151/365 Harding Presidential History

05-31-2013

In a brief afternoon ceremony Dr. Burks handed over the keys to the office to Dr. McLarty.  We move from the 4th President in Dr. Burks and the only President I have ever know at Harding to Dr. Mclarty. I am looking forward to working with Dr. McLarty and learning how he likes things and hearing his speeches and watching him lead Harding into the future.

Dr. McLarty, Dr Ganus and Dr. Burks pose for a quick photo in the president's office.  It was fun to hear Dr. Ganus telling the story about Dr. Burks coming in one day several weeks before he became president and he confessed to Dr. Ganus that he didn't want his office to be in the Administration Building.  Dr. Ganus said he could tell that Dr. Burks was not sure how he would feel about him moving the office to a different building.  Dr. Ganus smiled and said "I was so relieved that I wasn't going to have to move my office."

I am thankful that I have known 4 of the 5 Harding Presidents.  I took Dr. Benson's photo for the Petit Jean my freshman year.  Dr. Ganus has been our Care Group Elder at College Church for years. My first real conversation with Dr. Burks was correcting him from calling me the wrong name,  He kept on calling me Leslie (Downs) who was the University Photographer before me.  I was scared to death and he was kind and said he was sorry and he never called me Leslie again.

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.