Centennial Alumni Directory

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In 1897, William McKinley was inaugu-rated President of the United States. Ournation, on the verge of war with Spain,

had not yet emerged as a world power. FewAmerican homes featured telephones, electriclightbulbs, or indoor plumbing. Henry Ford wasstill trying to perfect the horseless carriage. In1897, Rudyard Kipling published CaptainsCourageous. The “Katzenjammer Kids” madetheir comic strip debut. Ronald Ross discoveredthat mosquitoes transmit malaria.

And in Indiana, a fledgling Christian collegeopened its doors.

The founding of Huntington College hasbeen called a work of divine providence. In1896, the General Board of Education of theChurch of the United Brethren in Christ laidplans to open a new institution of higher learn-ing. Before these plans were made known, anunsolicited proposal was received from theHuntington Land Association. Three entrepre-neurs (among them a United Brethren minister)proposed a strategic partnership: the LandAssociation would donate a three-story brickbuilding, additional campus grounds, and oper-ational cash. In return, the Church wouldequip and operate a school, and selllots in the surrounding neighborhood.Called a direct answer to prayer, theopportunity was “precipitatedupon us like a clap of thunder,”said Bishop Milton Wright(whose sons, Orville andWilbur, would be the first tofly).

Through the cooperation of church andcommunity, the College’s cornerstone was laidin August, 1896. A year later, the HuntingtonHerald estimated that 1,200 people turned outfor the dedication of the college. "Very impres-sive were the dedicatory services at CentralCollege," reported the Herald, using the institu-tion’s original name. "The new Central Collegewas dedicated Tuesday afternoon, and the doorsof the institution thrown open to all for theireducation as taught from the word of God."

Bishop Wright offered the prayer of dedica-tion on September 21, 1897: "It has been Thygood pleasure, O Lord, to give Thy people thisproperty, this building and these grounds to beused for the purpose of Christian education.Now, with hearts of gratitude to Thee, we desireto consecrate this edifice and these grounds toThee. And now, O Lord, we dedicate this build-ing from tower to foundation-stone with all itsfurniture of any and every kind, and all thatmay hereafter be put into it in harmony withpiety and propriety, and dedicate these groundswith all improvements which may be made nowor hereafter…. We dedicate all these to Thee, O

Lord, to the cause of Christian education, inthe name of the Triune God. Amen."

The dedication marked a new begin-ning for students and faculty transferring

from Hartsville College, a UnitedBrethren school that had closed dur-

ing the summer. The HartsvilleCollege bell, left, is displayed onHuntington’s campus.

A Direct Answer to Prayer1897-1900

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The student body was remarkable for its time—coeducational, international, and interracial from the start.Women and persons of color found a home here, not onlyin the classroom, but also in literary societies, athleticteams, and other social organizations. Miss LucyWilberforce of Sierra Leone is pictured above in this 1900photo. Lucy’s father was converted to Christ by UnitedBrethren missionaries in West Africa. During a period ofcivil strife, the Wilberforce family fled to America. ThreeWilberforce children attended the College.

Lucy is shown above with Zetalethean, a literarysociety which afforded female students opportunities toparticipate in programs of literature, music, and oration—as well as social outings with their male counterparts inPhilomathean. Forested hills and ravines about campusinvited students outdoors both summer and winter.

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The College’s main hall, today knownas the Administration Building, wasthe principal academic center for

many years. Running water and indoor toiletswere installed early in the 1900's along withelectric lights and steam heat. These improve-ments provided an additional measure of com-fort and safety for our students and made thecampus state-of-the-art.

The College's close connection with theChurch was evidenced by the Christ-centeredcurriculum, the financial support of the Collegeby the Church, and by the sharing of facilities.College Park Church held its Sunday services oncampus.

The College offered training at three levels.Those with little or no high school educationenrolled in the Academy, a preparatory school.Early curricula led to Bachelor of Arts, Bachelorof Science, or Bachelor of Philosophy degrees. Intime, additional programs were developed inbusiness, oratory, music, and education.Graduate programs were also inter-mittently offered.

The student body wasdiverse. The first graduatingclass included a woman,Elizabeth Zehring. 1901 alumnaAddie Barnaby, right, was distin-guished as the only individual tograduate in a class of one.Matajeiro Umeeda, a Japanesestudent, finished his graduatestudies in 1903 with the comple-tion of his master's thesis,

“Confucianism and Christianity.”While no formal theatre department yet

existed, Miss Nellie Binning directedShakespeare’s “As You Like It” in 1906, opposite.The cast included Fred Loew, a member of thescience faculty, and Harold Mason, a futurepresident of the College.

Academy pupil W.H. Kindell composed“Hurrah for Central” as a Christmas gift to theschool in 1910. The song celebrated the College’scommitment to “front rank” education.

The College’s proud sporting traditionbegan to take root in this era. Professor J.H.McMurray organized an athletic association in1899. Football and baseball teams practiced onthe commons west of College Avenue betweenHimes and Opal streets. Both students and fac-ulty participated in intercollegiate sports.McMurray and his colleague T.H. Gragg playedvarsity football.

A basketball team was soon organized forthe ladies of the college. Once considered

too feminine for men, the sportbecame popular for both sexes by

the 1910’s. The third floor of theCollege building was partitionedto provide a basketball court, butgames were so vigorously con-tended that this first “gym” wasclosed when concerns aroseabout the structural integrity ofthe building.

Tennis courts were built onthe east side of campus and stu-

dents took up the sport in 1915.

Hurrah for Central1900-1910

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From the earliest years,students of both sexes and allraces have represented theCollege in athletic competition.

Above, the Central College pennant asused around 1910. The pennant prominentlydisplays the initials UBC, for United BrethrenCollege. An early college yell was

U.B., U.B.,Who U.B.?I. B. CentralU. B. C. !

Left, the baseball team of 1902.

Opposite, the Central College football team of 1900.

Below, girls practicing basketball.

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The College’s early decades were event-ful. To meet the changing needs ofstudents, programs were added in

agriculture and domestic science. Ministerialpreparation was strengthened. The Collegeopened a musical conservatory and aLaboratory Training School for teachers. Thename of the institution was changed fromCentral College to the more descriptive and dis-tinctive "Huntington College."

Tuition was kept low. (The first increasecame in 1914, from $16 to $20 per semester.)Tuition and fees never met the total operatingcosts of the College. Then, as now, donor sup-port helped balance the budget and kept qualityChristian education affordable.

Fred A. Loew pioneered botanical and agri-cultural studies. He opened an agriculturalexperiment station in 1914, helped popularizethe cultivation of soybeans in the region, andlater developed a botanical garden on campus.

In her model school room on the first floorof the Administration Building, Roxy Lefforgedemonstrated how to teachseveral grades in one room.

As a coeducational insti-tution, Huntington College haslong afforded opportunitiesfor boy to meet girl. AmongHuntington’s most celebratedearly romances was thecourtship of Miss NellieBinning, professor of oratory,by Clare W. H. Bangs, thedashing young mathematics

teacher destined to become College president. Inthose days, the College limited courting to onlytwo and one-half hours on Sunday evenings(though special permission could be obtained toattend a church meeting or lecture). Clare wouldcall on Nellie in the home of Professor and Mrs.Fred Loew, where she boarded. Like the studentsthey taught, Nellie and Clare enjoyed hayrides,picnics, and long walks in the woodsy campusravine. After five years of courtship, they weremarried in 1917.

As the First World War raged in Europe,many Huntington College men enlisted in theservice of their country. A Student ArmyTraining Corps briefly operated on campus totrain non-commissioned officers, right.

“We were each presented a New Testament,given by the faculty and our fellow students,”wrote Cpl. Alfred Smith in early 1918.“Thoseverses have strengthened me in my weakestmoments... If you were to ask me what good hasmy four years at Huntington College done me inmy work in the army, I would be unable to tell

all.... I like the army life fineand am anxious to go ‘overthere.’ Let me tell you that ifwe do get over there, dependon Old Huntington Collegeboys to do their best to get theKaiser and Hindy too. Whenwe get over into Berlin we willsing...“Hoop ’er up forHuntington,”“Good nightZetas,” and “Nine Rahs forPhilos.”

Love and War1910-1920

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The natural sciences, both theoretical and applied, have long been a part of the Huntington College curriculum.Opposite at top, a turn-of-the century biology class returns from a successful outing. Opposite, experiments with corncrops in 1914. Top, girls learned “kitchen chemistry” in this 1915 cooking class. Above , an agricultural class examines live-stock. Grazing animals were regularly seen on campus for decades. A few found their way into the chapel with the aid ofsome enterprising students.

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During the 1920’s, the HuntingtonCollege curriculum underwent a sig-nificant transformation. At the

beginning of the decade, only a handful of HC's237 students were enrolled in four-year liberalarts programs. Most sought either a high schooleducation through the Academy or various two-year degrees. Over time, the Academy wasphased out, as was a two-year teacher trainingprogram. Accreditation was sought from theState Department of Education for the four-yearpreparation program for high school teachers. Afull-time librarian, Mabel McColgin, joined thestaff in 1923, illustrating the college's increasingemphasis on academic rigor. Slowly, Huntingtonevolved as an institution, becoming a distinc-tive, four-year liberal arts college.

The mission, however, remained the same.Students were taught to use their training andtheir talents to impact our world for Christ. Forexample, the Student Volunteers were organizedin 1922, its membershipconsisting of those prepar-ing for missionary service.

Others engaged inChristian service whilestill enrolled in school.Clyde Meadows (1925)pastored churches andhelped form a gospel quar-tet.“We traveled from con-ference to conference,20,000 miles in all,” hewrote in his autobiogra-

phy, In the Service of the King. “No one arrangedour schedule or paid expenses; we were on ourown. We took offerings, stayed with people, andeven bought our own car—a 1916 Model TFord.”

“One day Poodles [Titus Wilt] was drivingthe Model T during one of our trips intoMichigan. As we approached a lake, he said,‘Which way should I turn?’

“Somebody said,‘Turn to the right.’“Another said,‘Turn to the left.’“We drew closer to the lake, and Poodles

was still getting conflicting advice. He ended updriving right into the water. We fished the carout and kept going.

“It took me three years and one summer tocomplete college. When I finally left Huntingtonin 1925, I had graduated from high school,earned a college degree, found a wife, served sixcongregations, traveled across the denominationwith the college male quartet... and learned a lot

about living by faith.”Music helped students

celebrate their member-ship in the College’s com-munity of faith and learn-ing. Leora EllabargerStoudt penned the wordsto Huntington’s almamater in 1921. The follow-ing year, the lyrics wereincluded in the inauguralissue of the College’s year-book, The Mnemosyne.

Huntington College1920-1930

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A gospel quartet including Titus “Poodles” Wilt, Preston Horst, Loy Laney and Clyde Meadows traveled far and wide rep-resenting Christ and College in song, top . Through the years, the group logged thousands of miles, much of it in a 1916Model T Ford. Music has always been a vital part of the Huntington curriculum. College historian J. Ralph Pfister noted thatmore than half of the school’s first cadre of 85 students were enrolled in music courses. Both students and faculty participated in glee clubs, quartets, and the orchestra. Above, the Girl’s Glee Club of 1921. Opposite , the school’s almamater as penned in 1921 by Leora Ellabarger Stoudt.

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In the 1930’s, the College patientlyendured the Great Depression. Cash wasin such short supply that some students

bartered farm produce for their college educa-tion. Faculty members were sometimes paidwith the same.

“None of us had any money. I delivered milkfor the college to help pay my tuition,” remem-bered Ralph Davis (1939).“Each morning I’ddrive out past Roanoke and back.”

Despite their own financial hardships,College students and personnel continued toserve others.

In 1934, students organized the GospelVolunteers. The Volunteers ministered in jails,provided Christian literature to the armedforces, and sponsored noon prayer services andweekly devotionals on campus. When revivalservices at College Park Church were jeopar-dized by illness in the pastor’s family, theVolunteers supplied preachers and musicians tofinish the meetings.

In 1935, the College sponsored its first A Cappella Choir tour. The group ministered insong throughout the eastern United States.

The emphasis on Christianservice did not detract fromthe College’s commit-ment to academicrigor. Students werewell prepared tomake meaningfulcontributions intheir chosen fields.

“I hadn’t had

high school chemistry, and Dr. Black’s chemistrycourses were quite a challenge,” recalled Davis.“Dr. Black had worked in steel mills and he gaveus some idea of what industry was like. We did agreat deal of chemical analysis.”

“Huntington College gave me a good back-ground in physical and analytical chemistry,which was exactly what Dow needed, especiallywhen the war broke out,” he added. Davis spentmore than 40 years with Dow Chemical, makingsignificant discoveries in halogen chemistry andearning 85 national and international patents.

Freshman initiation became a rite of pas-sage for new students, opposite. The fallhayride became an established annual tradition.

In the 1930’s, the College and its surround-ing community formed a stronger bond. JacobBrenn, the Polish-born chemist and visionaryleader of Huntington Labs, spearheaded aneffort to create a formal link between "town andgown." In 1938, Brenn and eight other localbusiness leaders, none of whom were Collegealumni nor United Brethren church members,organized the Huntington College Foundation.They praised the College's "development of wor-

thy citizens with high moraland ethical standards," and

began garnering localfinancial support forthe College. TheFoundation under-wrote scholarships forlocal students. Later, ithelped fund severalcampus facilities.

Trying Times1930-1940

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Paying their dues . New students had to endure theordeals of Freshman Initiation Day. Some students wererequired to carry the books of upperclassmen. Otherswere given unusual objects to carry about, or compelledto complete bizarre tasks. Scenes here were pho-tographed October 1, 1929. Above, Marjorie Wood andher fishing pole. Right, Harold Berringer and HerbertKnapp polish the steps. Below, Dwight Chambers haulsGlen Betterly to school in a three-wheeled wagon. Laterinitiates were required to wear ridiculous beanie hats.

Students who persisted through this good-natured abusewere rewarded by a traditional fall hayrack ride, oppositeat top. Students organized the annual social event, whichwould frequently end with a bonfire and cookout.

The choir began touring in the 1930’s. Students sang invarious churches and denominational meetings. The tourgroup posed for the photo opposite in Montgomery,Michigan, in 1935.

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In the 1940’s, enrollment decreased asthe nation was again embroiled in aworld conflagration. The 1945

Mnemosyne listed the names of more than 150Huntington College men and women whoanswered their country’s call to service. DalePence, opposite, was among those wounded.Thirteen lost their lives: J. Robert Adams, PaulBouman, Ralph Eltzroth, Paul Landrigan,Willard McIlrath, Samuel Pierson, RobertRoudebush, Jack Roush, Joe Siedenberg, HaroldSmith, Wayne Stetler, Olen Vincent, and RichardZahm. After the war, students purchased a newchapel organ and dedicated it to their memory.

In the spring of 1946, a young coed wrote aletter to a friend. The letter, later published inthe Mnemosyne, chronicled the impact of thewar years upon the school.

“There are only a few of us left to graduatefrom that large group of ‘greenies,’” she wrote.“Remember what a grand class we had? Theycame from all over the United States—Pa.,Miss., Ohio, Va., Mich., Ill., Ind., Wash.—wedrew them from coast to coast.How ‘green’ we were for awhilethat year.... Everything was verynew and very different, and forawhile we were at a loss; butremember how well Clayt[Barker], our president, steered usthrough the rough places?

“However, in the spring largenumbers of our male memberswere called into the service and by

the end of the year, we knew our Soph yearwould find our ranks greatly depleted, which isexactly what happened. Nearly all the men weregone into the service and some of the womendecided married life was preferable to school....

“Our Junior year found our ranks moredepleted than ever and a year of more workahead of us. Now we were upper classmen, peo-ple to be looked up to at last. How hard weworked at the Junior penny suppers and whatfun we had afterwards.... We enjoyed preparingfor our Jr.-Sr. Reception as much as participat-ing in it. But we were saddened to hear so muchbad news from our friends in the service and ofthe death of our President. On the other hand,we were gladdened to hear the good news fromthe European front.

“Then came our Senior year. A great manyof the faces from our Frosh class were missingnow and ours was a tiny class [of 9]. But weinherited a few of the many veterans who hadreturned and we sailed valiantly on. We startedthe year with renewed vigor. The war was over,

our minds rested easier. It waswith a note of sadness that wewould say ‘This is our last HayrackRide, our last ThanksgivingBanquet, our last WashingtonBanquet.’ And often we wished forour old gang.

“But now we are ready to facelife in its larger aspects and as wego, we will remember H.C. with aspot of tenderness in our hearts.”

Serving God and Country1940-1950

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Many Huntington men served in the Armed Forces, including these above: Carl Plasterer, Dale Pence, Milton Schumm,Carl Zurcher, Robert Diffenbaugh, Jack Roush, Richard Klopfenstein.

Young ladies of the College found a home in Livingston Hall, below and opposite. Marian Brott (1949) recalls eveningdevotions: “We came in housecoats, hair in pin curls, to fellowship together. We took turns in leading devotions as we sataround the edge of the room on the rug. Also, we listened at times when Miss [Irene] Bergdall very kindly pointed out theerror of some of our ways.” Another vivid memory was a “contest at springtime between fellows and girls to see whichgroup could secretly build a fire on campus and eat a bit of breakfast. It was to be done at the exact hour when Springarrived -- even if that meant 3:45 a.m. My main memory of those times was of crawling out one of the large front livingroom windows at Livingston Hall, while the fellows tried to keep us inside. One year the fellows stole our coffee!”

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Huntington College instilled a strongwork ethic, and the campus commu-nity tenaciously pursued worthy

goals. The tireless efforts of athletic directorDick Klopfenstein (1948) offer a compellingexample. During more than 30 years of service,he spearheaded the formation of the Mid-Central Conference, raised funds for new athlet-ic facilities, expanded the number of varsitysports from two to eleven, and personallycoached five sports.

Huntington College had celebrated itsGolden Anniversary in 1947 as an unaccreditedinstitution of higher learning. Without theimprimatur of any regional accrediting body,the College had nonetheless produced manyremarkable and highly successful alumni—dis-tinguished scientists, outstanding educators,college presidents, and one future member ofCongress.

The lack of regional accreditation, however,hindered efforts to recruit students and raisefunds. To overcome these difficulties,Huntington College sought membership in theNorth Central Association of Colleges andSchools.

President ElmerBecker had proposed seek-ing accreditation as earlyas 1941, but the war yearsdelayed efforts to preparethe exhaustive self-studydocuments required.Further, College officialsknew that a better library

and upgraded laboratory facilities would berequired by the North Central Association.

The partly-finished Loew-Alumni Libraryopened in 1953. Students and faculty helpedmove thousands of volumes from the old libraryin the Administration Building, opposite.Volunteers scoured the neighborhood askingresidents to save loose change to help theCollege complete the new facility. The library’sdedication in 1959 inched the College closer toaccreditation.

A mission statement, manual of operations,and other related reports were submitted to theNorth Central Association, and an examinationteam was invited to visit campus.

After reviewing the documents and thereport of visitation team, the accrediting bodydeferred action. Neither accepting nor rejectingHuntington College, the Association requested asupplemental report and another campusreview after two years.

The disappointment was crushing, but theCollege leadership rose to the challenge. Planswere made for a new J.L. Brenn Hall of Science,aptly named for the founder of the Huntington

College Foundation whichhad helped fund both thelibrary and the new sci-ence facility.

Two years passed, andanother examination teamvisited campus in 1960-61.The entire campus anxiously awaited theAssociation’s decision.

Hitting the Mark1950-1960

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Rites of Spring. Students helped spruce up the campus every year on Clean Up Day, above.The Garden Day Queen and her court, opposite at top, were annually honored in the Fred A.Loew Botanical Garden. Senior Skip Day, opposite, though not officially recognized by theCollege administration, was nonetheless an important springtime tradition—and an occasionfor freshmen to frame the absent upperclassmen for campus mischief.

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On Monday morning, June 26, 1961,sometime after 9:00, the phone rangin the President’s Office.“We all came

out of our offices, moving toward the businessmanager’s office as if someone had screamed forhelp,” recalls Dr. Carl Zurcher. Mr. Riebeappeared in the doorway with phone in hand.He did something I never understood and henever explained. He motioned frantically for meto come and take the call.

“At the other end of the line was the warm,cordial voice of a young man, congratulatingHuntington College on having become a mem-ber of the North Central Association of Collegesand Schools.”

“I controlled the exuberance explodinginside me with a calm, business-like air, stayingon the line long enough to be assured we wouldreceive written confirmation of the decision andto gain permission to make the news public. Ithanked him effusively and hung up, preparedto share the good news. What I didn’t know wasthat a secretary had positioned herself so shecould see my face. Longbefore I hung up, shewas down the corridorsannouncing,‘We’re in!We’ve been accredited!’”

“Someone thoughtwe ought to ring theCollege bell, so someonedid. There would beplenty of time to explainto the bewildered com-

munity why the bell was ringing at 10:00 a.m.on Monday in mid-summer. No, the building isnot on fire. We are just celebrating a gloriousmilestone in the life of the College.”

President Elmer Becker was out of town atthe time. Professor Bob Hale recalls Becker’ssurprise when he returned to find the entire fac-ulty and staff enjoying a picnic on the presi-dent’s lawn, and only then learned of themomentous announcement!

Accreditation opened new doors of oppor-tunity. The College could attract more students,better faculty, and greater financial resources.Rather than hindering its mission, accreditationhelped Huntington College continue to pursueboth academic rigor and spiritual vitality.

The Brenn Hall of Science was dedicated in1963, making possible significant enhancementsof the science curriculum. Other new facilities—residence halls, the Huntington UnionBuilding, athletic facilities, and Lake Sno-Tip—also changed the face of the campus.

The Gospel Volunteers evolved intoCollegiate Challenge in1968. The student groupprovided leadership to avariety of communityservice projects. In thesame era, ChristianService Teams traveledup to three weekendseach month sharingChrist through musicministry.

Coming of Age1960-1970

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A transformation took place in the chemistry program under the guidance of alumnus Jim Howald, above at left. “When Ireturned to Huntington to join the faculty,” he quips, “the most expensive piece of equipment we owned was a Bunsenburner.” Gradually, the science program developed, boosted by the completion of the Brenn Hall of Science — and ColdWar superpower rivalries.

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On the move. Huntington students participated in activities both silly and seri-ous. The 1966 Derby Days, opposite at top, included a trike race. Backers ofCarol Uozumi’s candidacy for Homecoming Queen staged a walk-a-thon,center , in 1961. Students helped alumnus Ed Roush win eight terms inCongress. One of them, Cal Hawkins, at center below, later ran for office on theRepublican ticket.

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“The spiritual and intellectualstrength which HuntingtonCollege has imparted to its stu-

dents has enriched their personal lives andenlarged their capacity to serve our country,”wrote President Richard Nixon in March, 1972.“As it reaches its three-quarter century mark, Iwarmly applaud its steadfast commitment toeducational progress and to the highest moralprinciples. I wish its faculty, students and grad-uates every success in the challenging decadesahead.”

These words, penned on the eve of a nation-al ethical crisis, today may seem tinged withirony. Yet, in that tumultuous era, HuntingtonCollege offered something distinctively differ-ent: higher education still founded upon “a vitalevangelical Christian faith.”

According to the 1972 Bulletin, HuntingtonCollege sought to graduate men and womenwho “will not be content with an unthinkingacceptance of the status quo,” but who would beprepared for a “meaningful role in the contem-porary world” through an understanding ofthe “Christian conception of manand the universe.”Enrollment peaked inthe 1970’s as greaternumbers of studentssought the meaning-ful educationHuntington Collegecould provide.

In the years fol-lowing its 75th

anniversary, Huntington College achieved manymilestones. Academic programs continued to bestrengthened. In 1971, Huntington College wasadmitted to membership by the AssociatedColleges of Indiana. The College was reaccredit-ed in 1974 and 1979. During this time, theTheological Seminary evolved into the GraduateSchool of Christian Ministries. Future vice pres-ident Dan Quayle served as a trustee and anadjunct member of the faculty.

In athletics, basketball standout Steve Plattled the nation in collegiate scoring two yearsrunning. His career point total (3700) is still anIndiana record.

The Student Union sponsored a Walk-a-thon in 1971 to help raise needed funds for theCollege. Students, faculty, alumni, and friendswalked 25 miles between Fort Wayne andHuntington, raising $22,000 to help balance thebudget. The following year, walkers raised$26,000. In the late 1970’s, students’ fund-raising efforts underwrote construction of theStudent Venture Auditorium.

Also in the 1970’s, the College received itsfirst gift from Orville and Ruth

Merillat— one milliondollars for a new athlet-ic complex, the largestsingle gift ever receivedby the College, and thefirst of many generousMerillat gifts that wouldtransform the campus.

Where Character and Culture Blend1970-1980

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Top, freshman initiates turn the tables on their upperclass tormentors.

Above, the deputation team, Truth Unlimited. “For two years, we traveled coast to coast and in Canada, visiting nearlyevery existing United Brethren church and summer camp,” remembers Kyan Stouder Renner (1976). “We even took ourfirst J-term to sing and minister all the way to California and back. It was amazing to imagine that we were actually get-ting college credit for having so much fun! I learned a great deal about myself, about relationships, about what it meansto give back to God a fraction of what He has given to me, and about the unimaginable rewards in honoring Him with thetalents that He has bestowed.”

Opposite , Steve Platt goes up for two. He still holds Indiana’s collegiate career scoring record. He returned to coach theForesters in 1994.

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During the 1980’s, the campus wastransformed as 17 facilities werebuilt or significantly remodeled.

Among these improvements were the RichLynLibrary, the Merillat Complex for PhysicalEducation and Recreation, Loew Center,Habecker Dining Commons, and the MerillatCentre for the Arts.

The near-constant construction providedmany distractions from studies: noise anddebris; heavy equipment and working men;closed streets and relocated parking lots; newlibrary stacks to navigate and classrooms tofind. Yet students took it all in stride.

“Now the campus is challenged to makethese new structures offer growth: in new hori-zons, in new concepts, in new discoveries, andin new perceptions,” opined the Mnemosyne edi-tors in 1989.“The entire campus community isaware that ‘unless the Lord build the house, theylabor in vain who build it,’ and so the brick andsteel structures provide opportunities to laborin lasting values, to restore dignity to the humanpersonality, and to entertain presuppositionsthat construct a Christological world view.”

As time-honored build-ings were renovated orrazed and new campusfacilities were erected —one nearly every semesterthroughout the decade—students and facultyremained committed to theChristian service and faith-centered curriculum that

had defined Huntington College for generations.“The Christian Life Emphasis Weeks always

had a huge impact on my spiritual growth,” saidShirley Allen (1984).“So many Christian peoplesaw the potential in me and took time to disci-ple and encourage.”

Students “put feet to their faith.” The soccerteam spent January Term 1987 in Sierre Leone,competing against African teams, buildingfriendships, and sharing Christ. Later, studentswent to Jamaica to repair hurricane-ravagedchurches, conduct worship services, and witnessthrough mime, music, and skits. Closer to home,students served the Huntington community byclearing trails and removing debris from localparks and reservoirs.

Academic programs were broadened anddeepened.“Faculty have always been a strengthof the College,” said academic dean Gerald D.Smith (1964),“and in the 1980’s we made someadditional very strong faculty appointments.This, along with an aggressive faculty develop-ment program, moved Huntington to the fore-front of Christian colleges in credentialed faculty.”

Athletic teamsachieved a new level ofcompetitive excellence.The Lady Forestersbrought home NCCAAnational championshipsin volleyball and basket-ball. The women's trackteam won four nationalchampionships in a row.

Renaissance1980-1990

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Students of the eighties continuedwith “college life as usual” in spite ofdramatic changes to the face of thecampus. Homecoming queen candi-dates, right, still eagerly awaitedthe results of secret polling.

A Hard Hat Concert, above,opened the Merillat Centre for theArts, building upon a long-estab-lished college commitment to theperforming arts.

Collegium Musicum, opposite, con-tinued to perform in traditional cos-tume with authentic period instru-ments. Their annual Boar’s HeadFestival was a winter tradition ofmany years.

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Today, Huntington College continues topursue its mission in Christian highereducation: “to educate men and

women to impact our world for Christ.”Academic programs are being continuallyimproved, technological resources are expand-ing, and the campus remains spiritually vibrantand student-focused.

“Huntington College is, and always hasbeen, a Christian college,” says President G. BlairDowden.“Over the course of this century, ourname has changed, our curriculum haschanged, and our students have changed. Yet, weremain today—at our core—the sameChristian college that was begun 100 years ago.We are of one mind with our founders. Ourfoundation is the biblical Christian faith. Ourcornerstone is Christ.”

To open the College’s year-long centennialcelebration, the campus community set aside anafternoon to acknowledge that it is Christ thathas upheld Huntington College, much as thenurturing vine sustains a fruitfulbranch. They publicly thankedGod for hearing and answeringthe dedication prayer of MiltonWright (page 4), and so manyother prayers since. Faculty, staffand students rededicated them-selves to Huntington College’shigh calling in Christian highereducation. Finally, 100 centennialmedallions were bestowed uponindividuals recognized as repre-

sentatives of all who have been touched byHuntington College and who have left indeliblethumbprints upon the institution, opposite.

The centennial celebration finds HuntingtonCollege receiving increasing academic recogni-tion and public acclaim. US News and WorldReport has repeatedly ranked Huntington in thetop quartile of Midwestern liberal arts schools.The John Templeton Foundation namedHuntington to its Honor Roll of Character-Building Colleges. Individual academic pro-grams have also been recognized. On its firstapplication, the Education Department receivedaccreditation from the National Council for theAccreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) .

In April, 1996, the Board of Trustees tookaction on two items that will change the face ofHuntington College for years to come. First, theBoard unanimously endorsed a visionaryFacilities Master Plan to guide the physicaldevelopment of the campus. Second, the Boardendorsed a Strategic Long-Range Plan for 1996-

2000. Both of these actions willhave long-term impact on theways in which HuntingtonCollege pursues its mission.

The Facilities Master Planwas prompted by Huntington’ssignificant enrollment growthover the past several years. In theFall of 1995, for example,Huntington saw a 51% increasein its freshman class, makingHuntington College one of the

Impacting our World for Christ1990-1997

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Serving Christ and His creation. In 1991, the campus opened the Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service. This student-led organization mobilizes the campus for Christian service in the community and around the world. Working with Habitatfor Humanity, opposite, students raised funds and provided manual labor to build a decent home for a needy Huntingtonfamily. A Haitian orphan, Guerline Espoire, above, received life-saving medical treatment thanks to the efforts of a JanuaryTerm mission group. Students serving in Uganda, below, dug irrigation ditches, delivered supplies to orphanages, andshared the Gospel through skits and testimony. In 1995-96, nearly 70% of the student body participated in Joe MertzCenter programs. Faculty, staff, and students contributed more than 10,500 hours of volunteer service.

fastest growing schools in the Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities that year. The Collegeplans to enroll 1000 by the end of the decade, and the Facilities Master Plan will help the schoolaccommodate the larger student body. New instructional buildings will also enable faculty to betterincorporate advanced technology into the curriculum.

The changes, however, will not all be physical improvements to our campus. There are importantchanges to be made in the ways in which Huntington College pursues its mission. The strategic ini-tiatives adopted by the Board of Trustees provide a blueprint for these changes. Initiatives includepursuing excellence and innovation in the preparation of students, nurturing spiritual maturity andservice to others, using technology effectively, maintaining the endowment and physical assets, andbecoming a Christian liberal arts college of 1000 students recognized for these pursuits.

“These are ambitious goals,” says President Dowden,“but with God’s help and the support or ouralumni and friends, we will see Huntington College enter its second century in strength.”

As Huntington College prepares for its next 100 years of service in Christian higher education,the campus community remains committed to its founding mission. Today, as in 1897, the goal ofHuntington College is to provide a high quality, Christ-centered education that equips men andwomen to impact our world for Christ.

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Academic excellence and spiritual vitality continue to be the twin goals of the Huntington curriculum. Students areencouraged to use their God-given talents and college training to “impact our world for Christ.” For example, theatre stu-dents have served as “fishers of men” by performing with Live Bait, above , or Doc Rainbow’s Colorful All-Star Revue.Building on traditions dating from the 1920’s, today’s music students have ministered through Gospel quartets, rock bands,or deputized teams such as “One Voice.” In all, students and faculty relentlessly pursue excellence. The Concert Choir’s1997 spring tour, for example, included a performance at Carnegie Hall.

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