The Magazine of Lenoir-Rhyne College
Fall 1999

Two different entities -- one a well-loved professor who retired in 1986, the other a beloved tree which succumbed to disease in 1998 -- are no longer on the Lenoir-Rhyne campus. An odd pair to speak of in the same breath, however, not so strange when we realize that both will always be remembered by countless alumni for their tireless legacy of giving to the college community.

Professor Russell "Bud" Brown was a teacher of economics during his time at L-R. But that wasn’t all he taught his students. He also had a talent for bringing history to life, perhaps because he had lived so much of it himself. During World War II, he was there when the first U.S. troops entered Paris. He took part in the battle at Omaha Beach and the Battle of the Bulge. He was there to see Babe Ruth at bat and, later, to march on Washington with Dr. Martin Luther King.

Brown cites the GI Bill, which provided veterans with the finances to continue their education, as one of the most important ideas of our time and admits he couldn’t have succeeded without it. Later, he taught many GI’s in his classes. Many small colleges like L-R would have experienced difficulties without the government’s assistance in providing financial aid, he said.

The great chestnut oak is also a part of L-R history. Standing in front of Cline Gym, the 135 year-old tree was there to shelter students from the sun, to give them at least a little cover from the rain, and to shine in radiant splendor during the fall. It was there to witness the burning of Old Main and it stood tall and proud during L-R’s centennial celebration. In a tribute to its significance, a committee of students, faculty and staff, led by Dr. Karen McDougal associate professor of biology, worked to preserve it when they first discovered the tree was diseased.

Created to preserve the natural areas of the campus, the goal of McDougal’s committee is to map all existing trees, to develop a plan to preserve existing trees, and to plant appropriate new ones. The group also worked with the city of Hickory to select plantings for the landscaping of the X-intersection in front of the college.

Sadly, the old oak could not be saved. But because of its history and the affection in which it is held, when the tree was cut down, a slice was taken from its trunk three feet above the ground prior to its removal. Now, Hickory Business Furniture has dried, sanded and sealed the 46-inch diameter slab and it is on display in the first floor lobby of the Minges Science Building.

Time has slowed for Professor Brown, who now lives just a few blocks from campus. For the great oak, time has stopped. But neither will be forgotten. Their legacy of giving lives on in the minds and memories of the students who knew them well.

                                                            Page 2 -- "Counting the Rings of Time"

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