Montgomery Bell Academy - Bell Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

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Board of Trust Chris Burch and Mr. Bondurant welcome Mr. Cummings and other Trustees to the campus. I , The history of The Board of Trustees is closely linked with the history of M.B.A. itself. When M.B.A. was still Cumberland College, some outstanding trustees were Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson. Later, Board member Dempsey Weaver V invested the money left by Montgomery Bell and used it to open Montgomery Bell Academy. During the late 1880’s, The Trustees re- fused to allow M.B.A. to be taken over by the larger Peabody College. In 1911, Board memberjudge Robert Ewing brought Mr. Issac I Ball to M.B.A, as the new Headmaster. Under Ball’s guidance, The Board arranged for the purchase of a thirty-two acre home to pro- vide for future expansion. After the disastrous fire of 1925. The Trustees struggled to rebuild the school. In 1956, The Board of Trust, under President Mr. John Sloan, embarked on a rebuilding program, which saw the completion of the Brownlee O. Currey 0 Gymnasium and the renovation of Wallace Hall. Other trustee gifts or trustee-aided buildings include The Patrick Wilson Library and a Fine Arts Building. ' -0 X Even today The Montgomery Bell Academy Board ot Trustees is responsible for the overall policies of the school, and the 1986-1987 year has been a particularly busy one for them. The primary responsibility of the Board of Trustees is to insure the financial strength of 1 the institution. Therefore, the Trustees and the Headmaster developed the school budget and set a sound investment policy for the school’s endowment. As a result, in the 1986-1987 academic year, approximately $800 of each student’s costs were borne by the || school’s endowment. This is made possible by Trustee gifts and investments. i| Last year, the Trustees approved the employment of a Director of Development and Alumni Affairs. This department permits the ' i school to communicate more frequently w ' ith alumni. Therefore, an annual giving program was approved and initiated in 1986-1987. § As far as the appropriation of specific funds goes, the Trustees approved the expenditure of funds for many improvements, including % the impressive new lights on the front of the Ball Building. Finally, the Trustees are responsible for the school’s long-range planning and have initiated a process to plan for the future of the school. 29

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Mr. William Tate Speech; Forensics and De- bate Coach; Quiz Bowl Sponsor; B.A., University of Alabama Dr. Nancye Thomas Chemistry, Chemistry AP; Sophomore Class Sponsor, Big Red Club Sponsor; B.S., Lambuth College, Ph.D., Vanderbilt Dr. Porter Ward Biology (H), Biology AP; Microbe Cross Country; B.S., M.S., Peabody, Ph.D., Mis- sissippi State University Mr. James Womack Art History AP, Studio Art; CPR; Outing Club Sponsor; B.A., Davidson College, M.A., Virginia Common- wealth University Dr. Harold Whiteman Mrs. Ruth Napier The Development Office For a second year, the Development and Alumni Affairs Office has been making plans to organize an alumni committee. Aided by Mrs. Ruth Napier, secretary to the development office. Dr. Harold Whiteman has planned many new and interesting long-term plans for alumni support as well as fundraising. Dr. Whiteman has created a new alumni directory of all existing alumni, and he is going to publish an alumni magazine. The class of 1986 has already had a successful reunion. More such meetings are planned for this class, and this tradition is likely to continue with future classes. Generally, this program has provided and will provide an enjoyable way not only to maintain relations with the school but also to provide a new method for fundraising on a long-term basis.

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