Harding College - Petit Jean Yearbook (Searcy, AR)

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. , v...- . f, -- v3.5 .- .. sh ':.aI-l 5'0 H's'. . -. t -'W..4 a lNDUSTRIAL ARTS BUILDING J. N. Armstrong. who retired from the presidency in I936. leH +he nucleus for flue mod- ern Harding. His belief in adive Chrislian educa- +ion and cilizenshlp luas been a guiding light lhrough ihe years. and ?haf foundation of well- grounded policies was +he rock upon which +he greefer Harding was built As +ha clouds of depression were at their blaciesl, il' remained for a Harding alumnus +0 relurn after more Hun fen years as a missionary in China and lead +he way +0 a dignified and honorable niche in world educal'ion. Armed with enviable qualilies +haf have placed him high in nalional recognition. George Sluarl' Benson displayed above all an unshalzable laifh in +he American people and 10 system by which ?hey live. Dr. Benson +hrew himself whole-hearledly info the fasl: and was+ed liHle lime in infroducing plans designed and deslined 10 gel Harding on lhe road +0 recovery and info a presperous fufure. He was greefed by a 376.000 deb! incurred during Harding's heroic sfruggle +0 survive ihe roclty years immedialely pasl'. He was gradual also will: a vole of confidence and a pledge of suppod' by flame connected wilh fhe school- more fhan a counler-balance. A five-year plan to liquidate Hue deb! was infroduced-and accomplished in +hree years. flue forerunner oF accomplishmenfs ihaf were f0 come. Thanksgiving Day. I939. is remembered as a fuming poinl' in Harding's hisfory. On lhal' day. as hundreds of alumni and visi+ors wafched lha ceremony. flue last of +he $76,000 debf was gone Forever in flue public burning of a $68,000 mor'l- gage on +he school. Harding College was debf- free.

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EMENS DORMHORES INHRMARY SCENCE ANNEX

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'Hlis Huee-year drive +he Facul+y- Ices were :1 ! evidenf. and Presidenf pd several income-producing proiecfs . Included were farms. a prinf shop. . .Mopiing every measure of economy. lmily lived in an aparirnerrl in PaHie Hlair firsf few years on H : campus. years some new buildings were con- uding Hie presiden'l's home. The a: expanded. +he facuH-y increased. 'monf coanued +o grow. '1 hm. World War II and a femporary -'s ouhvard progress. The school L WI all flu help if could mus+er +0 aid . When peace again came. Harding - 5:1 .fanward frond. L -' Hie first of ihe building programs w! . To accommodafe +he inHux of LLLLLLLL anooss EM RIAL RHODES MEMORIAL FIELD HOUSE veferans among +he s+uden+ body. Vef Village and Hufville came upon iha scene. +he former a se++lemenf of aparfrnenfs for married siudenh and +he IaHer femporary housing for boys. Also con- sfrucfad were six rock houses in serve as apart- menfs for married sfuden'rs and faculfy. Then came fhe addHion of No boys' dormi- iories. +he infirmary. science annex. and a new boiler room. Following +ha+ was +he esfablishmen'l' of an indushial ar+s deparfmenf wi+h a new. $l00.000 building. Wifh +his progress came Hie aII-+ime record enrollmenf for Hue school as 728 sfudenh regis- +ered for flu: fall harm in 1947. Eady in I948 Dr. Benson announced ihe opening of a financial campaign designed +0 raise $I.500.000 for seven addiiional buildings in comple+e an ideal campus facili'fy seiup. JELDLHOUsE