THE PILOT
Till' iilK.M' |,u l;ii\-^ in • ( f!- l :ituii(l:mt^ i-i' tffl li> i.i.- Mi.dtril U::' llii- >o:ir. I'liuiifd
on the front row from left to right are: Janet Beam; Queen ot May Court restival Pat Stuut;
Maid of Honor Faye Branch; Margaret Hazeltine. Second Row. Sarah Farrow, Ann Ellis, Ruth
Turner, Irva Smith, Betty Jo Williams, Barbara Ziedonis, Margaret Gold, and Cordie Hardin.
ALUMNUS RELATES GARDNER - WEBB HISTORY
This story, written by Jay Jenkins,
class of 1938, first appeared in the
March 18 issise of the Charlotte
Observer—Ed. Note.
RALEIGH—When Eastern North
Carohna towns were bidding for the
Presbyterian college which finally
went to Laurinburg, the money of
fers made the section sound lil^e a
slice of Wall Street.
Those offers stir memories of the
struggle of a college which counted
its blessings not in terms of millions
but in terms of $5 and $10 bills —
and had labor donated for campus
construction.
For the true test of a community’s
loyalty to a college, and its desu-e
to maintain one, comes only when
the chips are down.
In these prosperous days, the Pres
byterian site-seekers proved that
nearly a score of towns in the agri
cultural East could cough up a mil
lion dollars in return for a college.
In the not-so-long ago, the little
community of Boiling Springs—in
Cleveland County—was a showcase
for loyalty. It was a village at that
time of less than 1,000 population
and most of the folks, then as now,
farmed for a living.
Boiling Springs Junior College,
later to become Gardner-Webb, nev
er would have survived those rough
depression days without the support
HUDSON'S
Weatherbird
Velvet Step
City Club
Shoes
For All The Family
SHELBY, N. C.
COHEN'S
IN
SHELBY, N. C.
of folks who refused to surrender.
It is often trite to talk about
sacrifice. Yet no other description
fits the efforts of people in Boiling
Springs and Cleveland County to
keep their school alive.
At a time when a man was hard
put to feed and clothe his own fam
ily, these folks continued to give the
college transfusions in the form of
money, food and free labor.
Individuals contributed far out of
proportion to their ability to do so.
When the time came to build a
gymnasium, townspeople donated
their labor for the job.
On more than one occasion, the
larder was dangerously low and stu
dent appetites are no respectors of
depressions. So many times, E. B.
Hamrick loaded some supplies at his
big country store and replenished it.
To meet cuiTent bills, several trus
tees borrowed money on their per
sonal notes. They did this even
when the college’s prospects were
such that, on a purely business basis,
they wouldn’t have risked a dime.
On one memorable fall. Boiling
Springs had a state championship
football team. It was a humdinger.
It also costs money.
The dietetian-magician was a
gracious lady, the late Mrs. Ella
Ritch. She lent her magic to Irish
potatoes, a staple that was no small
item in keeping costs down and
paying for that football
It’s difficult to capture the spirit
of that time against the background
of this more prosperous day. But
there was something uplifting about
watching, and now remembering, a
Baptist chm-ch straining and giving
to keep the college going.
The spirit of the college was con
tagious. Otherwise, the teachers
would not have worked for the pit
tances they received. Financially,
the school may have been in a pre
carious position, but it was—and is—
rich in many other ways.
Students who left there held their
own in the four-year colleges with
men and women who had graduated
from larger, richer institutions. And
they have continued to compete on
equal terms with their fellows in the
professions outside of college.
Gardner-Webb College now is an
up-to-date institution, with modern
facilities and an excellent staff.
When it appeals for money, it does
so because of growth and not out of
a need for funds with which to eke
out an existence.
It must be a rewarding experience
for the people of Boiling Springs and
Cleveland County to look upon the
fine buildings of Gardner-Webb and
to realize that it is a tribute to
their loyalty and unwavering de
termination that this college, at
least, would never die.
CO-ED THEATRE
WIDE SCREEN CINEMASCOPE
APRIL 2—“World In My Corner”
4—“Bengazi”
5 & 6—“Red Sundown”
7—“A Bullet Is Waiting”
9 & 10—“There’s Always Tomorrow”
11—“Peril Of South Pacific”
12 & 13—“Benny Goodman Story”
14—“Treasure Of Pancho Villa”
BOILING SPRINGS, N. C.
BOILING SPRINGS
QUALITY CLEANERS
LAUNDRY AND DRY CLEANING
Operator — BUD HARMON
CUTEST COUPLE
The cutest couple of the Gardner-Webb Campus this month
is “Margie” Norville and Jerry Hudson.
Margie graduated from Gastonia High in ’55 and Jerry came
to us from Bessemer City High in 51, where he was President
of the Freshman class and played basketball and baseball.
There seems to be a number of girls getting rings from
the boys and Jerry chose January 27, 1956 to give Margie a
diamond. The wedding is planned for August.
The couple will make their home in Boiling Springs, and
Jerry will return to Gardner-Webb this Fall as a Sophomore.
SYLLABLEGRAM
ANSWERS
“Peace hath her victories i
than war.”
Val-ue
In-tend
) less renowned
I. Cat-a-ract
i. Thor-ough
f. O-me-ga
i. Rai-sin
). In-flow
). Ex-tra
I. Shield-er
COLLEGE
SERVICE STATION
Dial 9971
BOILING SPRINGS, N. C.
COMPLIMENTS
OF
STAR PRESS, INC.
PRINTERS and LITHOGRAPHERS
SHELBY, N. C.