VOL. 4, NO. 7
NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE, ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27,1989
Celebration
remembers
life of King
MEMBERS OFNCWC COMMUNITY MARCH TO HONOR KING’S BIRTHDAY (Photo by K.A.S.)
Standing room only crowd
attends ceremony on King
By DELL LEWIS
There was standing room only in
the Leon Russell Chapel Monday as
the Wesleyan community celebrated
the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.
Dr. Charles T. Bullock, Senior
Minister of the St. James Baptist
Church, was the guest speaker. Dr.
Bullock compared Dr. King’s life
with that of Joseph in the Old Testa
ment, referring to both of them as
“dreamers.” “In the face of adversity
he exjjressed his Christian love,” he
said. “It was through his faith and
courage that he received his power.”
Bullock mentioned Dr. King’s
many contributions not only to the
black community but also to society
as a whole. “He suffered not only for
blacks, but for all America,” he said.
Dr. Bullock concluded his mes
sage by stating, “Dr. King’s purpose
did not end in the Burmingham jail,
or in his many marches, or even in in
his death. It is up to us to keep the
dream alive, not by talking about it or
thinking about it, but through action
we can make a difference.”
The congregation had the pleas
ure of hearing two very inspiring
songs performed by the Wesleyan
gospel choir. Following the choir's
final song. Dr. David Jones read an
excerpt from Letter from a Birming
ham Jail prior to the singing of “Lift
Every Voice and Sing” led by Dr.
Debra Boyd-Buggs. Dr. Boyd-Buggs
left the audience with the comment,
“Why does a caged bird sing? Be
cause it is in his nature.”
By GREG STREHMEL
President Dr. Leslie H. Gamer,
some students, and professors as
sembled in the cafeteria on Jan. 16 at
7 a.m. to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.’s birthday.
The breakfast celebration was one
of the highlights of the day, even
though it was poorly attended. Other
activities during the day included a
service in Russell Chapel and a film
presentation and panel discussion
later in the afternoon (see related sto
ries).
The song “Happy Birthday” from
Stevie Wonder came from a Sony
tape recorder before the lively
speeches began. After two other
songs, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I
have a dream” speech was played.
This speech broke the quiet talk of the
guests.
After the speech, Shirley Smith,
, Student Government Association
Senator, welcomed the guests and
introduced Campus Minister Dr. Car-
leton McKita for the prayer.
After the prayer, breakfast was
served. Following this were opening
remarks by President Gamer.
Following the breakfast Dr. Gar
ner spoke. Dr. Gamer mentioned
four reasons we should honor King.
One of his reasons is that we hold
equality and individual rights dear.
Another important reason he men
tioned is that we honor an essential
relationship to humanity.
Bobbie D. Jones, President of
Student Govenmient Association,
and SGA Senator Amy Seate then
gave reasons why colored people and
white people can unite again.
“We are sitting here and eating
together,” Jones said. “I was judged
by the content of my character and
not the color of my skin by my fellow
classmates when they elected me.
Today, I can hug Amy Seate without
fear,” he added.
During the next speeches, disre
spectful students started wandering
into the cafeteria to eat breakfast.
Laughter and loud talk disrupted the
event.
The event, however, continued
with Professor of Theater Vaughn
Schutz reading a letter written by
Martin Luther King Jr., when he was
inside a Birmingham jail. After his
speech, Shirley Smith read the
schedule of events for the day and the
benediction was said by Dr. McKita.
Ferrell resigns as NCWC soccer coach
Tony Ferrell, North Carolina
Wesleyan College’s soccer coach for
the past nine years, announced that he
is resigning to pursue other interests.
“To tell you the tmth. I’m going to
miss coaching this team,” Ferrell
said. “I’ve had nine good years at
Wesleyan College, but now it’s time
to move on.”
Ferrell has accepted a sales repre
sentative position with Beecham
Pharmaceuticals, based in Bristol,
Term. He begins his new position Jan.
27.
“We really appreciate what Tony
has done for the College,” Wesleyan
President Leslie H. Gamer, Jr., said.
“He’s meant a great deal to us and his
players. We’ll miss him but we wish
him luck in his new career.”
Ferrell began coaching at
Wesleyan in 1980. In four years he
transformed the Bishops into a win
ning program, capturing two DIAC
Championships and earning bids to
three NCAA Division HI Tourna
ments. Ferrell’s nine year record
stands at 100-62-13 (.608).
The 33-year old Buies Creek,
N.C. native claims there are a number
of accomplishments at Wesleyan, but
the one that stands foremost in his
mind is the win over UNC-Greens-
boro to clinch his first DIAC Cham
pionship in 1987.
“Our win over UNC-G was sym
bolic in that it proved to everyone that
Wesleyan had climbed to the top of
the Dixie Conference,” Ferrell added.
“After years of hard work and dedica
tion, we were the champs. Those are
the wins that make the long practices
pay off.”
During his tenure as head coach,
Ferrell has produced five All-Amer
ica players, has himself eamed South
Region Coach of the Year honors
(1986,87) and was named Dixie Con
ference Coach of the Year three
times. He is responsible for building
up Wesleyan’s soccer field to one of
the finest playing facilities in the na
tion. In addition to coaching, Ferrell
staged a summer soccer camp at the
College for seven years.
“The most difficult part of leav
ing this position was telling the play
ers,” Ferrell said. ‘The kids here
made a commitment to attend
^ Wesleyan and play soccer under my
direction. In a way I feel I’m letting
them down. But the world will move
ahead and I’m sure they’ll be fine
without me.”
Even though he is stepping down
as coach, Ferrell does plan to stay
involved with soccer. “I’d like to get
involved on the youth level,” Ferrell
concluded. “There seems to be a tre
mendous need for good jjeople on the
youth level and in officiating. It
would be fun to get more entrenched
in these two areas and be contribut
ing to the development of the sport in
a different way." (Courtesy of NCWC)