Samford University - Entre Nous Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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rightis Charge: Build Campus i When Dr. Leslie S. Wright became president of Samford University-then Howard College-a quar- ter of a century ago, the Shades Valley campus was barely a year old. We had seven buildings, not many trees, not many sidewalks, and a lot of mud, Dr. Wright recalled in early August. There was a great deal to be done in the way of construction. The Board of Trustees which elected him president gave Wright a clearly-defined mission. My only charge from the trustees was to build the campus, under their guidance and direction, he re- called. That has been the consuming task during these 25 years in which we have practically completed the noriginal master plan for the campus. Dr. Wright retired to the post of chancellor on Au- T gust 31, turning the reins over to his successor, Dr. Thomas E. Corts, who had served as president of Win- gate College in North Carolina for the past nine years. Wright leaves the legacy of a builder. Il The campus has grown to 27 academic buildings and .seven auxiliary structures with a total investment of nsome S50 million and a net worth of twice that figure. Enrollment has advanced from 1,500 in the fall of 1958 I to 4,100 last September. The faculty has grown from 65 ' members 25 years ago to 291 today. The annual budget has increased from 51,255,000 in 1958 to 316,417,000 i this fall. Trees have reached maturity and grass has covered lthe sloping hillsides. Ankle-deep mud is no longer a rainy day threat. Looking back over the years, Dr. Wright described Samford's progress as matter of Hmeasured growth. We have not tried to expand rapidly, but only as rapidly as we could provide high calibre programs, fa- cilities, and qualified faculty members in new academic areas,', he said. Similarly, the building of campus structures followed no predetermined sequence, although the campus mas- ter plan designed during the early 1950s was followed closely. We did not have a numbered order of buildings that would be constructed in a certain order at the outset because we did not know how the needs would develop. ,Tx 'ull'

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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

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Dr. Wright proud of campus, academic growth -Acquisition of the Cumberland School of Law from Cumberland University in 1961, uniting with Samford the traditions of one of the nationls oldest law schools. -Elevation of Howard College to Samford Univer- sity in 1965. The school was named in honor of Frank Park Samford, the institution's greatest individual benefactor, and his family. -Reinstitution of Master's degree programs in 1965. -Adoption of the 4-1-4 academic calendar in 1969, thus providing a January Term as a period for concen- trated study in one particular area. -Joining with Baptist Medical Centers to offer two- year and four-year baccalaureate nursing degrees through the Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing in 1973. -The continued growth of the academic program over the years. In 1958, only 21 majors were offered, today, Samford provides more than 50 courses of study. How does Dr. Wright think he will be remembered? As a builder, I suppose. The campus is a sort of silent testimony to what we have tried to do. That was my charge from the trustees. Build the campus. Build the faculty. Build the academic program. Build the student body. Build our relationships with the State Baptist Convention. Build our relationships in the com- munity. I have made every effort possible to do all those things. I have not been completely successful in any of them, but I am proud of the progress we have made.