Old Dominion University - Troubador Yearbook (Norfolk, VA)

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Leaving Mr. Stern, you were candidly received by three office girls, a cash registor, and Harry E. Baylor. In 1946 Mr. Baylor came to tho Division to accopt the position of registrar, bringing with him an M.S. from the University of Virginia, a poronnial smile, and his dark brown forelock. Since then, not even your belated financial difficulties, registration problems, and schodule conflicts could ruffle his good nature. And Mr. Baylor was sure to soothe your troubled spirit. After a session of juggling those complicated finances and of singing enrollments or, lator. report cards, Mr. Baylor would join the line that found its way to Bud's. Cokes and a little friendly conversation were his repast thero. Then back to work. He sometimes took trips around the state and also attended Di Gamma functions as their patron. The girls' basketball team roliod on Mr. Baylor for moral support. His tried and tested good humor also buoyed the spirits of the girls in the Business Offico, oven when work had piled up. In the office, beating madly at the typewriter, frequently sat Julia Bristow, exorcising the brain beneath her wealth of red hair. Her duty as assistant registrar was to turn the stones loft unturned by Mr. Baylor. Miss Bristow's foundation for hor work was the B.A. received at tho Colloge of William and Mary in '46. Outside the office, she visited tho art department of tho Division. Emphasizing this interest, she took painting during the night school sessions. Ofter. of course. Miss Bristow joinod Mr. Baylor or the girls in a round of cokos and Nabs. In the business office you saw Robert Stern, supervisor of evening collogo, his lank body reclining in a chair by his desk, a few files in his hands. He looked up to watch you, a now student, come in. There was a joke about you and greenio troubles combined with a friendly welcome to the school. Mr. Storn rocoivod his A.B. at the New York Sta e Teachers College in Albany, after which he served as Junior Economist in tho Now York State Government and then worked in the Administrative Department of the U. S. Army. After five years in Government Service, ho would tell you, The teaching field looked good. ... It still does. I came in 1945. The government and sociology students were glad that the teaching field lookod good. They were immediately inaugurated into a long search for tho Ideal World Government. Mr. Stem's goal in life. Finally, in spito of his gripes about red tape in governmental administration, ho found himself enmeshed in it as Evening School Supervisor. So he did all ho could to clear it up. Mr. Stern applied the keen insight and clear understanding, which ho had developed in government service, to the business at hand, whether toaching or administering. On the sldo ho read omnivorously, engagod in public speaking, and occupied himself with his family. The family was pictured in a large photograph which he kept on his desk: Mr. and Mrs. Stern.- Swan, five: Bonnie, two: and Richard, six months. The proud man of tho house was sure to shovel through the rocords and books around to pull out tho picture before your approving eyes. When you wished to see Mr. Stern, you'd peep through the Business Offico door, make sure another instructor wasn't with him, cautiously as possible ask him to put aside his work, and start some political or collegiate discourse.

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Lewis Warrington Webb, Jr.. Master of Science. V.P.I., Director of your college, and all round handyman, was indisposed behind tho doors of his office, and you wero one of those waiting to see him. You wantod to change a class. Mr. Webb, you know, was acting as Director for the first time this torm. Fall. '46. You expected him to be busy, especially at tho start of a somoster. In addition to becoming accustomed to the rules of the trade, he had to take caro of an abnormally expanded enrollment, an increased faculty, and the complication of new or rovised coursos. Conferences with the Williamsburg officials, the Instructors, and the business staff occupied time as woll as student body roquests. His actual duty, as Mr. Webb himself confessed, was to act as janitor, custodian, complaint department, and anything no one olse will do. He shot from his oflice for a moment to check on some information. Watching him discuss the problem, you were impressed by an air of capability and dependability about him. Papers in his hand, his tall and lank body was bent forward, and he placed direct and steady eyes upon the office girl. Occasionally his curly head would shake negatively over the papers falling on his slender hands. Finally, however, ho nodded, satisfied, and you watched the grey suit retreat down the short hall of tho front offices. Is he always this busy? you asked an office girl. Well, not at night. Ho finds timo to got some satisfaction from his homo workshop. Sometimes, he may go sailboating. And, she continued with a grin, he also manages to occupy himself with a wife and a family of a nine-year-old son and two-year-old daughter. You've probably soon the little girl around school. My, you mused. I hate to use up his time. Will it take long to change a class? If that is what you want, you'll have to seo Mr. MacDonald, the girl informed. You were, theroforo directed to tho office of Frank Aborn MacDonald, Assistant-Director of the Division. He sat behind tho dosk in his book-laden office, an observant, analytical, deep-thinking expression on his face, whon he looked up to see you ontor. He also was lank and lean. In addition to B.A. and M.A. degrees received from the College of William and Mary, Mr. MacDonald received his Masters in Philosophy from Harvard University in 1946. He also served as Teaching Fellow at Harvard. Aftor more than a tasto of the Philosophy Department at the Division, ho advanced to his prosent position, but continued to maintain Philosophy is the only practical subject. Between periods of trying to cloar his desk of the papers, fllos, and records, Mr. MacDonald taught the fencing class, and somotimes indulged in his hobbies, roading and badminton. His wife and young daughter were often seen with him when he was free of school duties. In a habitually friendly and interested manner. Mr. MacDonald helped relievo you of your problem. With a bit of philosophy, he sent you on your way. And you went to the business office to complete the deal.

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As head of the English Department, Dr. Ernest W. Gray had a full-sized job on his hands. Former diroctor and chairman of the faculty. Dr. Gray was a chartor professor at the Division in 1931. Previously, ho had acquired education and teaching experience at Brown and Harvard Universi ties. In English he completed with you detailed analyses of grammar and composition, and made the great writers human men. He also instituted the 1,000 word a week Advanced Composition Class. Dr. Gray left lecture classes with throe things—a grey hat, a cigarette, and his book. In his office over among the shacks, he would establish himself comfortably with a hot plato and coffee pot. a heater, a soft chair, or the low sofa wedged botwoen his copious bookshelves. Though around campus the greater part of the day. he saved time for his two hobbies, golfing and enjoying music at home with his wife and Division sophomore daughter, Anne. Dr. Lucker took her Columbia University and University of Texas training, plus instructing in the Star State College, right in stride and gave the benefits to you. Added was the advantage of knowledge acquired from a life spent in travel. You watched her rush to the blackboard, on which she inscribed words of wisdom by our poets and philosophers, to her desk, whore she spoke words of wisdom by authors and Lucker. In tho samo way Dr. Lucker rushed up and down the Administration Building stairs, from Buds to her office. A maple booth, a coke, a cigarette, and conversation were familiar accompaniments to this instructor when she sat at Bud's. You'd find her in her office helping a studont with his term paper or explaining his undesired test grade. Or you'd find her at a High Hat or Publication Committee meeting, or verbally delving into the mechanics of enjoying life with Mr. Seward or Mr. Cooper who shared her office, or with Mr. Marable who often dropped in. In her leisure timo. Dr. Lucker trotted to the gym, garbed in dress appropriate for fencing or badminton. Probably a book of Chaucer also lightened her busy schedule. And give Dr. Lucker more than ono day — she'd travel! All points north, east, south, and west of Norfolk were hor destinations. A slonder, thin-haired man, William Marable strode the campus walks surrounded by some particular group of boys who especially enjoyed his conversation. Mr. Marablo was ofton divulging every-day philosophy, which ho sprinkled with straight fact and illustrative anecdotes. 1947 marked the second year Mr. Marable was on the Division faculty list. He taught English. An author, a worker, an educated man, sponsor of the Voyager. and English instructor. William Ward Seward would be included in any memory of tho Division. He could base the thoroughness of his instruction on an M.A. from the University of Richmond and a residence for Ph.D. at Duko Univorsity. Plu3 that, he was a teaching fellow a! Duke, an English instructor at the University of Richmond, and a professor of English at Bossio Tift College. He wended his way hero in 1945.