Jerry and Shirley Boone: - Ferrum College

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Changes Ferrum has had its growing pains to go with its success. No other president in Ferrum’s history has had to make the number of difficult decisions that Boone has made over the past 15 years. From his decision to sell the College consignment shop, to the sale of beloved Stoneleigh in 1988, to the decision to cut the equestrian and field hockey programs in 2000, Boone has made moves for the sake of the College that have been painful for him. Hard decisions for a president to make, hard decisions for the alumni to stand behind, but in the long run, good decisions for Ferrum. “Sometimes I look back and it seems like to become so strong financially (Ferrum is among the top 20% of colleges and universities nationwide, in terms of endowment), we’ve had to change so much as an institution, but then, overall, this place hasn’t really changed at all. The people are just as dedicated, many professors are still here, the students arrive the last week of August and the Folklife Festival is still the fourth Saturday in October. These are the things that make Ferrum a special place,” says Boone. The Motto Boone has been a beacon for the mission, “Not Self, But Others.” In 1990, he worked with the Bertram F. and Corella Bonner Foundation to include Ferrum in the chartering of the Bonner Scholar program, which provides scholarships for Ferrum students who make voluntary service a major component in their college experience. Further, every capital improvement has been made with the students in mind. “Through the years, I never thought that all the new buildings that I was breaking ground for and dedicating would automatically make Ferrum a better place. Ferrum has always been a great place to be because of the dedication of its people. But I saw a real need to bring our great people a place to be proud of and to bring an old campus into the modern world. Ferrum has always been proud of its roots, but I didn’t see it as an affront to Dr. Beckham and Dr. Arthur to bring in an era of improvement to the facilities. I think they would be proud of the present campus and the improvements that have been made over the last few years.” Dr. Boone’s presence here will long be remembered in the brick and mortar that he leaves behind as well as the deep commitment he has re-established with the Methodist Church. “The Methodist Women formed this great place and I saw the opportunity to refocus on the Methodist mission of the school. Through our students, faculty, and staff, we have revived the true meaning of ‘Not Self, But Others.’” Vice President for Business Affairs Bobby Thompson ’70 recalls a defining image of Dr. Boone’s presidency in Boone’s 1992 announcement of the R. Stuart Moore gift, which turned out to be valued at $12 million “The (R. Stuart) Moore gift...was based on his faith in and respect for the President in continuing the ideals of Ferrum’s mission.” Vice President for Business Affairs Bobby Thompson ’70 (right) and included one of the largest art collections given to any small private college. “The Moore gift represented a personal triumph for Dr. Boone, since part of Mr. Moore’s decision was based on his faith in and respect for the President in continuing the ideals of Ferrum’s mission,” says Thompson. The almost 200 Bonner Scholars who have passed through, leaving their mark, the students who so diligently heed the calling to the church through the Christian Ministries program, and the chartering of Alpha Phi Omega, the national service fraternity, to name just a few, all point to a common Photo by Billy Howard 1993 • Roberts Hall and Hillcrest renovations complete • Education program selected for Innovation in Teacher Education Award from Commonwealth 1994 • First Williams Endowed Professorship in the Humanities named • Fitness Center completed 1995 • Ferrum hosts National United Methodist Student Forum • Multicultural Education program established • Blue Ridge Institute and Museum building dedicated • First Performing Arts Scholarships awarded • Ferrum Edition performs at Kennedy Center • Department of Public Safety established 14 FERRUM MAGAZINE Fitness Center dedication
thread with Ferrum students. “Our students and alumni, who have heard the words of Dr. Beckham call them to think of the world around them, are the heart of Ferrum,” Boone proudly confirms. The Endowment An institution’s endowment is its savings account. Ideally, a college or university funds its scholarships and operating expenses off the interest without cutting into the principal. Endowed gifts are unique in that they always have a supporting hand under an institution’s portfolio as the gift is essentially never spent. “The College was facing real financial problems when I first arrived and, while we didn’t know it then, the country was well on its way into a recession. The endowment was at a little over $6 million, and the College needed some firm direction. Those first few years were spent fundraising and making contacts and positioning Ferrum in the minds of foundations and major donors, so that they would see Ferrum as a valuable investment of their charitable giving and grants. Many people and companies, in this region and beyond, began putting more stock in Ferrum, and we’ve lived up to those expectations as we continually produce successful graduates. Major donors and large corporations look for a return on their investment in the quality of students who graduate from an institution of higher learning. Ferrum is showing the region and the world that we are using our resources and talents wisely and that is proven in dollars and cents when you look at the growth of the endowment over the past few years,” Boone asserts. Just Ferrum College, Please. One of Boone’s primary goals seemed simple— to drop the Junior from Ferrum College, but Boone’s dedication to bringing Ferrum into the 21st century as a four-year college was quite an endeavor. “When I first arrived on campus, one of the first things I noticed were the Ferrum Junior College seals still on the doors of several campus buildings. I thought that was so strange because Ferrum had been a four-year school for ten years. I knew then that the identity change would have to begin at home, here on campus. I wanted the world to get to know Ferrum as Ferrum College. Making the transition made the Junior College degrees stronger for alumni in the working world and helped make Ferrum stronger as a campus.” Those days were controversial, though. One of the last pieces of that puzzle to fall into place was dropping the Junior Conference schedule and begin playing a full, fouryear schedule in athletics. “That was challenging for our athletic teams who had dominated the JuCo for years, and it was tough on the coaches to make that major change,” added Boone. Former Head Football Coach and Ferrum College Athletic Director Hank Norton agrees, “We were uneasy about changing to the full, four-year athletics schedule. Not only did we make the change, we did it in one year. Most colleges take four years to phase in a whole new schedule. But it was the best thing for Ferrum. When we played JuCo, the athletes had to transfer out after two years. Once the College went to fouryear, we could keep those athletes, the David Harpers and Anthony Drakefords, for their whole careers. We didn’t have to let go of the talent we cultivated.” The change allowed growth for the faculty as well. In the classroom, moving into fullfledged, four-year status forced many professors to go back to school and finish their doctorates, due to the accreditation requirements as a four-year school. “I worked hard to make sure that through grants and continuing education opportunities, we gave our faculty the means to reach the highest levels of education in their own fields,” Boone points out. The Campaign for Ferrum In 1998, Boone took the helm of another daunting task, taking full professional responsibility for Ferrum’s first-ever comprehensive capital campaign, The Campaign for Ferrum College. While many colleges and universities are staffed with teams of fundraisers who may work exclusively on a capital fundraising campaign, Boone set out on the road less traveled by Ferrum. Supported by and partnering with the College’s Institutional Advancement Office and the Board of Trustees, and with fundraising consultants advising a smaller goal, Boone and Ferrum College steadily worked toward the $13 million goal. The challenge grew in dollars, while the fundraising period was truncated by 18 months. Boone is pleased with the monetary accomplishments of the campaign and support that so many have given for Ferrum students. Part of the $3 million Facilities Priorities goal, within the Campaign, will fund the Stanley Library expansion. Boone has been the vision’s architect, overseeing the planning • Fiber optic network installed in all buildings • Basketball court improvement and new bleachers installed in Swartz gym • Computers installed in every residence hall room 1996 • E. Taylor Greer Gallery opens in Stanley Library • Endowment at $33.5 million • First Snow Ball dance 1997 • First Year Experience program initiated • First Women’s Leadership Conference • Garber Hall’s Agroecology wing opens 1998 • Christian Ministries Initiative begins • “The Hill” units torn down to pave way for new athletic field • Norton Field House improvements complete FERRUM MAGAZINE 15
Page 1 and 2: Ferrum Magazine SPRING 2002 VOLUME
Page 3 and 4: Ferrum Magazine SPRING 2002 VOLUME
Page 5 and 6: ON on CAMPUS campus Franklin County
Page 7 and 8: ON on CAMPUS campus The Blue Ridge
Page 9 and 10: SPORTS sports ON on campus CAMPUS P
Page 11 and 12: SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES EDWAR
Page 13 and 14: IN THE Dr. CLASSROOM: Cy Dillon, II
Page 15: The Beginning A long-time friend at
Page 19 and 20: Dr. Boone’s memories: Of Ferrum A
Page 21 and 22: Alumni News 50 Year Club Happenings
Page 23 and 24: The 1960s Danny M. Perdue ’66, of
Page 25 and 26: Class Notes Crystal L. Clinebell
Page 27 and 28: Mr. Michael K. Ferguson ’81 Presi

Jerry and Shirley Boone: - Ferrum College

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