Page 55 - UB Church and Shen Univ
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Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
reaction of the Virginia Conference people and our Joint Planning and Building Committee [see below]
representatives. We were not about to give up at this late date. This was one time, at least, the men and
women in the pews were going to be heard. We were not going to let this whole project fall on its face
without a fight!
After several meetings and general discussions of both groups, we finally arranged a joint
meeting with the General Council of Administration and the General Board of Christian Education at the
EUB Church national headquarters in Dayton, Ohio, on January 29, 1957, at 9:00 a.m., to present our
case for a reversal of their unpopular decision. Our special committee consisted of the four men who
would only have 5 minutes each to present our case: W. O. Cooley, President, Board of Trustees;
Dr. Forrest S. Racey, President, Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music; Dr. Floyd Fulk,
Superintendent, Virginia Conference; and James R. Wilkins, Chairman, Joint Planning and Building
Committee and Representative of the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce College
Project Committee. Mr. Cooley and I went by train from Washington to Dayton, Ohio, via Pittsburgh,
and we were up all night. Mr. Cooley did not like to fly. The others went by auto. We were worn to a
frazzle, and in no condition to present our case.
We went directly to the EUB Headquarters Building in time for a review of our presentation.
We were all concerned about the 5-minute time limit. I had enough notes on my outline to talk at least
half an hour. Also, we didn’t realize we would have vocal opposition from the other EUB College
Presidents. However, after they met, they decided to have Dr. J. Gordon Howard, President of
prestigious Otterbein College, to speak on their behalf to close Shenandoah. President Howard was an
eloquent speaker, and they felt he would be more effective if they gave him their entire 20 minutes. He
would represent all the other EUB colleges from coast to coast. The other college presidents felt that it
would be to their interest to close Shenandoah, as they would get a bigger slice of the National Church
College financial pie; moreover, some of them would get Virginia Conference members as a part of their
constituency to recruit students and obtain funds, and some probably felt Shenandoah’s situation was
hopeless.
Bishop Fred L. Dennis was presiding when the Shenandoah survival question appeared on the
agenda, and he called on Dr. J. Gordon Howard to present the arguments for closing Shenandoah. Dr.
Howard, a noted orator, argued back and forth in a most eloquent and convincing manner giving a
thousand and one reasons why Shenandoah College and Shenandoah Conservatory of Music should be
closed. He talked about 30 minutes (10 minutes overtime). I thought surely our case was lost.
However, we were incensed and angry because he talked so long and made many unfair statements
about Shenandoah’s problems. Dr. Howard profusely thanked the officials and Bishops and sat down to
loud applause by the college presidents and others who agreed with his arguments. The stage was set.42
Mr. W. O. Cooley made a good 4- to 5-minute talk in favor of Shenandoah, in accordance with
our schedule. Dr. Forrest S. Racey made an excellent presentation (approximately 5 minutes) outlining
the work that had been done, previous approval by the Virginia Conference and National Church, and
urged them to give Shenandoah a chance to live. Dr. Floyd Fulk made about a 4-minute talk, and when
he got through I was not sure which side he was speaking for, as he was both pro and con. Undoubtedly,
Shenandoah had been his biggest headache since he became Superintendent of Virginia Conference. He
must have had mixed feelings. Bishop Dennis called on me to present the closing argument. He
42 I imagine Joshua standing on the east bank of the Jordan, ready to cross over for the first time (Josh 3:1), with thousands
waiting behind in great faith. —The Editor.
Wilkins on History of S.C., 1952-1960 45
reaction of the Virginia Conference people and our Joint Planning and Building Committee [see below]
representatives. We were not about to give up at this late date. This was one time, at least, the men and
women in the pews were going to be heard. We were not going to let this whole project fall on its face
without a fight!
After several meetings and general discussions of both groups, we finally arranged a joint
meeting with the General Council of Administration and the General Board of Christian Education at the
EUB Church national headquarters in Dayton, Ohio, on January 29, 1957, at 9:00 a.m., to present our
case for a reversal of their unpopular decision. Our special committee consisted of the four men who
would only have 5 minutes each to present our case: W. O. Cooley, President, Board of Trustees;
Dr. Forrest S. Racey, President, Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music; Dr. Floyd Fulk,
Superintendent, Virginia Conference; and James R. Wilkins, Chairman, Joint Planning and Building
Committee and Representative of the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce College
Project Committee. Mr. Cooley and I went by train from Washington to Dayton, Ohio, via Pittsburgh,
and we were up all night. Mr. Cooley did not like to fly. The others went by auto. We were worn to a
frazzle, and in no condition to present our case.
We went directly to the EUB Headquarters Building in time for a review of our presentation.
We were all concerned about the 5-minute time limit. I had enough notes on my outline to talk at least
half an hour. Also, we didn’t realize we would have vocal opposition from the other EUB College
Presidents. However, after they met, they decided to have Dr. J. Gordon Howard, President of
prestigious Otterbein College, to speak on their behalf to close Shenandoah. President Howard was an
eloquent speaker, and they felt he would be more effective if they gave him their entire 20 minutes. He
would represent all the other EUB colleges from coast to coast. The other college presidents felt that it
would be to their interest to close Shenandoah, as they would get a bigger slice of the National Church
College financial pie; moreover, some of them would get Virginia Conference members as a part of their
constituency to recruit students and obtain funds, and some probably felt Shenandoah’s situation was
hopeless.
Bishop Fred L. Dennis was presiding when the Shenandoah survival question appeared on the
agenda, and he called on Dr. J. Gordon Howard to present the arguments for closing Shenandoah. Dr.
Howard, a noted orator, argued back and forth in a most eloquent and convincing manner giving a
thousand and one reasons why Shenandoah College and Shenandoah Conservatory of Music should be
closed. He talked about 30 minutes (10 minutes overtime). I thought surely our case was lost.
However, we were incensed and angry because he talked so long and made many unfair statements
about Shenandoah’s problems. Dr. Howard profusely thanked the officials and Bishops and sat down to
loud applause by the college presidents and others who agreed with his arguments. The stage was set.42
Mr. W. O. Cooley made a good 4- to 5-minute talk in favor of Shenandoah, in accordance with
our schedule. Dr. Forrest S. Racey made an excellent presentation (approximately 5 minutes) outlining
the work that had been done, previous approval by the Virginia Conference and National Church, and
urged them to give Shenandoah a chance to live. Dr. Floyd Fulk made about a 4-minute talk, and when
he got through I was not sure which side he was speaking for, as he was both pro and con. Undoubtedly,
Shenandoah had been his biggest headache since he became Superintendent of Virginia Conference. He
must have had mixed feelings. Bishop Dennis called on me to present the closing argument. He
42 I imagine Joshua standing on the east bank of the Jordan, ready to cross over for the first time (Josh 3:1), with thousands
waiting behind in great faith. —The Editor.
Wilkins on History of S.C., 1952-1960 45
