Connection Vol. LXVI No. 1 - Spring 2015

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Oakland City University Alumni Association Volume LXVI | Number 1 | Spring 2015

Founded by General Baptists in 1885

“The Show Must Go On”

A Tribute to

OCU Drama Departments

Through The Years

Presented at the 2015

Alumni Luncheon &

Reunions June 13, 2015

Make Reservations Now!

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Volume LXVII Number 1

Inside This Issue

Alumni Assoc. Membership Dues Form2015 Alumni Association MembersAlumni NewsIt’s a Beautiful Life, Jen Teachenor ‘02Shared Memories: Dan Weaver ‘68Living Oak Lifetime MembersWireless Tablets at Madison JuvenileBe Sure You Are IncludedGiving to OCU through AmazonSmile29th Annual PhonathonPresident’s Golf Classic2015 Alumni Luncheon InfoCatching Up With Billie J. Murphy ‘03OCU’s Correctional Education MinistryRemembering Dr. Bernie LoposerPassagesAlumni Baby AnnouncementsAlumni NewsRemembering R.B. SmithCome to Soulfest 2015!

23455678101111121516171920212224

Have You Paid Your 2015 Dues?Your support makes it possible for the Alumni Relations offi ce to function.Please mail your dues today, or go to www.oak.edu > Alumni & Friends > Pay Alumni Dues.Use the form below and the enclosed envelope to send in your dues. Thank you so much!With a minimum gift of $25, you become an active member of the OCU Alumni Association. Here’s how to get connected: Check one of the following categories of membership and return this form with your Check or Credit Card information.

$25 Silver Acorn Society

$50 Golden Acorn Society*

$100 Platinum Acorn Society*

$250 Silver Oak Society*

$500 Golden Oak Society*

$1,000 Living Oak Society*

* Can be Individual or Couple

Name: ____________________________________________How do you want your name listed for publication?__________________________________________________Class Year: ________________________________________Address: __________________________________________City/State/Zip: ______________________________________

Check Enclosed Pay by Credit Card: AMEX DISC VISA

Card #: ___________________________________________Exp. Date: _________________________________________

Did You Know? 8,230 Alumni will receive this issue of The Connection.

117 Alumni are Living Oak Lifetime Members.

156 Alumni (singles and couples) have sent in their 2015 Alumni Dues.

The Alumni Endowed Scholarship totals $132,911. Last year, scholarships were awarded in the amount of $5,300.

Total scholarships awarded in the past year was $5,349,818.

In 28 years, the OCU Phonathon has raised over $1.3 million dollars.

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2015 Alumni Association Kicks Off With

SILVER ACORN

Peggy AlbinJeanne L. AngermeierJon N. BarclayCharlotte C. BarnardCharles M. BellamyRuthanna BenjaminReba C. BensonHarold R. BlackRonnie D. BlackRobert C. BrownLarry E. BrunerJohn E. BryantPatti D. BuchtaAlva B. BuckTerry E. ByrnsArvil R. CallisLarry CassonCarole A. ChapmanRandall ChapmanDeborah ChristianGlen E. ColemanJohn T. CollinsJanice L. CraigPaul J. DannerDoris C. DavisRoger F. DavisJames L. DeanMarilyn DickersonMary Lou DouglasBetty J. DrexlerJim W. DukeBillie J. DuncanJack L. EberhardtMichael O. ElamanAshley EnglerJ. Paul EvansOwen W. FairConnie J. Ford

Carl M. FowlerGwendolyn J. FulkHarry E. GoerlitzNancy J. Griffi thHeidi M. HamiltonS. Creighton HamptonAdam S. HarnessLloyd D. HarryByron L. HartingJohn W. HelsleyRobert L. HetzelWilliam G. HuffmanHarold L. HughesVictoria A. HulseyAl R. JohnsonEvelyn J. JohnsonOra J. JohnsonThomas L. JohnsonCarol M. JuddJames E. JulianTimothy L. KendallDennis W. KirkmanHarry E. KnottsKenneth E. LagrangeRobert W. MaxeyCarl Rex MayCarolyn A. McGeheeDillard A. McKinneyDanny W. McQuayVance S. MeierElaine L. MeyerDavid L. MiddletonCarl T. MontgomeryHarold J. Moody Jr.James K. MooreBillie Jo MurphyS. Janie NormanBruce A. NovakM. Austin Odom

John W. OexmannJane C. PembertonMarlene PenningtonMichael G. PoehleinSally M. ReddingThomas M. RobertsFrederick A. SchleterRobert K. ServiceJanet L. ShoultzWanda L. ShoultzTimothy E. SimmonsMarietta SmithRichard N. SmithDel E. SteinhartOpal Lee StevensKeith A. SullivanMichael TaylorMary E. TubbsGay Marie WeirRalph J. Wirthwein

GOLDEN ACORN

Barbara J. Black-AntrimDwight & Brenda BlandEldon R. ButcherJ. Richard CochrenBurt L. CreceliusJudy B. FoustIona FromanC. Keith & Saundra GoreJanna B. GravesJ. Mitch HaskinsJohn W. HaskinsIlene M. HecklerJames A. & Linda LindauerIvan V. MasonMatthew & Mallory MurphyKenneth E. & Kathy PerkinsKenneth R. Reising

Hugh S. SchaeferBetty L. ShirleyStan & Vicky ShoultzMelvin R. VaughnGary W. WaltherL. Ray Winkler

PLATINUM ACORN

Jan M. & Deanna BlackburnNorma M. CallisTim & Peggy ChancellorBill & Ruth FoustDianne Elmore Darrell R. & Marilyn HackerDonald R. HazletonAlec HensleyMarjan LagrangeG. Ramona LennenC. Edward MarlinWilliam J. MarshallPatrick A. O’BrienRay PhelpsHolly K. PillowMarvin L. & Sharon RoederRonald W. ShawJack L. SimmonsForrestine J. SpenceGlen & Margaret SpenceDavid TaylorJack & Jane TichenorDavid & Judy WhittenCharles E. & Mary Wood

SILVER OAK

Charles W. HallSusan R. LockwoodBeth Carlisle NellistJohn D. & M. Jane Swain

156 Paying Dues

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Alumni News

Oakland City University Graduate

Named Superintendent of the Year

for Dist. 7

Dr. Brian Harmon, Superinten-dent of North Gibson School Corp., has been named Indi-ana District 7 Superintendent of the Year by the Indiana As-sociation of Public School Su-perintendents.

Harmon earned an Ed.D from Oakland City University

(2007), as well as degrees from Purdue, Indiana State and DePauw universities.

When Harmon became the North Gibson Superintendent he faced huge funding issues totaling $1.6 million in lost revenue from the State of Indiana. To meet budget restrictions, the district restructured the health benefi t program, evaluated bus routes and opened the bus program to more competitive bidding and dissolved old programs; all changes he implemented beginning in 2011. He has also supervised the construction of a new high school, the remodeling of buildings accommodates grades K-2 and 3-5, and a facility that will accommodate grades 6-8.

His early superintendent positions were with Shoals Community Schools and Barr-Reeve School Corp. He came to North Gibson School Corp. in 2011. District 7 includes Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.

Ms. Adena Rivas ‘09 graduated from the University of Illinois this past December 2014 with a Master’s in Environmental Studies. She graduated in 2009 from OCU with honors. She is currently teaching for OCU as adjunct faculty and she serves as the evening Dean at Olney Central College.

Dr. Errin Weisman ‘07 is a recent graduate of the Deaconess Family Medicine Residency program in Evansville. She is a 2007 graduate of Oakland City University and received her medical degree from The Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. She currently lives in rural Pike county with her husband, Craig Weisman and two young boys.

Craig currently farms in Pike county as a part of The Weisman Farms. She has joined Deaconess Clinic in Petersburg and is actively building her practice. As a Family Practice physician, she is trained to see infants, children, adults and senior citizens. You may call her offi ce in Petersburg, IN at 812-354-1052 to become a patient.

Dr. Joel Munoz ‘13 was honored by his peers in 2014 by being selected as the Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year for his district. He was honored with a luncheon in November at the 2014 Assistant Principal Conference in Indianapolis. Dr. Munoz is the new Diversity Coordinator for OCU’s School of Education.

J.D. ‘73 and Jeanie ‘74 Woods reported on Lincoln School Field Day where Jeanie teaches Kindergarten. It’s a fun outdoor event at the end of each school year. Each team chooses a college name and this year Jeanie suggested OCU for their banner. J.D. is Associate Professor of Art at Grace College and Seminary at Winona Lake, Indiana. He just returned from a cultural arts trip to Spain.

Great job on the banner!

The Connection of Oakland City University USPS 07– 4880

VOLUME LXVI NUMBER 1 PRODUCED FOUR TIMES

ANNUALLY BY THE OCU ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE

138 N LUCRETIA ST.OAKLAND CITY, IN 47660

812 749 1226

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Jen Teachenor, a 2002 graduate of Oakland City University, introduced OCU to her contemporary novel, “Beautiful Life,” at a book talk and book signing held on Dec. 1, 2014, in the Bower-Suhrheinrich Student Life Center. Released in the fall of 2014, Teachenor’s novel quickly garnered the coveted “Amazon Best-Seller” rating. “Beautiful Life” follows Anna Mitchell’s encounters with love, joy and tragedy throughout her life.

The author grew up in Piggott, Ark., whose young people are encouraged to “play sports or drive a tractor,” Teachenor said. Another literary talent had a history in Piggott. Ernest Hemingway penned portions of his famous novel, “A Farewell to Arms,” while staying at his in-laws’ home in the small community.

Teachenor married her high school sweetheart, Jamie Teachenor ‘00, who is a platinum-selling singer-songwriter in the country music industry and a former member of OCU’s singing ambassadors, Earthlight.

Teaching was the ideal career for Teachenor. “I love kids of all ages,” she said. When God tugged at her heart to devote more time to writing, Teachenor was not ready to give up teaching her beloved third graders. She likened God’s call to write her novel to the Biblical account of Jonah. “God wanted me to do one thing. I was running hard the other way,” Teachenor said.

Although the career transition was diffi cult, Teachenor, “stepped out on faith and…did it.” Teachenor is currently working on a second novel which will be entitled, “Strange Bird.”

Teachenor resides in Franklin, Tenn., with her husband and their two children, Charlie and Lily.

It’s a “Beautiful Life” for Jen Teachenor ‘02By Heather R. Smith ‘10

Memories Shared... Dan Weaver ‘68I will share some of my memories at Wheatley Hall with the assumption that the statute of limitations is in effect.

The dorm had a married couple name Cal and Judy Taylor as dorm parents. This couple deserves the Medal of Honor for all they experienced with our pranks. We had a small basketball rim hanging on a closet door in

a room on the third fl oor at which we would shoot baskets using a tennis ball. Several times Cal would make the trek to this room to explain the meaning of quiet hours. We appropriately named this room the “Cal Palace” which was an obvious play on words referring to the college gym nicknamed the Cow Palace.

On another occasion I was watching the infamous game between IU and Michigan State during which IU lost in overtime when the time clock was not started. Just as the game ended a drop of water hit the top of my head.

Puzzled at fi rst I left the basement recreation room to see just what was going on. As I proceeded up the stairs from fl oor to fl oor I was met by ever increasing amounts of water on the fl oor. On the third fl oor there was water in places that could have been an inch deep with splatterings of shaving cream every where. Mind you that the fl oors in Wheatley were wooden. I was so disappointed in my fellow dorm mates that this water fi ght, which had evolved from balloons to buckets, had occurred without my involvement. This old dorm could never have been considered a fi re hazard while we lived there.

Has anyone made mention about a quest which involved a certain women’s undergarment? This quest originated at Dearing Hall and ended at Brokaw Hall. I, of course, being the honorable young man I was (on probation) did not participate in this venture but was seated across from Brokaw as it unfolded. There were several of our better male students called on the carpet the next day. I am sure their cases were not helped by the fact that we made a trip to Evansville. While there we held up a banner (sheet) outside one of the radio stations explaining how OCC had experienced its fi rst such raid. One might ask what precipitated this event, and as I remember a challenge was left hanging in Dearing by some of the ladies from Brokaw.

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Living Oak Lifetime Members

Deena J. Lewis

Jerry L. & Pam Aigner

Jeannie Anson

Mr. & Mrs. Brian Baker

Dr. & Mrs. Ray Barber

Robert A. Bean

Patricia M. Berbeco

Angela (Shelton) Blackburn

Anthony & Belena Brantley

Rev. Fred J. Brittain

Drs. Wayne & Edna Brumfi eld

Phillip & Sharen Buyher

Lewis R. Clark

Wendy J. Colglazier

Laura Conklin

Terry L. Crane

Todd E. Culley

Mr. & Mrs. Wendell Daugherty

Daniel D. Ditzer

Dr. Bob & Norma Doane

Dr. & Mrs. Leland Duncan

Dr. & Mrs. Wallace Duncan

Charles Howard Ellis

Mrs. Lennetta Burl Ellis

Terry & Marilyn Enlow

Joe Fielden

A. J. Ford

Rose Gwaltney Fritz

Wanda J. Gardner

Drs. Charles & Jean Glasgow

Carol J. Graf

Dr.& Mrs. Darroll & Savanah Hargraves

Dr. William Hasselbrink

Dr. Donna S. Hazelwood

Norma Sue Hazelwood

Cynthia A. Helton

Dr. & Mrs. Darrell W. Hillhouse

Kelly Wilder Hopper

Dr. Carol Davidson Horne

Sen. Lindel O. Hume

Robert & Bette Jo Georges Hunt

Max W. Jacobus*

Marion R. & Janet S. James

Dr. Leroy Jolly

Dr.& Mrs. James & Eddi Marie EvansJulian

Charles & Rita Knight

Mathew J. Konkler

Rev. C. Glen Lashley

Janice Loveless

Antonia Babauta Lyzenga

Violet L. Mathias

Mr. & Mrs. Melvin & Janice Menke

Lou R. Meuche

Gerald W. & Betty W. Montgomery

Dr. Rae Murray

Jean Carnahan Murray

Michael J. Murray

Mrs. Marlene S. Nalley

Glenn B. Nulty

Marsha Orth

Dennie Oxley

Janet A. Parrish

Dr. Gary L. Phillips

Mrs. Judy Black Phillips

Dr. James & Mrs. Kristina Pratt

Gary & Donna Vilet Pruett

Valada J. Raber

Joan Reed

Becky T. Richeson

Arvin & Rosina Nance Roberson

Mrs. Lois Robertson

Coaina M. & Rod Rosenbury

Diana Sablan

Michael & Nancy Scherschel

Rev. Billy Secoy

J. Eloise Stockinger Smith

Jeanette Turner Smith

John Snyder

Bill & Sharen Spencer

Dr. Patricia A. Swails

Joshua Steele

Rev. Michael W. Tooley

Elaine Trafton

Floyd Vieth, Jr.

Gerald & Elizabeth Weber

Carolyn M. White

Richard Whiting

Drs. Don K. & Mary Ann Wilder

Dr. & Mrs. Curtis Yarbrough

Mrs. Wilma Yeager

Dr. Robert Yeager

*Designates a new Living Oak Member added since the last issue.If your name is appearing incorrectly, please call 812-749-1226 with the correction for the next issue.

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Wireless Tablets at Madison JuvenileBy: Dr. Susan Lockwood ‘08

OCU’s commit-ment to rehabili-tating incarcerated individuals is mak-ing a difference for many, as shown through its recent collaboration with American Pris-on Data Systems (APDS) and the Indiana Depart-ment of Correction (IDOC) on a pilot project to provide wireless tablets to students at the Madison Juvenile Correctional Facil-ity in Madison, In-

diana. Across the country, students incarcerated in juvenile facilities have limited access to educational content since they are not permitted to use the internet. The tablet initia-tive with APDS at Madison Juvenile is one of only four simi-lar projects being implemented in the United States.

APDS is a Public Benefi t Corporation based in New York City. Its mission is to reduce recidivism through education and job training, which in turn delivers signifi cant cost savings to tax payers. APDS provides the content through a highly fi ltered, secure data network. Students do not access the internet; instead, they access internet content which has been “pushed” to their Android tablets through a high security data center. The OCU staff members providing

the education services to the students at Madison Juvenile select the content for the tablets. Students utilize the tablets for instruction and homework, and also have the ability to download library books.

The tablets are encased in a hard plastic protective shell developed by a military contractor. The tablets are monitored 24/7 and can be disabled with the touch of a button.

Students and teachers at Madison Juvenile have been using the tablets since the end of September, and are enthusiastic about the opportunities the tablets provide. They can access video lessons from sites such as Kahn Academy, review concepts through the use of educational media, and read library books that are otherwise not available to them.

The successful implementation of this pilot project will be evaluated, with the objective of expanding tablet use to the other three IDOC juvenile facilities in the state. Likewise, APDS staff members want to replicate the model for others across the country. OCU is truly involved in a cutting-edge, innovative project that will impact many people in ways that can never be measured.

Dr. Susan Lockwood ‘08 is Director of Juvenile Education for the Indiana Department of Correction in Indianapolis. Her daughter, Trisha, is a student on OCU’s main campus. This photo was shot at our Fall Homecoming.

Heather Hose ‘10, Administrative Asst. for Campus Life, spearheaded efforts for Operation Christmas Child as an OCU staff project for the holidays. Forty-one boxes were donated as well as monetary gifts. The staff Halloween Costume Contest collected money for votes and that money was also donated for this project.

Operation Christmas Child

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Be Sure You Are Included

In the 2015 Alumni DirectoryThe Alumni Relations Offi ce is currently in the process of information gathering for our new 2015 Alumni Directory. We have partnered with Publishing Concepts Incorporated (PCI) to produce the new directory. We do this every fi ve years and we kicked off our project in February. PCI has sent out emails and postcards asking you to contact them to update your information. This is a major project that cannot be successful without the input and cooperation of our OCU alumni. You will be asked to update your contact information, plus some other questions that will help us serve you better. The Alumni Relations Offi ce uses the directory every day. The directory is the fi rst place we start when alumni call our offi ce looking for former classmates. It is important to verify your information even if you did not receive a degree from OCU. You are considered an alumnus after completing one semester at OCU.

When you are contacted by PCI, please help us update your information. All of your information is secure. PCI does not share the information with any other individual or agency. PCI comes very highly recommended as they have partnered with schools all over the country to produce accurate and easy to use alumni directories. When you are contacted, you will be given the opportunity to order a directory for your own personal use. This transaction is between you and PCI. The OCU Alumni Relations offi ce does not sell or profi t from the sale of the directories. The directory sales support PCI’s investment in creating the publication. PCI will process all aspects of your order should you decide to purchase a directory. Please help us make this the best directory ever by furnishing your information when you are contacted by PCI.

IMPORTANT: THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING INFORMATION TO PCI FOR THE DIRECTORY WILL BE EARLY AUGUST 2015. PLEASE BE SURE TO CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR POSTCARD TO UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION.

I received an email/postcard/phone call from a company asking for my personal information. They said they were working on a directory for Oakland City University. Is this a legitimate project, or is it a scam? We have partnered with PCI (also known as Publishing Concepts) to produce our new alumni directory. PCI is a company located in Dallas, TX that publishes directories for educational institutions, fraternities, sororities and military organizations across the nation. This project allows Oakland City University to receive important updates to our database so we know more about our alumni and how we can better serve you and future alumni.

How do I know my information will only be used for directory purposes?

Oakland City University has a contractual agreement with PCI that states:a. The names, addresses and information provided to PCI by Oakland City University for the publication of the Directory will be held confi dential by PCI, except to the extent that they are utilized in, or in the preparation of, the Directory and except as required by court order or law.

b. The Directory will be made available only to alumni of Oakland City University. Upon completion of the project, PCI will return to Oakland City University any and all electronic fi les that have been supplied by Oakland City University or produced by PCI in connection with the production of the Directory. I would like to verify and update my information. How may I do this? If you have received a postcard or an email with a telephone number, you may call the number to speak with a dedicated representative for the Oakland City University project. The representative will verify all the information we have on fi le for you and make any updates where needed. If you have received an email with an embedded link, you may go to the online site to review your information. If you have questions, you may call PCI’s customer service desk at 1.800.395.4724.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Alumni Directory Project

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Header

Can anyone purchase a directory?

The Oakland City University alumni Directory is available for sale only to Oakland City University alumni.

When will I receive my directory?

The total duration of the directory project is about 12 months. Since we began the project in October of 2014, the directories will be distributed in October of 2015.

I ordered a package containing the Discounted Companion Airline Certifi cate, but I haven’t received the post card requesting verifi cation of my address.

For those who purchase a package containing the Discounted Companion Airline Certifi cate, they will receive a postcard within 2 -3 weeks and will direct them to go to the PCI website to initiate the certifi cate process by entering their ID # and order # (shown on the postcard) and verify their mailing address. Alternatively, the buyer can call a toll free number (also shown on the postcard) and leave a voicemail to initiate the certifi cate process.

You will receive a business envelope that contains the guidelines, terms and conditions, as well as the certifi ed voucher from Award Headquarters so you can begin to make your travel arrangements.

Basics of the certifi cate program: • The Discounted Companion Airline Certifi cate allows the holder to purchase two round trip tickets for a bundled rate.

The Certifi cate is: • Two Tickets for One Low Price • 200 US Destinations (continental US) • NO BLACKOUT DATES • 40 Plus Airline Carriers • 24/7 Online Booking • 7-Day Advance Purchase • Frequent Flier Miles for Both Passengers • Low Price Guarantee • Fully Transferrable

Can I choose some or all of my information not to be printed in the directory?

When you call to update your information, you can tell the representative what information you would prefer to have excluded. You may also communicate this information to the PCI customer service desk (1.800.395.4724) or to the Alumni Association.

I ordered a directory/package over the phone and would like to cancel my order. How do I do this?

Call the PCI customer service help desk at 1.800.395.4724, and they will take care of this for you.

IMPORTANT: THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING INFORMATION TO PCIFOR THE DIRECTORY WILL BE EARLY AUGUST 2015.

PLEASE BE SURE TO CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR POSTCARDTO UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION.

If you did not receive a postcard or email: Call PCI’s customer service desk at 1.800.395.4724.

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Amazon Smile

Would you like to give to OCU and not have it cost you anything? If you shop online through AmazonSmile, a portion of your purchase will be donated to Oakland City University.

What is AmazonSmile? AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll fi nd the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. You can choose from nearly one million organizations to support. How do I shop at AmazonSmile? To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.

Which products on AmazonSmile are eligible for charitable donations? Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. Recurring Subscribe-and-Save purchases and subscription renewals are not currently eligible.

Can I use my existing Amazon.com account on AmazonSmile? Yes, you use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same.

How do I select a charitable organization to support when shopping on AmazonSmile? On your fi rst visit to AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), you need to select a charitable organization to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. We will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.

Can I change my charity? Yes, you can change your charity any time. Your AmazonSmile purchases after the change count towards your newly selected charity. To change your charity, sign in to smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone browser and simply select “Change your Charity” in “Your Account.”

What charities can I choose from? You can choose from almost one million eligible 501(c)(3) public charitable organizations.

If I represent a charitable organization, how can I learn more about registering my organization for AmazonSmile? Go to org.amazon.com to learn how to register your organization to receive donations.

How much of my purchase does Amazon donate? The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. The purchase price is the amount paid for the item minus any rebates and excluding shipping & handling, gift-wrapping fees, taxes, or service charges. From time to time, we may offer special, limited time promotions that increase the donation amount on one or more products or services or provide for additional donations to charitable organizations. Special terms and restrictions may apply. Please see the relevant promotion for complete details.

Can I receive a tax deduction for amounts donated from my purchases on AmazonSmile? Donations are made by the AmazonSmile Foundation and are not tax deductible by you.* *This information appears on the AmazonSmile website. Oakland City University does not warrant it to be free of errors. Oakland City University is registered with AmazonSmile© as an eligible 501 ( c ) (3) organization.

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29th

Annual Phonathon Kicks Off April 7th

2015 President’s Golf Classic

Student volunteers will call alumni beginning April 7th.

Our goal is to raise $40,000 for the General Scholarship Fund.

Last year, OCU awarded $5.3 million in scholarships and grants to qualifi ed students.

How you can give: • Send your gift in the envelope provided in the Phonathon mailing • Give online at www.advancement.com • Pledge your gift when our student calls • Call 812-749-1228 to charge by phone

Thank you for your generosity. Your gift

makes a difference in a student’s life.

Welcome

We cordially invite your organization, business or foursome to join us April 29, 2015, at the beautiful Cambridge Golf Club for an afternoon of food, fellowship and golf. Cambridge features a Tim Liddy designed championship 18 hole course etched into 170 acres of gently rolling Indiana farm land. Conveniently located at 1034 Beacon Hill, Evansville, Indiana, the course is easily accessed off highways I-64 and 41.

Come out and play!

For information about

Registration, Sponsorship

Opportunities and Prize InfoContact

Brian Baker 812-749-1228

[email protected]

Dr. Mike Sandifar 812-749-1290

[email protected]

April 29, 2015

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The Show Must Go On

Calling all OCC/OCU Actors, Student

Directors, Stage Hands & Set Builders

Join us for a unique day of connecting with ocu drama directors, amazing talent and lots of laughter as we pay tribute to:

Dr. Margaret Earl Harper

Ange Humphrey

Pat Hunt

Cynthia Retana

USE THE FORM ON PAGE 13 FOR RESERVATIONS! DON’T MISS IT!

2004 Production of Taming of The Shrew

Dr. Harper and the 1965 Dramatics Club

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Make Your Reservations Today for the 2015 Alumni Luncheon and Class Reunions

Saturday, June 13th 2015! This year’s Alumni Luncheon will take place on Saturday, June 13at the Bower-Suhrheinrich Student Life Center.

Our theme will be “The Show Must Go On!”Featuring the history of the Drama Dept. of Oakland City University. Honoring Dr. Margaret Earl Harper, Glory Heyde, Angie Humphrey, Pat Hunt and Cynthia Retana who have all directed marvelous plays and musicals through the years.

A special invitation to all the actors, student directors, set builders and stage hands.

REGISTRATION FOR ALUMNI CLASS REUNIONS AND LUNCHEON DEADLINE: JUNE 1, 2015 Name: Class Year: Address: City/ST/Zip: PHONE: EMAIL: Please make the following Alumni Luncheon reservations: X $15.00 per person. Make Checks payable to OCU Alumni. Or Charge by phone at 812 749 1226. Guests/spouse attending with you: Class Year:

Check the www.oak.edu Alumni page and your mail for updates.

See you in June!

Honor Classes are 1965 & 1990

REUNIONS BEGIN AT 9:00 A.M. IN THE BOWER-SUHRHEINRICH CENTER(ALUMS MAY ARRIVE AT ANY TIME, IT IS AN OPEN HOUSE)

THE ALL ALUMNI LUNCHEON WILL BE SERVED AT 12:00 P.M. ENTERTAINMENT AND AWARDS AFTER LUNCH

1971 Production of Harvey. Denny Dorsett as Elwood P. Doud

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More Luncheon Info: How You Can Help!

Since the theme for the annual Alumni Luncheon is “The Show Must Go On!”, I am looking for memorabilia connected to any of the musicals and plays presented on campus through the years. If you have any play posters, programs, or photos you can share, I would love to use them for our event. If it is something you can scan and email to me, I will print and make copies. If you have any great stories about a play you were in and would like to share, please feel free to email me those also.

Please help get the word out to former classmates about the honoring of drama and music on the campus of OCU. There will be information placed on our website (www.oak.edu) and our Oakland City University Alumni FaceBook page.

If you would like to get a group together the night before the luncheon to reminisce, I would be happy to work with you to accomplish this goal. Usually several guests will come in the night before. OCU has a center in Evansville that could accommodate/host alumni groups and there is always plenty of room on campus to host a group. There are also many restaurants to choose from in the Evansville area.

If you were in a production directed by Dr. Margaret Earl Harper, Glory Heyde, Ange Humphrey, Pat Hunt or Cynthia Retana it would be wonderful to have your stories. Please email them to [email protected]. Additionally, Dr. Judy Whitten will be bringing a tribute to Dr. Margaret Earl Harper as part of our program. Please plan now to attend. If you would like to be an agent to get your classmates notifi ed, please let me know. I can help with names and addresses and possibly emails by class year. I also encourage you to come, even if you have never

attended an Alumni Luncheon before. We always have a lot of fun, good food and great entertainment. The event will take place in our Student Life Center, the bookstore will be open and we will gather in the dining hall for lunch and our program. You will not want to miss this exciting event!

Online Luncheon Reservations Available!

We are now able to take reservations and payments online. To make your reservations go to: 1. www.oak.edu and click on the Reservations Banner at the top of the page. 2. Complete the form. 3. Enter your payment information. You will receive a receipt via email.

1965 One Act Play Night with Pat Crump, Ted Linton and Carrie.

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Catching Up With Billie Murphy ‘03

I moved from Plymouth to Vincennes , Indiana, in the fall of 1992 and honestly, I had never heard about Oakland City U n i v e r s i t y. When I start-

ed to work for Toyota in 1999, sever-al people there talked about this great Christian College where you could fi n-ish your degree in an adult setting at an accelerated pace. So in 2000, I decid-ed to fi nd out more and take advantage of Toyota’s tuition reimbursement pro-gram. It was during that year I learned all about Oakland City University and the amazing Adult degree program they had. Instantly, I was hooked!

I fi nished my master’s degree in 2003 and at the graduation ceremony I proudly walked under the historic arch-way sign, “Enter to Learn. Go Forth to Serve.” It was during these few years at Oakland City University I was able to rediscover my Savior again. I had been lost in the everyday hustle and bustle, and Oakland City University helped me fi nd my path in the world and also back to our Lord.

Now you might ask, what’s Billie been up to since 2003? Well, to keep it short and sweet, I have truly been blessed over the past 12 years. Af-ter fi nishing my degree, I wanted to put it to use and I had prayed Toy-ota would be that answer; however, God had other plans for me. I began working at Golden Rule Insurance in 2005 and on the exact same day, October 11, that I had started at Toyota six years prior. I am now a trainer in our Learning and Devel-opment Center department and I love every single minute of it.

Fast forward to 2012, because it was the end of this year that really brought changes to our lives. My husband and I have only one child (Samantha) and in the fall of 2012, we welcomed our son-in-law (Justin) to our family. Once our daughter got married and moved out, I had a major feeling of empty nest. I had always wanted to start my own hobby farm and so in November of 2012 my quest began. I started out with one min-iature donkey, which has now grown to eight, nine goats (with a new baby just born in February) and some chickens. I have so much fun with my little farm.

As if life could not pos-sibly get any better, my daughter and her husband announced they were expecting! Our granddaughter, Claire Elaine, was born in September 2013. Being a grand-mother is the greatest thing ever and I love every single minute of it.

The day I set foot in my fi rst class at Oakland City University is the day my life started to come together. The Lord has blessed me more than I could have ever imagined or asked for and I am truly grateful to OCU for showing me

the way in this world and the path back to Jesus. It is hard to believe that 25 years ago I didn’t know anything about

Oakland City Universi-ty and now I take ev-ery opportunity to tell others about this great school.

Thank you to all the professors, staff, and alumni who make stu-dents and prospec-tive students’ dreams possible. I wouldn’t be where I am today with-out the goodness of Jesus Christ and the education I received at Oakland City Uni-

versity. Please allow me to end with Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

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OCU’s Correctional Education Ministry

Serves Nearly 6,000

Ted Pearson, Director of Correctional Education/Southern IDOC Facilities furnished this report on the program’s accomplishments during the 2013/2014 fi scal year. Lives are being changed through OCU’s efforts.

OCU’s Correctional Education Ministry is now located in nine adult and one juvenile correctional facilities

• 300 students completed Work Indiana (Hospitality Certifi cate Program) • 872 adults completed Literacy Program (9.0 grade level) • 600 adults completed the High School Equivalency • 1,072 completed Vocational Programs (noncredit) • 6 earned an AAS or BAS degree through college correspondence Madison Juvenile Correctional Facility Completers • 41 students completed High School Equivalency • 1 student earned her High School Diploma • 738 High School Credits were issued Adult Correctional Facility Enrollments for the 2013/2014 Fiscal Year • Literacy 1,883 students• Pre-HSE 1,137 students• HSE 833 students • Vocational – Non-College 1,639 students• Vocational – Work Indiana 282 students• Correspondence 32 students• Juvenile Enrollments 128 studentsTotal Enrollment: 5,934 students Program Highlights: • Oakland City University Correctional Education Programs earned an A+ on the Commissioner’s Grade Card last fi scal year.

• Branchville’s Site Manager, Margie Wagner, received the Correctional Educator of the Year Award from the Indiana Criminal Justice Association.

• New Tablet Project began in September for all juveniles housed in the Madison Juvenile Correctional Facility to use distance education technology and educational programs to enhance learning opportunities (see article on page 7).

• A new adult correctional facility was added by Plainfi eld named Heritage Trails Correctional Facility.

• Putnamville donated 15,124 lbs. of food to the local food pantry.

• The adult academic programs earned enough in reimbursable outcomes from DWD to pay for the contract and give back an extra $10,814.70 to the State.

• Indiana Women’s Prison prepared over 6,100 meals for the Annual Community Thanksgiving dinner for community centers in Indianapolis.

• Eight cosmetology students at Indiana Women’s Prison and Rockville passed the state test. • Three new academic teaching positions were awarded to OCU by the Indiana Department of Workforce

• Development due to academic success earned by the OCU correctional academic programs.

Ted Pearson

Director of Correctional Education for

Oakland City University

“I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” Matthew 25:36 (NLT)

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Remembering OCU’s Ninth PresidentDr. Bernard A. Loposer 1931-2015By: Dr. Randy Mills ‘73

On January 30, 2015, Oakland City University lost a dear friend, Dr. Bernard A. Loposer. Bernie served as president of Oakland City College from 1971-1973 and although he led the school for only a short time, he left a positive and powerful mark on OCC and its students. Many former students look back at that period and regard it as something of a golden age. I would count myself among that group. In truth, however, it was a complicated and trying era, and to really understand Dr. Loposer’s important role in it, one must review some historical context.

The late 1960s and early 1970s was a time of great transition for Oakland City College. The school’s enrollment had swelled, thanks in part to the ongoing Vietnam War, to what would be its highest on-campus numbers ever. Much like other colleges at that time, OCC also saw a fair share of student unrest. These protests had little to do with the Vietnam War, however. Other than a few students wearing black anti-war arm bands, one protest singing activity and a few letters to the school newspaper against the war, students at OCC did not frequently discuss or argue about Vietnam, certainly not in the way they did on most other campuses. Interestingly, however, OCC would endure a high level of student agitation in the late 1960s and early 1970s, driven by both the counter-culture mood of that day and internal dynamics unique to the school.

By the mid and late 1960s, the college’s conservative leadership still maintained and enforced long established conservative traditions and standards. These ideas included no dancing on campus, dress codes, and strict dorm hours among other rules. While much of the student body came from conservative areas and backgrounds, the values of the counter-culture had still soaked down to infl uence many OCC students’ sense of freedom—their

right and even their duty to question authority. This tension would lead to student unrest, OCC style, by the early 1970s.

This tension was seen at its greatest levels in the college student newspaper. The O. C. Collegian boldly declared in the fi rst issue of the 1969 fall semester that it bore the responsibility of aiding, establishing, and maintaining “an atmosphere of free and responsible discussion and . . . intellectual exploration on our campus.” The Collegian, the article continued, would be published “with editorial freedom” in order that the school newspaper “might maintain its integrity of purpose as a vehicle for free inquiry and free expression in an academic community such as Oakland City College.” Among the Collegian reporters at this time were a number of strong and intelligent personalities—aggressive gadfl ies who believed it their responsibility to ask diffi cult questions and prod authority. Their attitudes and actions created a spirit of dissent, as well as a large dose of youthful idealism, on the little conservative campus. Editorials, regular columns, letters to the editor, and other articles in the school paper indicated that many OCC students strongly desired to bring dancing on campus, to have more say in school decisions and in the quality of classroom instruction, to receive better food in the cafeteria, to have more freedom in the dorms, to live off campus, to have control over the discipline of fellow students, and to wear the latest fashions.

In the midst of all this verbal turmoil, a new college president, Dr. Bernard Loposer, came to Oakland City from the University of Alabama-Huntsville in the fall of 1971. Relatively young, the kind, energetic, and quick-witted, Dr. Loposer quickly captured the approval of OCC students. Loposer stated his pro-student philosophy in an open letter to the “College Family.” At the onset, he

noted, “The touchstone of uniqueness here at Oakland City College is rooted in our belief that the most important element in education must remain the people who are engaged in the pursuit of truth.” He then went on to proclaim the college “the people place.” His letter hit a deep chord with many idealistic students.

Incredibly, Bernie Loposer practiced what he preached. He solidifi ed his popularity by going out of his way to “rap” with students, often seeking out the more aggressive leaders and listening to their ideas. Under Loposer’s infl uence, an increase in dorm “rap” sessions occurred. The spirit of student empowerment and responsibility Dr. Loposer attempted to cultivate would soon help turn student complaints toward more positive activities. One positive result, for example, was a plan to have a student march to Evansville to raise money for the college and to give the school some positive publicity. The march was a great success and drew very positive attention from local newspapers. Just as important,

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Remembering Dr. Loposer Cont...

students felt they had been an essential part of the endeavor. The Collegian reported, for example, “The march was thought of, planned, initiated, worked on and promoted by students.” But the essential hero was captured in a photo on the pages of the Evansville Courier. The picture showed Dr. Loposer, hosted on the shoulders of OCC students, as the large and weary group marched into the city of Evansville. Bernie Loposer had become the heart and soul of the school.

Dr. Loposer moved quickly to further connect the administration to students by an especially daring move—initiating a Student Judiciary Court. This body was given unheard of power over student disciplinary actions than OCC student governments of past years and perhaps represented the pinnacle of student empowerment at OCC. The Collegian reported the exciting news, explaining, “The Judiciary Court will settle disputes between organizations and act upon cases referred to it by the students. The court will also act upon serious offenses brought it by the dormitory council, Dean of Students, Student Senate president and/or the Judiciary Court Chairman. The court will try the offender and recommend proper action to the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students will then enforce the decision of the court. Any tried offender may petition for recall. The court will supervise all campus elections and review decisions made by the Senate.” It was a heady change from the more traditional ironfi sted position of previous administrations.

But Dr. Loposer was not a pushover. In late 1972, he carried out a very unpopular but perhaps necessary act when he dismissed two students who had engaged in a particularly dangerous fi ght without going through the recently created Student Judicial Board. It was not a well-received action by the students. The Student Judiciary Board, for their part, did not disagree with the dismissals, but with the fact that the two students had not been given the due process promised by President Loposer. Dr. Loposer, however, would not back down.

At heart, Dr. Loposer was a philosopher and he shared his own vision of how the kind of needed changes student demanded might occur on campus in an article in the Collegian. “All revolutions must begin in a small way. They must begin with the change within the individual. I am not referring to the establishing of rap sessions. All rap sessions seem to do is blow off steam to somebody who wants to gripe. Rather, I would suggest the word ‘revolutionary’ or the ‘inner change’ as descriptive of this approach. Thus I submit this in an open letter to you as students to think on these things and if there be any merit, let the spontaneity of the quest of truth move us to do those things that will lead to a deeper growth intellectually and a broader approach to the society that ultimately will receive us as it looks to us for leadership.”

Such interesting and deep philosophical debates over real issues were not allowed to be resolved, however.

Another reality, another fate swept such discussions away like a great tidal wave. Dr. Loposer had inherited the complicated fi nancial troubles the college had developed prior to his term and which, under his leadership, came to a climax in 1973. Enrollment plunged as the Vietnam War wound down, and a long standing federal debt loomed. The Collegian duly noted that these diffi cult events, along with some personal issues, caused Dr. Loposer to abruptly turn in his resignation at the end of the 1973 school year. Continuing to underscore his commitment to students, he wrote in his resignation letter that Oakland City College “has an excellent student body which, if allowed to do so, can exercise a high degree of responsibility.” His leaving heralded the end of an era at the college.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize how youthful and naïve some of the ideas of OCC students were back in the early 1970s. Also, I’ve grown wise enough to understand that what many students perceived as unfair policies on the part of conservative minded administrators were most always offered in good faith and often based on information unknown to students. I certainly wish to thank the people, however, who served at the college in my time as a student there, people such Dr. Loposer, and many others, who believed college students, given guidance, could help the administration tackle many of the school’s problems. It was a wonderful, messy, and sometimes scary lesson in democracy.

A 1973 graduate of Oakland City University, Dr. Mills went on to receive a master’s and a doctoral degree from Indiana University. “I feel very grateful that I am able to give back to Oakland City University and its present students many of the things the school gave to me when I attended here”. Dr. Mills can be contacted at [email protected].

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Passages... Remembering Our Alums & Friends

Jack Copeland ’49Cambridge, Ind. Passed away 8/4/14.

Larry D. Hill ’77Oakland City, Ind. Passed away 6/30/14.

Ltc. Nicholas Cheesman ‘00Boonville, Ind. Passed away 11/23/14.

Russell E. Simpson ’86 Anderson, Ind. Passed away 11/30/14.

Roselyn Braselton ’59 Owensville, Ind.Passed away 1/13/15.

Larry Sparks ‘60Pittsboro, Ind.Passed away 10/27/14.

Henry A. Schleter ‘63Fort Branch, Ind. Passed away 11/3/14.

Mabel Bailey ‘67Oakland City, Ind. Passed away 11/27/14.

Rev. James Seddon ‘74, Rockport, Ind. Passed away 2/7/15.

Passing of OCU’s Ninth President: Dr. Bernard A. Loposer

Bernard Andre “Bernie” “Barney” Loposer. He began his earthly tenure on December 13, 1931, in the middle of the Great Depression; that tenure terminated on January 30, 2015, after 84 spectacular, adventuresome years on this earth. Almost from the very beginning, his life embarked on its fi rst nomadic period during which time he attended eleven different schools in nine different Mississippi towns before fi nishing high school in Belzoni, MS, 1950. A bit beyond the draft age for WWII, his father was with the Southern Bell Telephone Company and was transferred almost every year to a

new assignment in a new town. Bernie often said: “Moving around to different towns was one of the best things that could have happened to me because I learned early on how to get along with all kinds of different people I met along the way.” He graduated from Mississippi College in 1954 with a B.A. degree (double major in sociology and psychology); lettered in basketball, track, and baseball in college; ordained as a Southern Baptist minister and attended seminary in New Orleans, earning his master’s and doctoral degrees in systematic theology/religious philosophy. From his time as Assistant Dean at L.S.U. in New Orleans (now the University of New Orleans) in 1964, a second nomadic period began, this one having to do with his career. After his stint in the dean’s offi ce at L.S.U. in New Orleans, he later served as Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Dean of Admissions at Loyola University in New Orleans, Vice President for University Relations at Phillips University, Director of Development at Washington State University, and President of Oakland City University, before retiring as Associate Vice President of Eastern Washington University and Executive Director of the Eastern Washington University Foundation. In retirement, he simply changed careers. He wrote mystery novels. He urges those who follow him to live simply; love generously and without reservation; laugh often; care deeply; embrace your faith boldly; think creatively; and leave the rest to God. When asked how he would want his epitaph to read, he said simply: “Love always wins!” Memorial services will be conducted March 6 in Washington State.

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Alumni News

Melissa ‘06, ‘13 and Eric Martin announce the birth of their daughter, Mikayla Jo on 8/11/14. She weighed 6lbs 11 oz and was 19 inches long. Melissa is OCU’s HR Coordinator. Mikayla’s maternal grandparents are David ‘03 and Carol Taylor. Carol works in Financial Aid.

Please welcome Rachel Anne Schmitt. She was born 11/6/14 to Stacy ‘00 and Matt ’08 Schmitt. She was 8 lbs. 3 oz. and was 21 inches long. She has a big sister Claire. Stacy works in OCU’s Student Support Services.

Susan Sullivan ‘97 welcomed her second granddaughter on 9/23/14. Lotti Orene weighed 4 lbs and 11 oz and was 16 inches in length. Susan is the Director for Alumni Relations at OCU.

Allan and Elizabeth (Haake) Rhodes ‘04 welcomed Augusta Ka Rhodes 7/25/13. She weighed 6 lbs and 9 oz. and was 19” long, she is the sister of Abigail and Ace Rhodes.

Clint ‘04 and Kara Woolsey welcomed Olive Grace on 12/4/14 @ 1:22 AM in Evansville, IN. Weighing in at 6 lbs 1 oz and 19 inches long. Olive has two big brothers at home. Clint is Director of IT for OCU.

Chad ’04 and Charity ’98 Julian welcomed their second son, Micah John Julian, on 10/16/14. He weighed 9 lbs and 6 oz and was 21 inches long. He was welcomed by big brother Brody, 11. Maternal grandparents are President Ray‘85 and Mrs. Beth Barber ‘01. Charity is Director for Career and College Directions at OCU.

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General Baptist College in the Philippines Celebrates 50th Anniversary

At the 50th anniversary celebration at the General Baptist Bible College in the Philippines, President Joyce C. Porcadilla ‘05 received a much deserved honorary doctorate from Oakland City University. A delegation from the States who came to be part of the celebration and recognition were Dr. Ray Barber ‘85 (President of OCU), Josh Carpenter ’01 (Moderator) Rev. Clint Cook (Executive Director) along with Judy Cook and Chris Cook ‘12. Also representing GBIM were Kris Yeomans and his wife Nicole and two daughters, Emily and Eden. Thanks to all who came!

Heather Smith ’10 Interns with OCU Advancement Office

Heather Smith ‘10 joined the OCU Ad-vancement Offi ce as an Intern in February. Heather has a degree in music and is continuing her studies in the new Communications pro-gram with a concentra-tion in Journalism. She is from Odon, Indiana and currently resides in Oakland City. She loves

to write and is the Student Editor of the newly revived Col-legian, the university newspaper. Heather also contributes articles to The Connection. Welcome, Heather!

Recently Senior Chaplain, Captain Michael Gore ‘84 offered the invocation for the Army Navy Game. Capt. Gore has been in the military since 2005 and has steadily risen through the ranks receiving awards and commendations along the way. To read more about Capt. Moore’s career, go to www.usna.edu/Chapel/seniorchaplain.php. When

contacted regarding the invocation, this is what he had to say: “Yes, I was privileged to offer the invocation for the Army Navy Game. It’s not every day that you get to lead a stadium full of people and 200 million+ viewers in prayer. It was a real highlight of my life and ministry.” Congratulations Capt. Gore and thank you for your service to our country.

The OCU history runs deep in this picture! Left to right: Jean Weir, Judy Phillips ‘62, Margaret Spence, Glen Spence ‘57, Marge Skelton, and Jerry Skelton ‘65. The group met at Red Lobster and by the looks of the smiles, they had a very good time. It would have been fun to hear all the stories that were told!

On March 7th, Dr. and Mrs. Barber hosted a Texas Alumni event. Thirty alums and friends met for a reception and program at the Gaylord Texan Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. The group met in The Texas Station restaurant. Area alumni meetings are being planned for other locations around the country.

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Remembering R. B. SmithBy Warren B. Smith ‘83

On December 17, 2014, a group of Oakland City College alumni gathered in the virtual world in remembrance of R. B. Smith. Specifi cally, the virtual location was a Facebook group named I Remember Oakland City College, created by alumnus Ron Baker. Oakland City College, of course, is now known as Oakland City University. Among the participants in the gathering were his students, his colleagues, his children and grandchildren. The

active participants contributed remarks refl ecting positive infl uences he may have had on their lives, while inactive participants read and refl ected privately and silently.

The exchange of written dialogue provoked heart-felt comments from nearly fi fty alumni who had crossed paths with “Doc” Smith during his tenure at Oakland City College. Each comment shared a most personal experience expressing a positive, sometimes life changing, exchange of human interaction. Underlying and ever present in these moments, from Doc’s point of view, was the spirit of the lord. His delivery of the history of protestant thought through scripture, theology, philosophy, and ethics brought many young scholars to the brink of higher thinking. His intention was not to persuade a student the take his point of view, but rather to provide tools of knowledge of other people’s thinking so as to arm them for service in Christian leadership.

One student apparently found himself at a turning point in direction of thought. Doc brought him back to center simply by saying, “It’s all about Jesus”. Another student pondering new knowledge and wondering what to do with it, found Doc bringing him back to center with these words, “Learn as much as you can and can much of what you learn”. James Winfrey remarked that Doc had said, “A wise man puts everything on the bottom shelf where everyone can reach it”. Mark Cowsert characterized him as a teacher of grace.

Indeed, his own education caused direction toward grace. He was exposed to Bonhoeffer and Paul Tillich in his doctoral program at New Orleans Theological Seminary in the mid ‘60s. Both of these men were German theologians of the 20th century who practiced their profession during Nazi

rule. Their earthly life and behavior contrasted with spiritual ideology lent itself well the ethical discussions revolving around grace. Doc Smith’s dissertation focused on one aspect of Bonhoeffer’s theology.

Doc Smith arrived at Oakland City College in August of 1972. At that time he was forty-eight years of age. He brought with him a wife, Nina, a.k.a. “Miss Nina”, well known for coffee and conversation in her kitchen. He also brought the youngest two of his fi ve children. Finally, he brought an abundant package of theological and philosophical knowledge as well as life experience perceived through the eyes of a Christian soldier.

Ten years prior to his arrival at the OCC campus, Rev. R. B. Smith was discharged as pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Indianola, Ms. The dismissal was orchestrated by The White Citizen’s Council. This group was a branch of the Mississippi State Sovereignty Council. The state council was a state taxpayer funded group organized to isolate advocates of civil rights. Doc Smith went to his grave never knowing the discharge was so deeply rooted in Mississippi politics.

The relationship between the dismissal and the state commissioned council became evident with the recent release of a PBS documentary titled “Spies of Mississippi”. The documentary uncovered truths about the state government activities surrounding management of the civil rights movement. The documentary drew from the archives of Will D. Campbell, a Baptist Pastor and Civil Rights advocate. These archives are held at the University of Southern Mississippi. Among those archives are a letter written by Will Campbell specifi cally mentioning the circumstances of Rev. R.B. Smith’s discharge.

After completing two years of course work in the doctoral program at New Orleans Theological Seminary he had a trial sermon for the pastoral position at the First Baptist Church in Winslow, AZ. Miss Nina was reluctant to part ways with the southern lifestyle. He agreed to preach a “bad ole sermon” at the evening service so as to persuade the committee to not call him. The more he spoke, the louder the “Amens” were shouted. He succumb to the calling and accepted the position on December 5, 1964.

Along about the Spring of 1972 the sitting president of Oakland City College, Bernard Loposer, visited him in the pastoral home in Winslow. These two men had been classmates at the seminary in New Orleans. Subsequently, Doc Smith applied for a faculty position at Oakland City College. He was selected in part, because of his academic credentials, which were necessary as a part of the colleges accreditation. He

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contributed to the fulfi llment the accreditation requirements in the religious studies department for the 1977 accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities.

The Fall of 1981 academic year began with an offering of graduate level programs in Religious Studies. Doc Smith played a leadership role in the launch of that program. He served as a professor and Dean of what became the Chapman School of Religious Studies. Now stands the only General Baptist Seminary in the Nation. Subsequently the College obtained University Status in 1995.

Separate from his pastoral and academic identity Doc Smith was a mechanic, musician, and tinker. In 1973 Doc served as an instructor in auto mechanics at the Vocational division at Oakland City College. Some people recollect his harmonica performances in The Stinson Hall Auditorium. His children attest to his unique style with the guitar, banjo and a touch of piano. He never knew a violin, but one of his best friends was a fi ddle. He never had a music lesson.

In October of 1987 Doc was tinkering with his garage door mechanism causing the release of a clot that caused a stroke. He never fully recovered from the stroke. The evening of December 16, that year, students of the college came caroling with songs of celebration of our saviors birth. He departed the next day. Remaining with us is his legacy and perhaps a bit of his spirit.

So it goes. More than forty years have passed since Doc Smith arrived at the Oakland City College Campus. In retrospect, one could say his walk on earth was guided by divine intervention. Right or wrong, he stood up for what he believed in regardless of the consequences. His Mississippi years are evidence of a trial that some would not be able to

bear.

The Mississippi years caused him to take refuge at the seminary in New Orleans. Here he furthered his studies and met Barney Loposer. The New Orleans years prepared him for his conclusion in Oakland City. The faith that guided him came early in his life. He could not have known the path or outcome when he was dropped off at Clark College in the early 40’s to begin the adult portion of his Christian march.

According to the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians, the visible

attributes of a Christian life are, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22-23). To the extent that one can see these in the life of Doc Smith one can see the legacy of his life as a contribution to Christian service. Doc Smith did the best he knew how. In times of doubt he recalled Paul’s remark regarding an answer for a prayer Paul had made. “My grace is suffi cient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Repeated return to scripture strengthen him throughout his journey.

Warren B. Smith ‘83: I am the youngest, and perhaps the most diffi cult, of Doc’s fi ve children. I lived in Oakland City from August of 1972 until March of 1984. I graduated from OCC in 1983 with a BS in Biology. I joined the staff at Edison Community College with Dr. Lyman O’Neal ’63 in October of 1996 in Southwest Florida.

While there I earned a Master’s Degree at Florida Gulf Coast University in Curriculum and Instruction concentrating in Distance Learning. I immediately began adjunct teaching at Edison Community College. While teaching and as paraprofessional in the science department I completed the course work in a Doctoral Program in Education at Nova Southeastern University. I did not complete the dissertation phase.

I later taught graduate and undergraduate level courses at Florida Gulf Coast University acting as adjunct. During this phase I created a web based platform for delivery of online courses in many disciplines. I was among the fi rst persons to teach online. The web based delivery system was in use before the release of WebCT and Blackboard which are now commonly used educational delivery systems.

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Save The Date for

Upcoming Events

April 7-23 Annual Phonathon April 11 Soulfest April 29 President’s Golf Classic

May 2 Commencement

June 13 Alumni Luncheon and Reunions

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Documents

Connection Vol. LXVI No. 1 - Spring 2015