Coker College - Milestone Yearbook (Hartsville, SC)

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12 MISS HELEN MILLS, Dean of Women; DR. KENNETH G. KUEH- NER, Dean of Students; MRS. LOUISE M. HANKINS, Secretary. We had our first introduction to Dr. Kuehner on that hectic day of registration. Perhaps we were sur- prised to see a dean working with the teachers in advising and registering students; thus our previously formed con- ception of a dean was altered. Our second encounter with the dean’s office came a few days later. We paused outside to muster up courage before entering with a schedule hopelessly confused or a registration card that must be changed. Miss Hankins’ smile reassured us, how- ever, and before we realized it we were talking easily to Dr. Kuehner about our problem. We here discovered other characteristics of our dean—patience with our in- terruptions and our indecision, an unselfish giving of his time, an interest in students as individuals. Yet there was so much more to learn about this scholarly, versatile, unassuming man before we could really know him. How can we forget that first of many tradi- tional chapel talks by Dr. Kuehner? Upper classmen sat in delightful anticipation while freshmen wondered . . . wondered, until we all enjoyed his slow drawl and dry wit, and laughed at the tales of Tilly. But the morals of Tilly’s adventures and the wisdom of Dr. Kuehner’s “old hat on a peg” were not lost. The importance of the position, but impressive title of “Dean of Students” is comprised of many unimpressive, yet mecessary duties and of the man who performs them. ee A ee

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One need not talk long with Dr. Barry before he is assured that our president has developed a sense of mis- sion about Coker, that he has realized what she has to offer, and has visualized how to offer it. Perhaps it is partly Dr. Barry’s philosophy of life that has endeared him to us. “Believe in people,” he tells us. “Magnify the positive, and you will soon lose sight of the negative. Be guided by admirations rather than disgusts.” Dr. Barrygives of himself. At the crossroads where the markers are blurred and the paint peeling, he is not satisfied with merely pointing out the way, he takes your hand and guides you. Yes, CHARACTER IS WHAT YOU GIVE—and he is a giver of self for others. Napoleon once estimated, “Nothing is too small for a great man.” Dr. Barry concerns himself with undercur- rents and by-lines. He bothers to take you into his confi- dence, and not only asks your opinion but wants it. Truly he seeks to determine every move and decision that wiil affect the college from the students’ point of view. Where our president meets a stranger, he leaves a friend. He is a newcomer to Coker, but each girl on cam- pus considers him a friend. He is also a newcomer to the town of Hartsville, but his charming personality and his outstanding ability have given him a very active part in community life. Hartsville has welcomed him with en- thusiastic appreciation. A picture of Dr. Barry must include his charming wife, Helen Bryant Barry. Mrs. Barry is a beautiful comple- ment to her husband, a wise mother, and a debout Christian lady. She possesses charm and grace that springs from a deep-rooted good will and sincere desire to be a friend. Dr. and Mrs. Barry have two children, Ann and Mary Helen. In the President’s well-managed office are the effi- cient Miss Josephine Erwin, assistant to the president, and his secretary, Miss Lucy Singletary. More familiarly known as “Miss Jo,” the president’s assistant is truly the epitome of Coker. Since Coker’s foundation Miss Jo has played a vital part in the life of the College. Our versatile Miss Jo hasn’t enough fingers for all her pies. In addition to assisting the president, edit- ing the alumni news, planning concerts and doing won- ders with receptions, she takes an active part in Harts- ville Community affairs. She is a gracious hostess, not only to visitors but also to students. Miss Jo is a true focal point of Coker activity. Lucy Singletary, the president’s secretary and recep- tionist, was graduated from Coker in 1954 and now adds to Dr. Barry’s office her own kind of southern charm. At- tractive as well as adept, Lucy is giving back to Coker a part of what she received from her Alma Mater. Thus we present a president with a vision, a family that is inspirational, and office assistants who are com- pletely devoted to Coker. From this combination we can expect a better Coker tomorrow. Mrs. Barry, Ann, Mary Helen, and Dr. Barry Miss Lucy Singletary, Secretary to the President Miss Josephine Erwin, Assistant to the President Ny Tee pe ee TY iy Ee ag See ee ee

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DR. KENNETH G. KUEHNER Dean of Students Dr. Kuehner registers students only to unregister and reregiste: them. Enrolling us in classes so that we will have classes to cut, he then must reprimand us sometimes for cutting these classes. He attempts to be in his office tO amswer our questions about what subjects to take and when to take them, to solve class conflicts, to look up records for us, to make transcripts, to write refer- ences, to see that academic life at Coker continues its well-ordered pattern. He must leave his office to teach educatio n classes, give graduate record and teachers’ ex- aminations, do testing for the Public Welfare Department (“sometimes hair-raising”), and visit other schools as a member of the inspection committee of the Southern Asso- ciation of Colleges and Secondary Schools. This year our dean was on loan to the University of South Carolina to teach a graduate class on Saturday mornings and conducted night classes in administration for Air Force Reserves. Dr. Kuehner gives us his evaluation of his job: “A dean lives in a no-man’s-land or at best in a buffer state between the faculty and the student body.” In his office on his bookcase is a souvenir—a pair of antique druggist scales; to Dr. Kuehner these scales signify his responsibility in balancing faculty on one side, students on the other. In his typical sly humor, Dr. Kuehner states his out- look on life—“think or thwim,” but adds seriously that he is still working on his philosophy. His is a working philosophy, a life dedicated to the principles of the insti- tution he serves: character, culture, and Christian service. No picture of Dean Kuehner is complete without his “extra right hand,’ Miss Hankins. She performs the usual duties of a secretary—typing and retyping class cards, handling correspondence, keeping permanent rec- ords, making transcripts, mimeographing examinations. But there is a special quality we remember—her willingness to stop her work and help us, or, to say it another way, her personal interest in each of us. Bills, bills, bills—we think our only association with the business office is the day we stand before Mrs. CaJd- well’s desk to pay our tuition or find a reminder slip in our mailboxes But the collection of bills is only one of the functons of this office directly affecting our col- lege life. We readily see the benefits of a bank on campus. And how important are those letters in our mailboxes, how convenient is the book room, how much we enjoy the canteen! All of these services are under the direction of the business office—services rendered be- cause of a sincere interest in the Coker student body. Or consider our attractive class-rooms and modern equipment, our comfortable dormitory rooms, the good food from our kitchen, the convenience of a laundry on campus. The business office is responsible for every part of our physical plant and for its employees. Someone must do all purchasing for the college, pay wages and salaries, make appropriations for organizations, handle scholarship payments, order caps and gowns for the sen- iors—and these become some of the endless duties of Mr. Kelley and Mrs. Caldwell. MRS. ELIZABETH CALDWELL, Assistant to the Business Manager; Mr. O. D. KELLEY, JR.., Business Manager. 13 sae iki 6 be ne Pia eS ee ig ee 6g te SS win ean lnn® dhe oe witless abt eg