In Commemoration of LeTourneau University's 50th Anniversary
What
a privilege it is to be able to serve as President of LeTourneau University
during this our Golden Anniversary year. Because we are still a young institution,
my ten years as President incorporates 20 percent of our total history. Through
the help of others I have been able to capture a personal glimpse of the University’s
earliest days. During my first year on campus, I had the honor to get to know
one of our co-founders, Mrs.
R.G. LeTourneau, and to have
the joy of feeling her passion for Christian education and to hear first hand
some of her stories about our infant years. During that same period I benefited
from the friendship and wise counsel of former president, Harry Hardwick. President
emeritus Richard LeTourneau continues to provide important advice and historical
perspective meaningful to the institution.
It is exciting to be a part of an institution that is still young and fresh, still in touch with its roots. In just a few years these tales of our early days will not be handed down through first person encounters. The legacies of LeTourneau University will have to be remembered through recorded words and pictures. It is important to capture at this historic time, our 50th year, as much of our history as we can while the memories are still vivid. We are grateful to Dr. Kenneth Durham, our historian and our longest serving faculty member, and to the others who so ably assisted him, for their leadership in capturing these special moments of our past.
As you read and rejoice in the blessings of the past as remembered in the following pages, I must challenge you not to rest too long upon these fond reflections. While we are grateful for the vision, dedication and service of all who have gone before us and for the progress that the University has made in reaching this point in its history, there is much to be done. If god allows another fifty years, to reach our 100th Anniversary in 2046, those who celebrate it will rightly hold us accountable for what we did during our tenure or service to build upon the cornerstones of our heritage. Remaining appreciative of our past we must be dedicated to our future. With God’s guidance and the prayers, support and hard work of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends, indeed all who believe in quality, Christ-centered education, our best days are yet to come.
Alvin O. Austin,
President