Page 2 - cmoSSROADS - December, 1977
I
Who’s Who
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1
FSillll
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TVVKLVK ABBEY students have been selected
to Who’s Who Among Students in American
liniversities and Colleges.
Selects 12
The 1977-78 edition of Who’s
Who Among Students in
American Universities and
Colleges will carry the names of
12 students from Belmont
Abbey College who have been
selected as being among the
country’s most outstanding
campus leaders.
Campus nominating com
mittees and editors of the an
nual directory have included
the names of these students
based on their academic
achievement, service to the
community, leadership in ex
tracurricular activities and
future potential.
They join an elite group of
students selected from more
than 1,000 institutions of higher
learning in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia and
several foreign nations. Out
standing students have been
honored in the annual directory
since it was first published in
1934.
Students named this year
from Belmont Abbey College
are Tina L. Coleman, Medford,
N.Y.; Anthony D. DeCristofaro,
New Monmouth, N.J.; James L.
Gates, Jr., Apopka, Fla.; John
M. Giblin, Newport, N.C. ; Mary
M. Greaber, Atlanta, Ga.;
Kathleen M. Klaudt, Gastonia,
N. C.; Jeffrey S. Martin,
Atlantic Beach, Fla.; Jean M.
McGinnis, Miami, Fla.; Mary
C. O’Leary, Belvedere, S.C.;
Deborah K. Prince, St.
Stephen’s Church, Va.; Jeffrey
B. Sailstad, Davidson, N.C.;
and Michael M. Weber,
Springfield, Va.
Alumni
Visit«ed
on Tour
Rhode Island Yankee
On Oct. 11 Harry ('reemers,
director of admissions, and Jay
Hriody, director in institutional
relations, left for a five-day
recruiting and alumni trip.
They visited Norfolk, Virginia
Beach, Richmond, Washington,
D C., New Jersey and New York
City.
Briody, who is responsible for
alumni relations, said the trip
was very successful. "We were
able to visit with a lot of alumni
and gain feedback from them.”
Briody hopes that alumni
chapters can be reorganized in
Richmond and the Tidewater
areas.
The two administrators also
visited with the Washington,
D.('. chapter, which is-very
active, and several people in
New Jersey who are interested
in organizing a chapter.
Help Us
Recruit
The Admissions Office at
Belmont Abbey College needs
your help in recruiting qualified
■students to attend Belmont
Abbey.
If you know of a prospective
.\bbey student, send us his or
her name, address and
telephone number. We’d ap
preciate any leads you can give
us.
V\e promise to follow up with
the prospect by sending a letter
and literature on the Abbey.
.Send names to the Admissions
Office, Belmont Abbey College,
Belmont, N.C. 28012.
Thanks to the many alumni
and alumnae that have helped
us thus far this year by sending
us names and addresses. We
appreciate it!
Head Abbey Chemist
KB. ARTHUR PENDLETON. O.S.B.
§I^CnjGtiT
«yni.MIIE880LARI. O.8.B.
In this issue Crossroads has chosen to focus attention upon one of
the prominent members of the science faculty. Fr. Arthur Pen
dleton, O.S.B. is the chairman of the department of chemistry. He is
a Rhode Island Yankee who was bom and grew up in a typical, small
New England town called Harrisville. Back in the nineteen thirties
and forties the town’s chief industry and base of economy was tex
tiles. So it was quite natural for Arthur to become interested in the
manufacture of textile products as a young student in high school.
He enrolled in the Rhode Island School of Design and took a
bachelor of science degree in textile chemistry and coloring. His
best recollections of those undergraduate years have been etched by
long afternoons in the lab, courses in design and technology, with
correspondingly little free time for recreation and involvement in
student activities. He does admit to having been a fair-to-middling
touch football player on intramural teams.
His involvement in chemistry next led to a two year graduate
program at the Institute of Textile Technology in Charlottesville,
Virginia, where he also was initiated into the charm of Southern folk
ways in the homeland of Thomas Jefferson. It wasn’t long before
Arthur became charged up over his research topic and completed a
Master’s dissertation on: “The Control of Static Electricity in
Textile Manufacturing.” This graduate study was supplemented by
summer employment at Milliken & Company which was located in
the town of Pendleton, S. C. which, it is said, was named for one of the
renegade members of the Pendleton clan who fled Rhode Island for
Dixie long before the war between the states.
The ink was scarcely dry on his newly acquired Master’s diploma
when Uncle Sam beckoned and Arthur was inducted into the United
States Army in January of 1954. After completing basic training at
Ft. Dix, he was assigned to an engineering construction battalion and
whisked over to Korea where he would serve for a year. He actually
enjoyed this tour of duty and discovered the people to be friendly and
the scenery captivating. Particularly memorable was an “R & R”
leave in Japan where his textile connections from the U. S. afforded
him entry into circles which the normal tourist would not enjoy. He
was enchanted by the delicate beauty of Oriental art and the
elegance of the Japanese culture.
After an honorable discharge from the service in August of 1955, he
returned to academic pursuits and put in three months of lab
research at the University of Rhode Island on the fungicidal treat
ment of golf putting greens. Surprisingly this rather intimate con
tact with the sport did not rub off and he never had the urge to chase
a little white ball across the links!
In 1956 he returned to the employ of Millikan & Co. in Union, S. C. in
a ladies wear finishing plant and within the year was promoted to
head the laboratory. It was while he was here that he came into
contact with the Benedictines of Belmont. In 1958 Arthur was drawn
to Belmont Abbey and entered the monastery. After completing his
monastic formation and seminary studies, he added “Father” to his
name as he received ordination to the priesthood.
During this same period through summer work at Notre Dame
University, he earned a second Master’s degree in chemistry and in
the regular semesters he taught part-time in the chemistry depart
ment under the late Dr. Joseph Matthews. From 1968 to 1972 he was
engaged in doctoral studies at Clemson University and was awarded
the Ph.D. degree. Once more involved in instruction at Belmont, he
was promoted to assistant and then to associate professor of
chemistry. Upon the retirement of Dr. Winslow Hartford from full
time teaching, Fr. Arthur was appointed department chairman.
He holds active membership in the American Chemical Society
and the American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists. His
earlier association with Millikan made him especially sensitive to
the industrial needs of the surrounding area, and he has developed
several courses for local chemists. He has acquired a reputation for
thoroughness and high standards of performance, and this has
established his organic chemistry course as a genuine test of the
seriousness of pre-med students.
His time is absorbed by monastic duties and instructional
responsibilities in the college; however, he escapes several times a
week for brisk sets of tennis with colleagues or students. As an
avocation he turns to reading in the field of psychology. He has a
serious interest in promoting the habit of rational inquiry through the
study of science. In 1976-1977 he was chosen to [jarticipate in a Lilly
Fellowship grant for the study of learning difficulties at Duke
University.
Belmont Abbey College recognizes Fr. Arthur Pendleton, O.S.B.
for his devotion to his students and wishes him many rewarding
years of future service.