Page 48 - UB Church and Shen Univ
P. 48
Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
with many other accusations—we promptly answered his questions and refuted his accusations. After
consultation with City of Winchester officials, councilmen, attorneys, and community members, we
agreed that Virginia State Law prevented a city from gifting property. Therefore, we had to purchase
the property for cash. Bryan Stotler, Brown Lovett, and Virgil Strader, Sr., were appointed to appraise
City land, and our College Project raised a special fund to purchase property from the City for $2,387.
Over a period of months, the opposition around Dayton and Harrisonburg gradually subsided;
and we had only token opposition as they realized the College-Conservatory would close unless it were
moved to a community where it was needed.
Gaining Support from the College-Conservatory Board of Trustees. Dr. Brady also said, “I
will need a lot of help to keep the School open and operating until such time as we can persuade the
Board of Trustees, officials of the church, and the community that this is the only way to save
Shenandoah College and Shenandoah Conservatory of Music.” Accordingly, we asked the Chamber of
Commerce to authorize us to put two of our members on their Board and asked Dr. Brady and Rev.
Forrest Racey to secure approval. Several months later, Frank Armstrong, Jr., and the author were
elected to serve on the Board of Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music in Dayton, Va., until
such times as we could move the college to Winchester. Later Voyne B. Omps, Ben Belchic and
Marvin Gore joined us on the Board of Trustees in Dayton. The Chamber of Commerce Board had
authorized us to act, and act we did!
We attended meetings of the Board of Trustees of Shenandoah College in Dayton, and we moved
positively and fast to stop negative talk. I made an inspirational-type speech about the future and ad-
vantages of Shenandoah College in Winchester and what the movement would mean to the College-
Conservatory. It meant they wouldn’t have to close, they would still be in the Valley of Virginia. They
would be a viable and going institution, and they would still be in the jurisdiction of the EUB Virginia
Conference. Some members of the Board were negative; some had lost hope and had already decided
the only thing to do was to close Shenandoah College in Dayton or combine it with Lebanon Valley
College in Pennsylvania. Some ministers of the Conference felt that Shenandoah College was a drain on
their church treasuries, as Shenandoah didn’t get enough financial support locally or from the National
Church. The EUB Virginia Conference didn’t see how members could renovate the buildings and
rebuild Shenandoah into a viable institution in Dayton. Thus, some Conference leaders wanted to close
the College-Conservatory and said so at every opportunity. It was a very difficult and up-hill fight for
us to convince them that it could be kept going and would prosper and be viable in Winchester.
Later, I again addressed the Board and proposed that we stop all talk about closing and proceed
without delay to plan the move to Winchester. The Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of
Commerce, the people of Winchester and Frederick County, and the business community could supply
the workers and financial help that was needed. After hours of pro and con discussion, many became
enthusiastic. Regardless, the plan was tabled for further discussion and action.
The negative forces made it clear to us that the College-Conservatory actually belonged to the
National EUB Church and was only administered under the jurisdiction of the EUB Virginia
Conference. It appeared that we would have to obtain the approval not only of the Board of Trustees of
the Virginia Conference, but also the General [EUB] Board of Christian Education and the EUB Board
of Bishops. This seemed hopeless to many—an impossible task. However, Dr. Troy Brady and our
College Project Committee believed that it was possible to secure the various approvals and save
Shenandoah by moving the institution to Winchester.
Wilkins on History of S.C., 1952-1960 38
with many other accusations—we promptly answered his questions and refuted his accusations. After
consultation with City of Winchester officials, councilmen, attorneys, and community members, we
agreed that Virginia State Law prevented a city from gifting property. Therefore, we had to purchase
the property for cash. Bryan Stotler, Brown Lovett, and Virgil Strader, Sr., were appointed to appraise
City land, and our College Project raised a special fund to purchase property from the City for $2,387.
Over a period of months, the opposition around Dayton and Harrisonburg gradually subsided;
and we had only token opposition as they realized the College-Conservatory would close unless it were
moved to a community where it was needed.
Gaining Support from the College-Conservatory Board of Trustees. Dr. Brady also said, “I
will need a lot of help to keep the School open and operating until such time as we can persuade the
Board of Trustees, officials of the church, and the community that this is the only way to save
Shenandoah College and Shenandoah Conservatory of Music.” Accordingly, we asked the Chamber of
Commerce to authorize us to put two of our members on their Board and asked Dr. Brady and Rev.
Forrest Racey to secure approval. Several months later, Frank Armstrong, Jr., and the author were
elected to serve on the Board of Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music in Dayton, Va., until
such times as we could move the college to Winchester. Later Voyne B. Omps, Ben Belchic and
Marvin Gore joined us on the Board of Trustees in Dayton. The Chamber of Commerce Board had
authorized us to act, and act we did!
We attended meetings of the Board of Trustees of Shenandoah College in Dayton, and we moved
positively and fast to stop negative talk. I made an inspirational-type speech about the future and ad-
vantages of Shenandoah College in Winchester and what the movement would mean to the College-
Conservatory. It meant they wouldn’t have to close, they would still be in the Valley of Virginia. They
would be a viable and going institution, and they would still be in the jurisdiction of the EUB Virginia
Conference. Some members of the Board were negative; some had lost hope and had already decided
the only thing to do was to close Shenandoah College in Dayton or combine it with Lebanon Valley
College in Pennsylvania. Some ministers of the Conference felt that Shenandoah College was a drain on
their church treasuries, as Shenandoah didn’t get enough financial support locally or from the National
Church. The EUB Virginia Conference didn’t see how members could renovate the buildings and
rebuild Shenandoah into a viable institution in Dayton. Thus, some Conference leaders wanted to close
the College-Conservatory and said so at every opportunity. It was a very difficult and up-hill fight for
us to convince them that it could be kept going and would prosper and be viable in Winchester.
Later, I again addressed the Board and proposed that we stop all talk about closing and proceed
without delay to plan the move to Winchester. The Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of
Commerce, the people of Winchester and Frederick County, and the business community could supply
the workers and financial help that was needed. After hours of pro and con discussion, many became
enthusiastic. Regardless, the plan was tabled for further discussion and action.
The negative forces made it clear to us that the College-Conservatory actually belonged to the
National EUB Church and was only administered under the jurisdiction of the EUB Virginia
Conference. It appeared that we would have to obtain the approval not only of the Board of Trustees of
the Virginia Conference, but also the General [EUB] Board of Christian Education and the EUB Board
of Bishops. This seemed hopeless to many—an impossible task. However, Dr. Troy Brady and our
College Project Committee believed that it was possible to secure the various approvals and save
Shenandoah by moving the institution to Winchester.
Wilkins on History of S.C., 1952-1960 38
