THE WHITAKERS—Mrs. Ovedia Whitaker, left, mother of the president,
poses with her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Bruce E. Whitaker,
following the convocation ceremonies.
A GIFT FOR THE GRANDDAUGHTER—Amy Lynn Whitaker, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Barry Whitaker, proudly shows her grandmother a framed
copy of the convocation invitation. The gift was presented to Amy by Miss
Grace You, Secretary to the Council on Christian Education, Baptist State
Convention.
Congratulations, Dr. Whitaker
We are proud to join with the
scores of friends of Chowan College
President Bruce E. Whitaker who
honored this outstanding college
administrator in a special convoca
tion Feb. 22 on the college campus.
The occasion officially saluted
Dr. Whitaker’s 25 years of con
tinuous service to the college as its
president and, we might add, 25
years of service to Murfreesboro
and Hertford County as a com
munity leader.
We seriously doubt anyone can
adequately put into words what Dr.
Whitaker has meant to education
and to this community. But at
tempts will be_made, as well they
should. ‘
His steady hand at the helm of
the college has guided it on a path
which has resulted in remarkable
growth during the past 25 years.
For example.. its student body has
increased from 293 to 1,116; . . its
faculty has increased from 21 to 61;
.. total assets have increased from
$751,668 to $18,219,326; .. operating
budget has increased from $298,200
to $7,800,000; . . average faculty
salary has increased from $3,300 to
$16,380; and . . total library
volumes has increased from 9,292
to over 70,000.
He served as associate pastor
and minister of education at Druid
Hills Baptist Church in Atlanta,
Georgia. His experience as an
educator includes service as in
structor, University of Indiana;
professor, Cumberland University;
professor, Belmont College; and
professor and assistant to the presi
dent, Shorter College. Prior to com
ing to Chowan, Dr. Whitaker was
state secretary. Student Depart
ment of the Baptist State Conven
tion of North Carolina.
He has served in responsible
leadership positions for many
state, regional and national educa
tional and professional organiza
tions. He is past president of the
Association of Southern Baptist
Colleges and Schools, Association
of Eastern North Carolina Col
leges, and North Carolina Founda
tion of Church Related Colleges,
North Carolina Association of In
dependent Colleges and Univer
sities, and National Council of In
dependent Junior College. He is
presently a member of the Board of
Directors of the American Associa
tion of Community and Junior Col
leges, and the National Association
of Independent Colleges and
Univeraties.
Dr. Whitaker has also par
ticipated in the work of civic
groups related to mental health,
family life, area development and
cultural heritage. In addition to his
current service as a member of the
North Carolina Commission for
Mental Health and Mental Retar
dation Services—Be served as
chairman from 1978-81—he is a
member of the North Carolina
State Board of Mental Health.
He has served as president of
the Murfreesboro Rotary Club,
director of the North Carolina
Family Life Council, president of
the Choanoke Area Development
Association, and president of the
North Carolina Literary and
Historical Association. He has also
been active in the North Carolina
Christmas Seal Campaign and is a
member of the Murfreesboro Bap
tist Church. He is the author of a
number of professional publicatins
related to the mission of the two-
year college.
His honors include being nam
ed “Outstanding Citizen” by the
Murfreesboro Exchange Club and
“Boss of the Year” by the Mur
freesboro Jaycees and North
Carolina Jaycees, and named
“Citizen of the Week” by The
Ahoskie News-Herald. He is listed
in Personalities of the South and
Who’s Who in America.
Under his bold and imaginative
leadership during his 25 years as
president. Chowan College has
been transformed into one of the
United States’ finest, two-year in
dependent colleges. The campus
master plan, which was begun
under his administration and call
ed for the construction of 12 major
buildings, has been completed with
the recent opening of the new $2.75
million gymnasium-physical
education center. The college has
operated in the black for the past 23
years.
Congratulations . . Dr.
Whitaker!
—Reprinted from the Feb. 19,1982 Edition of
The Ashokie News-Herald
THE CHOWANIAN
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Chowon Co/l*g«, Murfreesboro, North Carolina, a standard
junior co//ege controlled by the Baptist State Convention and
founded in 1843 Printed, designed ond edited by the students
and faculty of the School of Graphic Communications at Chowan
College. Send changes of address notices to The Chowonian.
Chowan College. Murfreesboro, Norfh Coro/no 27855- Published
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Februory ond May-June.
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Page 2—TheChowanian. February. 1982