Olivet Nazarene University Pictorial History

Table ofContents

I N T RODU C T I ONJohn C. Bowling, University President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

TO A LMA MAT E R , O L I V E TA Historical Sketch of the UniversityGary W. Streit, University Provost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

WE L I F T O U R V O I C E I N P R A I S EPraise through MusicHarlow E. Hopkins, Class of 1953 and Harriet (Boughhan) Hopkins, Class of 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . .25

NO B L E S TA ND A RD S WH I C H W E ’ L L H O L D T I L L E N D I N G O F O U R D AY SAcademic ExcellenceGregg Chenoweth, Class of 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

T IM E W E S P E N T W I T H I N T H E S E WA L L SThe Olivet ExperienceSusan (Myers) Williams, Class of 1969 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

F O R H E R E W E L E A RN E D T O K NOW O F T R U THEducation With a Christian PurposeLeora (Windoffer) Legacy, Class of 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

MY O L I V E T, O U R O L I V E TSchool Spirit through AthleticsHeather (Kinzinger) Shaner, Class of 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109

E P I L O G U EJohn C. Bowling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136

[ 12 ] To Alma Mater, Olivet

just south and west of the main campus,

and now home to ROTC classes and

intramural sports fields. The School

of Graduate and Continuing Studies

established a Chicago Regional Center

in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and

moved their administrative offices in

Bourbonnais to greatly expand facilities

at Heritage Place.

When Dr. John C. Bowling became

president of Olivet in July 1991, he

was intent on building on the solid

foundation laid by those who had

preceded him, but at the same time

he realized the fast-approaching 21st

century required a new vision and

progressive changes, especially in the

area of information technology. So one

of his priorities set forth in his Agenda

for Excellence was the development

of an electronic campus to enhance

instructional presentation and delivery

and to ensure technological literacy.

Today, Olivet provides wireless access

throughout the campus, including all

classrooms and residence hall rooms;

a fully computerized library and

learning resource center; a distance

learning classroom; 80 smart class-

rooms; and over 25 computer labs.

Shine.fm (89.7 WONU), a 24-hour

35,000 watt radio station licensed by the

FCC as a non-commercial educational

FM station, is an educational and public

relations arm of the University. Radio

broadcast training began with Professor

George Snyder in 1946 with a campus-

only broadcast station known as WONC

WONC radio studios on

the fourth floor of Burke

Administration Building,

1946–1953.

Tornado of April 17,

1963 strikes hard at

this northwest corner

of Burke Administration

Building. Many windows

were blown out.


that transmitted through electrical

lines on campus to individual radios.

In 1967, Professor Ray H. Moore set

up WKOC-fm radio studios in Ludwig

Center with 10 watts of power. Power

was raised to 421 watts in 1983. The

studios moved to Benner Library in

1988 for the new 35,000 watt station.

In 2003, WONU-FM and broadcasting

classes moved from the north wing of

Benner Library to a retrofitted building

next to the Admissions Center on

Main Street, and the Department of

Communication and Digital Media

Two graduates at

Burke Administration

Building preparing

for commencement

ceremonies.

a historical sketch of the university [ 15 ]

offices and classes moved into that

vacated space, including new television,

graphic arts and photography studios.

In 2004, President Bowling introduced

to the Olivet family the theme “Promises

to Keep” as the focal point for the next

major capital campaign, focused on

funding the construction of the

Centennial Chapel. This impressive

facility will give to the Olivet community

a permanent home for both her public

worship as well as cultural events.

In 2005, the North Central

Association reaffirmed Olivet’s

Dean Carl S. McClain

proudly displays his

memoirs, I Remember —

my fifty-seven years at

Olivet Nazarene College,

1983.


accreditation for the maximum period

of ten years with no stipulations.

A major reorganization of academic

divisions, departments and schools was

implemented that same year, resulting

in the creation of the College of Arts

and Sciences, the School of Education,

the School of Professional Studies,

the School of Theology and Christian

Ministry, and the School of Graduate

and Continuing Studies. Each school is

led by a dean who, in turn, works closely

with the newly designated provost.

At this Centennial moment, Olivet

rests on the shoulders of 100 years

of dreams and determination —

of tears and triumph — of reversals

and revival — of fear and faithfulness.

2007 ▪ A dream ▪ A campus of

250 acres with 40 buildings ▪ 422

faculty and staff ▪ 4,500 students

▪ a new beginning ▪ a University

thrives!

Selden Kelley Jr. stands

beside a portrait of his

father Selden D. Kelley

Sr., Olivet president

1948–49, and Selden

Dee Kelley III at right,

who graduated from

Olivet in May 1978.


T H E “ O ” C L U B

from the early ’40s

Men’s “O” Club.

Women’s “O” Club.


In 1941, Walker Hall

was used as faculty

apartments.

C A M P U S B U I L D I N G S

Gymnasium — Walker Hall

Constructed by

St. Viator College,

the Olivet Gymnasium

covered 5/8 of an acre.


C A M P U S B U I L D I N G S

Burke Administration Building — Chapman Hall

West view in 1940 of

Chapman Hall, originally

built in 1906 as Roy

Memorial Hall by

St. Viator College.

West view of Burke

Administration Building,

built in 1906 as Marsile-

Alumni Hall by St. Viator

College.


A P R I L 1 6 , 1 9 6 3

Olivet Campus — Trailerville

Effects of the 1963

tornado that swept

across the campus which

demolished Trailerville,

housing for married

students, along with

damaging effects to

several buildings.


itself,” expressed President John C.

Bowling in the 75th Anniversary

Concert Band Homecoming program

in 1991.

In the early years, music was indeed

a vital part of the life of Olivet through

the pioneering efforts of Rev. DeCamp,

Olin Waltz, Claude Dent, J. Glenn

Gould, Professor Peake, his daughter

Mrs. Irene Price, and others.

But a significant new era began in

1932 when Walter Burdick Larsen

arrived to teach. He met senior student

Naomi Tripp, and they married in

1933. Thus, the partnership was

formed that began a deeply spiritual

and dedication-to-quality “crescendo”

that continues to this day.

Margaret (Flint) Woodruff ’42

recalled:

The Larsens, though receiving

inadequate and unpredictable salaries,

nevertheless regularly traveled by train

to Chicago to study with the renowned

faculty of the American Conservatory

of Music. We students who were paying

Walter B. and Naomi

Larsen in 1941. They

led Olivet’s Department

of Music from 1932

to 1972.

we lift our voice in praise [ 27 ]

Olivet’s modest tuitions were

receiving the conservatory’s excellence

“once removed.” It is not possible

to exaggerate the Larsens’ investment

of money, talent, discipline and energy.

Sacrifice was the trademark of all

Olivet’s early faculty, but no department

was more the beneficiary of faculty

commitment than was music!

The naming of Larsen Fine Arts

Center in their memory in 1982 affirmed

the musical influence their dedicated

lives had on Olivet and her students.

A significant portion of the Larsen

legacy resides in the choral tradition

that was established in 1932 with

the founding of Orpheus Choir by

Dr. Larsen, its first conductor. Upon

his untimely death in 1957, Mrs. Larsen

became the choir’s conductor, followed

by Dr. D. George Dunbar ’58 in 1972,

and Dr. Jeffrey Bell ’81 in 1999. During

the 1950s, Orpheus Choir sang Handel’s

Messiah each December and toured for

ten days on the educational region each

spring. In addition to the many campus

appearances each year, the Dunbar era

The Orpheus Choir

was established and

conducted by Dr. Walter

B. Larsen in 1932. This

photo of the choir was

taken in the Burke

Administration Building

lobby in 1941.


have served God through their musical

gifts and talents as professors, teachers,

artists, performers, church musicians,

band and orchestra members, and choir

members around the world. Notable

are Roger McMurrin ’61, conductor

of the Kiev Symphony Orchestra and

Chorus, and renowned duo pianists

Nielson and Young. Pianist and

composer Stephen Nielson served at

Olivet as an artist in residence from

1971–78; pianist, organist, composer,

conductor Ovid Young ’62 served at

Olivet as an instructor and assistant

professor in piano from 1965–75, then

as an adjunct lecturer in music from

1975–78. Since 1976, Olivet’s president

has commissioned Young to arrange

a specially selected hymn to be sung

by Orpheus Choir at the annual

baccalaureate service. Because of his

exemplary service to Olivet and his

witness around the world, Olivet

conferred the honorary Doctor of

Letters on Young in 1985.

Olivet’s instrumental music history

began with string and orchestral

ensembles. In the late 1940s, orchestra

“Praise Song — The

Piano and Orchestra

of Ovid Young,” 1972.


“The Comforter Has

Come — A Decade of

Inspiration,” 1985.

“1967 Homecoming

Concert — Recorded

Live,” Harlow Hopkins,

Conductor and Ovid

Young, Orchestral

Arrangements.

conductors included Eldon Basney,

Don Hustad, Lowell Burroughs, Walter

Larsen, Kenneth Bade ’49 and Harlow

Hopkins ’53. Neal Woodruff ’91

serves as the current orchestra

conductor.

A band began at Olivet in 1910–11.

In 1933, Walter Larsen brought the

band back into existence, after an

absence of six years, under the direction

of J. Richard Sullivan. The tragic fire

in 1939 destroyed the meager collection

of music and the few college-owned

instruments. In 1940–41, under the

leadership of A. Harold Fitzgerrel

’41, the band was “born again,” and

instrumental music was introduced as a

part of the college curriculum. In 1991,

Fitzgerrel returned to conduct the band

at the 75th anniversary concert.

Harlow E. Hopkins served as

director of bands from 1957-96.

Touring began in 1963 — the day

after the April 17 tornado. Dean Willis

Snowbarger said, “The concert band

should go ahead with its plans —

we’ll have 35 fewer mouths to feed.”

The band’s first General Assembly


The Olivetians, 1964.

The Olivetians, 1970.


Aeolian Singers: Fonda

Bearinger, Virginia Trent,

Kathryn Zook, Mabel

Grubb, Leah Voigt and

Lois Carpenter, 1941.

appearance took place in 1968 in

Kansas City. During the Hopkins era,

several nationally known conductors

occupied the podium including

Frederick C. Ebbs, Mark H. Hindsley,

Ray E. Cramer, Mark S. Kelley and

John P. Paynter.

Concert Band remains strong today

under the leadership of Dr. Neal

McMullian. With necessary and gratifying

support from the administration, the

marching band returned in 2004 for the

first football game with 85 members and

a one-time guest appearance by a fully

uniformed euphonium player named

John Bowling.

“Let all the people praise thee,

Let all the people praise thee,

Let all the people praise thy name

Forever and forevermore.”

Praise. Visit a chapel service at Olivet

and you will see and hear the praises

of the Olivet family lift to God. Then

you will know that the prayers and

praises of those early founders have

been honored; moreover, their prayers

and praises continue through the

prayers and praises of today’s Olivet

family. And these “hearts lifted in

praise” have a lasting impact:

Whenever I hear an orchestra tuning,

I am taken back to Chalfant Hall.

I am on the choir risers waiting for

a rehearsal or concert to begin. …The

memories most dear to me, however, are

of Harlow Hopkins or Naomi Larsen as

they conducted with tears spilling down

their cheeks. The music touched them,

and it touched us as well. I remember

fighting back tears as I sang Messiah

for the last time. The Scripture was so

meaningful and the music so inspiring.

— Patricia Wright ’75

I was thinking recently about how

many churches today have moved away

from singing hymns in worship services

and how I miss them. My thoughts go

back to Olivet’s chapel, and the times

when Dr. Hopkins would lead us in

singing from the hymnal. In particular,

I enjoyed “Wonderful Grace of Jesus”

each semester. The hymn was written

by Haldor Lillenas in 1918, and the

message embodied in the song is as

true today as it was when it was

penned. That song ranks as one of my

favorites because of its powerful lyrics

and the fondness I have for hearing

a thousand people sing in harmony.

It is an experience that has lived with

me from my Olivet days until now.

May it ever remain!

— Duane Romey ’90

I will exalt you, my God the King; I

will praise your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise you and extol

your name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of

praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation will commend your

works to another; they will tell of

your mighty acts….

My mouth will speak in praise of the

Lord. Let every creature praise his holy

name for ever and ever.

— Psalm 145:1-4, 21 NIV



The Sound Foundation,

1970s.

Byron Carmony and

Ray H. Moore record

many of Carmony’s

songs about Olivet

on campus in 1987.

The Collegians Men’s

Quartet, 1967.

Olivet Nazarene University Pictorial History

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