131/365 Graduation and building name change.

5-11-2013

Dr. Burks passes the University Mace to Dr. McLarty this morning at graduation.  June 1st, Dr. McLarty will become Harding's fifth president and Dr. Burks will become the second Chancellor and Dr. Ganus will become Chancellor Emeritus.  On the left is Dr. John Simmons who is Chairman of Harding's Board of Trustees.

 As a University photographer, you work for these moments in the history of your school.  I usually never know when one of those important moments will happen.  Today is different.  Today is the last time Dr. Burks will be the president of Harding at an official event.

 Dr. Burks was the commencement speaker today just as Dr. Ganus was the speaker at his last graduation as President back in the May of 1997.  Dr. Burks spoke to the graduates about-Preparation, Passion, Prayer and Priorities.

I took this photo with my iPhone during the 1pm ceremony as Dr. Burks gave the commencement address.

Passing the Mace

After the graduation at 9am there was a short unveiling  ceremony as the American Heritage Conference becomes the David B. Burks American Heritage Building.  Members of the Board of Trustees hold down the lines to the tarp that covers up the name on the building.

The naming of major campus buildings is a tradition that was continued today.  J. N. Armstrong has a dorm named after him.  Dr. George S. Benson has the Benson Auditorium  and Dr. Clifton L. Ganus has the Ganus Athletic Center which is lovingly refereed to as the GAC. Today, we have the Burks Building.

I've never known Harding University without Dr. Burks as the President.  I look forward to the future with Dr. McLarty as president and continuing as the University Photographer which I consider to be the best job on campus.

109/365 Presidential Memories

4-19-2013

It has been a school year of lasts for Dr. Burks.  Tonight, was the last Faculty Staff Dinner as President.
Liz Howell and Mark Prior put together a video that was a Snapshot of the Burks presidency that was really cool.  The pivotal movement for me was when Cliff Ganus III asked the Burks to step up to the stage and the crowd sang The Lord Bless You and Keep You.

The Burks are not leaving, but he will no longer  be the President.  I look forward to working with President McLarty, but it won't be the same as working for Dr. Burks.  To me Dr. Burks has been Harding as I have known it.  I came as a freshman in the fall of 1988, the second year of Dr. Burks' presidency.  I have been the University photographer since the fall of 1991.  We have spent a good deal of time together over the years and its been fun.  It is also kind of cool that Dr. Burks has a photography background.  He worked in HS and at Harding as a yearbook photographer.  He understands what is going on in my world and what I am trying to do as I work because he has been behind the camera himself.  I guess what I am trying to say is he may be the President at Harding but I feel like I have the best job at Harding and for that I am thankful.

Tonight, I got a photo of the First Ladies of Harding: Ann McLarty, Louise Ganus, and Leah Burks.  I have already taken a shot of the three presidents but I have never seen a photo of the First Ladies before.  That is a shame because they are an equally important part of the success of Harding.

As I think about it, I have known all of Hardings Presidents except J. N. Armstrong who was the first President.  I took Dr. Benson's photo for the Petit Jean my freshman year.  Dr. Ganus has been my care group elder for years and he comes over periodically with photos when he needs power points made for speaking engagements.  Dr. Burks and I definitely have a relationship.  As for Dr. McLarty, I didn't know him until 1992 when he came to College Church as the pulpit minister.  I did know all the other McLarty family members because Julie and her family grew up with them in the Holmes Road Church in Memphis.

I am thankful for Dr. Burks' leadership at Harding and I look forward to the future photographing Dr. McLarty.

On a side note-

This is Dr. Mike James, fellow Photo a Day blogger, receiving his 40 year service pin from Provost Larry Long.  Congratulations Mike on your years of service.