Harding College - Petit Jean Yearbook (Searcy, AR)

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Integrating faith and learning. President David Burks dch'vcrs one of his many spiritual growth and education speeches during chapel. Burks is Harding's Ihunh pms'idcnt and. as noted by Governor Bill Clin- mn. is quitc n'murkuhlc considering that many other universities across the Unilcd Slums change pmsidcnrs cvcty three la Ibur years. Harding uvemgcx .32 years per president. ,, photo by Bill Tripp. x; I a Mtg b ww I n l ' I t 5' I . a n: I D a n' I I ' l .' . . , .

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mmr gm mi ,; Overseer. While on the fall HUF pro- gram, Dr. Joseph Pryor scrutinizes the city of Pisa, Italy, from atop the fa- mous Tower in the Piazzi dei Miracoli. - photo by Richard Duke.

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t'Happy peoplelll Governor 3171 Clinton and President David Burks stand as they wait fbr the rest of'the faculty and represen- tatives from different schools to file into the Benson Auditorium at inauguration Both Burks and Clinton delivered shon speeches on the merits of quality education. - photo by Ken Bissell, ransitions are an integral component of life. but often we do not notice the change going on around us until it is dramatically brought to our atten- tion, In 1987, we could not help but think about the passage of time and the necessity of change when a new leader for Harding University came noticeably to the forefront. Perhaps we wondered what this would mean to the school we had come to love; we werenit sure what the future held. Dr. David B. Burks was inaugurated as Har- dingls fourth president on September 18, 1987. This major transition, however, was preced- ed by years of smaller changes that molded the man we now know as President Burks. Born in Ava, MO, Dr. ,Burks grew up in Truth-oraConsequences, NM, where he had little concept of the meaning of Christian education. He came to Harding as a freshman in 1961 and almost returned home when he learned that he would be expected to attend daily chapel for no credit! But Harding made her mark on Dr. Burks. and he returned each year, graduating in 1965 as Student Associa- tion President. Interestingly, in his senior year Dr. Clifton L. Ganus became the third presi- dent of the college. Another transition in the life of Dr. Burks occurred when he married Leah Ann Gentry in August of 1965. This new dimension brought three important people into his 1ife...his children, Brian, Stephen. and Marleah. After work on a masters and a brief tour with Exxon Corporation in Houston, Dr. Burks returned to Harding in 1967 to serve as Director of Placement and instructor in business. Five years later. he studied for his doctorate degree at Florida State University for two years. It was in Florida that a major transition occurred in his life concerning the significance of Christian education. Chal- lenged by non-believing professors and a church congregation that expected him to be a religious authority, Dr. Burks discovered a need to delve deeper into his study of Gods Word. and he saw the importance of educating Christians so as to prepare them to meet the issues of the modern world Burks began to study with deeper commit- ment, and upon his return to Harding that study was evident. He began teaching a Sun- day morning Bible class, ltFacing the Issues? challenging students to think for themselves about matters that were not always answered easily. He also began stressing in his college classes the necessity of understanding the ideas and ethics behind the routine strategies of business. Students saw in this man a con- cern for their souls as well as their minds. In 1974, Dr. Burks was appointed Dean of the School of Business. His new role afford- ed him further opportunity for study and growth. In 1978 he published The Christian Alternative for Business, as well as articles on such topics as church leadership, servant leadership, time management, and Christian business ethics. His continued involvement and service brought him to the eyes of the public, but he was known as a man who cared about others, a professor students could go to for help. This concern was based on Burksa belief that ttpeople make the difference in life. Teachers who care. who shower students with care and concern, are the teachers who make Harding what she is. The admiration and love students felt for Dr. Burks was evidenced by his receiving the Distinguished Teacher Award twice. in 1974 and in 1986. The respect of his colleagues and superiors was made apparent when the Board of Trustees chose him to lead the university in the position of president. Because of your outstanding dedication to the improvement of Christian education, your example as a caring individual as well as an intellectuaI leader, your concern for the welfare of Harding University and her students, and especiaII y for your deep love and commitment to Jesus Christ, who is the very reason for our existence, we, the senior class ofHarding University dedicate the 1988 Petit Jean to you. Dr. David B. Burks - Sheila Underwood Copy Editor itShall we pray... President Burks reads prayer requests during chapel. He brought chapel to a more spiritual lev- el by g1 ving more emphasis to the devotional period rather than the program itself. - photo by Bill Tripp.