Range Rider, Volume 28, Number 3, September 1977 Page: 3
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Vital role of
ROTC noted
by LTC James A. Myers
A tradition of military instruction on civilian
college campuses began in 1819 at Norwich Univer-
sity and was reinforced by the Morrill Act in 1862.
The National Defense Act of 1916 firmly established
the American concept of a citizen army as the key-
stone of our defense forces. Officers for that concept
are to come from the universities via the Reserve
Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).
For Hardin-Simmons University, military science
began on 2 June 1952 following 11 years of efforts
by university officials to obtain an ROTC program.
Although young by comparison, the department has
been a leader in the changes of the last two decades.
Instruction began in the Corral, a former field
house and gymnasium, and remained there until
Mabee Hall was dedicated in September 1971.
Hardin-Simmons was one of the first universities to
offer a branch general program of study, giving the
student the opportunity to combine education goals
and service obligations. The success of this program
led to permanent adoption by the Army in 1953-
the first major change to ROTC since 1916. H-SU
has continued to keep the program flexible so that
maximum benefit may be gained by the individual
and the nation. Courses are designed to broaden the
student's understanding of the role of the Army in
national development and policy, and offer experi-
ences valuable to any career.
In an effort to provide all students in Abilene the
opportunity to participate in ROTC, Congressman
Burleson was asked to prepare a bill which would
permit one school to participate in the ROTC pro-
gram of another when they were located in the same
area. Such a bill was introduced by Mr. Burleson in
1953, but it took 11 years to become law.
The program was compulsory until the faculty
voted on 24 March 1965 to adopt a voluntary pro-
gram and give students the option of taking
military science or physical education for gradua-
tion credit. Included in this revitalization was the
two-year option for veterans and basic camp attend-
ars and an attractive scholarship program.
In 1973, women were invited to enroll in the pro-
gram and H-SU commissioned its first female officer
in August 1976.
Even though America has moved to a volunteer
army and ended the draft, the Army still depends on
ROTC to produce 60 percent of its officers.
EH-SU is one of about 300 universities offering RO-
TC programs. What does that mean? It means ...
... that as an institution, H-SU puts its ideals and
standards of the Christian ethic into the Army. It
ceeps the American tradition of well-rounded, civilian
)riented leadership alive.
... to taxpayers that officers are produced more
economicallyy than by any other system;
... to employers that young people are given
valuable leadership experience and developed for
nanagement positions;
... to parents that financial assistance is avail-
ible to help reduce the high cost of education;
... to the student, a chance to earn a college de-
,ree and a commission at the same time, and gain
'xperience that provides an edge in the job market.
Since inception of the program, H-SU has com-
nissioned 497 officers. In this anniversary year, as
nany of the graduates as could be found were con-
acted to determine if they have benefited from their
,OTC training and whether they would recommend
t today. A majority felt that their training was of
)enefit in civilian employment and had provided a
greater self confidence in their ability to lead.
The ROTC department is an asset to the univer-
sity, the community and nation. Although the staff
ias had to struggle to maintain enrollment objec-
ives over most of the Corps' history, it is graduates
vho give the program its strongest indorsement.
One cannot experience this curriculum without
gaining a more disciplined life, more depth in organ-
zation, and respect for physical and mental fitness.
SWoU.r A/r
ro h g rOe.*Chairman of Board of Trustees Bill Tippen confers Dr. Skiles confers an honorary doctorate of human-
an honorary doctorate of humanities upon President ities degree upon John Malecela. bean Tanner assists.
Elwin Skiles. Dean Tanner assists.
Malecela and Skiles honoredH-SU conferred two honorary degrees at its 85th
annual summer commencement Aug 12 in First Bap-
tist Church, Abilene.
Dr. Elwin L. Skiles, president of Hardin-Simmons
since 1966 and recently appointed chancellor, and
John Samwel Malecela, Minister of Agrictulture for
the United Republic of Tanzania, received honorary
doctor of humanities degrees.
Dr. Skiles was to have retired from the presidency
on his 65th birthday, June 15, but consented to the
request of the Board of Trustees to remain as pres-
ident until his successor is named. He is the univer-
sity's 13th president and will be its first chancellor.
The theme of his administration, "the pursuit of
purpose, education with vision," has proved not to
be idle words. The school has been transformed,
both physically and culturally, during his 11-year
tenure.
His "Profile for Progress" campaign was perhaps
the most ambitious project undertaken in the school's
history. The Sid Richardson Science Center, Wood-
ward-Dellis Recital Hall, Mabee Military Science
Hall, Rupert and Pauline Richardson Library and
the symbolic H-SU Cowboy Band Hall have left the
drawing boards to become reality on campus. The
Streich Tennis Courts, Othal E. Brand Swimming
Pool, the recent modernization of Marston Gymna-
sium, and the $1.5 million Health and Physical
Education Complex scheduled for completion near
1979 are also the works of Skiles' administration.
Though an Abilenian since 1953, Skiles is a well-
traveled man. Upon receiving his Ph.D. from South-
ern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.,
in 1941 he took a pastorship in Richmond, Va., then
was a Navy chaplain in World War II. He was
pastor of First Baptist Church in Georgetown, Ky.,
1946-49, and for the next four years pastored First
Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla. Then came his
big move west to Abilene in 1953.
Dr. Skiles was pastor of First Baptist Church in
Abilene for 13 years before the Board of Trustees
of Hardin-Simmons summoned him to the office of
university president.
Skiles was born near Cisco in Callahan County,
Texas, June 15, 1912, and graduated from Cisco
High School in 1930. He attended Hardin-Simmons
from 1930 to 1932, then transferred to Baylor Uni-
versity where he obtained his BA in 1934 and his
MA in 1935. He earned his master of theology de-
gree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
in 1938. His marriage to Ruth Kinder was in Aug-
ust of that year, an event that assured Hardin-
Simmons a first lady of rare distinction during the
Skiles presidency.
Skiles has served as trustee of Hendrick Memorial
Hospital, president of the Board of Trustees of the
Golden Gate Theological Seminary in California,
director of the Independent College Fund of Amer-
ica, and member of Abilene Rotary Club. He is a
director of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce and of
the University Consortium of Abilene.
Dr. Malecela
John Samwel Malecela is the first foreign diplo-
mat to receive an honorary degree from H-SU, and
his worthiness of the honor is well documented by
his record of service.
Malecela was appointed Tanzania's Minister for
Agriculture in 1975 after serving three years as
Minister of Foreign Affairs. He has been active in
the Tanzanian government since 1962.He was born April 20, 1934, attended primary
school at Mvumi in the Dodoma Region of Tan-
zania, completed his childhood education at the
Alliance Secondary School in 1952, and went to the
capitol city of Dar es Salaam where he enrolled in
St. Andrew's College for 1953-54 school year.
In 1955, Malecela left for India where he attended
the University of Bombay, earning his bachelor of
commerce degree in 1959. Then he traveled half
way around the world, to England, to study admin-
istrative procedures, 1961-62, at Cambridge Uni-
versity.
He entered the political scene in 1962 as Tangan-
yika Consul to the United States and Secretary of
the Tanganyika Mission to the United Nations. After
several agricultural appointments, Malecela was
approved in 1963 for the position of Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Rep-
resentative of Tanzania to the United Nations, where
he served with distinction.
The government of Tanzania showed approval
of Malecela's work by appointing him Ambassador
to Ethiopia in May, 1968. During his eight-year
career in the Tanzanian cabinet, he has served as
the Minister for Finance and Administration, Min-
ister for Communications, and chairman of the
Committee of Ministers.
The Rev. Tom McMillan, Missionary-in-Residence
at Hardin-Simmons, recommended John Malecela
for the honorary degree based on his Christian
commitments and his attainments in his country.
"John Malecela has readily helped Christian mis-
sions and worked to improve hospitals, education
and Christianity in Tanzania," said Dr. Clyde Chil-
ders, vice president for development at H-SU.
Hardin-Simmons became acquainted with Male-
cela through the Sister City Program which matches
up an American city with one of comparable size
somewhere in the world, especially on the African
continent. Malecela's hometown of Arusha is Abi-
lene's sister city and through his work the program
has been very successful between the two cities.
Range Rider
September 1977, page 3
Range e o
Rider
Volume 28 Number 3
Range Rider, Volume 28, No. 3, September 1977. Published
four times annually in March. June. September, and December
by Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, Texas 79601. Second
class postage paid at Abilene. Tex. 79601.
Publisher-Layout Editor: Clark Jones
Editor: Kenneth Hill, Director Alumni Affairs
0Folks & Facts Editor: Hattie Bell Martin
Public Information Office: Lea Alexander, Assistant
GENERAL OFFICES: Hardin-Simmons University Alumni
: Association, Moody Center, Room 203-205. Mailing address,
Box K, H-SU Station, Abilene, Texas 79601.-_Ar
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Hardin-Simmons University. Range Rider, Volume 28, Number 3, September 1977, periodical, September 1977; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117025/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hardin-Simmons University Library.