The Lyon College Piper Winter 2017

WINTER 2017 • VOLUME 45, NO. 1 EDITOR

Dr. Diane Tebbetts

DESIGNER Chris Hill

WRITERS

Daniel Haney, ’08 Alexandra Patrono-Smith, ’15 Diane Tebbetts

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Mike Kemp, ’88 Chris Hill Wes Obrigewitsch Alexandra Patrono-Smith, ’15 The Scot Yearbook Staff Dr. Dave Thomas Workhorse Creative

SUBMISSIONS AND CHANGES

For class notes or birth or death notices, email alumni@lyon.edu. To update your information, visit lyon.edu/update-your-info.

For other editorial matters or submissions, email marketing@lyon.edu.

The Lyon College Board of Trustees has elected my successor, Dr. Joseph “Joey” King, who will become the 18th president of Lyon College. I am confident he will do a splendid job moving the College forward. My time here has been both a challenge and a delight. Returning to a place where I taught for 16 years to find the core of the College still intact was a pleasant discovery.

The summer of 2009 was the last year of a difficult financial time for the nation and the College. Many good liberal arts colleges had lost sight of their place in higher education because of the hardships caused by the troubled economy. Lyon had not.

THE LYON COLLEGE PIPER

is published twice a year. This year, we celebrate 45 years of keeping alumni connected. Copyright 2017 Lyon College.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT Gina Garrett, ’93

ALUMNI RELATIONS

Later pages in this issue will discuss some of the challenges and changes the College has experienced during the past eight years, but that may not capture the absolute joy Lynn and I have felt being here and serving this community. What a great way for us

Taryn Hill Duncan, ’91

to complete our careers! It is my hope that Joey and Leigh King

ANNUAL GIVING

will discover what a special place this is and what a privilege it

Daniel Haney, ’08

LYON COLLEGE

is a selective, independent, undergraduate, residential teaching and learning community affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Lyon College offers a challenging curriculum centered on the liberal arts, guided by an honor system and coordinated with co-curricular programs, all fostering the critical, creative thought and ethical, spiritual growth that will prepare students for fulfilling personal and professional lives committed to lifelong learning and service.

PRESIDENT

Dr. Donald Weatherman

PROVOST

is to serve both the mission of Lyon College and the people who have dedicated their lives to it.

It has been an honor to serve the Lyon community for 24 years, and I am very thankful to have had the opportunity. If you are ever near Due West, South Carolina, please stop by; we have plenty of room for company. If no one comes to the front door when you knock, just come out back: I may still be tearing down the old pig barn.

Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Eric Bork, ’07

LYON COLLEGE

2300 Highland Road Batesville, AR 72501 870.307.7000 www.lyon.edu

D ON A L D WEA T H ER M A N President of Lyon College

ON CAMPUS

THE “NEW” LYON.EDU The Office of Marketing and Communications has been hard at work relaunching the College’s website.

Visit lyon.edu today, and let us know what you think at marketing@lyon.edu.

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THE FIRST LADY

22

NEW FACES AT LYON

27

DAVE THOMAS

28

HOMECOMING 2016

32

ARKANSAS SCOTTISH FESTIVAL

34

STUDENT FEATURE

LIBERAL ARTS IN ACTION 37

FACULTY NOTES

40

DUSTYN BORK

ALUMNI 46

WORLD TRAVELER

48

ALUMNI AWARDS

50

HALL OF FAME

52

MILESTONES

ON THE COVER: Photo by Mike Kemp, ’88

GIVING

President Donald Weatherman stands in the beautiful living room of his home, Bradley Manor, named after the parents of the late Mrs. Marion (Bradley) Lyon.

Over the last eight years, Dr. and Mrs. Weatherman have opened their home to host thousands of faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents, and friends. Don and Lynn will move out of this lovely home at the end of the academic year and relocate to their retirement home in Due West, South Carolina.

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GOSPEL CHOIR

56

DOIN HICKS

62

K-9 PHILANTHROPY

64

BROWN CHAPEL RENOVATION

FEATURE ARTICLE:

MOVING LYON FORWARD

FOLLOW YOUR SCOTS

KEEP IN TOUCH Send your alumni news, change of address, or updated contact information or email to alumni@lyon.edu.

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MOVING LYON FORWARD PRESIDENT DONALD V. WEATHERMAN TO RETIRE IN JUNE

After eight years at the helm of Lyon College, Donald Weatherman is retiring as president and moving back to Due West, South Carolina, where he and his wife, Lynn, own a home on five acres with a small pond. He’s ready to slow down, leaving behind the responsibilities that can be a 24-hour-a-day job in favor of sailing, entertaining his two grandchildren, and traveling with Lynn. It’s a bittersweet time for him: besides his presidency, he was a faculty member at Lyon for 16 years, and he says he will miss many of the things he is involved with here and more especially the people he has gotten to know in the community.

Don Weatherman is a close personal friend.

The two of us have spent countless hours together during my time on the board, and I will truly miss him when he departs for South Carolina. Those of us who know Don well suspect that he will not tolerate retirement for long, but we all wish him the best in his efforts to head in that direction.

Perry L. Wilson

Weatherman grew up in Los Angeles, where his

Chairman, Lyon College Board of Trustees Little Rock, Arkansas

father owned a gas station and body shop and his

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mother rose from a part-time teller position

His years at Claremont Graduate University

with Wells Fargo Bank to a vice presidency,

were transformative: after years in large

the first woman in California to be promoted

public institutions, he discovered the value

to that level of leadership. Weatherman

of study at a small, private liberal arts school.

knew from the time he was in third grade

His mentors were both political philosophers

until his junior year of college that he was

and political operatives, heavily involved in

going to be a lawyer, but then two things

the political scene of the seventies, when

happened: he interned at a law firm and he

Ronald Reagan was governor of California

took a political philosophy class. He decided

and Richard Nixon was president. In 1972,

he didn’t want to work in a law firm, but he did think he might want to teach, and that became his career goal.

A

first-generation

college

student

he was a campaign

Dr. Weatherman is unique—a one-of-a-kind person—a powerful and thoughtful voice of reason in a very confusing world. We are all better people because of him.

without financial aid, Weatherman 13

years

spent completing

Phil Baldwin

President and CEO, The Citizens Bank Batesville, Arkansas

his higher education,

coordinator

for

the

Committee

to

Re-

elect

President

the

and organized the last political rally held for Richard Nixon, when the president returned to his home state to vote.

Though

many

may take issue with the outcome of that

interrupting his studies many times as he

election, Weatherman’s final paycheck from

worked his way through school, earning an

the campaign allowed him to buy Lynn an

A.A., a B.A., an M.A., and a Ph.D. Besides

engagement ring.

serving for seven years in the National Guard, he worked as a carpenter, a store

In 1976, he accepted his first full-time

manager, a public relations representative at

teaching job at the College of Idaho, a

Santa Anita Race Track, a political campaign

small Presbyterian-related college, where

manager, and ultimately a teacher.

he taught for three years. This marked the beginning of a career devoted to private

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his paternal grandfather, an inventor in the oil industry who lived in Kansas but made trips to the Louisiana oil fields. Though he often took different routes, he always had one requirement: every trip had to go through Batesville because it was such a lovely small town. Weatherman’s father remembered these trips and was quite surprised when his son told him he was about to move there.

His second connection was Lynn’s parents, John and Margaret Blyth, who had decided to retire in Arkansas and had purchased land near Mountain Home. Although they were having house plans drawn up, when they

residential liberal arts schools. Next came five years at a Catholic school, the College of St. Catherine, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Both colleges recognized him for his outstanding teaching and for his leadership in developing academic programs.

Weatherman came to what was then Arkansas College in 1983 as the John D. Trimble, Sr., Professor of Political Philosophy. He had two connections to Arkansas. The first was

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The Blyths [Lynn’s parents] were good friends of ours when Don taught at Lyon—in fact, we bought their home when the Blyths moved. When they moved back, Margaret was a widow and lived with the Weathermans.

She loved to come to our house where she once lived, and we had wonderful lengthy visits. Don stayed and visited like he had nothing else to do. No wonder Margaret loved him.

Kate Cooke

Charter Member, First Ladies Auxiliary Batesville, Arkansas

learned that the Weathermans were moving

of America’s two-party system.

to Batesville, they sold their property and moved there too.

In 1986, Weatherman received the College’s Lamar Williamson Prize for Excellence

Weatherman established the philosophy

in Teaching, a prize awarded annually to a

and politics programs at the College and

faculty member who is deemed outstanding

developed the Honors International Studies

in four areas: professional competence,

Program, which was eventually replaced by

scholarly ability, exemplification of humane

the Nichols International Studies Program. As

and Christian values, and contribution to

a faculty member, he

the

designed the faculty

Nominations

and staff assemblies, served for years as a division chair, and was instrumental in the hiring of many faculty

members.

In 1988, he spent seven

months

Washington,

in

D.C.,

Of all the things I’ve done in my life, nothing has been as enjoyable and rewarding as teaching.

as one of the first

community.

from

faculty

students, final

come

and

the

selection

is

made based on the recommendation of

a

selection

committee composed of

representatives

from the trustees, the administration,

Bradley Resident Scholars at the Heritage

and

the

faculty, and the student body.

Foundation. He has published numerous articles on politics and on higher education.

Weatherman truly loves teaching. He says,

He wrote a weekly opinion column during

“Of all the things I’ve done in my life,

these years, first for the Batesville Daily

nothing has been as enjoyable and rewarding

Guard and then for the Arkansas Democrat-

as teaching.” He is fascinated by the growth

Gazette. In 1994, he published Endangered

he sees in students over their four years of

Guardians:

a

college and adds that the transformations

Constitutional System, an intellectual history

he has seen in Lyon students are more

Party

Reform

within

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impressive than anywhere else he has taught.

He faced some major challenges when he

He served many years as the pre-law advisor,

arrived: enrollment was at a historic low,

and his influence on those students has been

and nearly every building on campus was

profound. He tells the story of a trip he took to

showing the effect of deferred maintenance.

Little Rock soon after returning to Lyon as president: he asked his administrative assistant to set up lunch with some central Arkansas alumni who had been his students. Thirteen showed up—and all of them were lawyers! “It was frightening,” he joked.

In 1999, Weatherman left Lyon to become vice

president

and

He took both on, stating

Don Weatherman’s optimism made him the perfect leader for Lyon College during the time of his tenure. His cheerful confidence infects others and steers them toward finding solutions instead of lamenting calamity. I doubt anyone else could have brought the College through the difficult early years of his presidency. Our future accomplishments will stand on the foundation he built.

dean of the college at

Erskine

another

College,

Suzanne Blair, ’68

Lyon College Board of Trustees Batesville, Arkansas

Presbyterian-

that while replacing roofs and re-doing bathrooms wasn’t

especially

exciting or even very visible to many people, it was necessary to provide a welcoming and healthy campus provide

that an

could attractive

home to students. As the end of his presidency approaches, he is leading a capital campaign to renovate and upgrade the Brown Chapel and Fine Arts Building, the oldest academic building on campus, to become a

related school, in Due West, South Carolina.

top-quality musical performance venue and

In 2009, he returned to Lyon as its 17th

learning space.

president. He often jokes that being gone for ten years was “just long enough for everyone

In the second year of his presidency,

to forget what I was like, so that’s why they

he

asked me to come back.”

destruction of Edwards Commons by

encountered another challenge: the

fire. Because this vital building housed

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the student center, dining hall, bookstore, game room, and student life offices, making interim arrangements to feed students and building a replacement became critical tasks.

Two years later, after he had personally conducted a massive fundraising effort, the new Edwards Commons opened, offering a new dining hall and kitchen, student center, bookstore, game room, and student life offices, as well as a bistro, cardio exercise room, student mailboxes, and student programming space.

Don Weatherman provided Lyon College with vital leadership and a steady hand at the helm at a critical time in the life of the College. His leadership and innovative skills have taken us from near the brink to the success that is needed to ensure a bright future for Lyon. He will be sorely missed.

The Honorable Bill Walmsley, ’63

Lyon College Board of Trustees Batesville, Arkansas

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But Weatherman’s accomplishments reach

everything,” he says. “The more students

far beyond building the new Edwards

we bring here, the more graduates Lyon will

Commons

campus

have to represent the value of their excellent

buildings. He also raised the funds needed

liberal arts education.” He points out that

for construction of the new Wilson and

student revenue has increased from $5

Whiteside residence halls, the Hatcher

million in 2008-09 to $10 million last year.

Wrestling Center, and the Football Training

“Nothing in fundraising or the endowment

and

renovating

Center; established the Chinese student recruitment

program;

implemented

an

aggressive and comprehensive strategic plan; and spearheaded significant enrollment growth.

Under his leadership, enrollment has grown by 56 percent, from 413 in the fall of 2008 to 690 this fall. A contributing factor was the reinstitution in 2013—after a 62-year hiatus—of intercollegiate football, which drew football players and musicians for the newly-instituted marching band. Introduced that same year were new programs in men’s and women’s wrestling, which attracted students from across the country. Along with enrollment, financial aid has increased, rising from just over $7 million in 2009 to more than $10 million currently.

Seeing growth in enrollment has been the most exciting part of Weatherman’s

Don Weatherman has had a tremendous impact on Lyon College, and Lyon would not be where it is today without his many contributions. His ability to work closely with the board of trustees and establish a relationship of trust with just about every trustee has contributed to the growth and progress of Lyon College during his presidency. Don really understands how crucial it is for a president and a board of trustees to be able to completely trust each other and work hand in hand if success is to be had.

Perry L. Wilson

Chairman, Lyon College Board of Trustees Little Rock, Arkansas

presidency. “Students are the key to

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has that kind of impact,” he adds.

I knew I wanted to work for Dr. Weatherman when I met

Some of his favorite times as president have been getting to know and work with the

him as part of my on-campus interview in April 2014. I spent

College’s board of trustees. “It’s enjoyable to spend time with very successful people, educating

them

about

the

over an hour with him, but it felt like it was only 10 minutes.

I could tell that he loved Lyon

institution

and learning from them about business management,” he stated. His time with

College very deeply and worked very hard to help it grow and thrive. But he also knew how to have fun along the way and let us know that having fun was a good thing.

the late Frank Lyon, Jr., was especially illuminating. He is also pleased that he was able to see increasing numbers of successful alumni join the board.

He is, in addition, proud of the strong sense

John Jones

of community on the campus. He tells people

Vice President for Business and Finance, Lyon College

that Lyon is not an educational institution but an educational community. The difference is important. At educational institutions,

Batesville High School’s Pioneer Stadium,

everyone

educational

which promotes interaction between town

communities, everyone helps. During the

and gown; the wrestling program, which is

recent presidential search, consultant Ann

one of very few such programs offered at

Die Hasselmo, the former president of

the college-level; and the new Celtic studies

Hendrix College, told Weatherman that this

minor, another rarely offered program that

sense of kinship in the Lyon community is

heightens the College’s emphasis on its

exceptional.

Scottish heritage.

competes.

In

Weatherman points out other things that

Weatherman sums up his expectations for

make Lyon College a special place: the LEAP

Lyon after he leaves: “I believe the College

program, which capitalizes on the natural

will continue to grow and thrive.”

beauties of the location; football played at

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THE FIRST LADY Lynn

Weatherman

grew

up

around

university bookstore. Margaret Blyth loved to

colleges. Her father, Dr. John Blyth, was

entertain, and professors and administrators

a pianist and professor of music at the

were frequently invited to join the Blyths for

University of Nebraska until she was seven,

dinner.

moving then to head the piano department at San Diego State University. When Lynn

Their only child graduated cum laude from

was ten, her mother began working at the

Pomona College in Claremont, California,

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with a B.A. in English in 1971. During the 1970s, she was a secretary, working for politics professors at Claremont McKenna College and Claremont Graduate University before moving up with one of those faculty members when he became academic dean at CMC. She credits those professors with introducing her to her future husband during his studies there. Wanting to keep a good secretary and help a stand-out graduate student, they gave Don money so he could hire a professional typist to prepare his papers. That professional was Lynn, who was also self-employed as an editor and typist, specializing in preparing manuscripts for publication. Since that time, Lynn has worked at Don’s side, editing and polishing every piece he has written for print.

Lynn Weatherman will tell you that being a wife and mother is her life’s work and greatest blessing. In fact, she very proudly refers to herself as a homemaker. However, that isn’t the full story. Lynn has devoted countless hours to Lyon College.

Whether she’s raising money for the First Ladies’ Auxiliary, planning an event or renovation, or proofreading pages upon pages of donor lists, Lynn is dedicated to helping Lyon College shine in the eyes of all our constituents.

Clarinda Foote

Director of Administration, Lyon College

When she attended Pomona, the college was at the forefront of the liberal issues of the

advantage of the opportunity to be exactly

day—radical feminism, anti-war protests,

what she wanted to be: a wife, mother, and

civil rights, and more. When her friends

supporter of her husband’s career—her

learned she was marrying a conservative

ambition since childhood. That has remained

and wanted to be a homemaker, they were

her motivation throughout the partnership of

aghast. How could she not live up to her

the Weathermans’ marriage.

potential and take advantage of all the opportunities opening up for women? Lynn

When Don and Lynn started their family

calmly informed them that she was taking

in 1979, Lynn briefly continued her typing

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business but soon became a stay-at-home

“If something needed doing, I had no problem

mom to children David and Andrea and a

taking care of it,” she stated, remembering

full-time homemaker. She has seen her role

getting dressed up and walking (the

at Lyon as an expansion of her family role,

Weathermans had only one car at the time)

becoming the homemaker for the entire

to the office of Dale Cole, President and

campus community: as Lyon’s homemaker

CEO of a new bank starting up in Batesville,

she has striven to make sure the home is

to solicit sponsorship of the Symphony

in good shape, that all the chores get done,

League, which had to raise $10,000 each

and that there are ample opportunities for

year to bring a symphony performance to

the Lyon community to come together over

Batesville. Cole readily agreed, making the

meals.

Lynn to

Symphony first

Lyon

came

in

1983

when Don accepted a

position

as

a

political philosophy professor.

During

those years she was an

active

If something needed doing, I had no problem taking care of it.

one

of

League the

first

beneficiaries of First Community

Bank’s

commitment to its hometown.

(Cole

now serves on the Lyon College Board of Trustees.)

member

of Batesville’s First Presbyterian Church,

When Don became division chair at Lyon,

singing in the choir, serving as an elder,

Lynn followed her mother’s example by

and actively participating in Presbyterian

entertaining faculty frequently in the family

Women. She also enjoyed membership in

home across the street from Central School.

P.E.O., Athena Study Club, Musical Arts

“My models were Sidney West [wife of

Club, and Batesville Symphony League.

former president Dan West] and Diana

Because she did not work outside the home,

Dahlquist [wife of former dean of the faculty

she was able to make time to serve these

John Dahlquist],” Lynn said. “Both were

groups as an officer.

iconic in their understanding of how to offer their constituents hospitality.”

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In 1999, the Weathermans moved to Due West, South Carolina, where Don became the academic dean and later executive vice president of Erskine College. Lynn continued to entertain frequently and to participate actively in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. They returned to Batesville in 2009 when Don accepted the position of president of Lyon College.

As first lady, Lynn has volunteered countless hours to Lyon, assisting with clerical work, coordinating events, and directing renovation projects. Lyon did not have the funds to hire a college hostess, but she was still glad to take on the challenge of coordinating the yearly cycle of ongoing events

Mrs. Weatherman always excelled in putting Lyon College’s best foot forward. Whether it was a recurring special event like the Arkansas Scottish Festival or a non-recurring event, her clear thinking, good planning, decorative and artistic talents, and attention to detail always helped Lyon College’s light shine bright.

John Jones

Vice President for Business and Finance Lyon College

hosted by the president and spouse. Some existing events, such as the Senior Dinner, were revamped, and the Weathermans introduced some new events, like the Faculty/Trustee Appreciation Dinner.

Lynn has assisted the president’s office by helping to develop a system to project on-campus and off-campus obligations for each academic year, a campus-wide master calendar system, cultural events promotional literature, and guidelines for making travel arrangements for the president. She also helped the business office update the venue reservation policy and directed the production of a sales brochure for venue rentals.

Mrs. Weatherman is a dynamic and intelligent woman who is always putting Lyon first. She has helped Sodexo and me provide better catering services for Lyon and the community. I have been honored to work with her for the four years I have been at Lyon.

Sandra Harbison

General Manager of Food Services, Sodexo Batesville, Arkansas

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several

years,

she

also

proofed

and edited all correspondence, formal

I am in awe of Lynn’s ability to get

statements,

things done. If there is an event to be planned and executed, she is the one for the task. She

invitations,

programs

for

major events, and promotional literature associated with the president’s office, including all printed materials for Founders’ Day,

the

Arkansas

homecoming,

Scottish

commencement,

Festival, and

the

President’s Council. To help assure correct grammar, usage, and punctuation across all departments, she developed a style guide for use in correspondence, programs, and other marketing literature.

has worked tirelessly for Lyon College, giving it her full attention throughout her years here. Her work in organizing the First Ladies’ Auxiliary will go down as an important accomplishment in restoring some of the wonderful spaces on campus.

Sidney West

Lynn helped organize and steer such major

Former Arkansas College First Lady Atlanta, Georgia

fundraisers as Black Tie/Blue Jeans at Chimney Rock in Concord, Arkansas, Gridiron Gala on campus, and a Burns Night

One

of

her

most

outstanding

supper at the Clinton Presidential Library

accomplishments was the establishment in

in Little Rock. She helped coordinate

2011 of the First Ladies’ Auxiliary, which

Lyonhearted, a major event celebrating

has raised more than $100,000 for campus

the life and contributions to the College of

beautification. Lynn feels strongly about

Dr. Frank Lyon, Jr., and his wife Jane. She

keeping the campus in good order: “When

has assisted with plans and fundraising for

we first open a space on campus, dedications

the renovation of the Brown Chapel and Fine

are held and memorials are made,” she

Arts Building and has recently overseen the

said. “After that, it is the College’s obligation

renovation and furnishing of the Highland

to ensure that facilities are well-maintained

House, a large three-story home on the bluff

as an acknowledgment of the generosity of

a block west of the main campus.

our supporters.” When the Weathermans returned to Lyon, however, they found

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Lyon College Burns Night at the Clinton Presidential Library, February 2016. From left to right: Mrs. Lynn and President Weatherman, Mr. Tim Cullen, and trustee Mrs. Sarah (Greenwood) Cullen, ’00.

“extensive deferred maintenance throughout

each, to be renewed annually, to fund projects

the campus,” according to Lynn.

chosen by the auxiliary.

She invited two former first ladies, Mrs.

The group’s first project was to refurbish

Carolyn Holloway and Mrs. Sidney West,

the Bevens Music Room in Brown Chapel

to join her in founding the auxiliary, which

with a thorough cleaning, new paint, and

solicits funds to make campus improvements.

reupholstering of chairs. The room had

Women who have an association with the

been remodeled in 1989 thanks to the

Lyon College Board of Trustees, either as

generosity of long-time friend of the College

a trustee or as the spouse of a trustee, are

Mrs. Marion Bradley Lyon, but no repairs or

invited to join the auxiliary. However, men

updates had been done since then. The group

wishing to make a contribution in memory

also funded updates to the restrooms in the

of a woman associated with the board have

back hallway of Brown Chapel, restoring the

also joined. Members pledge a gift of $1,000

original tile walls and floors, replacing sinks,

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and hanging vintage campus photos.

painting, recarpeting, reupholstering, and updating the kitchenette. They will also

In 2012-13, the auxiliary made significant

make improvements to the catering kitchen

updates in the small chapel of the Brown

in Brown Chapel.

Chapel and Fine Arts Building, adding new paint and flooring, installing new frosted

Lynn herself has taken on a number of

glass windows, reupholstering seats, and

other improvement projects, such as the

adding a carpet runner. The next year they

Highland House. In addition, she has

refurbished

the

overseen

extensive

Alphin Board Room,

improvements

painting, adding glass

Bradley Manor, the

on

Miller Room in the

the

tabletops,

to

replacing carpet, and

Alphin

Building,

reupholstering chairs.

and

College’s

In

they

guest house. In all

updated the Flanders

the work she has

Reading

done

2014-15,

adding

Room, new

the

to

improve

wood

campus spaces, she

flooring, countertops,

has been a model

and appliances; reupholstering chairs; and

of Presbyterian thriftiness,

repurposing

adding several new pieces.

furniture and shifting pieces from places where they aren’t being used to places

In 2015-16, the auxiliary assisted in the

where they are needed. At the Highland

ongoing renovation of the Brown Chapel

House, for instance, she scoured every

and Fine Arts Building by contributing to

storage space on campus for appropriate

the construction and furnishing of a new

pieces and has donated many pieces of

and much-needed green room at the rear

family furniture that she and Don will not

of the building. This year, they are taking

need in their next home. Don’s parents’

on the refurbishment of the Young Lounge

large collection of Fox prints from the

on the upper floor of the Alphin Building,

Golden Age of Illustration (ca. 1900-40),

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Lynn Weatherman is a fine musician herself, not to mention a woman of impeccable taste. Her remarkable contributions to the College’s musical life are evident throughout Brown Chapel, from the recently refurbished small chapel to the new, spacious practice rooms on the second floor.

Russell Stinson

Josephine Emily Brown Professor of Music Lyon College

Mrs. Lynn Weatherman greets guests in Bradley Manor. Arkansas Scottish Festival, April 2016.

for instance, now graces the walls of the Highland House.

Lynn has enjoyed her role at Lyon for the last eight years, but she is looking forward to sharing retirement with her husband, making sure they have a comfortable home and good food, setting her own schedule, and being responsible for a household of just two.

Mrs. Weatherman has truly gone above and beyond in serving Lyon College in every capacity and was a most deserving recipient of this year’s Honorary Alumna Award. She has always given generously of her time, talent, and treasure and has made a memorable impact on this campus. I have learned so much from working alongside this remarkable woman.

Taryn (Hill) Duncan, ’91

Director of Alumni and Parent Services Lyon College

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NEW FACES AT LYON

New members joining Lyon’s Board of Trustees this fall include John Beller of Cave City, President and CEO of the Bank of Cave City; Cheryl Bryant of Glastonbury, CT, Director of Pharmacy and Retail Operations at Walgreen Co.; Dale Cole of Batesville, President and CEO of First Community Bank; Sarah Cullen of Maumelle, an attorney in Little Rock; Gretchen Hall of Little Rock, President and CEO of the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Joseph Rugger of Bentonville, a retired entrepreneur. Also attending his first meeting as the young alumni trustee was Jason Lochmann, a 2016 graduate. Bryant, Cullen, Hall, and Rugger are also graduates of the College. In addition, the board also nominated and elected the Reverend Bill Branch to serve as the new clergy trustee.

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FACULTY & STAFF Dr. Alexander “Sandy� Beeser is an assistant professor of biology. He earned his B.S. in biology at Concordia University, Montreal, and his Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology at the University of Tennessee, Memphis. Before coming to Lyon, He taught at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, and Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. In addition, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

Dr. Maryline Bossus is an assistant professor of biology. She earned a B.S. in life sciences at the University of Provence in Marseilles, France; M.S. in oceanography at the Center of Oceanology of Marseilles, University of the Mediterranean Sea, Marseilles, France; and Ph.D. in eco-physiology from the University of Montpellier in Montpellier, France. She also held post doctoral fellowships at the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Arkansas and the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom. Before coming to Lyon, Bossus was a seminar lecturer at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma; the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas; and the National Institute of Marine Sciences and Techniques at the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts in France. She also served as an instructor at the University of Montpellier.

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Karin Brown is an assistant professor of education completing her Ed.D. in educational leadership at Arkansas State University, where she already earned her B.S. in elementary education and Specialist in community college teaching degrees. In addition, she earned her M.S. in training systems at the University of Central Arkansas. Before coming to Lyon, she was director of teacher education at Ozarka College in Melbourne, Arkansas, where she also served as academic services coordinator for the TRiO-Student Support Services Program and an adjunct instructor. She was also an adjunct for the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. Her first jobs were as an elementary classroom teacher at Izard County Consolidated Elementary School and Cushman Elementary School.

Ian Campbell is an assistant professor of art. He earned his B.A. in studio art at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, and his M.A. in photography and integrated media at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. He also completed a one-semester art residency at the New York Center for Art and Media Studies in New York City. Campbell taught as a graduate assistant while he was at Ohio University.

Dr. Brian D’Haeseleer is a visiting assistant professor of history.

He earned his A.A. at Tallahassee (Florida) Community College; B.A. in history at Florida State University; M.A. in European history at University College, London; and Ph.D. in American History at American University in Washington, D.C. Before coming to Lyon, he taught at Tallahassee Community College and served as a research assistant at the U.S. Army Center of Military History in Washington, D.C.

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Nancy Kohn is a visiting assistant professor of biology. She earned her B.S. in biology and art at Albright College, Reading, Pennsylvania; M.S. in biology at Saint Louis University; and Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Before coming to Lyon, she taught at the College of New Jersey in Trenton and the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. In addition, she conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis and the Laboratoire Evolution, Génomes et Spéciation, in France.

Mary Elena Wilhoit, is an assistant professor of anthropology.

She earned her B.A. in anthropology and Spanish at Vanderbilt University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She has taught at Northwestern and Columbia College in Chicago.

Since last May, Lyon has also welcomed several new staff members:

Ms. Unswella Ankton

Mr. Robert Austin, ’15

Mrs. Joni Bube

Title III Student Engagement Specialist

Administrative Assistant for Technical Services and Special Collections

International Student Advisor

Mr. Adam Buie

Ms. Alexandrya Burroughs

Mr. Shawn Daniel

Head Golf Coach

Administrative Assistant for Advancement

Assistant Football Coach Offensive Coordinator

Mrs. Tiffany English

Mr. Brian Hardin, II

Admission Services Coordinator

Communications Services Manager

Mrs. Shelly Hendrix

Mr. J. Ross Harrison

Ms. Victoria Hartogh, ’16

Athletic Trainer

Admission Counselor

Special Events Coordinator

Mrs. Valerie Hill

Dr. Robert Krapohl

Mrs. Nicole Marlin

Coordinator of Music Recruitment and Events

Director of the Library

Administrative Coordinator for Marketing and Communications

Mr. Marc Neddo

Mr. Wes Obrigewitsch

Ms. Alexandra Patrono-Smith, ’15

Ms. Avens Ridgeway, ’13

Head Women’s Soccer Coach

Design Specialist

Mr. Jonathan Rogers

Ms. Markeita Williams, ’16

Athletic Trainer

Administrative Assistant to the President’s Office

Communications Specialist

Admission Counselor

DAVE THOMAS On Sunday, October 23, the Lyon College

as the pre-health professions advisor for

Board of Trustees honored Dr. David

nursing, allied health science, and medical

Thomas by naming him the Willie Dillard

technology. He also serves as president of the

Bryan Endowed Professor of Biology.

Cavers of the Batesville Region of Arkansas (COBRA) Grotto, an official chapter of the

A member of the Lyon faculty since

National Speleological Society.

1999, Thomas is a man who is as broad in his interests as he is in his talents. He’s

Thomas is also a skilled photographer. Often

a professor, biologist, researcher, caver,

spotted at Lyon events and around town toting

photographer, and qualified paramedic—just

his camera, he has seen his photographs

to name a few of his skills.

appear in the Batesville Daily Guard, Lyon publications, online news sites, coffee table

Inside the lab, Thomas studies astrobiology,

books, and all over Flickr (an image and

a multidisciplinary field concerned with

video hosting website) and Facebook.

the origin, nature, and existence of life beyond Earth. His research focuses on

The Willie Dillard Bryan Professorship of

how microorganisms adapt to extreme

Biology was established in October 1986 to

environments and how to apply this

honor the lives and generosity of Mrs. Willie

knowledge to extraterrestrial environments.

Dillard Bryan and her husband, Mr. Rountree Caldwell Bryan.

Outside the lab, Thomas advises biology majors and undeclared students and serves

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HOMECOMING Founded in 1872, Lyon College has had plenty of time to develop rich traditions, with many of them revolving around Founders’ Day. The 88th annual homecoming celebrations kicked off with the Founders’ Day convocation on Friday, October 21. The class of 2017 donned caps and gowns for the first time as they listened to Dr. Brooks Blevins, ’92, Professor of History at Missouri State University in Springfield and author of Lyon College 1872-2002, Ghost of the Ozarks, and Arkansas/Arkansaw.

Friday afternoon, the Lyon College Career Development Center hosted its first Career EXPLO—a networking event designed to connect current students with successful alumni, corporate recruiters, graduate schools, and professional schools.

The weekend was full of events and activities, including the Alumni Awards Banquet, Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans, Club 50 Luncheon, Alumni sports games, and the Homecoming football game. Geoffrey Carter, ’17, and Elliot Taylor, ’17, were named the 2016 Lyon College King and Queen during halftime ceremonies of the Scots’ 34-17 loss at the hands of Arizona Christian University.

Mark your calendars now for Homecoming 2017. Join us on campus the weekend of October 20-22, 2017!

ly on . e du /sc ot t ishfest

Friday, April 7 Celtic Concert

Saturday, April 8 Solo Piping Competitions Book Sale @ the Mabee-Simpson Library Sheepdog Demonstrations Highland Dancing 5k Run and Bike Race Parade of Scottish Clans and Bands Dog Show Southwest Pipe Band Championship Award Ceremonies Feast & Ceilidh

Sunday, April 9 Tea and Scones Fellowship Iona Worship Service Book Sale @ the Mabee-Simpson Library Sheepdog Demonstrations Highland Dancing Lyon College Pipe Band Performance Bonniest Knees Contest

LI BE RAL ARTS I N ACT I ON

Student Feature:

SHELBY LEGARDYE

Whether she’s backpacking through the

“I’d been to three or four doctors, and every

Ozarks with the Lyon Education and

single one of them told me that I was just

Adventure Program (LEAP) or donating

going through a growth spurt and sent me

her time to her sorority’s philanthropy,

home,” LeGardye said. “By the time I was

Shelby LeGardye, ’18, is an active presence

admitted to Children’s Hospital in Little

on campus. She’s a LEAP leader, head of

Rock, you could see the ribs in my back and

intramurals and internal affairs manager

my spine. Within an hour, they told me I was

for Chi Omichron, and vice president of the

diabetic, and it was like—finally, we know

Black Student Association.

what’s wrong.”

She also has type 1 diabetes.

It’s little wonder, then, that LeGardye felt some kind of comfort in her new diagnosis.

Diagnosed at five years old, LeGardye did

After months of fatigue, rapid and dramatic

not feel any fear when doctors explained her

weight loss, and hundreds of unanswered

condition to her parents. She did not cry or

questions, she could finally put a name to

panic—rather, she breathed a sigh of relief.

why she struggled out of bed every morning.

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But this brief moment of comfort would soon

“I don’t feel like I have a cool story to tell,”

crystallize into one cold, hard reality: living

she laughed, shrugging her shoulders. “I

with diabetes was no easy endeavor. Blood

didn’t really cause that much trouble. My

tests,

carbohydrate

friend group was a bunch of people who

calculations, and insulin injections were

didn’t fit into a predetermined group, like

suddenly a part of LeGardye’s everyday

me. We were just a bunch of misfits. But it

life—a life which, for a young girl navigating

was fun. I had fun.”

dietary

restrictions,

her way through elementary, junior high, and high school, was difficult to manage.

These days, LeGardye has disposed of her needles and instead manages her diabetes

“I

was

getting

constantly pulled

out

of class,” LeGardye said. “Before lunch, I’d have to go to the nurse’s

office

for

a shot before I ate,

through an insulin

I don’t feel like I have a cool story to tell.

which meant that I

pump.

The

pump,

a small device that continuously delivers insulin

through

a

catheter placed under the skin, is able to regulate

her

blood

was always late to lunch. People would ask

glucose levels between meals and overnight

me where I went, and sometimes I wouldn’t

without interfering with her day-to-day life.

want to tell them. Other times I didn’t care— it was just a thing I did. Some people have

Regardless of the obstacles she faced

asthma, some have diabetes. It usually didn’t

throughout

bother me. But sometimes it did.”

never let her diagnosis hold her back. As

her

childhood,

LeGardye

a freshman at Lyon, she hit the ground Still, life wasn’t so bad for LeGardye. In

running, exploring every corner of campus

fact, she claims that she had a “pretty cool

life and immersing herself in all that Lyon

upbringing.” Outside of her diabetes, her life

had to offer.

became perfectly average.

“I love getting involved,” LeGardye said.

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“Because of how small it is here, people aren’t involved in just one thing. They’re involved in 50 things, and I love that. In my high school, if you were good at one thing, you stuck to that one thing. You didn’t try to branch out. Here, they encourage you to get

Of course, recognizing her limits itself comes

involved. I’m doing things here that I never

with limitations, with LeGardye refusing to

would have done in high school.”

pull back on her own reins too hard.

One such branch is LeGardye’s employment

“I still strive to be better,” she admits. “I don’t

with LEAP. From backpacking through the

like making excuses for myself. Sometimes

Grand Canyon National Park to fishing on

things hold me back. Sometimes because of

the Norfolk River, her adventurous forays

my diabetes, I have to take a step back, and

into the wild have allowed her to step outside

that’s hard for someone who wants to go full

her comfort zone and acknowledge her own

force.”

limitations.

LeGardye will begin the final semester of her “I’ve always had a problem with—if I know

junior year this spring. She is working toward

I won’t be the best, then I often won’t try,”

a B.A. in psychology with a concentration

LeGardye explained. “And that’s really

in outdoor recreation and plans to pursue a

difficult with outdoor recreation because

career in recreational therapy. As for the rest

you’re always trying things you’ve never

of her life, only time will tell.

done before, and there are always going to be people who are better or worse than you. So,

“If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s to not

I think recognizing that it’s okay not to be the

be afraid to write your own story,” LeGardye

best was a good lesson for me. It makes me

said. “Don’t wait for somebody to step in

a good leader, remembering where I came

and live your life. Live your own life, and

from and recognizing my limits.”

if something happens, just keep going. It’ll be okay.”

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FACULTY NOTES Dr. Lora Adair, Assistant Professor of

Dialogue XI World Congress in Warsaw, and

Biology, has written three entries related to

the conference of the Olympic Center for

human sexuality for the soon-to-be-published

Greek Philosophy and Culture in Olympia

Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological

in Greece. The government of Indonesia

Science. She also presented a paper at

recently awarded her a grant to teach at the

the 2016 conference of the Northeastern

Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University

Evolutionary Psychology Society, “Who

in Jakarta, Indonesia, this semester. She also

wears the pants? The nature of shared

intends to deliver lectures at other Indonesian

decision-making in intimate couples.”

institutions during her time there.

Dr. Martha Beck, Professor of Philosophy,

Mr. Dustyn Bork, Associate Professor of

published four articles on ancient Greek

Art, was an artist-in-residence at Wilson

philosophy

“The

College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania,

Importance of the Arts in the Creation

and was selected for the 58th Annual Delta

of an Ecologically Sustainable Global

Exhibition at the Arkansas Arts Center. This

Civilization,” published by Ionia Press in

fall he won the Individual Artist Fellowship,

Athens. She also presented papers at the

the largest individual art award granted by

World Congress on Aristotle in Athens,

the Arkansas Arts Council, for visual arts

the International Society for Universal

in painting. His solo exhibition, “Structure

and

another

titled

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and Form,” ran November 11 to December

and at the Film Club Café in Naucalpan.

10 at the Tinnin Arts Center of Three Rivers

While promoting Mexiko, Martell also took

College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

part in Universidad Iberoamericana’s radio talk on issues of gender and sexuality.

Dr. Nancy Kohn, Visiting Assistant Professor of

Dr.

Irosha

Nawarathne,

Biology, is part of a

Professor of Chemistry, and three of her

group of biologists who

research students attended the 6th Biennial

recently

collaborated

National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical

to publish a book titled

Research Excellence in Washington, D.C.

Behavioral Ecology of

She, the three students, and a fourth Lyon

the Eastern Red-backed Salamander. The

biology student presented their research

book covers 50 years of research on the

findings on tuberculosis drug discovery.

behavioral ecology of these salamanders.

They also toured the National Institute

Kohn’s contribution focused on cognitive

of Health (NIH), providing the students

ecology, specifically learning and memory,

with exposure to health-related careers.

along with salamanders’ use of visual cues.

Lyon graduate Yumiko Hiroto joined them

Assistant

at NIH. Nawarathne also took several This past summer, Dr.

students to the Central Arkansas Summer

James Martell, Assistant

Undergraduate Research Symposium at

Professor of Romance

the University of Arkansas for Medical

Languages,

published

Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock, where the

Mexiko.

students presented their summer research.

Spanish,

Four of her students were selected for

Mexiko experiments with

presentations at the Arkansas INBRE 2016

language, narrative rhythm, and complex

Conference in Fayetteville in October. Given

wordplay. He gave presentations about his

the amount of research work accomplished

book at the library of the Fondo de Cultura

by students working with Nawarathne, it

Ecónomica and the Center for Literary

was very rewarding to her when FutureFuel

Creation Xavier Villaurrutia in Mexico City

Chemical Company in Batesville awarded

his

novel

Written

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her and her students funds to aid further

essay, “Robert Schumann, Eduard Krueger,

summer research. Nawarathne was also

and the Reception of Bach’s Organ Chorales

invited to represent Primarily Undergraduate

in

Institutions in Arkansas when the External

appear in a German translation in the 2016

Advisory Committee from NIH visited to

issue of the periodical. Stinson hopes to

evaluate the Arkansas INBRE project at

publish an English version of the paper in a

UAMS in November.

book he is currently writing on the reception

Nineteenth-Century

Germany,”

will

of Bach’s music by later composers.

Tenor Dr. Michael Oriatti, Assistant Professor of Music, and pianist Dr. Sarah

Dr. Terrell Tebbetts, Martha Heasley Cox

Weston, ’91, Adjunct Instructor of Music,

Chair of American Literature, presented

performed “Musical Portraits” as guest

papers at the Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha

recitalists at Williams Baptist College in

Conference, the Annual Conference of the

Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, on October 6. They

Arkansas Philological Association, and

are listed as performers on the Arkansas

the Faulkner and Hemingway Conference.

Arts Council’s Registry of Performing Arts.

He published an article in the Philological

In addition to their college duties, Weston

Review (with Amy Schmidt, ’05) and

has organized two children’s choruses,

contributed a chapter to Fifty Years after

the Highlander Youth Singers and the Wee

Faulkner, published by the University Press

Highlanders, which Oriatti conducts. The

of Mississippi. His review of The Maid’s

children perform on their own and also in

Version by Daniel Woodrell appeared in

conjunction with the Lyon College Concert

Elder Mountain.

Chorale.

Dr. Frank Winfrey, Clark N. and Mark For the second consecutive year, Dr. Russell

Perkins Barton Professor of Management,

Stinson, Josephine Emily Brown Professor

authored three entries for the Encyclopedia

of Music and College Organist, will have

of Business Ethics and Society (Second

an article in the Bach-Jahrbuch, the leading

Edition), edited by Robert W. Kolb and

musicological

published by Sage.

journal

devoted

to

the

composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Stinson’s

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DUSTYN BORK The year is 1986. A nine-year-old Dustyn

a sidewalk, pretty much nothing on it, and

Bork sits amidst a group of fourth-graders

they hated it. And then there was me, sitting

at the University of Michigan Art Museum.

there saying, ‘I love it.’ I loved that this artist

They are on a field trip, listening to a docent

had made this piece of art. I loved that it was

describe a Jules Olenski painting.

making everyone in the room upset. To me, that was the power that art could wield.”

The painting—a heavily encrusted canvas with one crude stripe stretching over its

Bork would spend the rest of his childhood

surface—has caused a stir. The children,

surrounding himself with art, taking photos,

bored and uninterested, chatter and fuss

creating collages, and doodling in the

amongst themselves while their parents,

margins of his notebooks. But it would not

equally disgruntled, grumble about the

be until he started applying for colleges that

museum’s lack of forethought and taste.

he began to consider art as a career.

“Everyone hated it,” Bork recalled with a

“I remember seeing on my applications,

laugh. “This painting essentially looked like

‘Circle what you want to major in,’ and ‘art’

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was one of the options,” Bork said. “Growing up, I

new to everybody.”

hadn’t even thought that was a possibility. I didn’t think you could just go to school for art.”

As

a

fledgling

artist,

Bork

concentrated primarily on traditional Bork began his academic career at the University

art and honing his skills. He wasn’t

of Michigan. As a freshman, he shared classrooms

interested in geometrical abstractions

with students from every corner of the United States,

or non-figurative representations, the

students with backgrounds rich in art and technical

art forms for which he is best known

ability, both of which Bork’s own background

today. In fact, he didn’t much care for

lacked.

abstract art at all.

“I remember these kids from Chicago in my drawing class, and they’d done observational drawing in high school,” Bork said. “And I’m sitting there like, well, I can draw logos and cartoons, and I can take photographs, but I never drew anything observationally.”

Undeterred by his lack of experience, Bork buckled down and started working tirelessly to catch up to his classmates. He recalled drawing still lifes and looking over at his classmates’ work to see if his were as good as theirs—they never were, which only spurred him to work harder.

“By the end of my drawing class, we started drawing a figure, and everyone was looking around because no one had done it before,” Bork said.

“And that’s when I knew I’d made it. I’d worked

Although Dustyn started as one of my professors, over the years he has become one of my biggest mentors as well as my friend. His support has been invaluable to my professional development, and his confidence in me has made all the difference. I definitely know I wouldn’t have made it to where I am today without his influence.

Chin-Yee Chew, ’15 Fulbright Scholar Hai Duong, Vietnam

hard, and I was finally doing something that was

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I thought it was a joke.

I understood it, but I just wasn’t interested in creating abstract work.

“I thought it was a joke,” Bork said. “I

interested in an abstraction. I’m kind of an

understood it, but I just wasn’t interested in

abstract artist.’”

creating abstract work.”

Bork graduated from the University of It wasn’t until his sophomore year, when he

Michigan with a B.A. in printmaking in 1999

dipped his toes in printmaking, that Bork

and went on to earn his M.F.A. in printmaking

began to see his art through an abstract lens.

from Indiana University in 2002.

Printmaking, he explained, required him to visualize his finished print. If the print

In 2004, he began his professional career as

required multiple colors or multiple layers,

a lecturer at the University of Toledo, Ohio.

he had to take the image apart and put it back

There, he taught in the university’s Center

together piece by piece.

for the Visual Arts, a structure designed by internationally renowned architect Frank

“When I started to look at art in that way, I

Gehry, whose best-known works include

realized how much I liked the pieces,” Bork

the titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum in

said. “I realized how much I liked the parts.

Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert

I can take a part of a tree and isolate it, and

Hall in downtown Los Angeles, California.

suddenly it’s just a shape. Now I can add color to it and combine it with another shape

Bork lectured at the University of Toledo

out of context to create something new.

for seven years, teaching classes in drawing

And all of a sudden I started to realize, ‘I’m

and 2D and 3D design, before academic

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Dustyn Bork Structure15 2016 acrylic on panel

wanderlust slowly began to sink in.

Dustyn was a great example “I loved lecturing at Toledo, but my ultimate goal was to find a tenure-track position,” he said. “So eventually I just said, ‘Let’s go.

Let’s go somewhere.’ And I rolled the dice.”

“Somewhere” would ultimately lead Bork to Lyon, where he traded the modern day ruins and urban decay of suburban Toledo for the small town charm of Batesville, Arkansas.

But despite the stark differences between the two American cultures, he immediately fell in love with the town and its people—a town where, in his own words, the world opened up, offering new perspectives and connections spanning attitudes and fields outside of his own.

And for someone like Bork, whose work

to his students of what it means to be a professional artist. He really pushed me as a student to dig deeper, to keep learning about themes in my work, about my inspirations, about why I make the art I make, and about the processes I used that got me to a finished product. Try this. Test that.

Nothing was ever final, which I think helped me grow the most both in and out of the studio.

Frances Winfrey, ’12

Membership and Grants Coordinator Metal Museum Memphis, Tennessee

centers on the cultural and architectural

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notions of pattern, color, and design, loving the space he was in was imperative.

I learned two big things from

“The thing that motivates me, that gets me

Dustyn: constructive feedback and the importance of

into the studio, is creating works that reflect how we shape the world around us,” he said.

networking. Dustyn is a social butterfly who can turn any

“Looking at buildings that are brand new

acquaintance into a professional

next to ones that are abandoned, in decay,

contact and friend. He creates opportunities for artists and builds a community through an extended hand. Studio classes have a critique portion at the end of assignments, and I feel that my ability to appreciate comments that offer advice for

but still have snippets of beauty. That’s what I’m drawn to. A lot of times it’s just an abstract element from a building or a shape that sneaks into the work, and maybe it came from Batesville, maybe it came from Memphis or Detroit, but I connect that element to how we see shape and space.”

This fascination with exploring the pictorial language of geometric abstraction and the reevaluation of how we examine the world ultimately led Bork to receive one of the most coveted art awards in Arkansas: the

improvement and praise has improved both in regards to my art and in my personal life.

Ashley Mott, ’14

Graphic Designer, Mid-South Signs Ashland City, Tennessee

Arkansas Arts Council’s Individual Artist Fellowship Award.

of the award for visual arts.

Awarded annually, the Individual Artist

“This was this biggest award I’ve ever won,”

Fellowship Award recognizes individual

Bork said. “As an artist, sometimes you

artistic and creative ability in literary,

question the legitimacy of what you’re doing,

performing, and visual arts. Bork, who

and it’s nice to get recognized in your area.

submitted a portfolio of 10-12 pieces and an

I was very appreciative and very humbled.”

artist statement, was one of three recipients

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Humbled, yes, but no less hungry to continue exploring the intricacies and nuances of his work. Like the young undergraduate fighting his way tooth and nail to match his classmates’ level of expertise, Bork has no intentions of slowing down or allowing complacency to set in.

“It’s fuel,” he said. “This award is just encouragement for me to challenge myself to make even bigger and better work. I joined a great list of fellows, and to hear about the people who have won this award in the past and to join their ranks—it’s awesome, but it’s also like, okay, time to get back to the studio now. I have to prove to myself that I deserve this award.”

Bork will spend a semester of the next

Whether starting a project grand in scale or working with a very intellectual theme, Dustyn always offered support whether in success or failure. This is also true outside of the studio: when I was applying to graduate schools, Dustyn provided support and valuable advice throughout the whole process. Without this, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable going for a top-ranked program like Cranbrook Academy of Art, which I eventually enrolled in this last fall.

Matt Boyd, ’12

M.F.A. student, Cranbrook Academy of Art Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

academic year on sabbatical, during which time he will work on several large art pieces

city that I can hit some museums, recharge

that reflect the works of Frank Stella and

my batteries, reinvigorate my practice. I think

Mark Rothko.

as artists, that’s really what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to get the opportunity, time,

“I’m going to spend some of my time here

space, and energy to make art so that we can

working in the studio and then hopefully

create something new and bigger and better,

some time working in a residency,” he said.

something that connects to our audience.”

“Somewhere state-side. I want to work far enough outside of a major city that I can enjoy some quiet reflection, but close enough to a

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WORLD TRAVELER

From the cobbled alleys of Munich to the

At Lyon, Walker took a class on Maria

rolling vineyards of Switzerland, Cary

Montessori, an Italian physician and educator

Walker, ’98, is a woman constantly on the

best known for her writing on scientific

move. She’s sipped wine in Paris, strolled the

pedagogy and her innovative, child-centered

main drag of Florence, and stood in the heart

approach to education. It was through this

of the Coliseum in Rome. She is a woman of

class that Walker found herself attracted to

the world—but she wasn’t always.

the idea of traveling to Italy, an idea that stuck with her until her junior year, when the

As a child, Walker traveled exclusively

College offered Italy as one of its Nichols

around the United States. She was always

International Studies Program destinations.

interested in other countries and cultures, but that kind of world just wasn’t within her

“I knew I had to go for it,” she said. “And

reach.

I did, and it was absolutely life-changing.

When I got home, my mom said that I

“The thought of traveling to another country

couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I just

wasn’t even within the realm of possibility,”

remember thinking, when I got off the plane,

Walker said. “Not until I went to Lyon.”

‘Nobody told me there was a whole other world out there.’”

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Hungry for more, Walker graduated from Lyon and immediately started work as a first grade teacher, leaving her summers open for travel. And travel she did, backpacking through Europe with her friends and, later, with her father. Unlike her friends, however, her father required a little more structure

“I didn’t tell my parents or anybody,” she

than living day-to-day out of a backpack.

said. “It was just like, ‘Okay, I’m doing this.’

It’s kind of like the Lyon College motto:

“He’d never traveled internationally, so I

perseverance conquers all, God willing.

thought, ‘We’re gonna do better if we’re on

I’m doing this, and I’m not taking no for an

a tour,’” she said. “So over the course of six

answer.”

years, he and I went on three different tours together, and that’s how I fell in love with

And the gamble paid off. Walker met the

Rick Steves. I’d been reading the books for

man who hires Rick Steves tour guides at

years and loved the whole philosophy behind

the event, told him why he should hire her,

the company. And then during my last trip, I

and she has been his employee ever since,

just thought, ‘I’m gonna go for it.’ And that’s

leading tours all over Europe and learning

when I applied for a job there.”

a little bit about herself with every city that she visits.

Her first bid with the company was initially unsuccessful. As a teacher based in Dallas,

“God bless Lyon and the Nichols family,” she

Texas—a world away from the Rick Steves

said. “I never would have had this experience

hub in Seattle—she didn’t get much credit

otherwise. I’m so lucky—so grateful. I’m

from the Rick Steves team. But Walker

in Europe roughly four months of the year,

didn’t let this deter her; instead of sitting

and every time I come home, I come home

back and letting the opportunity slip through

a little bit different. And the more I travel,

her fingers, she jumped on a plane to Seattle

the more I realize how much alike we really

for an international travel festival.

are. In the end, whether we speak the same language or not, we’re all equal.”

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ALUMNI AWARDS

Alumni Award recipients from left to right: Dr. Adam Long, ’06; Mr. David Jones, ’99; Mrs. Lynn Weatherman; Mrs. Linda Wann, ’61; and Mr. Eric Wilson, ’06.

Lyon College honored seven individuals

Award. The Alumni Association presents

at its annual Alumni Awards Banquet on

this award to one man and one woman from

Friday, October 21, as a part of the College’s

the decade class who have distinguished

homecoming celebrations.

themselves in their chosen careers. Wilson currently serves as CEO of the K-12

Every year, Lyon holds the Alumni Awards

entrepreneurship program at Noble Impact,

Banquet to recognize individuals who have

an education initiative working to establish

achieved professional and personal success

public service and entrepreneurship as a core

and demonstrated exemplary service to both

curriculum in public schools. Thompson is

the College and their community.

the senior marketing manager for the Amazon Prime Acquisition division of Amazon.com,

Eric Wilson, ’06, and Stephanie Thompson, ’06, both received the Patterson Decade

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the world’s largest online retailer.

David Jones, ’99, and Shea Hembrey, ’96,

from the decade class who has demonstrated

both received the Distinguished Alumni

outstanding service to the College. After

Award. The Alumni Association presents this

graduating from Lyon, Long served as a

award to alumni who have brought honor

member of the President’s Council, a young

to the College through their distinguished

alumni trustee, and president of the Alumni

careers. Jones is a partner at the Wright

Association Leadership Council. He currently

Lindsey Jennings law firm in Little Rock. He

serves as director of the Hemingway-Pfeiffer

has received countless accolades during his

Museum and Educational Center in Piggot,

career. Hembrey is a thriving artist whose

Arkansas.

work has been featured in New American Paintings and New York Times Magazine. In

Lynn Weatherman received the Honorary

2011, he presented a TED Talk titled “How I

Alumna Award. The Alumni Association

became 100 artists.”

presents this award to an individual who has achieved notable success in his or her chosen

Linda Wann, ’61, received the Lifetime of

field and demonstrated outstanding service

Service Award. The Alumni Association

to the College. As first lady, Weatherman

presents this award to an alumnus or alumna

has volunteered countless hours at Lyon,

who has demonstrated outstanding service to

assisting with clerical work, coordinating

the College. Wann, a longtime member of the

events, and directing renovation projects. In

college staff before her retirement in 1995,

2011, she and two former first ladies, Carolyn

wore many hats during her tenure, including

Holloway and Sidney West, founded the First

bookstore manager, director of printing

Ladies’ Auxiliary, which has raised more

and mail service, and chapter adviser to the

than $100,000 for campus beautification.

Alpha Xi Delta fraternity. In 2010, Lyon recognized her with its Honorary Alumna

The awards banquet followed an art reception

Award and Volunteer Service Award.

featuring the work of Sarah Fendley, ’09, in the Patterson Dining Hall.

Adam Long, ’06, received the Decade of Service Award. The Alumni Association presents this award to an alumnus or alumna

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HALL OF FAME On Saturday, November 19, current and

community since leaving the College.

former coaches, athletic staff, and studentathletes gathered in the Patterson Dining

This year’s honorees included Adriane

Hall for the College’s annual Athletic Hall of

(Barnett) Duke, ’05; Clint Reed, ’99; Jose

Fame induction ceremony.

Rivas, ’06; and Robbie Holmes.

Each year, the Athletic Hall of Fame Selection

Duke graduated magna cum laude from

Committee picks a small group of exemplary

Lyon in 2005 with a B.S. in biology. She

past athletes and staff to induct into the Hall

was a member of the women’s golf team

of Fame. The committee chooses candidates

and a conference medalist each of her

based on their athletic achievement and their

four years at Lyon. During her time at the

demonstrated interest, service, and support

College, she earned NAIA All-American

of Lyon, its athletic programs, and their own

honors as a freshman and was a Region XI

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The Lyon College Athletic Hall of Fame inductions took place this fall. Pictured from left to right: Mr. Robbie Holmes; Mr. Jamie Bridges; Mr. Clint Reed, ’99; Mr. David Brogdon, ’93; Mr. Kirk Kelley; Mr. Jose Rivas, ’06; Mrs. Leslie (Bragg) Gitz, ’05; and Mrs. Adriane (Barnett) Duke, ’05.

Visit lyon.edu/nominate to nominate future Hall of Fame members.

B.A. in business administration. He was a member of the Lyon men’s baseball team for two years and helped the Scots to their best two seasons in the program’s history. He was an NAIA First-Team All-American in 2004 and earned Second-Team All-American honors in 2005. To this day, he holds Lyon’s longest hitting streak mark, with hits in 26 consecutive games in 2005, and remains at

Tournament medalist her senior year. After

the top of the Lyon baseball records book in

graduation, she went on to play in the Ladies

four separate categories. He currently resides

Professional Golf Association Duramed

in Ensenafa, Mexico.

Futures Tour from 2006-08. She is now a math teacher at Annie Camp Junior High

Before retiring earlier this year, Holmes,

School in Jonesboro.

former Lyon College assistant baseball coach, was a vital part of the baseball

Reed graduated from Lyon in 1999 with a

program’s success. After Kirk Kelley hired

B.A. in history. A member of Kevin Jenkins’

him in 1994—a year after Lyon reinstated

first basketball team, he helped Lyon to

the baseball program—Holmes helped the

double-digit wins in his junior and senior

Scots to 20-win seasons 21 times, 30-win

years and served as team captain for two

seasons 13 times, and 40-win seasons 5

seasons. He was Lyon’s first All-TranSouth

times. During his 22-year tenure, the Scots

Athletic Conference player and is still ranked

had an overall record of 722-566. He helped

today as among the best in many statistical

the Scots to 3 second-place finishes in the

categories with the program. For the past

American Midwest Conference, along with

seven years, he has served as a partner at

a third-place and 3 fourth-place finishes in

Impact Management Group, a public affairs

the TranSouth Athletic Conference.

firm with offices in Little Rock and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The evening concluded with closing remarks

by Jake Newton, ’98, and the Lyon alma

Rivas graduated from Lyon in 2006 with a

mater, led by Linda Wann, ’61.

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MILESTONES Don McSpadden, ’75, was sworn in as 16th Judicial

role as Donald Trump in this fall’s Gridiron show

District circuit judge by Arkansas Supreme Justice

in Little Rock, an annual satirical review of state

Josephine Hart on January 1, 2017.

and national politics.

Bill Qualls, ’81, won the 2016 James C. Ball

Valerie (Turner) Ganus, ’00, completed her M.S.E.

Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the

at Arkansas State University last year.

Board of Environmental Health & Safety Auditor Certifications. Only three other people have been

Jon Orsborn, ’01, recently accepted a position

so honored. He is currently executive director of

as pediatric emergency medicine director at

ResponsibleAg.

the Children’s Hospital Colorado and assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of

John Treat, ’91, completed his Ph.D. in history at

Medicine in Denver.

the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and was appointed director of development for the UAF

Shannon (Brooks) Haney, ’05, was named

Honors College.

executive director of Main Street Batesville, a downtown revitalization program.

Rachel Kluender, ’96, passed the Arkansas Bar Exam in July. She is a graduate of University of

Eric Bork, ’07, has moved up to associate vice

Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School

president of marketing and communications at

of Law and practices in Little Rock.

Lyon College, a new cabinet-level position.

Mikhail (Misha) Kouliavtsev, ’98, Professor and

Garrard Conley, ’07, saw his book Boy Erased

Director of the M.B.A. Program at Stephen F

selected as one of the ten best memoirs of 2016 by

Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas,

Oprah. Boy Erased also made Penguin Publishing

was named chair of the Department of Economics

Group’s 2017 First Year Experience catalog as well

and Finance.

as Buzzfeed’s list of 2016’s best nonfiction works.

Craig Wilson, ’00, won rave reviews for his starring

Nell Tebbetts, ’07, was recently promoted to

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assistant director of admissions marketing and communications

at

McMurry

University

teaches English at Batesville High School.

in

Abilene, Texas.

Grace Brown, ’16, accepted a job with the Sentinel-Record in Hot Springs as a page designer.

Andrew Nadzam, ’10, passed the Arkansas Bar

“My dream of one day becoming a journalist is

Exam in July. He is a graduate of the University of

becoming more of a reality,” she says.

Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law and practices in Jonesboro.

Markeita Williams, ’16, is administrative assistant to the Office of the President at Lyon. She also

Cory Gilbert, ’11, completed his M.A. in English

developed the 23-voice Lyon Gospel Choir, which

last August at Arkansas State University.

she directs.

Kyle Christopher, ’12, was hired in July as the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce’s first director of tourism.

Drew McNutt, ’12, completed his M.A. in English at Arkansas State University last August.

Monica (Fuller) Smith, ’12, reports, “After working for two years as a museum program assistant, I was promoted to superintendent of Lower White River Museum State Park [in DesArc], one of 52

IN MEMORIAM Patsy (Chamberlin) Craig, ’49 James M. May, Jr., ’49 Doyle E. Collins, ’50 Lucille Taylor, ’53 Carol B. Ottinger, ’54 Bobbye L. Rutledge, ’59 Jean (Rutherford) Crouch, ’62

locations administered by the State Parks Division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. I currently reside in Searcy with my husband Chris.”

NOTES

Kaleb Jones, ’13, passed the Arkansas Bar Exam in July. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law

John Bennett, who coached tennis at Lyon for

and practices in Little Rock.

several years, died in Batesville in October. He was active in many of the College’s athletic programs,

Jim Bob Turner, ’14, completed his M.S.E. at

served as president of the Booster Club, and worked

Arkansas State University in 2016. He currently

with the APPLE project.

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GOSPEL CHOIR When Markeita Williams graduated from

administrative assistant to the Office of the

Lyon last May, she didn’t expect to become

President. Having included the Anointed

a college employee, much less to start a new

Ones in several Lyon concerts in the past,

music ensemble. She did, however, expect to

Dr. Michael Oriatti, Assistant Professor of

continue to sing with her three sisters in their

Music and Lyon College Concert Chorale

gospel quartet, the Anointed Ones.

conductor, asked Williams to form a gospel choir here, something she was more than

This past July, Williams joined the staff as

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happy to do.

The new ensemble currently consists of

The total cost for 20 choir members to attend

23 members, including students, a staff

the festival is $74,000. In order to alleviate

member, and a retired Lyon professor and

some of the financial burden, Williams

dean. Williams’ sisters also sing with the

and student Chandler McCoy, ’18, set up a

group and help teach its members gospel-

fundraising page through Impact Lyon.

style singing.

“The cost is $3,725 per student,” Williams With a short history, it’s a tribute to the

said. “With this campaign, we’re asking for

group that in the summer of 2017, the Lyon

$15,000 to guarantee that at least four students

College Gospel Choir will have the chance

can go to Cuba.” While this campaign has

to participate in a week-long inaugural

officially ended, it is still possible to make

choral festival in Cuba at the invitation of

gifts toward the trip.

KIConcerts, an organization that stages The total cost per student includes flights,

concerts all across the world.

hotels, transportation, meals, concert costs, Together

with

KIConcerts’ local

tour

and tour administration.

organizers, the gospel choir will have the opportunity to participate in musical

With the restoration of Cuba and the United

performances, master classes, and workshops

States’ diplomatic ties in 2015, the gospel

and explore the Varadero and Havana

choir will become a part of the two nations’

regions.

complex road toward cooperation. Through music, members of the choir will create new

The trip will also give Lyon students, many

friendships, spread faith, and share their

of whom have never traveled abroad, the

combined cultures.

opportunity not only to experience the Cuban culture and spirit, but also to spread

If you would like to give to this cause, please

their Christian faith through singing and

visit lyon.edu/give or call 870.307.7201 for

the spoken word and share their experience

more information.

abroad with the Lyon community.

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DOIN HICKS Doin Hicks graduated cum laude from

Hicks became an educator of the deaf,

Arkansas College in 1953 as student body

winning a Ford Foundation fellowship and

president and the student voted “Most Likely

then earning an M.Ed. and Ed.D. from the

to Succeed.” A speech major and English

University of Arkansas. He taught and

minor, he hoped to become a famous radio

coached football at the Missouri School for

personality—television wasn’t a big thing

the Deaf, led the Arkansas School for the

then. He did succeed, but not in the way he

Deaf, and worked as director of the Pilot

had imagined.

School Division at the Callier Hearing and

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Speech Center in Dallas, where he developed

allowed to do so at that time and place. Still,

an individualized instruction system for deaf

education remained important to them, and

students with heavy emphasis on use of

they were very supportive of their children in

visual media.

their quest for an education in every way— except with money, which they did not have.

He then moved on to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., where he led the

The oldest son, Basil, graduated from what

redevelopment of the Kendall Elementary

is now Lyon College in 1940, inspiring two

School

national

of his younger brothers, Doin and Roy, to

demonstration elementary school serving

do the same. Doin attended on a football

local children, again focusing on use of

scholarship and was a starting tackle on the

interactive visual media. Eventually, he

1951 team, the last year for the sport until

became a tenured full professor there

2015. He got other scholarships and worked

and finally vice president for institutional

to stay in school, where he met his wife,

research and planning. But, during his long

Wanda McClung.

on

campus

into

a

and successful career, he never forgot where he started.

He helped out another student who needed some money too. This young man was a

Hicks grew up as part of a rural Missouri

married veteran, who lived with his wife in

dairy and truck farm family. His parents met

the small caretaker’s cottage for the former

in 1915 while attending a summer program

Masonic orphanage, then being used by

to help prospective teachers prepare for the

the College. The federal government had

exam to teach in rural elementary schools.

donated surplus food to the College—a

His parents had no college experience, but

truckload of canned soybeans. Of course, the

his father had educated himself to pass the

students weren’t about to eat such alien stuff,

tests for a teaching certificate as a young

and it was going to be taken to the dump.

man. The job paid so little, however, that

Instead, the veteran bought some piglets and

as his family grew to include a wife and six

fed them out on the beans, eventually selling

children, he turned to farming. His wife never

them at a profit. Hicks noted that he didn’t

taught, because married women were not

profit from this venture but that he enjoyed

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helping feed and care for the pigs, who lived

Hicks also noted that, at the time, the campus

in a small barn on the property. After all, he

held only the old orphanage buildings,

had grown up as a farm boy, and he liked

and much of the 100 acres comprised

working with animals.

fields and woods. It became the students’ “playground.” He remembers one winter

Hicks has a lot of memories of his college

when a horse wandered onto campus after

days. He remembers, for instance, that he

a snowfall. Enterprising students created a

and Wanda were the first couple to dance

harness out of ropes and a sled from a set

at an official college event. In the 1950s,

of bedsprings and gave rides around campus

dancing was forbidden on campus or at any

to anyone who wanted to try out their “one-

sponsored

event,

horse open sleigh.”

but one evening,

Students created a

someone sneaked

tire swing in a large

a record player into the gym where a student party was A

We had to make our own fun.

oak tree—the catch being that it could be accessed only

taking

place.

from

a

second-

record

somehow

story window of

found its way onto

one of the Masonic

the machine, and Hicks and Wanda took

buildings. “We had to make our own fun,”

to the floor in a sedate waltz. Soon other

he said.

couples joined them. Then-president John Spragins tolerated this flaunting of the rules

He also remembers one of his personal

for all of a few minutes before walking over

triumphs:

to the record player and turning it off. Hicks

One of my real claims to fame was

worried that the students might be in trouble,

my interest in oral interpretation,

but no one ever said a thing. Spragins retired

especially of poetry. My senior

that year, and the next year the College

year was a climax as I received

permitted dances once more.

the only “superior” rating in both poetry and prose reading

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Club 50 Luncheon, held during Homecoming 2016. From left to right: Dr. Doin Hicks, ’53; Mrs. Taryn (Hill) Duncan, ’91, Director of Alumni and Parent Services; and Mr. Jasper “Doc” Freeman, ’55.

in the regional collegiate speech

Hicks has been a regular donor to Lyon

festival held at the University of

since 1976. Basil Hicks and his wife Dale

Arkansas. Our entry in the drama

established a scholarship at Lyon, and a

division, The Glass Menagerie,

couple of years later, after several family

didn’t do as well. I played the

discussions, they had the name changed to

Gentleman Caller. After college I

honor their parents, Clyde and Delpha Hicks.

continued my oral interpretation

Since then all the siblings and other relatives

interest for many years by doing

have donated to that fund, in part because

programs at schools and civic

Hicks regularly does “commercials” for it at

clubs. For six years I coached

family reunions.

football and track in addition to teaching. At that time, some of

Basil and Dale’s initial gift was a modest

my friends referred to me as “the

$683. Today the endowment’s value is

poetry-reading football coach.”

approaching $400,000, and in recent years

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it has produced scholarship revenue on the

the President’s Council, and the Brown

order of $15,000 annually. Contributions

Society, whose members have made Lyon a

have come from 71 family members and

beneficiary in their wills. He was named a

friends, some on an annual basis. The fund

Distinguished Alumnus in 1976, and both he

has provided support to 13 different students,

and Wanda were awarded honorary Doctor

several receiving the scholarship for multiple

of Humane Letters degrees in 2002. That

years.

degree was, he said, “the thrill of a lifetime for us—a real capstone to our life’s work.”

For Hicks, his family is representative of Middle America: a diverse group of wage

The Hicks’ college life is part of Lyon’s

earners, including laborers, technicians,

history collection. They donated their class

numerous professionals such as teachers,

rings and letter jackets—his for football

preachers, and health care workers, and a

and hers for cheerleading—to the collection

few small business owners.

housed in the Mabee-Simpson Library’s Sydenstricker Room.

“None of us is wealthy,” he said. “What we have been able to do in the way of promoting

His wife having died a few years ago, Hicks

support for Lyon is something most other

now lives in Maryland, near his daughter and

such family groups would be able to do and,

son-in-law. This was a big fall for him, with

in fact, have done for many good causes

his daughter driving him down to Arkansas

including Lyon.”

for Lyon’s homecoming. He enjoyed seeing the Lyon football team on the field again, and

Hicks notes that supporting scholarships

he spoke to Club 50 about his family’s group

that help reduce the need for low-income

giving to Lyon, stressing that a single person

students to take out loans is a great way for

may not be able to give large amounts, but

graduates to give back to their alma mater. He

that one individual plus friends and family

also believes that the experience of giving is

can make a big impact.

“even more pleasant when done as a part of a group, especially as part of a loving family

Hicks says he has had a good life, and he is

enterprise.”

grateful for what Lyon College did to make it possible.

Hicks is a member of Lyon’s Club 50,

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Every now and then, someone or something extraordinary comes along and changes everything.

Learn how ‘‘every now and then’’ is everyday at Lyon College.

facebook.com/lyoncollege

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K-9 PHILANTHROPY In the foyer of Brown Chapel, a large bronze plaque lists donors who gave to its original construction in the 1950s and then again after the 1972 tornado. Among those names is Mr. Ty Ronza. Not many people know Ty Ronza; however, many people, especially those in Batesville, knew Ty Ronza’s very good friend, John P. Morrow, Jr., or Johnny to those who knew him well. But before discussing Ty Ronza’s gift to Brown Chapel, it may help to learn a little about Morrow.

Morrow, ’28, was a second generation Arkansas College graduate and served as a trustee from 1965–74. He lived on Main Street in a three story red-brick house, which he referred to as the “Red Rooster Tavern.” Almost everyone in Batesville knew Morrow as a charming man but also as a bit of an eccentric.

For instance, Morrow had a set of very small cannons that he would bring to campus. In fact, if it was a special occasion at the College, you could be sure that he would be there, setting up a cannon to fire Another story, one which former president Dr. Dan West tells, is of the quarrel between Morrow and Charles Hathcock. Hathcock bought a farmhouse on Bearette Street with the intention to convert the farmhouse into a nice English-style manor. This house is now the Lyon College Highland House. After Hathcock added a garage to his home, he asked the city of Batesville to install a side street. Morrow thought this idea preposterous and adamantly opposed it. However, Hathcock insisted the city install the street and, per his request, it did.

The city then asked the city surveyor to name the street. Perhaps by providence or karma, Morrow happened to be the city surveyor, and after “careful” consideration, he named the street “Gwynne Street.” To this day, you can visit that house at the corner of Gwynne and

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Bearette, an intersection made famous in the old

dammit; cash it!” The dog’s name

newspaper cartoon, “Ripley’s Believe it or Not.”

was Ty Ronza, and this gift toward the construction of Brown Chapel was

The story that best illustrates Morrow’s eccentric

only the first of several gifts he would

nature is the one telling why he opened a bank

make to the College.

account for his English bulldog. The story starts when he was helping the College with its

Sixty years later, giving to the College

Batesville Campaign—a campaign designed to

is easier than ever. If a dog could do

solicit annual fund gifts from the city. Johnny

it in 1950, think about what you can

went to visit the Citizens Bank for a gift. Bank

do now. Give today at lyon.edu/give

President Tom Vincent agreed to give the College

or by calling the advancement office

a gift, but Morrow thought the amount was far

at 870.307.7211.

too small and replied, “Well hell! My dog will give more than that!”

If you’re looking for an important and worthy cause, turn the page to

Well, hell!

My dog will give more than that.

see how you can follow in Ty Ronza’s pawprints.

When Vincent called Morrow on his bluff, Morrow retrieved his dog, went to the lobby, and opened an account for his pet. Requesting a blank check from the teller, he filled out an amount that he thought was appropriate to give to the College (one that was substantially larger than Vincent’s offer), requested an ink pad, inked his bulldog’s paw, stamped it on the blank check, handed the check back to the teller, and said, “Now there,

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GI VI NG

PHASE 1: COMPLETE • UPGRADED OFFICE SUITES • GREEN ROOM • HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE RESTROOM

PHASE 2: $2.75 MILLION • STAGE AND SHELL REDESIGN • ACOUSTICAL IMPROVEMENTS • SOUND SYSTEM UPDATES • LIGHTING UPGRADE • SEATING REPLACEMENT • FLOORING REPLACEMENT • INTERIOR AESTHETIC UPDATES

6 4

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T HE

LY O N

C OLL E GE

PIPER

The first phase of the renovation of Brown Chapel and Fine Arts Building is now complete, providing improved office space, a green room for speakers and performers, and a handicapped-accessible bathroom just off the hallway behind the stage. The large columns across the front have been repaired and repainted. A great deal, however, remains to be done.

This summer the stage will be redesigned as a vocal and instrumental performance space. Since the construction of the Holloway Theatre in 1991, Brown Chapel’s auditorium has not been regularly used for theatrical performances, but the curtains and fly system remain in place. A portable fiberglass shell has been used during musical performances to help project sound toward the audience, but dead spots remain. Space in the wings remains unorganized, and the sound and lighting systems are old and unreliable. As use of the auditorium has shifted from supporting every type of possible use to concerts, convocations, and speakers, features of the stage space need to be reconfigured to support those sorts of functions.

In addition, technology has changed dramatically since the present sound system and lighting were installed. These must be upgraded and a video presentation system added. Auditorium seating and flooring and window treatments also need to be replaced, and acoustical diffusers must be added to improve sound quality. Upgrades to lighting, heat and air, and fire alarm systems are also required.

This second phase is expected to cost $2.75 million. If you are interested in helping, you can give online at lyon.edu/give or call the Office of Advancement at 870.307.7211.

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Office of Marketing and Communications Nichols Administration Building 2300 Highland Road Batesville, Arkansas 72501

I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve as Lyon’s next president. From its founding on the frontier in 1872, Lyon has remained true to its mission. As it approaches its sesquicentennial, it has the potential to define and become a 21st century liberal arts college of the first order. I am excited to be a part of that process and look forward to getting started in July.

Dr. W. Joseph (Joey) King 18th President of Lyon College

Visit lyon.edu/18th-President to learn more about our next president.