West Virginia Wesleyan College - Murmurmontis Yearbook (Buckhannon, WV)

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Table of Contents ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF Classes Dedication FALL Organizations School Life Sports WINTER Organizations Publications Sports SPRING Organizations Residences Sports SUMMER Campus Life Organizations Sports page three

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Introducing dob Cat WHO WILL LEAD YOU DOWN MEMORY LANE IN THE SUNNY HOURS OF FALL, WINTER, SPRING. AND SUMMER AT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEY AN IN 1950

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dBdICATEd To Wes eyan ' s friend To a distinguished West Virginian — a great pioneer and builder — whose out- standing achievements in the fields of in- dustry, citizenship and Christian education, have brought honor to his native state, the 1950 Murmurmontis is dedicated. Michael Late Benedum. whom the Christian Advocate called the nation ' s leading Methodist layman, was born in Bridgeport. Harrison County, on July 16. 1869. When he was fourteen years of age, he went to work for twenty-five dollars a month in a grist mill in his home com- munity. Ten years later he was assistant general land agent of the South Penn Oil Company, and by the time he was thirty he was the leading independent oil producer of West Virginia. Before he was fifty, he had dis- covered and developed many of the largest oil fields in America, as well as in Mexico. South America and Roumania, and had at- tained recognition as the nation ' s foremost petroleum pioneer. Although Mr. Benedum is today known throughout the world as the most successful oil pioneer in history, the great- est measure of his devotion and service has been to the church and to his fellow man. He has been identified with Methodism since childhood, and has demonstrated a particular interest in the work of West Vir- ginia Wesleyan College. His wise counsel has been extremely helpful in the rapid and sound development of the institution. Through his discovery and develop- ment of oil fields throughout the world. Mr. Benedum has added untold billions or dollars to the national wealth of America and to that of other nations. At the age of 80. he still actively direcis a far-flung oil empire that includes several corporations engaged in the production, re- fining, transportation and distribution of crude oil and petroleum products. With be- coming modesty, however, he is an officer and director of only one of the many cor- porate enterprises which he controls. At the same time he carries on his mani- fold business activities, his alert mind is deeply concerned with the forward march of Christianity which he regards as the last bulwark against Communism and all other expressions of Godless materialism. In recognition of his remarkable achievements and in particular appreciation of his outstanding contribution to Metho- dism and to all Christian institutions, we are pleased to dedicate the 1950 Murmur- montis to this distinguished West Virginian and great American.