Page 58 - UB Church and Shen Univ
P. 58
Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
very helpful gesture on Mr. Williams’ part, and we started planning the first two buildings: one for the
College and one for the Conservatory of Music.
Additional Steps. The next official step was to transfer the site to the College-Conservatory
trustees and to keep Shenandoah in Dayton open and alive until final arrangements could be made for
the move. This was difficult; after all, we had to also convince the Southern Association of Colleges to
continue the probationary accreditation of Shenandoah for at least 2 more years and to keep operating
until we could complete our buildings and open the School in Winchester.
Progress of Fund-Raising. By 1956-57, we were satisfied that the Chamber of Commerce fund
pledges were in sight; and the Virginia Conference leaders felt they could eventually raise their
$250,000, or arrange to borrow that amount as this conference had one of the best contribution and
credit records in the EUB National Church from coast to coast. Consequently, they assured us their
share would be raised, or they would borrow the balance; and the $100,000 from the National EUB
Church did not seem to present any collection problem. Therefore, we agreed to proceed.
Joint Planning and Building Committee. In cooperation with Dr. Forrest Racey, who had
been elected President in June 1956 when Dr. Troy Brady resigned, we agreed to officially organize the
Joint Planning and Building Committee made up of representatives from the Winchester-Frederick
County Chamber of Commerce and the EUB Virginia Conference as follows: James R. Wilkins,
Chairman; Forrest S. Racey, Co-Chairman; Marvin E. Gore; Wilbur M. Feltner; Floyd L. Fulk; Howard
L. Fulk; Dr. Carl W. Hiser; W. O. Cooley; Voyne B. Omps; and Harold D. Patton. This Committee was
charged to proceed to accomplish the objectives as previously outlined. Studies, plans, and decisions
were made on a day-to-day basis by this Joint Committee.
Our committee agreed to work with EUB representatives and to assist them in any way possible
with their general and financial campaign. The Virginia Conference leaders launched their campaign
and raised part of their goal, and we helped them to arrange to borrow the balance from our local banks
so that we could go ahead with the planning and construction of the first two buildings.
The successful efforts of the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, the College
Project Committee, and the EUB Virginia Conference to promote and complete our projects would not
have been possible without the complete support of our local news media. We are deeply indebted to:
The Winchester Evening Star, Northern Virginia Daily, Shenandoah Herald, Clarke Courier,
Martinsburg Journal, Radio Stations WINC and WHPL, Religious Telescope and Telescope-Messenger
of the EUB Church, and practically all other radio stations and newspapers throughout the Central and
Northern Shenandoah Valley area.
Virginia Conference Campaign. The Virginia Conference campaign was well organized and
ran very smoothly. After many delays, it secured its pledges and collected a part of the funds needed to
meet its initial share of the construction and other costs and promptly borrowed the remaining amounts
needed. I never worked with a more honorable and dedicated group of people than the ladies and
gentlemen of the EUB Church. I learned to respect and love these fine people. From the man in the
pew to the Dean of the Bishops, they were “tops” in my book—democratic, considerate, sincere, and
dedicated to the teachings and discipline of their church and American democratic principles.
I have very pleasant memories of working with Dr. Carl Hiser, Dr. Forrest Racey, Bishop Epp,
Bishop Dennis, Bishop Gregory, Bishop Shannon, Bishop Howard, W. B. Obaugh, E. C. Tutwiler, Dr.
John Sawyer, Voyne Omps, Dr. E. E. Miller, Dr. Troy Brady, Dr. Howard Lee Fulk, Dr. Lee Sheaffer,
Dr. Craig Brandenburg, Dean William H. Skeat, Howard Collins, Madge E. Keiter, Dr. Vern and
Wilkins on History of S.C., 1952-1960 48
very helpful gesture on Mr. Williams’ part, and we started planning the first two buildings: one for the
College and one for the Conservatory of Music.
Additional Steps. The next official step was to transfer the site to the College-Conservatory
trustees and to keep Shenandoah in Dayton open and alive until final arrangements could be made for
the move. This was difficult; after all, we had to also convince the Southern Association of Colleges to
continue the probationary accreditation of Shenandoah for at least 2 more years and to keep operating
until we could complete our buildings and open the School in Winchester.
Progress of Fund-Raising. By 1956-57, we were satisfied that the Chamber of Commerce fund
pledges were in sight; and the Virginia Conference leaders felt they could eventually raise their
$250,000, or arrange to borrow that amount as this conference had one of the best contribution and
credit records in the EUB National Church from coast to coast. Consequently, they assured us their
share would be raised, or they would borrow the balance; and the $100,000 from the National EUB
Church did not seem to present any collection problem. Therefore, we agreed to proceed.
Joint Planning and Building Committee. In cooperation with Dr. Forrest Racey, who had
been elected President in June 1956 when Dr. Troy Brady resigned, we agreed to officially organize the
Joint Planning and Building Committee made up of representatives from the Winchester-Frederick
County Chamber of Commerce and the EUB Virginia Conference as follows: James R. Wilkins,
Chairman; Forrest S. Racey, Co-Chairman; Marvin E. Gore; Wilbur M. Feltner; Floyd L. Fulk; Howard
L. Fulk; Dr. Carl W. Hiser; W. O. Cooley; Voyne B. Omps; and Harold D. Patton. This Committee was
charged to proceed to accomplish the objectives as previously outlined. Studies, plans, and decisions
were made on a day-to-day basis by this Joint Committee.
Our committee agreed to work with EUB representatives and to assist them in any way possible
with their general and financial campaign. The Virginia Conference leaders launched their campaign
and raised part of their goal, and we helped them to arrange to borrow the balance from our local banks
so that we could go ahead with the planning and construction of the first two buildings.
The successful efforts of the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, the College
Project Committee, and the EUB Virginia Conference to promote and complete our projects would not
have been possible without the complete support of our local news media. We are deeply indebted to:
The Winchester Evening Star, Northern Virginia Daily, Shenandoah Herald, Clarke Courier,
Martinsburg Journal, Radio Stations WINC and WHPL, Religious Telescope and Telescope-Messenger
of the EUB Church, and practically all other radio stations and newspapers throughout the Central and
Northern Shenandoah Valley area.
Virginia Conference Campaign. The Virginia Conference campaign was well organized and
ran very smoothly. After many delays, it secured its pledges and collected a part of the funds needed to
meet its initial share of the construction and other costs and promptly borrowed the remaining amounts
needed. I never worked with a more honorable and dedicated group of people than the ladies and
gentlemen of the EUB Church. I learned to respect and love these fine people. From the man in the
pew to the Dean of the Bishops, they were “tops” in my book—democratic, considerate, sincere, and
dedicated to the teachings and discipline of their church and American democratic principles.
I have very pleasant memories of working with Dr. Carl Hiser, Dr. Forrest Racey, Bishop Epp,
Bishop Dennis, Bishop Gregory, Bishop Shannon, Bishop Howard, W. B. Obaugh, E. C. Tutwiler, Dr.
John Sawyer, Voyne Omps, Dr. E. E. Miller, Dr. Troy Brady, Dr. Howard Lee Fulk, Dr. Lee Sheaffer,
Dr. Craig Brandenburg, Dean William H. Skeat, Howard Collins, Madge E. Keiter, Dr. Vern and
Wilkins on History of S.C., 1952-1960 48
