The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 64, No. 7, Ed. 1, Friday, October 15, 1976 Page: 8 of 12
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Adams Smith reflect 82 years service
Dy CINDY STOCKING
Features Editor
As entering freshmen in the
1920s Dr. Walter H. Adams and
Lawrence L. Smith did not want
to come to ACU but they
remained here past their days as
students helping to shape the
school for a combined 82 years
in positions they described as
"the best jobs ever."
Homecoming 1976 has been
dedicated to Dean Emeritus
Adams with 37 years of service
and Treasurer Emeritus Smith
with 45 years of service as
representatives of the profes-
sional and spiritual standards
ACU strives for. They will be
publicly honored during Home-
coming activities today and
Sunday
Relating how he first enrolled
in Oklahoma A&fA in 1921 with
his brother Adams explained his
coming to. ACU as "the
providence of God." He and his
brother were athletes and upon
enrolling at A&M Adams said he
fell into an environment which
included smoking and card
playing - things he was not
accustomed to.
Not wanting to be different
ho began to participate in these
things. Only one "week after
cnrQlling he received a letter
from his sister insisting that the
two enroll at ACU. Somewhat
disappointed they left A&M
enrolling here but not particu-
larly pleased with the situation.
Adams earned his bachelor's
degree from ACU in 1925 and
taught math here one year
before going to Stanford Univer-
sity in California where he
completed his master's degree in
education in 1927. Three years
later he Went to Columbia
University in New York to work
on his doctorate and in 1932 he
returned to ACU to become
dean. He received his Ph.D. from
Columbia in-1933.
Adams served as dean until
1969 when he was appointed
vice president of academic
affairs. In 1970 'he was named
dean emeritus which he
explains with a smile is a nice
term for a "has been."
The main reason Adams
returned to ACU in 1932 to
become dean was because he
"wanted to contribute to the
things for which Ace stood."
Explaining that money was the
main topic of conversation
among his classmates at Stanford
and Columbia he said this
"didn't appeal" to him and he
declined higher salaried positions
to return here.
Reflecting over his years as
dean Adams said the high point
of his career was in 1951 when
ACU was accredited and ad-
mitted to the Southern Associ-
ation of Schools and Colleges.
"This was something for which
we had been working and
struggling from way back . . .
something I was particularly
concerned about."
While accreditation was the
high point Adams said one of
the most satisfying things
through the years was that they
did find faculty members who
were qualified acadcrhicly and
spiritually. He believes the one
way to keep ACU "true to the
standards for which it was
founded" is to continue to
attract such people for the
faculty.
His association with the
faculty and especially the
students made his position "the
best job of anybody" Adams
said adding somewhat sadly that
he really misses the contact with
the students and faculty. "Asso-
ciation with young people is
tremendous." he added with a
WALTER ADAMS
Watching the student body
grow from about 260 members
when he enrolled to its present
site Adams said he believes
there has "always been a high
percentage of dedicated con-
secrated students who are
interested in seeing that the
purposes of the college arc
realized in them . . . interested in
the church interested in serving
rather than being served."
One of his biggest thrills as
dean he said was having the
opportunity of "signing the
diplomas calling the names at
graduation and presenting to the
president for confirmation of
degrees almost 10000 of the
finest young men and women In
the Svorld to receive degrees at
ACU." Adams said he did this
for about 66 spring and summer
graduation ceremonies.
smile "because in spite of
appearances it keeps you
young."
Treasurer Emeritus Smith said
his original dream after high
school graduation was to attend
the University of Texas but
instead found himself in 1922 at
ACU (which he prefers to call
ACC after knowing it that way
for so long). Now however
Smith said he realizes the
importance of a Christian
education and "if I had it to do
over I would do it the same
way."
Smith who for financial
reasons was required to drop out
after two years at ACU returned
in 1927 and was appointed
business manager during his
Junior year. Upon completion of
a bachelor's degree in English in
1929 he was hired to teach
Coming Home Queen sees
college as growth period
ByTERIVERGA
Optimist Staff
"Academics is not the most
important aspect of a college
education. It is a combination of
spiritual and social activities plus
studies that makes college the
growth experience that it is"
states Rose Ann Summers.
Mrs. Summers formerly Rose
Ann Reynolds was voted
Homecoming Queen by the
1966 ACU student body. She is
returning this weekend to
participate in Homecoming acti-
vities as the Coming Home
Queen.
"College is a time to try out
your Christianity to see if it is
based on something other than
your parent's faith" she said.
From a perspective of 10
years Mrs. Summers sees this as
the greatest advantage of a
Christian education. "I was not
very spiritually mature when I
entered college" she said.
"Going to ACU where 1 was
surrounded by Christians" she
added "strengthened the found-
ation I had received from
growing up in a Christian
home."
Mrs. Summers said a Christian
college atmosphere may be a bit
"unreal" when compared to the
world but it's not necessary to
be faced with all the temptations
a state school might offer.
Mrs. Summers a former
elementary school teacher now
spends her time taking care of
her family. She and her husband
Clint have two daughters
3-year-old Allison Lynn and
7-month-old Mary Angela. They
live in Missouri City Tex. where
her husband owns Trans-Data
Co.
In addition to being Home-
coming Queen Mrs. Summers
was a member of Choralaires
the A Cappella and the Delta
Theta social club at ACU. She
was voted Miss ACU and a senior
class favorite and was also a
recipient of the V W. Kelly
Scholarship Award.
Greek and to continue managing
the business office with help
from only one other person.
During his first year as a
teacher here Smith started the
business administration depart-
ment. He said he had wanted to
major in business administration
when became to ACU but there
was "no such thing." He did
receive his master's degree in
business administration from the
University of Texas at Austin in
1938.
Smith working under five
different ACU presidents served
as business manager until 1969
when he was appointed vice
president for financial affairs. Jle
was named treasurer in 1971 and
treasurer emeritus in 1972.
Recalling his years at ACU
Smith who is cutrently com-
piling material for a complete
history of the school said the
best thing about the school is
that he "found the finest girl in
the world for his wife and
mother of his sixxliildrcn."
Believing that "we have the
best university in the world . . .
taking everything into consider-
ation" Smith said he thinks the
school "only puts a polish" on
the students because they are
"pretty well made when they
come here."
"We have the finest young
people in the world" Smith
continued "and I think maybe
the students would appreciate
more discipline." Remembering
some of the "pretty strict rules"
enforced when he and Adams
were students Smith said he
thinks there is too much
"openness . . . permissiveness"
today not only at school but
also in the world in general.
Smith said he thinks part of
the strength of this university
today lies in the "wonderful
administration and faculty"
which he described as the "best
we've ever had."
One area in which Smith said
he has found no noticeable
change is in students' intelli-
gence. "I dpn't think basic
intelligence changes" he said.
"The difference is in background
and motivation."
Although students have this
additional exposure to informa-
tion Smiilusaid he does nqt
bcllvc they are as "good Bible
students as In the past because
there are too many distract-
ions." He explained tiiat when
he was going to school students
took more Bible classes to round
out their schedules.
Expressing surprise that
Homecoming would be dedi-
cated partly to him Smith said
he doesn't "feel the school owes
him anything or that he has
sacrificed anything" in his job.
In fact he continued the
position had given him -the
opportunity "to work with the
finest people of the world and
be associated with the finest
young people."
Echoing similar words of
Adams Smith said he is
"thankful to have been allowed
to work here" and feels like "1
should be giving the school a
celebration for all it has done for
me"
flaHJBaB m 4 jaaakHMaiaB
LAWRENCE SMITH
ACU Students
and Faculty Members
In spoilt) effort to acquaint YOU with our stora w are offering a
discount (tfalngt of 20 and mora) to every student and faculty
member presenting a valid ACU ID card.
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 64, No. 7, Ed. 1, Friday, October 15, 1976, newspaper, October 15, 1976; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth91894/m1/8/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.