Harding College - Petit Jean Yearbook (Searcy, AR)

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Clifton L. Ganus, Jr. 1922- Harding's third president has had a long association with the college stretching back to his freshman year of 1939. Dr. Clifton L. Ganus achieved an outstanding record in both academics and sports while enrolled as a student, and he is still respected for his prowess on the handball courts. After receiving his M.A. from Tulane University in 1946, Ganus returned to Harding as a professor of history and later served as chairman of the Department of History and Social Sciences and dean of the School of American Studies. He was selected as vice president of the college in 1956, and became president in June, 1965. Dr. Ganus launched a Decade of Development that has already seen the erection of eight new buildings. He has constantly stressed Harding's fourth R - righteousness - and has strenuously worked in physical, social, mental and spiritual areas of concentration to lead Harding College in her pursuit of excellence. Describing the teaching of God's Word as imperative, he adds, If there be no God in the lives of men, then such - a world of wars, hunger, hatred. strife and conflict - is inevitable. It is our purpose at Harding that God be enthroned in the life of every member of the staff and student body and that His Word shall be our most important text. Being loyal to His Word, and filled with His love, we shall continue to keep Harding a fundamental, conservative, Christian college that will glorify God and be a blessing to all those it touches. Commitment is Harding's watchword: Christian men lead college through 50 years The greatness of an institution, though attributed to many things, can be traced to the individuals who have provided its leadership. All the goals, purposes and commitments of a lifetime cannot be fulfilled without continued perserverance of someone whose dedication to them is of primary importance. Visions become realities only when someone sacrifices his energies to the cause. Harding has been fortunate to have had such men to lead her through the struggles of 50 years and to bring her to a place of prominence in education today. Through their leadership, Harding has become a national leader in Christian education. By their dedication, she has remained true to the goals and purposes for which many men and women sacrificed their time and talents to give her life. Leadership of such great impact demands diligence in maintaining goals and ideals with integrity. Diligence in service is of vital importance to a commitment as noble as Harding's. Such diligence keeps Harding College from losing her identity, she remains the same in spite of physical and curricular changes. The special spark with which its leaders have guided the college through 50 years of service is its underlying principle of educating the whole man. The spiritual, eternal emphasis in Christian education has formed the basis for the academic excellence which Harding's students achieve. This emphasis can be traced to many sources of leadership, all vital to the completion of the whole. Daily worship periods in the chapel services have provided inspiration to many students as they have committed them- selves to greater Christian service. Classes in which the Bible is studied to glean knowledge of God's will for mankind have provided awareness of truth and right. Associations among Christian peers have brought fulfillment to seemingly meaningless lives as Christianity permeated the hearts. All these opportunities have been fostered through the leadership of dedicated, Christian men who have undertaken the responsibility of guiding the destiny of a special kind of educational institution. The men who have served as presidents of Harding College have had as great impact in the community and the church as they have had in the college itself. Theirs have been lives of service to others in every capacity where such service was needed. Of foremost importance has been their service to God and the church. Each has been prominently known by his evangelistic and missionary zeal. Each has personally taken the gospel of Christ into his life and shared it with others around the world. And in caring for the souls of men, civic and community needs have not been neglected. Harding's first 50 years stand as a living testimonial to private higher education, American free enterprise, academic excellence and the dedication of countless men and women who have invested in her Christian education. For five decades, Harding has openly displayed her goals, her values and her aspirations for her students and for the nation. The leadership of Christian education has consistently stressed these em- phases. HISTORY ! 5

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M C C W ii iSearcy campus open new era for Harding, promote educational growth ' C In 1934,,Harding College Ninoved to,Searcy tothe Ziijaere-V campus of Galloway College which had closed 'two years earlier. Three buildings-Godden Hall, Pattie Cobb and. ,the Old Science Building - formed the hub of the campus planta With facilities and expansion accessible, ,admin-istrators' turned .their attention to alleviating the schoolfsi financial indebtednessi. On. Thanksgiving Day, I N,ovenibe'1jQ3Qfg 5, 1939, It Dr. i Benson ,announced 'td' the .lectureship audienceifthat, the niorta e' had been Afully' paidg' -Itfwas afigreat 'of 'effdrts inplanningiandf building for the.5fufure4, y C ,,'Poi16wihg,w0r1a War 1I,e0ia armybarfsc1iQaw2sie 'j1iig4i3aged Hto accomniod atef the A influx. of vetenans the hodyi Appropriately called -Vet, Village, i la settlement- of apartments- was A erected V for, ,married students. Hutville, 5a tempor'ary housing unit for men students, was also added, Sixyrock houses were -constructed to serve as apartments,forfmarriede -students and faculty. 'Qther additions included East, and West, dorms, intirmary,Jscieneejannex aridyafnewfboilerroorn. But' all of, 'these ,were-onlyfteniporaryyfacilities. 'i'iy. 3 , , 1 yyA,,' j V ' The tirstrdground breaking ceremony' a new facility at 'Harding wassin 1948 with the initialegpreparationi-for-s Ami. strong Hall. Many old-timers of Hardingwereipresentiforthe, .Ganus, Jr., who was destined 'top become ,president 'of fthe college nianyyears later. The new5.200-capacity Vmerfsidor- niitory was completed in 1949. 'wg , e T3 ' ,i 6 f Hfusroav celebration, for Harding ,Collegecould 'now expend-iitsfinajor occasion and at least one present faculty member-Clifton L.,