TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

FORWARD

CHAP. 1 FOUNDING OF HUNTINGTON (THEN CENTRAL) COLLEGE

CHAP. 2 RELATIONSHIP TO HARTSVILLE COLLEGE

CHAP. 3 HUNTINGTON (THEN CENTRAL) COLLEGE--1897-1917

CHAP. 4 HUNTINGTON COLLEGE--1917-1941

CHAP. 5 HUNTINGTON COLLEGE-1941-1972

CHAP. 6 SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

75 Years - Where Character and Culture Blend

by J. Ralph Pfister

CHAPTER VI

SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

Huntington (then Central) College was dedicated September 22, 1897. A year of activities celebrating the founding of Huntington College was enjoyed by the college community and some of it has been shared with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, the supporting denomination.

Informal approaches to call attention to the seventy-fifth anniversary began early in the 1971-1972 school year. All printed materials carried an insignia of the college bell with the inscription—Huntington College Anniversary 1897-1972 75. Attention was called to this anniversary frequently in public addresses and personal conversation.

The Honorable Edgar Whitcomb, governor of the state of Indiana, was the speaker for a special convocation on Tuesday, April 25, 1972. This meeting was held at the College Park Church where Huntington College holds religious services and special convocations. The Governor was a guest at a luncheon in the Huntington Union Building at noon. Trustees, representative administrators and faculty members, special guests of the community, and leaders of the Huntington College Foundation were present to greet the Governor.

The annual commencement celebrated May 27, 1972 with Dr. Oswald C. J. Hoffman, minister for the Lutheran Hour radio program from St. Louis, Missouri as the speaker was the seventy-fourth annual commencement since there were no graduates the first year.

The Huntington College Bulletin published in May, 1972 as the annual catalog for 1972-1973 highlighted the seventy-five years by including a sixteen page supplement to the bulletin. This pictorial section was a nostalgic look at Huntington College through the past. The various facets of college life—fine arts, library facilities, science, dormitory life, athletics, spiritual emphasis—were portrayed. The ten men who served as president of the institution were pictured and thumb-nail biographical sketches were given.

The annual alumni dinner on Saturday, May 27, 1972 helped to emphasize the diamond jubilee. An alumni directory was distributed to those present and has been mailed to all members whose addresses are known. The program for the meeting was the first presentation of a historical play about the early days of Huntington (then Central) College. The script for the play was written by Mrs. Lucretia Mueller, a graduate of the class of 1952 and a former member of the faculty. "All the Voices . . . Every Scene" was given by members of the deputation team, "Life Unlimited."

This historical play was also presented in a number of the annual conference sessions of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and also in some local churches during the summer months.

The celebration climaxed with events in September to coincide with the time the administration building was dedicated. A special convocation on the front campus was held on Friday, September 22 with the Honorable Richard G. Lugar, mayor of the city of Indianapolis as the speaker. Huntington College bestowed upon the mayor the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law. This service combined the fall honors convocation and the emphasis for the seventy-fifth anniversary. Dr. C. W. H. Bangs, a former president, participated in the program.
The celebration on the campus concluded with the historical pageant, "All the Voices . . . Every Scene," on Saturday afternoon, September 23, 1972. The presentation during the summer was only one scene from the complete script.

A family dinner was held on Saturday evening at the Huntington Union Building. Antiques were displayed. Pictures and films of bygone days combined with music constituted the program.

The College Park Church of the United Brethren in Christ also celebrated the seventy-fifth anniversary of forming the local church during the week September 20-24, 1972.

The annual Huntington College week celebrated October 15-22, 1972 highlighted the contribution to Christian education which has been made over the seventy-five year span.

The seventy-fifth annual commencement will be held Saturday, May 26, 1973.

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