Olivet Nazarene University - Aurora Yearbook (Bourbonnais, IL)

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Mary Nesbitt, Olivef ' s first teacher 1907-1918 Orla A. Nesbitt Founder 1907 A. M. Hills, Olivet ' s first president 1909-1910 I. F. Walker, President 1912-1915 B. F. Hoynes, President 1916-1917 E. L. Moore, President 1919-1922 N. W. Sonford, President 1922-1926 Dedicated Men and Women Fifty golden years was more than the story of fortunate circumstances. It was more than an age of educational in- quiry. It was the story of great men and women who simply made a good beginning into a great Christian institution of higher learning. Scattered throughout the history of Olivet their names appear: Orla A. Nesbitt spent his energy, prayers, and money to found a school where the Bible was upheld, God was hon- ored, and Christian character built. Seven men, along with O. A. Nesbitt, were largely re- sponsible for a holiness school becoming a reality — Elvin Judd, William Richards, R. E. Richards, John F. McCoy, H. C. Wilson, Jos. B. Conaday, and A. N. Leneeve. Miss Mary Nesbitt, because of her love and devotion toward God and in spite of meager funds, became the first teacher of the primary school which was the nucleus of Olivet. A. M. Hills, Olivet ' s first president, was educated at Ober- lin and Yale. Saved and sanctified, he was a scholar, author. T. W. Willingham, President 1926-1937 A. L. Parrolf, President 1937-1945 Grover Van Duyn, President 1945-1948 Selden D. Kelley, President 1948-1949 I ' atic l- ' iiurlirn

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1908-40 OUfjiet, OIUmUI 1940 Kankdkee, Illinois

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Harold W. Reed, President 1949- Professor 1930- preacher, and college president. There has been no greater teacher for young preachers than Dr. Hills. E. F. Walker, in nineteen hundred, preached in Danville on the need of Christian education and gave the impetus that started Olivet. He was elected president v hen the school was taken over by the Church of the Nazarene. N. W. Sanford made every effort possible to make our college strong in those difficult financial days and to keep it true to the Nazarene type of Christian education. T. W. Wiilingham, one of Olivet ' s greatest friends, through his faithful, earnest labor and sacrifice was largely respon- sible for the survival of our co llege in a financial crisis. A. L. Parrott during his administration was able to realize three great accomplishments: the accreditation of the state university, the purchase of the new location, and the liquida- tion of the college ' s debt. Grover Van Duyn was a consecrated layman w+io took over the work of starting Olivet ' s current building program. Selden D. Kelley gave unreservedly to the interest of all, always zealous for the good of the college and the advance- ment of the Kingdom of God. Harold W. Reed, through his wise planning, is not only bringing to realization the ambitions of the earlier presidents, but is launching a program which promises to make Olivet ' s future progressively more glorious. C. A. Gibson, Trustee 1926-1957 E. O. Chalfant, Trustee 1917-1954 Edwin Burke, Trustee 1916-1943 D. J. Strickler, Professor 1930- Carlton Birctiard, Professor 1934-1937 Laurence Howe, Professor 1932-1944 Elsie Jenks, Registrar 1922-1939 T. S. Greer, Professor 1912-1948