Dr.f Mrs. Whitaker honored at retirement
dinner after 32 years of service to Chowan College
By Jennifer Moore
(Reprinted with permission from the May I, 1989
issue of The News-Herald, Ahoskie)
Amid laughter and tears, their friends
bid Godspeed to Bruce and Esther
Whitaker April 29, after 32 years’ service
to Chowan College.
Dignitaries from throughout the Baptist
community told stories on the pair but
assured them of their place in the hearts of
the school and religious community during
a farewell banquet in Thomas Cafeteria.
The principal speaker was Dr. William C.
Friday, a long-time friend of Dr.
Whitaker’s, who spoke from friendship,
refusing any fee for his appearance.
Friday said the Whitakers “must have a
great deal of satisfaction sitting here
tonight. You have touched every
student...and made a difference in their
lives.” He added that the “greatest test of
all is ‘did you do what you were put here to
do. ’ Clearly, you have. ’ ’
The speaker, president emeritus of the
University of North Carolina System,
noted the changes in the world since the
Whitakers came to Chowan. “Television,
air travel — I got on a plane one morning,
flew to Canada and was home for supper —
we have fought wars, struggled with
human rights, the numbers of people in
school, the emergence of women, the
enormous emphasis on learning — all since
you came to Chowan. ’ ’
Friday said he had ridden around the
campus that afternoon and “This is an
incredible thing that has happened here. I
can hardly believe the changes that have
taken place.”
“ In the context of history, this institution
has grown and matured and is ready for the
future,” the speaker stated.
“But there are certain things we must do
something about yet. Six out of 10 in this
country go to college” but “we haven’t
reached five out of ten. ”
He declared there is still work to do even
“with the legacy he has left us” and noted
one million people in North Carolina live
below the poverty line “and 400,000 of
those are children.
“There are over 100,000 who can’t
communicate well enough” to have access
to good jobs and decent housing. “There
are 400,000 who will drop out of school.
Twenty thousand people have left the land
in North Carolina in the last five years. All
of these circumstances make it difficult to
survive,” he contended.
“The future will depend on people who
can deal with all the sophistication science
has brought us,” he said.
“Bruce Whitaker’s life is an expression
of the leadership” needed for the future.
Friday spoke of the president of a Swedish
university who, when asked what people
really think of the United States, made the
comment, “They love the United States
butyou’velostthemoral leadership.’’
Friday compared the salaries paid
professional athletes with that of teachers.
"They are paid more in one year than a
teacher makes in five years. Where are our
priorities?”
The speaker concluded with his thanks
Dr. William
Friday, UNC
system president
emeritus, offers
congratulations
to Dr. and Mrs.
Whitaker at
their retirement
banquet.
%
i} ^
for the work Dr. Whitaker had done. “You
have helped keep this country free. We
owe him, and we owe her.”
Dr. Roy Smith, executive direc
tor/treasurer of the N.C. Baptist State
Convention, said, “Dr. Whitaker has been
a model in keeping a balance between faith
and reason,” while Robert B. Spivey,
general chairman of the college’s Mission
Excellence Campaign and a member of the
board of advisors, said Whitaker “has led
the college to be one of the strongest, if not
the strongest, junior colleges in the
nation.”
Dr. John E. Weems, president of
Meredith College, noted that Dr. Whitaker
is the dean of the heads of Baptist in
stitutions. Mrs. Texie Camp Marks of
Boykins, Va., brought a message from the
Baptist General Association of Virginia,
saying “Dr. Whitaker has been a friend
and supporter of Virginia Baptists” all
through his tenure.
Joseph C. McPhail, Class of ’68,
reported that Mrs. Whitaker “has taught
just under 11,000 students — 11,000
students!” He said he didn’t come back to
the campus after graduation until 1978
“and I didn’t recognize the place” because
of the changes in the 10 year span, at
tributing the difference to Dr. Whitaker’s
hard work.
Murfreesboro Mayor Billy Hill, Class of
’43, warned Dr. Whitaker he would have
to learn all about gardening and washing
windows in his retirement and offered to
share his “special TV channels” when
things got too boring.
Emma Gay Stephenson, Class of ’31 and
chairperson of the Board of Advisors, and
Thomas M. McCrary, chairman of the
trustees, presented envelopes with gifts to
each of the Whitakers.
Pam Mullins, president of the Chowan
Student Government Association, brought
greeting fn>m that group. Dr. B. Franklin
Lowe Jr., Dean of Chowan, presented
framed resolutions of appreciation to each
of the honorees, adopted Feb. 10 by the
faculty and staff of the college.
Garry Whitaker, the WTiitaker’s younger
son, told the audience of over 500 of the
Christian atmosphere in their home as he
and his brother, Barry, were growing up
and the influence it had on their lives. “We
don’t say often enough how much we love
you,” he conmiented as he turned to his
parents, “but we do and want you to know
how much we appreciate all you have done
for us.” In addition to the sons. Dr.
Whitaker’s mother, their granddaughter
and brothers and sisters were also present
for the occasion.
Mrs. Whitaker thanked “Bruce and the
Board of Trustees for the privilege of
teaching” religion over the years. She
mentioned that she had taught “many of
you and now I’m teaching some of your
children.” She expressed appreciation for
the home built by the college, trustees and
advisors and expressed special ap-
See RETIREMENT, Next Page
The Chowanian, May-June, 1989—PAGE FIVE
J