Eastern Illinois University - Warbler Yearbook (Charleston, IL)

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Diamond Jubilee Edition - 1 1

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Cars change and so does thinking now it ' s done with wires and steel 10 - Diamond Juhilcc Edition

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Jnfluence of four presidents strong: each remembered for contributions Connecticut schoolmaster Livingston C. Lord (1899-1933) took up the challenge as the first president of the Eastern Illinois State Normal School. A man who never attended college or earned any degrees, Lord ' s forceful personality dominated the school. He was so authoritarian and such a scholar. I was scared to death of him! Elizabeth Michael, one of the first teachers, said. Appreciating the finer things of life-good music, good art and good literature-Lord loved God and the Bible and would read out of it everyday to all those who attended chapel. During the term of the second president, Robert G. Buz- zard (1933-56), Eastern changed from a state teachers college to a state college, and then one year after his retirement, became a university. Buzzard beUeved that colleges should not only train teachers but also offer courses that would lead to bachelors of arts and sciences degrees. Described by Norma Winkleblack as a gruff but pleasant man, Buzzard increased the standards of the faculty in order to maintain accreditation with the North Central Association and the National Association of Teachers Colleges. Eastern ' s third president, Quincy Doudna (1956-71), has been termed, the builder. He is remembered mostly for his role in the construction of Carman Hall and the development of the south campus. While president, 35 construction sites were completed. When Doudna came to Eastern it was basically a teacher ' s college. The adding of new programs continually aided in the curriculum expansion. Businesslike is the word presidential secretary Norma Winkleblack, uses to describe him. He acted like a president, she said. Eastern now rests in the hands of Gilbert C. Fite, a man looking ahead to Eastern ' s future. Fite, who predicts changes in Eastern ' s future, believes that everyone should have a good exposure to the liberal arts. College should teach students how to think better, to reason better, to be skeptical, and not to believe something just because it ' s in print. It should develop our critical faculties, Fite says. Fite likes Eastern because of its friendliness and intimacy, which is lacking in larger universities. Fite also likes the good numerical relationship between the faculty and the students, which is possible because of the university ' s small size. Livingston C. Cord 12 Itiinmii ' l I..I..1.... 1 .1.