Going Home
We had the pleasure recently of attending Homecoming festivities at our alma mater (Hail!) Harding University. Here are some shots of the recently retooled campus quad, including the old administration building, the revived and functioning-once-more Lily Pool and the gleaming edifice of the renovated American Heritage Center:
Number One Son had a chance to look around again as he continues to mull over his college choices, and Eyegal and I had a chance to see old friends and make new ones. I had the pleasure of meeting in person for the first time fellow blogger Full Professor Mark Elrod over a delectable (and dirt cheap) breakfast at Bobby’s Family Restaurant on the courthouse square. The weather was perfect for the football game on Saturday, and the Bisons came through with a thrilling OT win over Henderson State. It wasn’t quite game day in Tuscaloosa, but hey, at least our boys won–unlike a certain other team I root for.
Probably the most memorable event to occur over the weekend was the death of Dr. Joseph Pryor, retired professor of physics and V.P. for Academic Affairs at the university. “Dr. Joe” was a beloved man, as humble and gracious as they come, and a Harding legend. With his bow tie and squeaky, geeky tone of voice, his was the image of the quintessential academician.
He graduated from Harding at the age of 19 and by his early 20s had obtained a PhD in mathematics from LSU (he was for many years the youngest doctoral graduate from that institution). He had planned to be a medical doctor, but Harding president George Benson talked him into returning to his “nourishing mother” where he devoted a lifetime to preparing future doctors and scientists for service to God and humanity.
True story: One winter day in the early 1980s, a severe ice storm passed through Searcy. In chapel that morning, Dr. Joe lectured us on the basic physics of slippery sidewalks.
“Please exercise extra caution today as you traverse campus since the recent ice storm has drastically reduced the coefficient of friction.”
I last saw Dr. Joe two years ago at a Homecoming banquet. He was wheelchair bound and barely responsive, but he tried his best to smile and acknowledge the many friends and alumni who stopped by his table to hug him and pat him on the back. At the close of the evening, we all stood to sing the Harding Alma Mater. Dr. Joe couldn’t stand, but my eyes grew a little misty as I watched him mouth the words of that paean to his beloved school.
The irony of Dr. Joe going home during Homecoming was not lost on any of us as we heard the news Saturday morning that he had passed away the previous day. I wondered, what with so many of his old friends and students gathered together, that he might have thought: Now that I have you all here…
You probably know where this is headed by now. Attention Harding alumni everywhere: pause, right where you are, and join me in a rousing chorus of the Alma Mater–in honor of Dr. Joe and for auld lang syne. It won’t hurt at all. In fact, it might be a bit like going home.
Near the foothills of the Ozarks, amid the hill and plain,
Stands our glorious Alma Mater, Harding is her name.
Sing the chorus, shout it loudly, echoing through the vale.
Hail to thee, beloved Haaaaardiiiiiing! Alma Mater Hail!
26 Comments
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Brady
There is no place like Bobby’s, known around the world for $1.65 biscuits and gravy. I love the formica top tables and the springs coming through the coverings on the benches. A truly unique place. And good for cholesterol intake.
I heard Bobby won political office (alderman) without being opposed.
Mike the Eyeguy
Here’s Bobby’s menu (click here). It was truly an Americana experience.
Brady
Sorry, but somehow I’m just a little bit disappointed that Bobby’s has a web site. Don’t ask me why…
Mike the Eyeguy
“Time waits for no man,” Brady. But I know how you feel.
Susan Pryor Hodges
Dear Mike,
Thank you for your touching thoughts about Daddy. I am sad to be without him on this earth, but his body was worn out and it was time to go to Heaven. We had a wonderful talk on Wednesday. He’s saving me a seat in Heaven. We spoke his favorite poem together. It was a great moment for me. I look forward to seeing him whole and new in Heaven some day.
It truly was the best Homecoming yet!
Susan Pryor Hodges
West Lafayette, IN
Mike the Eyeguy
Susan,
I’m honored that you stopped by and read this. I never had your dad for a class, but I did have many pleasant encounters with him, and obviously, many warm memories.
God bless you and your family. What a wonderful legacy of love and service he left us all!
Jon
Mmmmmmmmm Bobby’s. Good food, good times.
Jon
Why did they redo the lily pond, How are we supposed to get anymore Beetles in that thing? Ridiculous.
Mike the Eyeguy
Jon, I should stop posting about food. I don’t want to tempt you unnecessarily. 😉
Obviously, someone re-designed the new Lily Pool to thwart future generations of would-be college pranksters. But there’s always detergent or food dye.
Tammie Hacker
THANKS FOR THE BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE TO DR. JOE. I DEEPLY REGRET THAT ALL THE STUDENTS AT HARDING NOW WILL NEVER HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR HIM SPEAK IN CHAPEL AND PUT THE EMPHASIS ON THE WRONG SYLABAL (SP?) WHICH MADE HIM SO ENDEARING TO ALL OF US- HEY HE TAUGHT ME PHYSICAL SCIENCE SO EVEN I COULD UNDERSTAND IT – NOT SPELLING! AND I REGRET THAT THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GO TO HIM WHEN SOME GOOD MEANING ADVISOR SCREWS UP THIER SCHEDULE AND THEY FIND OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE THAT THEY CAN’T GRADUATE UNTIL DR. JOE WORKS IT OUT FOR THEM AND I REGRET THAT THEY WILL NEVER GET TO WORK WITH HIM ON THE YEARBOOK OR BISON OR SEE HIS ATHELETIC ABILITIES FIRST HAND BUT I AM SO VERY GRATEFUL THAT HE AND BESSIE MAE WERE A PART OF MY YEARS AT HARDING! THERE’LL NEVER BE ANOTHER DR. JOE PRYOR! AND ONE MORE THING I’M GRATEFUL FOR…HE AND BESSIE MAE SHOWED ME HOW TO STILL HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE EVEN WHEN THINGS DIDN’T GO AS PLANNED WITH MY SON. FOR THAT ALONE, I CAN NEVER SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH!!!
Sheila Vamplin
Thank you so much for writing what you did about Dr. Joe. I’m glad the HU newsletter sent me here. I worked with him on the yearbook in both high school and college, and used to meet in their home for Regina meetings, do laundry at their house, and even spent the night once after a particularly late night at the Petit Jean office. Dr. Joe and Bessie Mae are true saints, and I too am sorry for all those Harding students who will experience Harding without Dr. Joe.
(And if I’m not mistaken, the changes to the Lily Pool are in honor of another Harding giant, are they not?)
Mike the Eyeguy
Tammie and Sheila–
I’m honored that you both stopped by and shared your memories of Dr. Joe. He was truly one-of-a-kind.
Will there be another like him?
Not likely.
ray miller
I too have missed Dr. Joe. I never had him for a class, but he was a presence at Harding during my years there. I,too, am saddened that the future generations of Harding alumni will never see the man with the dard rimmed glasses and the ever-present bow tie, nor hear him give announcements in chapel.
I don’t think he ever knew who I was, but I know that he cared about me and my soul.
Mike the Eyeguy
Ray–
Thanks for stopping by and reminiscing about Dr. Joe. I didn’t have him for a class either, but I did speak with him briefly around the time that I graduated. I remember telling him my career plans and then listening to his well wishes and good advice that he offered me that day.
It’s my understanding that at the memorial service at College Church, that Chancellor Cliff Ganus said that he would have “trusted Dr. Joe with his soul.” Quite a tribute.
WAlter e. Lewis
Thank you so very much for your thoughts on Dr. Joe. I vividly remember as a first year student at Harding in 1972, taking Physical Science with Dr. Joe. One morning Dr. Joe was teaching about 110 current and said if one would usually accidentally touch a wire and was not wet, all you would get would be a shock. But if you were a bit damp, he said you had the distinct possibility of exterminating yourself…My good friend Paul Woodhouse and I were both struck by how Dr. Joe had presented this information to the class, and we began to laugh. Dr. Joe just couldn’t see why it so funny, but Paul and I had a different sense of humor. I think almost everyone else was pretty close to being asleep due to the fact that it was 9 a.m.
Those are some very beautiful pictures of the campus. Thanks again, it’s been well over 10 years since I have been able to visit. Every year, I am busy in my profession and cannot attend Homecoming. Hopefully, one of these years I can come. I sure would like to see some old friends and colleagues.
May God comfort Dr. Joe’s family.
Brett oRGAN
One of the few regrets that I have from my years at Harding is that there were two people that I could never muster the courage to approach. One was Dr. Cliff Ganus, the other was Dr. Joe. They both were larger than life and through no fault of their own, I was intimidated at the thought of a visit with either man. What a loss for me. What a gain for heaven.
Mike the Eyeguy
Walter,
That’s a great story! Dr. Joe was never one to use a five cent word when there was a perfectly good million dollar one lying around!
You would hardly recognize the campus. I hope you get a chance to visit soon.
Brett,
I know what you mean, I felt the same way. I can recall seeing both of those gentlemen strolling on campus a million times, smiling and greeting me as they passed. I’m sure that if I had stopped them for any reason, that they both would have given me the time of day and then some.
I did have the chance to visit with Chancellor Ganus a few years back when I picked him up at the airport during a visit to Huntsville. I found him to be a very pleasant, “regular guy.” We’ve since hosted his grandson Bill during an A Capella visit. My youngest son, who was nine at the time, got very excited when he misheard us say that “Bill Gates” was going to be staying at our house.
Becky Ball
I’m so glad I stopped and read your thoughts on Dr. Joe; I remember that icy day you mentioned (I think I fell at least once) but I had totally forgotten his comment about the “coefficient of friction”! What I always think of was when he announced in chapel that they were going to be serving “nackos” (nachos) at some event on campus. We always got a kick out of the things he would say, but our laughter was borne out of love and respect for such a kind, intelligent, Christ-like man. There will never be another Dr. Joe, and Harding will not be the same without him.
Mike the Eyeguy
Hey there Becky, great to hear from you! I hope you’re doing well.
I had completely forgotten about “nackos!” Thanks for the good chuckle. Stop by again soon.
Steve lake
Mike,
I really enjoyed your memories of Dr. Joe. I too fondly remember the ice/friction quote as well as the nockos line. I was lucky enough to be at Homecoming this year also and while I did not see an abundance of fellow classmates from the early 80’s, it was in many ways a perfect weekend. The weather was just wonderful and it felt just like one of the cool Searcy weekends from long ago. Alumni chapel was really special. That’s where I heard about Dr. Joe’s passing. We all prayed for the Pryor family and sang with a passion. The Class of 56 was enjoying their 50th and after visiting with just a few of them, I was convinced of two things. One, they were quite a remarkable group. And number two, that the “Harding Experience” was alive and well in 56! The place never ceases to amaze me. The magic of Harding has been a constant now for a long long time and it continues today. I know because my daughter, a current sophmore, calls me weekly with great stories that sound very similiar to the ones I experienced. I cherish that place, I cherish those people and I cherish those memories. Many times I lie awake a night with a modern day worry or problem that is hindering my sleep. It is then I employ my Harding technique. I simply begin to think of Harding….the walk across the front lawn, the sight of the mass exodus towards the Student Center after Chapel, the smile and “hi” as you pass anyone on campus sidewalk, a club football game, a devo, a group of guys staying up late in the door, I could on and on….very soon there after, my troubles are gone and I drift off to dream.
Kirsten (eckerberg) plettner
It was a great memory you shared… I also happened to be in chapel the day Dr. Joe made his famous “coefficient of friction” announcement. I remember thinking to myself, “What in the world is a coefficient of friction?” I called my father, who had Dr. Joe as a teacher for many of his classes, as soon as possible to ask him about it. It has now become part of the lexicon of our family. We often warn each other about the “coefficient of friction” during the winter months. I also remember him calling nachos “nockos” in chapel more than once. That was very cute. It was also funny to see him instruct us on the proper “breaking in” of our Petit Jean’s every year. So many memories… Has it really been over 20 years since I graduated?!?!?!?!
Mike the Eyeguy
Steve and Kirsten–
Great to hear from a couple of other “early 80s” folks. Yes, Kirsten, I hate to break it to you, but it has been over 20 years. And then there’s Steve with a daughter already in college (my oldest goes off to school next year). I just shake my head and think, shouldn’t I be the one going off to university?
Ok, so I wasn’t imagining the “coefficient of friction” or Becky the “nockos.” Good–at least my memory is still intact. Steve, I’m afraid that if I start thinking about Harding around bedtime that I’ll have one of those dreams where I haven’t gone to class all semester and wake up the morning of the final in a panic!
Here’s to Dr. Joe and all the great memories he left us.
Steve lake
Mike,
I say “Here Here” to your ode to Dr. Joe…..
Another recollection about him. (During my years at HU I heard and repeated this story many times. However, I never offically confirmed whether it was fact or fiction….maybe someone out there will know)
I always heard that due to his overwhelming intelligence regarding science and math that during the height of the cold war, Dr. Joe was on some sort of special government list that in the event of large scale attack on the US, he was one of 50 or so science/math individuals that would have been scooped up by the Feds and hurried to safety….
Mike, I’m ashamed to say that I don’t have those crazy dreams about skipping a class all semester and waking up the morning of
the final in a panic because…. I think I lived that one time! 🙂
Thanks for this wonderful forum to remember a wonderful man!
Mike the Eyeguy
Steve, the image of Dr. Joe as a top secret government V.I.P. makes me laugh.
Dr. Joe, Secret Agent Man. His would have been the perfect disguise!
Susan Pryor Hodges
Hi Mike,
I was emptying out old emails this morning and came upon the one that notified me of your website, so I stopped by again. Don’t know if you’ll get this… but thank you for the opportunity for others to share their stories and memories of Dad. I now wish we had set up a “guest book” of sorts for others to go to and share as well (I don’t have the expertice to do such). It means so much to have others perspectives about this man who was so great in my life. (By the way, did you know all three children in our family were adopted! I feel so blessed to have been placed in this family!) I have printed out the comments you and the others posted here and have added them to my scrapbook about Dad.
As far as I know, Dad was not a secret agent. I always thought the Communists were coming after Dr. Benson…and the missle silos near Searcy didn’t help much either! But I do know he never took “roll” because he just memorized the seating chart and would go back to his office to mark who was absent after class was over. And he could tell you what your mom or dad’s grade was in his class umpteen years ago! (without looking it up)
Try going on a family vacation with him…. wherever we were, on Sunday, we found the local Church of Christ- even sitting in the parking lot waiting for them to open occasionally- and EVERYTIME someone would recognize Dr. Joe! We couldn’t ever get away from Harding!
It makes me sad to know people were afraid to talk to Dad. He was the most selfless person I knew. He could make anyone feel “at home” and could talk about anything. I asked him once what the secret to life was. His answer was “humility.” He lived it too. We always had used cars. He never asked to have his office painted, or to have a more comfortable chair to sit in. I wonder how many weddings he attended that he ended up in the kitchen making the slush punch or washing dishes–probably most of them. He vacuumed the house every Sunday morning. He was a man of service. Yes, the mold was broken after God created him. But I hope we all try to live lives of service and honor as Dad did.
One other observation I would like to share- During the summers, I would work in his office filing Alpha Chi registration slips. That put me next to the big plate glass window in his office for most of my day. As I think back, I would see these parents or students waiting to see him- red faced, angry or anxious and tearful… He welcomed them in the inner office, closed the door, and then the head nodding would start. Dad talked very little, but he LISTENED so well! After the parents would have their say, he would say a few sentances, they would respond, then it was over. They shook hands. The door opened and the difference in these peoples faces was an about face of what they were upon entering the office. Dad listened, was respectful, and then came up with a plan. AND he fulfilled his part of the plan–every time! It was never “about” Dad. His focus was always on the other person and serving him or her. I loved Tammie Hacker’s comment about how many schedules he helped work out!
I wouldn’t want Dad back in the condition in which he left this Earth. But I miss him terribly every day. Ten days after he died, I believe God gave me a gift in the form of a dream. In my dream, I was standing in our home’s driveway (Center St.) looking toward the Ulrey’s house. A white car pulled into the driveway and out stepped my Dad! He WALKED to me, dressed in white, looking about in his ’50’s, healthy, healed, WHOLE! We talked in my dream and I got to say what I had been wanting to say. He said he had to go and he vanished. That dream remains a blessing to my spirit when I miss him so much. I feel confident that God has put him back to work in Heaven and he’s loving teaching students there! ( read Randy Alcorn’s books on Heaven! and his fiction too)
I also read your more current piece on the death of your neighbor. What a lovely story. God bless you as you and your family continue to minister to Sidney. I was at Mom and Dad’s house the weekend Barbara Altman died a few years ago. I had similar thoughts about her family gathering around her and watching the cars fill the cul-de-sac on Magnolia Drive.
Forgive me for going on so long! I am my daddy’s daughter!
Susan Pryor Hodges
Mike the Eyeguy
Hello Susan, good to hear from you again. You are “forgiven,” as if that is needed. I enjoyed your stories, and I’m glad that the post and the comments were a blessing to you and your family. Some days, I feel like taking a sabbatical from writing and blogging, and then I get a comment or an encouraging email like yours and I think, okay maybe I’ll go a little longer!
Blessings to you and your family!