Ouachita Baptist College - Ouachitonian Yearbook (Arkadelphia, AR)

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Hisforical Skefclfn Ouachita College developed as a result of the work of Baptist leaders in Arkansas, who for many years had been in most thorough sympathy with the efforts of American Baptists to found and maintain colleges where learning and religion might be developed in symmetrical unity. In the year 1886, when Ouachita College was founded, the Baptists of Arkansas were neither rich nor numerous, but they believed in Christian education, and they had the courage of their convictions. After the Baptist State Convention had year after year expressed its purpose to establish a Baptist College in Arkansas and had kept an Educational Committee working upon the problem, finally, at the Convention at Hope, November, 1885, the Commission submitted a report which contained the following: The Commission recommended to the Convention the propriety of electing at this session of the body fifteen wise and prudent brethren as a Board of Trustees, five of whom shall be a quorum, and this board shall have the power of self-perpetuation, and it shall be a body politic having under its control the absolute management of the school for the Convention. It shall be the duty of this Board of Trustees to report to the Convention at its annual session the material progress, financial conditions and working of the school. The report was adopted and the following board elected: P. Eagles, A. B. Miller, B. R. Womack, A. Kincaid, B. Searcy, A. W. Fawcett, M. Hart, Dunnigan, H. K. Brantley, C. D. Wood, W. E. Atkin- son, M. F. Locke, V. B. Izard, W. A. Sayle, and A. YV. Files. The Board of Trustees met in Little Rock, December 24, 1885, and considered bids for the location of the college. At the same meeting Arkadelphia was chosen as the location, and Dr. W. Conger, an alumnus of Southwestern Baptist University, was chosen president. The college began its first session September 6, 1886, in the old Blind Institute building, which had been refitted and equipped for this purpose. This building was later destroyed by fire. New buildings have been added as the need for them became imperative. There are now twelve buildings on our campus. Dr. W. Conger, the first President of Ouachita College, served in this capacity for twenty-one years. He gave his heart wholly to the college, and much of the present prestige and power of the institution is due to his untiring efforts. He was succeeded by Dr. H. S. Hartzog, who was formerly President of the University of Arkansas, in 1907. In February, 1911, Dr. Hartzog resigned, and in March, 1911, Dr. R. G. Bowers, an alum- nus of the college, was chosen as President. After two years of faithful service, he resigned to return to the pastorate. Dr. S. Jamison was elected President of Ouachita in June, 1913, and served until january 1, 1916. It was during his administration that indebtedn ess amounting to over 865,000.00 was liquidated. Pro- fessor H. I.. 1VlcA1ister, Dean of the College, served as chief administrative officer until the close of the school year, June, 1916. Dr. Charles E. Dicken was elected President of the College, January 20, 1916, and assumed active control of its affairs in June, 1916. On August 4, 1925, Dr. Dicken resigned, his resignation to take effect June 1, 1926. In April, 1926, A. B. Hill, an alumnus of Ouachita, and at the time of his election State Superinten- dent of Public Instruction, was elected President and served three years. During this time Ouachita was ad- mitted to the North Central Association of Colleges anrl Secondary Schools. On june 29, 1929, following the resignation of Mr. Hill in April, Dr. Charles D. johnson, for six years a member of the Baylor University fac- ulty, was elected President. On April 10, 1933, Dr. Johnson resigned the presidency, effective July 1, 1933, and Dr. R. Grant, Vice-President, was named to have charge of the administration of affairs for the 1933-34 ses- sion. On January 30, 1934, he was elected President of the institution. Ouachita College now has more than S500,000.00 endowment. Christian men and women are realizing more than ever that contributions to Christian Education are most effective both in developing civilization and in advancing the build-up of the kingdom of God. In June, 1916, Mrs. Florence Wilson bequeathed to Ouach- ita ,821,000.00 for permanent endowment. She was the Widow of the late W. Wilson, who was a Ouachita student and afterwards a very generous member of the Board of Trustees. He himself left 510,000.00 to his alma mater. In October, 1918, Dr. C. Wallis, bequeathed to the college 830,000.00 for endowment. The College Dining Hall was completed in 1920, and the Cone-Bottoms Hall, an excellent fireproof dorm- itory for women, was completed in 1923. At the present time there is a great need of more endowment and a very urgent need for some new buildings. However, Ouachita is unquestionably in a period of great useful- ness.

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IU VUGVUQQIQVH 1.54.93-ak? '+g'H'ri.?+'Nb'- ff 1 Xjfr y f V2 ff fbgrifiyi f4 f'Q.5.li' X X I f , ' l ,l IA Xu! X i' X if at in be ,J f- i - ' W- ' ,X ' 1 fi 1 V . if X . 'X sf if 1 i w W ae . wi X' XX i f! FX X Yr xi '- .M A , 'ey ,lfl g.,,X, V ,Xu r fat. N it t if U X r n! AT+3 Y, :Mr A . ggi Il 24 Qi it K- W, ' lf Fi ,I King c X M, fx ' 7 l f V X' 5 Ifyl f , f l' i al X A X Hp1XX Jf X,XX fi EW it f f ffl t XVYJ wk J, -X!! .X.X vi I g 1' Qc ,f -If gf, X C+ Q15 Q .X I 1 ' lin . f' kk ,W ill 4 ,I M new .M ff 1 ,JC V '?'filfff' fh JOHN W. CONGER Q55 ,X F t ml 1857 1924 w le W X J 'lil - X - K Lx 1 L Q K X ii5'zf? f V in I7 ir!'l'6s' We if fr ' 6 is ' f V A fi 1 ,w FOUNDER OF OUACI-HTA COLLEGE 'Z JC Q? A L36 CRD' M? K mv ti f' ilii'llAVi ------- ,Y ,yy f 4 ', 15'uv',X 45 gi 352 uffzjj uv Slwf XX? I 'i a 4 'X 91. wt ' On December 24, 1885, Dr. W. Conver, an Lqiivs Y ' 1 ':1H'll,-l' lfl C' '22 . if -5 i , . . . 5' 'QW l' I, XIX LL 33311, JX' alumnus of Southwestern Baptist University, was X X 1 A XXX X Y J chosen as the first President of Ouachita College I ,Q 1 ,Syl XX 'iX lll:'5i P li' ff . . -L 47? A X I X1 ,A 'VV I A by the Board of Trustees. He served in this ca- f -2 Xl t , ' Agfa 'X . . . fo 1 N ff' L yi l 5 pacity for twenty-one years. This man gave his AQN xx 4 F1 N M heart wholly to the college, and much of the pres- fg?,i,iRXXXljERiXXXUXTEXXFJXXMMJHMXXF In XWX ent prestige and power of the institution is clue to MXL -Q his untiring efforts. r f pf' ! , Na 'i 1! 'l . !' if fxriwlwiii -'ll TW ls 'gi' xi V ' , . ll iXrJ,::n.vwv.ai.re AM L .5 91 It is both fitting and proper that we, on the WKXTXF Xiu, gmc. 't occasion of our Fiftieth Anniversary, pause to pay lf '-I f I , X9 ' K, A we is mg' 'Q' l , M If M4 LJ Mmm yf-.Nn.vmwf is tribute to the man who meant so much to the col- . ,X 1- W QM' ,yr - X ',,X,,I Am, -' 1 W - -r , x ' ' -..,'f of ' ,aa a - lege during the first half of its life. His spirit, his V ,mam 7 2 A - In , work, and his influence will remain a part of 5i,?:?g i7ZL? f14f,a,,, Xff-,Z X cf- 'W ' ...lid L 4 -,WY kg f Msg- 1-v . a , Ja Ouachita in future years.

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Y i I l X l E i l V l 1 i To the Students of Ouachita College, Arlcadelphia, Arkansas. Dear friends: You are in the race for success. All your friends are voting for you but their efforts without yours amount to little. Whether you win or lose in this race, depends on your own vote. Your parents, the faculty, and the trustees of Ouachita College, are united in their aim and effort to help you Live a better life for the Master, Earn a better living for yourselves, and Make a better world for us all. We apppreciate the good part you have played in building a better Ouachita and increasing the enroll- ment to 500. As you leave this sacred spot to talce your places in a busy world, your opportunities to help will increase. We would not exchange the love, loyalty and support of the alumni for a million dollar endowment. We are this year celebrating Ouachita's semi-centennial. We rejoice in her past. We are proud of her present. If we continue to put first things first, Ouachitais future is bright. Ir is my prediction that when you return twenty-five years from now to celebrate your Alma Materis seventy-fifth anniversary, you will find six new fire-proof buildings, 65 members on the faculty, 1,000 students enrolled, 140 graduating with their Bachelor's degree, fifteen with their Nlasteris degree, soine thrilling boat races on Ouachita river, and a two million dollar endowment. Sincerely yours, J. R. GRANT, President.