Bryan College - Commoner Yearbook (Dayton, TN)

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The Making of the Presidents 1930-1980 George E. Guille (1930-1931)-Bryan University chose as its first president, George E. Guille. Although not a semi- nan graduate, Guille with two honor- ary degrees of Doctor of Divinity, held pastorates in several Presbyterian churches and was on the extension staff of Moody Bible Institute for fifteen years. Dr. Guille assumed administrative and Bible-teaching positions at Bryan in 1930. He died suddenly in November of 1931 after a little more than a year as president. Malcolm W. Lockhart (1931-1933)-After Dr. Guille ' s death, vice-president Mal- colm Lockhart reluctantly accepted the office as president, preferring to remain in promotion and fundraising for the college, with which he had been associ- ated from 1926 as the first employee of the Bryan Memorial Association. Be- cause of ill health brought on by ten- sions created by the continuing national economic depression, after two years Dr. Lockhart was advised by his physi- cian to give up the presidency. He died in 1940. Judson A. Rudd (1933-1955)-Few men are as responsible for the growth and es- tablishment of Bryan University as its third president, Judson A. Rudd. Dr. Rudd came to Bryan from Colorado in 1931 after holding teaching positions in Texas and Alabama. The former mathematics professor ' s presidency spanned times of unrest, depression, and war. Yet Bryan survived these years and prospered during his administration. Rudd sought counseling in public rela- tions, fundraising, and building pro- grams, to bring about the final com- pletion of the main administration building. But poor health forced Rudd to resign in 1955 after twenty-four years of service to Bryan. Actively serving Bryan until his death in 1970, Rudd was the viable moving force behind the school ' s success for over two decades. Theodore C. Mercer (1956- ) The epitome of the spirit of Bryan College is its current president, Dr. T.C. Mercer. Born and raised in nearby Spring City, Dr. Mercer, majoring in religion and English, was educated at Bob Jones University and the University of Chi- cago. At Bob Jones, Dr. Mercer served in teaching and administrative capaci- ties. Immediately prior to coming to Bryan, he was on the administrative staff of Muskingum College, New Con- cord, Ohio. Dr. Mercer became president of Bryan in 1956. Well acquainted with the area and school, Mercer immediately im- proved town-college relations with his warmth and smile and by a record of service in community organizations. During his administration, Bryan has built three new dorms, a gymnasium, and a fine arts complex and has reno- vated all areas of the main building. With his ever-present sincerity, friend- liness, and leadership, Bryan continues to prosper and grow in the Lord. 4+ • ' fett M BL HbB B i j mJ M 11 ' %4 L tf, w. jfcp lli Presidents

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The Presidents CHRIST ABOVE ALL 1. Dr. George E. Guille. 2. Dr. Malcolm W. Lockhart. 3. Dr. Rudd at work in office. 4. Dr. Rudd and Emily McMurry Owensby ' 37 confer- ring on business courses. 5. Dr. Rudd in aca- demic regalia at an early commencement exer- cise. 6. Dr. Rudd, Mrs. Rudd, and Dr. Mercer at graduation in 1966. 7. Dr. Mercer, leading one of his many meetings by making one of his many speeches. 8. Dr. Mercer, presiding at graduation. 28 The Presidents

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CHRIST ABOVE ALL Robert Andrews-1967 William Bauer-1978 Mayme Bedford-1965 Steve Bradshaw-1975 Constance Branson-1979 Brian Chapman-1980 Robert Conrad-1975 Richard Cornelius-1955 Karin deRosset-1964 Wayne Dixon-1964 Kenneth Froemke-1968 Barbara Howard-1973 Kent Juillard-1962 Delura Kindsfather-1979 Kathy Levengood-1978 David Mercer-1976 Joel Pearman-1971 Lynne Peterson-1972 Rebecca Peck-1940 Mary Frances Rudd-1967 Joseph Runyon-1978 Zelpha Russell-1938 Walter Seera-1968 Virginia Seguine-1954 David Shaver-1979 Charles Taylor-1979 Jeffrey Tubbs-1975 Alan Winkler-1960 David Wright-1974 Kermit Zopfi-1950 Bryan College has long had a reputation for excellence. Several members of the administration, faculty, and staff who once attended Bryan have attempted to uphold and promote that standard in their careers here at the school. Filling positions here from dean of men or women, to head resident of a dorm, to loan clerk, to assistant chef, these Bryan graduates display persistent deter- mination to do their jobs with a genu- ine concern for inter-college commu- nity relations, and love for their alma mater and Lord. The majority of those returning enter the teaching, coaching, and administrative realms, but others have returned as mail clerks, main- tenance men, or freshman counselors. Most college graduates tend to seek conventional jobs-doctors, pastors, housewives. But then again, Bryan graduates are rather unconventional. .For these thirty, once at Bryan was not enough. 30 Returning Faculty