Felix Arnold Named Chairman
Trustees Seek to Strengthen Endowment
Chowan College trustees elected the Rev.
J. Felix Arnold of Enfield as their chairman
and emphasized the endowment program
and other financial matters during their
semi-annual meeting earlier this month.
The trustees, who met in the office of
President Bruce E. Whitaker, elected State
Sen. J. J. Harrington of Lewiston as vice
chairman. J. E. Ferebee of Camden was
elected chairman of the Executive Commit
tee.
Dr. Whitaker led a discussion of the en
dowment program. He said the endowment
fund has increased from under $7,000 in 1957
to over $2 million. He asked the trustees to
assist the college in reaching a $5 million
goal within two or three years and a $50
million goal “within a generation.”
Endowment Important
Whitaker stressed the importance of gifts
to general endowment in undergirding the
entire financial program of the college.
“Gifts to general endowment enable the col
lege to provide financial support where it is
needed most during a given year. It is essen
tial to the long-range financial standing of
the college that we build up our endowment.
I believe it is within the reach of the college
to reach these goals” he added.
The president also reported the college is
on its way to operating in the black for the
22nd straight year. He stressed the im
portance of a successful Annual Giving Pro
gram to enable the college to maintain its
long record of fiscal soundness. Currently
the college has received $27,000, including
alumni and parents’ fund support, toward
its minimum Annual Giving Goal of $65,000.
Support Appreciated
In other financial matters, E. L. Hollowell
of Edenton, chairman of the “Ac
complishing Our Mission” campaign,
thanked the trustees for their support in
helping the college reach its goal to provide
a $2.5 million gymnasium-physical educa
tion center, to be named in honor of Jesse A.
Hehns, Baptist layman and United States
senator from North Carolina.
Hollowell thanked the campaign leader
ship including Honorary Chairman Mrs.
Texie Camp Marks of Boykins, Va.; State
Sen. J. J. Harrington and Mrs. Mary Mat
thews Holt of Nashville, co-chairpersons,
and other members of the leadership gifts
committee; and other volunteer leaders and
workers.
In a related matter, the trustees approved
the naming of the Olympic size swimming
pool within the new facility in memory of the
late Ruth Camp Campbell of Franklin, Va.
Dr. Whitaker said she devoted a lifetime of
service to her church, community and
region.
Ben Sutton, business manager, said the
hardwood floor for the three full-size basket
ball courts will be laid within 10 days. He
said the gym is scheduled to be opened in
May, 1980.
Enrollment Up
Dean of the College B. Franklin Lowe, Jr.
reported an upswing in the enrollment. He
said the college experienced an enrollment
increase both for the 1979 summer session
and 1979 fall semester. He said the current
total enrollment of 1,029 is the highest for
the spring semester in a number of years.
In other business, the Board of Trustees
approved a revised tenure of office contract
and a revised statement of academic
freedom. Both had been formulated by a
faculty committee and had received en
dorsement by the faculty.
Changes were approved to Section 2 (“Ad
ministration of Corporation”) of the Charter
of Chowan College in keeping with a request
of the Baptist State Convention of North
Carolina. These changes underscore the in
tent of the corporation to maintain its pur
pose as a Christian college under the gover
nance of a board of trustees elected by the
Baptist State Convention.
Adopt Resolutions
Trustees adopted resolutions to the
memory of Dr. Ella Janet Pierce, professor
emeritus, who died Dec. 15, 1979. The state
ment praised Dr. Pierce, who taught
English for a half-century at Mars Hill Col
lege and Chowan College, for her “mastery
of the subject matter, the gift of being able
to teach, and a genuine love for her students
and their welfare.”
The trustees welcomed as their guests Dr.
Ben C. Fisher of Murfreesboro, retired ex
ecutive director of the Southern Baptist Con
vention's Education Commission; and two
officials of the Baptist State Convention of
North Carolina, Dr. T. Robert Mullinax, ex
ecutive secretary of the Council on Christian
Higher Education, and Bill Boatwright,
director of the Division of Communications.
Also welcomed were new trustees, Randy
Britton of Ahoskie; T. L. Craft, Ayden; E. L.
Hollowell, Edenton; N. 0. McDowell,
Scotland Neck; Guy Revelle, Jr.,
Murfreesboro; Urbin Rogers, Williamston;
Robert Spivey, North Wilkesboro; Miss Em
ma G. Stephenson, Durham; and Dewey
Wells, Elizabeth City.
Certificates of appreciation were
presented to the trustees who have com
pleted their terms of service. They include:
Mrs. Maggie Bridgers, Jackson; Virgil
McBride, Winston-Salem; the Rev. Bennie
Pledger, Colerain; John F. Sanderford,
Wake Forest; H.Douglas White, Rocky
Mount; Robert White, Windsor; Charlie T.
Whitley, Winston-Salem; and Edwin L.
Williams, Kinston.
Music Faculty Present
Recital in January
The music faculty of Chowan's Depart
ment of Fine Arts presented a recital in late
January in Daniel Recital Hall. Performing
in the recital were Mrs. Barbara Revelle,
Mrs. Carol Nicholson, Professor Hugh Mid
dleton, Professor Robert Brown, and Dr.
James M. Chamblee, chairman of the
department.
BRAVE LINEBACKER
SIGNS WITH TENNESSEE
Walter Poston of Andrews, S. C., a
linebacker for the Braves in 1979, has signed
a grant-in-aid to play football with Ten
nessee State University.
Vv.VT-
A Half Million
Is Deposited
President Bruce E. Whitaker deposits a check for $500,000 from an anonymous donor for the
new $2.5 million gymnasium-physical education center, vi/hich is near completion. He is
assisted by Chowan alumna, Mrs. Shirley Dickens of NCNB. Also present for the deposit of
the single largest gift ever received by the college ore, from left, Ben Sutton, business
manager; Bob f. Hill, Sr., local businessman who is a member of the Board of Trustees and
its Executive Committee; and Bobby Cross, director of development.
For February, 1980
PAGETHREE