Samford University - Entre Nous Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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A NEW ERA DAWNS: . NAUGURATIO Pianist-composer Dave Brubeck and former Chicago mayor .lane Byrne joined noted lecturers from the fields of religion and economics on a series of programs celebrating the inauguration of Samford Llniversity's new president, Dr. Thomas E. Corts, Sun- day-througlvWednesday. Nov. 6-9. Also participating in the four-day event were Dr. John Heller, former Yale University medical professor and author of the book REPORT ON THE SHROUD OF TURIN1 Dr. Donald Ratajc- Yak. nationally known economic forecaster from Atlantag and Dr. Gerhard Claas. general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance. Dr. Corts was formally installed as Samford's 17th president on Wednesday, Nov. 9, during an ll a.m. program in Wright Fine Arts Center at Samford. Dr. Claas, a German pastor who was elected to head the BWA in 1980, delivered the major address. Inauguration Week began Sunday, Nov. 6, with a lecture by Dr. Heller. a key member of the scientist team that investigated the Shroud of Turin in 1978. Dr. Heller. whose book on the Shroud was a Book-of-the-Month Club selection last June. discussed the exhaustive study made on the relic which many believe to be the burial shroud of Jesus. The scientist team tackled the question of how the image ofa face was formed on the Shroud. Dr. Heller answered questions from a panel of religion news editors on Monday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. in Wright Fine Arts Center. Dr. Ratajczak, who has earned a national reputation for accura- cy in his economic forecasts for such bodies as the Joint Economic Committee ofthe US. Congress, spoke Monday, Nov. 7, in Wright Fine Arts Center. His talk focused on A1abama's economic future. Mrs. Byrne, who served as Chicago's first woman mayor during 1979-83, spoke Tuesday, Nov. 8, in Wright Fine Arts Center. A former Commissioner of Consumer Services ofChicago, she imple- mented numerous budgetary reforms during her tenure as mayor which reduced Chicago's accumulated debt by more than S100 million. Brubeck, a popular musician who has become an influential force in contemporary sacred music in recent years, performed with his Quartet and the Samford Festival Chorus on a program entitled f'An Evening with Dave Brubeck Tuesday, Nov. 8, in Wright Fine Arts Center. The musician-composer has been critically acclaimed by church musicians for such works as To Hope: A Celebration, his most recent work, and his oratorios based on the life and teachings of Jesus, Beloved Son and The Light in the Wilderness? Dr. Claas, from Wetter, Germany, was elected to head the BWA at the 14th Baptist World Congress in Toronto, Canada, three years ago. The Alliance is a worldwide fellowship of 127 Baptist conventions and unions from 90 countries dedicated to strengthen- ing international cooperation among its 30 million members. ' llctipltf

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Retiring Wright has ,,Ve,See,, Samford Growth When the cornerstone of Samford Hall was laid in 1954. school officials and Baptist leaders celebrated with a barbecue on the grounds of what was to become Samford University. Among those present was Dr. Leslie S. Wright, ex- ecutive secretary of the Baptist Foundation of Ala- bama. based in Montgomery. Construction of Samford Hall marked the beginning of a new era for what then was known as Howard College, which was moving from East Lake to the base of Shades Mountain in Homewood. Four years later, Wright was named president of Samford. Now, after 25 years-a longer tenure than any other current Alabama college or university presi- dentkhe will retire Thursday to the post of chancellor. Under Wright, Samford grew from 1,500 students and seven buildings to 4,000 students and 27 buildings. The total growth and building of the university is what I am most proud off, said Wright, the son of a Baptist minister and a Birmingham native. In 1961, the Baptist liberal arts college added Cum- berland School of Law, which grew from 60 students that first year to 775 this year. Four years later, the college was elevated to university status and its name changed to Samford University. Academic Programs were diversified and offerings expanded to more than 50 areas of study in eight schools within the university. The campus has profes- sional schools in pharmacy and nursing as well as law, and graduate programs in several fields. Wright said he also is proud of the growth and strength of the faculty, which includes graduates of m 1,3 lil Q32 ' tf X gg, , X ff. X, 1 ' . . Q l ' f' Qi ii' 'P' 0' 'i i WTI xl if It X ' - N 'fi ii 1 'W-mx Lx 'Z A over 100 colleges and universities throughout the coun- try. And students now come from 42 states and 20 coun- tries, though most are from Alabama. Wright praised Baptist financial support for Sam- ford, which he said is more than most church-related colleges receive from their denominations. And the Bir- mingham business community and individuals have uresponded generously with private gifts to match funds provided by Baptist churches, he said. He credits his wife, the former Lolla Catherine Wur- tele, for being a hardworking, involved helpmate by assisting and supporting his efforts. In addition to his work at Samford, Wright serves on a number of boards of directors, including City Federal Savings and Loan Association and the Alabama Coun- cil on Economic Education. He was a member of the Alabama Ethics Commission for six years and its chair- man twice. He has received numerous honors, including election to the Alabama Academy of Honor in 1973, Birming- ham Citizen of the Year in 1975 and the Religious Heritage of America Award as Educator of the Year in 1979. Looking at Samford's future, Wright said The big task ahead is to maintain the quality of the educational programs, to maintain and strengthen the quality of the faculty, and to maintain and strengthen ties with the Alabama Baptist constituency. By Jean Lullcin Bouler The Birmingham News