Henderson State University - Star Yearbook (Arkadelphia, AR)

Page 9 text:

during nineteen-hundred and fifty-three The trees which decorate our campus and after which our new dormitories were named, also have a story behind their origin. The oak trees which line the main walk were planted in very early years by a group of Henderson girls elected by the student body. The elaborate ceremony of the ptlanting still lives in the memory of those women connected with the event. On each tree was carved the name of the current beau of the girl who planted it. The holly trees were planted after the end of World War l to serve as living memorials for the Henderson men who died in the conflict. They live on, grouped in the southeast corner of the cam- pus. Several years ago, holly trees for the dead of World War H were set out on the north side of the campus along faculty row. ' A romantic legend is con- nected with Bench 13, of which every Henderson student has heard. It is said that if a boy proposes to his girl there, he will not be refused. Lastly, there is the tradition of the Laura Lee Henson Room, so named for the lovely girl who met her tragic death in the fire of 1914. Even until the last few years, each Hen- derson girl placed her flower in a vase in the Laura Lee Henson on the morning follow- ing a date with her favorite Reddie. The room was dedicated to Laura in the new building shortly after its erection. Ex- cept for one year during which there was an acute shortage of classroom space, the room has been in use only for meetings of the Student Christian Asso- ciation and other similar ac- tivities.

Page 8 text:

its traditions. . - . . as observed Traditions are as valuable to a school as gold is to a miser. The legends and stories which are handed down from one class to another build up the spirit of the school. Stately oak trees, evergreen holly, the pines, the old bell atop the old Huie library, the Black Lady, the Laura Lee Henson story - these are the things which automatically come to the mind of anyone acquainted with Henderson. Throughout the years, these and other landmarks and traditions have become just as much a part of the school as the buildings themselves. Many of these legends grew up with the rivalry between Henderson and Ouachita and are still remembered, despite the suspension of the annual Turkey Day Classic between the two colleges. Long years ago, the story goes, when the rivalry between the two col- leges was young, a Henderson maid fell in love with a Oua- chita football player. They were to be married following the Thanksgiving clash, but he was killed in the game. Heart- broken, the young girl threw herself off the bluff overlook- ing the Ouachita River, leaving a note behind, telling of how she would return to walk the halls of the girls' dormitories each Thanksgiving eve and predict the outcome of the next day's game. The ceremony of presenting the Reddie blankets to the sen- ior football men on Wednes- day preceding their annual clash was started in the early twenties. The epithet of the students, The Reddiesf' became pop- ular in 1907 while Jimmy Haygood was coach. ' 'liar -

Page 10 text:

its aims. . dedicated to Farrar Newberry . . . . . edi+or of fhe 'Firsl' Henderson S+ar in I905, now presi- deni' of +he Woodmen of +he World, a foremosl' insurance company of America . . . who exemplifies +he accomplish- men+ of +he aims of Henderson . . . +o inspire in i+s children +he ambi+ion fo reach grea+er heighfs . . . 'lo +each Hs' sfudenls +he way +o accomplish l'ha'I' ambilion . . . +he way of hard work, educalion . . . and above all, noi' iusl' a desire, bui' a de+ermina1'ion +0 succeed.