Page 49 - UB Church and Shen Univ
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Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
Keeping the College-Conservatory Open. The College-Conservatory was still heavily in debt,
operating in the red with dilapidated facilities, antiquated plant and equipment, and a declining student
body and staff. The accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools was
probationary and in jeopardy. The Southern Association had issued certain requirements that must be
met in the immediate future or Shenandoah would lose its accreditation. After looking over the
facilities, the finances, and the report; I, too, was discouraged, as the institution seemed to have little
basic or financial support from the community. However, the EUB Virginia Conference and National
Church did give the School considerable support, and many individuals were very helpful, especially the
families who had been associated with Shenandoah for a long time. However, this only amounted to a
few thousand dollars per year and would not keep the College-Conservatory open in Dayton. As a
matter of fact, the trustees had to frequently pass the hat and make commitments and contributions to
meet current expenses to keep the schools operating from day to day. Many emergency contributions
were made by Board members on the spot.
The College-Conservatory budget was cut to the bone; there was no fat anywhere. The staff was
very small but excellent, efficient, loyal, dedicated, and greatly underpaid. Rev. Forrest Racey—
Business Manager, teacher, professor, and man of many duties—was squeezing $2.00 of value from
$1.00 in the budget. The dining room, which Forrest Racey ran, was about the School’s only profitable
operation at the time. Spam, potatoes, macaroni and government surplus was the fare of the day.
Forrest did not just say grace—he prayed for forgiveness and delivered a lecture on the nutritional value
of Spam and other Army surplus foods. Although they complained, the students were very
understanding and pleased that something was being done to move and to rebuild Shenandoah.
Actually, many were enthusiastic. The dedicated staff worked hard and long hours with very small
salaries, poor accommodations, and antiquated equipment. Why they stayed, no one knows, unless they
had faith that God would answer their prayers for the survival of Shenandoah College and Conservatory
of Music by some divine miracle. Certainly the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce,
the people of Winchester, and members of the Virginia Conference and EUB Church were God’s
miracle and the answer to all our prayers.
Some members of the Board were negative, discouraged, and hesitated to attend the meetings
because we were always passing the hat trying to raise money to meet urgent daily financial needs.
Actually, such actions were necessary to keep the county Sheriff from closing our doors, as some of our
debtors had threatened suits and we couldn’t let that happen. Some Board members and administrators
had lost confidence and felt there was no hope for Shenandoah. This was true of some of the high
officials of the Church. However, most others hoped and prayed for a solution.
Approval by Virginia Conference (June 1955). At an early meeting the officials of the EUB
Virginia Conference, as well as representatives of the EUB West Virginia Conference, College-
Conservatory Board of Trustees, and our College Project Committee, was held in Winchester at First
EUB Church. The meeting was presided over by Bishop David T. Gregory of the National EUB
Church—as a matter of fact, he was then Dean of the Bishops. There was a great deal of negative
discussion by clergy leaders at the meeting, and it looked as if we were losing the battle to preserve the
College-Conservatory. The opposition was very eloquent and determined. Bishop Gregory, who had
become a friend of the movement to move the College-Conservatory, was presiding and he, too,
apparently became very discouraged. He said, “Gentlemen, we have no money, not much worth
moving, a lot of debt, a declining student population, and poor prospects. I don’t see how we can do it.
It’s an impossible task!” In desperation I jumped to my feet and said to Bishop Gregory, “Hell, Bishop,
Wilkins on History of S.C., 1952-1960 39
Keeping the College-Conservatory Open. The College-Conservatory was still heavily in debt,
operating in the red with dilapidated facilities, antiquated plant and equipment, and a declining student
body and staff. The accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools was
probationary and in jeopardy. The Southern Association had issued certain requirements that must be
met in the immediate future or Shenandoah would lose its accreditation. After looking over the
facilities, the finances, and the report; I, too, was discouraged, as the institution seemed to have little
basic or financial support from the community. However, the EUB Virginia Conference and National
Church did give the School considerable support, and many individuals were very helpful, especially the
families who had been associated with Shenandoah for a long time. However, this only amounted to a
few thousand dollars per year and would not keep the College-Conservatory open in Dayton. As a
matter of fact, the trustees had to frequently pass the hat and make commitments and contributions to
meet current expenses to keep the schools operating from day to day. Many emergency contributions
were made by Board members on the spot.
The College-Conservatory budget was cut to the bone; there was no fat anywhere. The staff was
very small but excellent, efficient, loyal, dedicated, and greatly underpaid. Rev. Forrest Racey—
Business Manager, teacher, professor, and man of many duties—was squeezing $2.00 of value from
$1.00 in the budget. The dining room, which Forrest Racey ran, was about the School’s only profitable
operation at the time. Spam, potatoes, macaroni and government surplus was the fare of the day.
Forrest did not just say grace—he prayed for forgiveness and delivered a lecture on the nutritional value
of Spam and other Army surplus foods. Although they complained, the students were very
understanding and pleased that something was being done to move and to rebuild Shenandoah.
Actually, many were enthusiastic. The dedicated staff worked hard and long hours with very small
salaries, poor accommodations, and antiquated equipment. Why they stayed, no one knows, unless they
had faith that God would answer their prayers for the survival of Shenandoah College and Conservatory
of Music by some divine miracle. Certainly the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce,
the people of Winchester, and members of the Virginia Conference and EUB Church were God’s
miracle and the answer to all our prayers.
Some members of the Board were negative, discouraged, and hesitated to attend the meetings
because we were always passing the hat trying to raise money to meet urgent daily financial needs.
Actually, such actions were necessary to keep the county Sheriff from closing our doors, as some of our
debtors had threatened suits and we couldn’t let that happen. Some Board members and administrators
had lost confidence and felt there was no hope for Shenandoah. This was true of some of the high
officials of the Church. However, most others hoped and prayed for a solution.
Approval by Virginia Conference (June 1955). At an early meeting the officials of the EUB
Virginia Conference, as well as representatives of the EUB West Virginia Conference, College-
Conservatory Board of Trustees, and our College Project Committee, was held in Winchester at First
EUB Church. The meeting was presided over by Bishop David T. Gregory of the National EUB
Church—as a matter of fact, he was then Dean of the Bishops. There was a great deal of negative
discussion by clergy leaders at the meeting, and it looked as if we were losing the battle to preserve the
College-Conservatory. The opposition was very eloquent and determined. Bishop Gregory, who had
become a friend of the movement to move the College-Conservatory, was presiding and he, too,
apparently became very discouraged. He said, “Gentlemen, we have no money, not much worth
moving, a lot of debt, a declining student population, and poor prospects. I don’t see how we can do it.
It’s an impossible task!” In desperation I jumped to my feet and said to Bishop Gregory, “Hell, Bishop,
Wilkins on History of S.C., 1952-1960 39
