forest Baptist Church and activein the Raleigh Baptist Association, and shestarted a program of seminary extensionclasses at Central Prison. She held offices inthe North Carolina Federation of Women’sClubs, volunteered in the Governor’s Officeof Citizen Affairs, and was a member ofboth the North Carolina Art MuseumSociety and the North Carolina SymphonySociety. Listed in Personalities of the South,she received the 20th Anniversary NationalLeadership Award from the Society ofDistinguished High School Students. InBoiling Springs, N.C., where her husbandtaught at Gardner-Webb <strong>University</strong>, shewas elected board chair of the Gardner-Webb Christian Service Organization.Terri Garoni Parillo ’54, August 6,Greenville. She was a teacher and assistantprincipal at Our Lady of the Rosary CatholicSchool for 30 years. Upon her retirementshe was named an emerita member of theschool’s board. She was listed in Who’sWho Among American Teachers andOutstanding Young Women of America.She served as a volunteer with Birthrightof Greenville and Meals on Wheels.James Charles Saylors, Jr. ’54, August9, Williamston, S.C. After serving in theU.S. Army in the Philippines from 1945to 1947, he worked at Marathon Oil inBelton. He then became a teacher andsupervisor and retired from AndersonCounty (S.C.) School District 5. He wasa ham radio operator and amateurphotographer.Faye Robertson Walls ’54, August30, Landrum, S.C. She retired from theGreenville County School District aftermore than 40 years of teaching.Hampton Murray “Bill” Williams ’54,July 30, Abbeville, S.C. He retired in 1989as a freshwater fisheries biologist withthe South Carolina Wildlife and MarineResources Department. He received histraining as a fisheries biologist at the U.S.Fish Hatchery in Welaka, Fla., and wasdirector of the South Carolina State FishHatcheries before moving to Abbeville in1962. There he was active in communityaffairs as founding president of theFriends of Abbeville County Libraries andas a participant in Abbeville CommunityTheatre for 40 years. He boxed in thelightweight division of Golden Gloves andwas a member of the Sports Car Club ofAmerica, the National Rifle Association,the American Fisheries Society and theSoutheastern Association of Game andFish Commissioners. He was a U.S. MarineCorps veteran of the Korean War.Joe Wilson DeVore, Sr. ’55, June 26,Aiken, S.C. After service with the U.S.Army in Germany, he went into bankingand retired as executive vice president ofRegions Bank, formerly Palmetto SavingsBank of South Carolina. He served assenior lending officer and senior creditofficer for the South Carolina division ofRegions Bank and was a former seniorvice president of Bankers Trust of SouthCarolina. In addition to his bankingWEB-BASED OPTION <strong>FOR</strong> TRANSCRIPTS<strong>THE</strong> ACADEMIC RECORDS <strong>OF</strong>FICE at <strong>Furman</strong> now offers a Webbasedtranscript ordering and e-transcript delivery service 24 hours a day,seven days a week.The service is offered in partnership with Avow Systems of Colorado,a leader in the secure document delivery industry.“This new and improved system allows for electronic delivery ofofficial transcripts in a secure, portable document format (pdf),” saysBrad Barron, associate dean for academic records and university registrar.“The service also provides a series of e-mail alerts that document thestatus of the request throughout the fulfillment process.”Barron said that his office will still deliver transcripts on traditionalsecurity paper for those who request it.Former students can use their <strong>Furman</strong> Online Alumni Communityaccount to directly place orders for official transcripts. There is a $5 servicefee for each transcript request.Visit www.furman.edu/registrar/records.html to access the newtranscript system. For more information, call the academic records office,(864) 294-2030.career, he was retired chairman of the Morristown she taught high school scienceAiken Technical College Commission, before going to work with homeboundpast president of the Aiken County Heart students. Hamblen County SchoolsAssociation, founding president of Aiken presented her their highest award forJunior Achievement, past treasurer of the teaching excellence in special education.Chamber of Commerce, an originating She served on the Southeast Agingboard member of Helping Hands, and a Committee and on the board of Seniorcharter member and past president of Citizens of Morristown.Kiwanis Club of Aiken.Keith A. Shelton ’58, July 24, Halifax,Joe Edward Cooper ’57, June 12, Va. Following in the footsteps of his father,Greenville. He was a U.S. Army veteran Lynn, he was the owner and publisher ofof the Vietnam era and retired as executivevice president of Greenville Technical newspaper in Halifax County. He wasThe Gazette-Virginian, a thrice-weeklyCollege. He was also director of finance for described by a colleague as “a consummateTaylors First Baptist Church.newspaperman and a wonderful VirginiaAnn Elizabeth Godshall Jones ’57, gentleman.” Under his leadership theJune 18, St. Augustine, Fla. She was active newspaper received numerous Virginiain Episcopal church work and served on the Press Association awards, and he wasboard of the Woman’s Exchange.highly regarded as a mentor to youngCharlyne Justis Easterly ’58, June journalists. Active in civic and community25, Morristown, Tenn. She began her endeavors, he was an officer in thecareer teaching biology, chemistry and National Guard, a former United Waytennis in Vero Beach, Fla. After moving to president, a strong supporter and coach44 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 45FM10 Fall issue.indd 44-4511/2/10 4:42 PM
<strong>Furman</strong> <strong>ALUMNI</strong> NEWSCAMPUS DIRECTORY(area code 864):Main <strong>University</strong> Number294-2000Academic Records (Registrar)294-2030Admission294-2034Alumni Association1-800-PURPLE3Annual Giving294-3475Athletic Ticket Office294-3097Bookstore294-2164Parents Programs294-3465For other administrative offices,call the main number.of youth sports, and a member of the Sonsof Confederate Veterans. He was a formerpresident of <strong>Furman</strong>’s Alumni AssociationBoard of Directors and a member of theuniversity’s Advisory Council and Order ofthe Paladin.Clyde David Henry ’62, June 22,Lancaster, S.C. A U.S. Army veteran, heretired from Springs Industries as directorof product development after 35 yearsof service.Walter O. Luertzing, Jr. ’64, September4, Millville, N.J. He was a longtime librarian,first in New Orleans and then, for mostof his career, in Cumberland County,N.J. There he was called “Mr. Library” byyoung people who enjoyed the tours heconducted of the facility. He was also a filmbuff and helped establish a film club called“The Reel Thing.”Ann Bartlett Cannon ’65, July 8,Chamblee, Ga. She transferred from<strong>Furman</strong> to the <strong>University</strong> of Georgia, whereshe studied journalism and worked as aphotojournalist and beat reporter coveringthe Athens area for WSB-TV in Atlanta.After graduation she accepted a positionin the advertising department of the Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta. From 1966 to1969 she worked for Georgia Tech as aspokesperson for the school and host of acampus-wide radio show. Active in churchwork, she produced a series of Sundayschool lessons for teachers and studentswhich came to be used as a standard textby many churches in the Southern BaptistConvention. She went on to author morethan 25 books exploring Christianity forteenagers and their teachers. In 1987 shereceived an Excellence in Writing Awardfrom the Southern Baptist Convention, andin 1993 the Atlanta Hawks of the NationalBasketball Association presented her the“Big Assist Award” for her work withyoung people.Linda Estes Griffith ’65, August 7,Mauldin, S.C.Harold Leslie “Tad” Parmelee III ’65,June 18, Sycamore, Ill.Anne Wylie Sparks ’66, July 13,Lansdale, Pa. She taught French for morethan 25 years in the North Penn SchoolDistrict, retiring in 2007.Robert Mac Watson, Sr. ’66, August12, Charleston, S.C. An all-SouthernConference soccer player at <strong>Furman</strong> andan avid outdoorsman, he worked withthe Army Corps of Engineers to providetraining in the reservoir manager programin four southeastern states. He also workedas an insurance agent with NorthwesternMutual Insurance Company, was a builderfor several years, and sold real estate..Linda Elizabeth Taylor ’67 (M.A. ’69),July 31, Manning, S.C. She was a retiredspecial education teacher.Louise Booth Taylor ’70, June 28,Greenville. She was an employee ofGreenville County Schools, serving asboth a librarian and school psychologist.For years she was a member of thesummer staff of YMCA Camp Greenville,and in 1987 she received the GreatestGrandmother of the Year Award at theSouth Carolina State Fair.Ronald Belvin Wingard, M.A. ’70,August 28, Cayce, S.C. He retired fromthe South Carolina Department ofVocational Rehabilitation, where he wasa clinical psychologist. He served in theU.S. Air Force and also in the SouthCarolina National Guard, from whichhe retired as a chief warrant officer.Margaret Katherine Rion ’72, May31, Black Mountain, N.C. She had workedas an occupational therapist at MadisonManor Health Care in Mars Hill, N.C. Latershe was a member of Executive WomenInternational and Daughters of the KingCrusillo.Eleanor Suggs Rice, M.A. ’73, June 12,Greenwood, S.C. She was a principal andpublic school educator for many years.William “Bilbo” Crawford ’76, June 19,Zachary, La. He was a longtime chemicalengineer with Georgia-Pacific. An activeoutdoorsman and two-time world recordspear fisherman, he died while free divingin the Gulf of Mexico.Jane Lynn Bright, M.A. ’76, September9, Spartanburg, S.C. She taught Frenchin the Spartanburg and Cherokee County(S.C.) schools before earning a Doctor ofDivinity degree from Columbia TheologicalSeminary. After her ordination in thePresbyterian Church USA, she served threechurches. At the time of her death shewas associated with Owings PresbyterianChurch, while also working as an associatechaplain with the Greenville HospitalSystem and as volunteer chaplain with theSpartanburg County sheriff’s office. Shewas a member of Foothills Presbytery.George J. Schneider, Jr. ’76, August 27,Greenville. After more than 25 years withSmith Barney, he and his wife, Deborah,owned and operated the Peddler SteakHouse near <strong>Furman</strong>. The family indicatedmemorials may be made to the golf teamsat <strong>Furman</strong>.Keith Ellis ‘80, September 9, Nashville,Tenn. He was a musician, teacher, conductor,clinician and adjudicator. Mostrecently he was assistant band directorat the <strong>University</strong> School of Nashvilleand an adjunct faculty member at the<strong>University</strong> of the South in Sewanee, Tenn.He was formerly associate professor ofmusic at Belmont <strong>University</strong> and alsotaught at David Lipscomb <strong>University</strong>.Before moving to Nashville he was assistantdirector of bands at the <strong>University</strong> ofMississippi. He received the OutstandingBand Director Award from Phi Beta Mu andthe Outstanding Teacher Award from theTennessee Governor’s School for the Artsand the South Carolina Governor’s Schoolfor the Arts. His professional membershipsincluded the American Federation ofMusicians, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia,International Trumpet Guild and MusicEducators National Conference. The familyrequested that memorials be made to themusic program at <strong>Furman</strong>.BRIAN CRISP, EDUCATOR <strong>AND</strong> COLLABORATOR ...................................................<strong>THE</strong> CHARACTERS <strong>OF</strong> BRIAN CRISP’Sto Orff-Schulwerk, a theory, Crisp says, “that giveschildhood read like a Flannery O’Connor story:children the ability to compose the music they wantdevelopmentally delayed adults, battered women, so they better understand the fundamentals and arerunaway teens and recovering addicts. An aunt that able to use music as a language to make meaningexclusively wears silk pajama sets, consumes mass of the bigger world. There was a lot of theory andquantities of Southern Comfort, and drives a John music history, but it was also fun and hands-on andDeere lawnmower for transportation. A former beauty experiential. And everyone was sort of acting andqueen for a grandmother. And Oscar, the one-legged learning within the group dynamic.”French handyman, who suffered from a broken heartHe would later spend seven years at St. Pauland literally became part of the family when he moved Academy in the Twin Cities, working with colleaguesinto the Crisps’ home in Horse Shoe, N.C.in education and the arts. While there he serendipitouslybought a book, Louise Cadwell’s Bringing“As a child, I thought Oscar single-handedlyrebuilt France after World War II. During one Septembermalaise in the back yard, [my mother] Estelle Childhood Education, which introduced him toLearning to Life: The Reggio Approach to Earlyunearthed more mystery than mud when, knee-deep an educational philosophy developed in post-Worldin water, she asked gently, ‘Oscar, do you still have War II Italy in the town of Reggio Emilia.family in France?’ This middle-aged man had lostThe Reggio approach values a curriculum thatmore than a limb in the war,” Crisp writes in his blog, emerges from a combination of children’s interests,“In the Family Way” (http://inthefamilyway-south. in-depth studies of concepts from the group, teachersblogspot.com).as partners and learners alongside the children, and the“Oscar lived with us until he had to move into classroom environment, often referred to as the “thirda nursing facility. That is family, be it blood or not. teacher.” In 1991 Newsweek hailed the Reggio EmiliaEstelle taught us to look beyond flaws, stick together school system as one of the 10 best in the world. Todayand make it all better. It doesn’t matter if you can’t it’s the innovative basis for Google’s on-site preschoolhold a buzz saw, manipulate a ratchet, or if you just for its Silicon Valley employees.have one leg. Still you matter.”“Rather than giving children the right answerThat notion of equality and community has driven or forcing them to come up with the right answer,Crisp since his days at <strong>Furman</strong>, where he earned an the Reggio approach asks them to construct theoriesEnglish degree in 1996 — and where, he says, a class and ideas that might not necessarily be right, butin medieval literature with William Rogers introduced are new and able to be supported,” Crisp says.him to concepts of collaborative learning that have “It teaches children to learn about themselvesconsistently recurred throughout his career.within their social schema.”His journey has been a non-traditional one,Crisp continued exploring themes of authentictaking him to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, classroom connections and real world experiences aswhere he earned degrees in theology and music; a context for learning as academic dean of a schoolthe <strong>University</strong> of St. Thomas in Minnesota, to study in Louisville, Ky. Then, at a conference, he met Louisecurriculum design and instruction; and Minnesota Cadwell. She flew him to St. Louis and offered himCollege of Art and Design, for classes in design and a job in the Reggio Collaborative, where he workedmarketing. Along the way he was ordained and worked with several schools in music, curriculum design andwith three denominations. He even presented a paper professional development.at a hip hop conference about the connection between “It exposed me to a real collaboration of howthe hymns of Englishman Isaac Watts (1674-1748) and to work. And then I had the opportunity to go intothe music of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls.consulting full time, which felt like a good thing to do,”Crisp’s eclectic interests extended to other areas. he says. “I was torn about how to take the excitementWhile he was in seminary, a professor introduced him of the collaborative and constructivist approachesof Reggio and Orff-Schulwerk and make them worktogether, not just in the lives of 600 students inSt. Louis, but in the lives of thousands of studentsall over the United States.”These days Crisp is back in North Carolinafinishing his second book, an ethnographic study ofhow children relate to and learn music. He recentlylaunched his own firm, Crisp Consulting & Coaching(www.crispconsults.com), which helps families choosethe school that’s the best fit for their student andimplement what he calls “intentional parenting forlifelong learners.”“My parents were so intentional. I once askedthem what they were thinking when they were raisingme,” says Crisp, an only child. “My mom said theywanted me to know that I could do anything I wantedin life as long as I put my mind to it and got educated,and that everybody deserved equal chances eventhough they didn’t have equal opportunities.”This philosophy of service and community isone reason the Reggio approach resonates with him.“Our house was always full of people, even thoughthere were only three of us. When they were scared oftheir families, it was my family that took them in,” heremembers. “I really appreciated that because it taughtme that everyone has issues, but it doesn’t mean youstop caring. It actually means you care more.”— NANCY R. FULLBRIGHTThe author, a 1995 graduate, is a communicationsofficer with Georgia Tech’s Enterprise InnovationInstitute in Savannah.LEAH YETTER46 FURMAN | FALL 2010 FURMAN | FALL 2010 47FM10 Fall issue.indd 46-4711/2/10 4:42 PM
<strong>THE</strong> LAST WORDTop 10 list, Candidate Nelsen style<strong>AND</strong>REW TRULLBRENT NELSEN DIDN’T WIN the Republican nomination for South Carolina Superintendentof Education this year, losing to Mick Zais, former president of Newberry College. But Nelsen,a longtime <strong>Furman</strong> political science professor, discovered a few things on the primary trail thatmay well come in handy the next time he teaches a course on politics — or runs for office.After originally declaring that he was considering a run for governor, Nelsen decided a fewmonths later that he was better suited to run for the state’s top education position. While hedidn’t win, he maintained his good cheer and sense of perspective throughout.And if nothing else, perhaps now he can arrange a booking on the “David Letterman Show”and present his top 10 list of “Things I Learned While Running for Statewide Political Office.” Nelsencompiled the list for the political science department’s fall newsletter, and gave <strong>Furman</strong> magazinepermission to share it with a larger audience.OK, Paul Shaffer, drum roll please:10. Political science professors know nothing useful about running for office.9. People who know about running for office are expensive. All the money you needfor TV will go to them.8. Many people will promise to raise money for you. Don’t believe them.7. South Carolina is a big little state. Dunkin’ Donuts has the best “road” coffee.6. Tea parties are led by plumbers and church ladies.5. Primary campaigns are not about ideas. (See #4.)4. Political reporters in South Carolina won’t care about you unless you comparepoor people to stray animals or are accused of adultery. [I didn’t and I wasn’t!]3. In a down-ticket race (anything below governor), most people will know nothingabout you when they walk in the voting booth (unless #4 applies).2. In a down-ticket race, most people who know anything about you will knowonly one thing. If that one thing is that you teach at a “snooty left-wing socialistfactory” that dissed President Bush at Commencement — a perception I oftenencountered — you’re Republican toast.48 FURMAN | FALL 2010And the #1 thing Brent Nelsen learned while on the campaign trail:1. I still LOVE politics. But politics is a drug. Say no to drugs!<strong>Furman</strong> <strong>University</strong> is committed to providing equal access to its educational programs, activities, and facilities to all other wise qualified students withoutdiscrimination on the basis of race, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or anyother category protected by applicable state or federal law. An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, <strong>Furman</strong> also affirms its commitmentto nondis crimination in its employment policies and practices. For information about the university’s compliance with the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IXof the Educational Amendments of 1972, and the I.R.S. Anti-Bias Regula tion, contact the Director of Human Resources, (864) 294-3015, 3300 PoinsettHwy., Greenville, S.C. 29613. For information about <strong>Furman</strong>’s compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans withDisabilities Act Amendments Act, contact the Disability Services Coordinator, (864) 294-2320, 3300 Poinsett Hwy., Greenville, S.C. 29613.FM10 Fall issue.indd 48-4911/2/10 4:42 PM
<strong>Furman</strong>Office of Marketing and Public Relations3300 Poinsett HighwayGreenville, South Carolina 29613www.furman.edu/fumagNon-Profit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDHickory, NCPermit No. 104ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTEDHomecoming 2010. PAGE 24FM10 Fall issue.indd 5011/2/10 4:42 PM