Alumni - Lincoln Christian University

and other furnishings. Classes were held in the facility for the firsttime during the spring semester of 1972.In 1972, after 28 years of serving as Lincoln’s founding president,Earl Hargrove moved from his role as President to Chancellor; andDr. Leon H. Appel, who had served two years as Lincoln’s VicePresident, was named President. For many years Dr. Appel hadserved as chairman of the board of trustees and knew very wellthe business of LCCS.As more and more of the campus family was made up of non-traditionals(married students, families, and second-career students),the need was great for apartment housing. On November 3, 1973,ground was broken for four buildings, and 56 units were ready foroccupancy the following summer.Then grief struck our campus as after just two short years as ourpresident, on August 1, 1974, President Leon Appel suffered a fatalheart attack, leaving a stunned campus family in search of on-goingleadership.The years to follow, though sometimes tumultuous, would serveto prove Lincoln’s foundation was strong and her mission Godordained.Who could lead a faculty, staff, and student bodythrough the pains of a confused and divided world shaken by theVietnam conflict, resulting in a whole new profile of students? Thelong-term presidency of Earl Hargrove and the all-too-brief presidencyof Leon Appel would be followed by several succeeding chiefexecutives:Leroy Trulock – Interim President, 1974-1975Robert E. Phillips – President, 1975-1980John P. Hasty – President, 1980-1981Charles E. Mills – Interim President, 1981-1984Charles E. McNeely – President, 1984-1996Phil Zoeller – Interim President, 1996-1998Keith H. Ray – President 1998 to presentEach new era of presidency brought with it a new level of growthand maturity. But perhaps most significant, because of what isinvolved in reaching such status, is the accreditation by three differentagencies. We are accredited regionally by the Higher LearningCommission (HLC) of the North Central Association (the largest ofthe regional accreditors) and by two national/faith-based accreditors,the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Association forBiblical Higher Education (ABHE, formerly AABC). We have beenaccredited by ABHE since 1954 and by ATS and HLC since 1991.Construction site of Hargrove Chapel in 1970Other areas of growth took a quantum leap:• renovation of existing facilities• campus landscaping• computerized labs and classrooms• gift revenue• very intentional strategic planning• articulating core values• clear and decisive mission and vision statementsA whole new area of administration was formed in 2000 under theleadership of Don Green, Vice President of Church Development.This area addressed one of Lincoln’s strategic issues, and that was“to be a premiere resource to help the church become what Godintends,” thereby ensuring that LCCS will stay church-focused.An adult degree completion program was introduced in 2001and celebrated its first graduating class in 2003. The programallows for Christian adults to grow spiritually while growingprofessionally, ultimately resulting in a Bachelor of Arts degreein Leadership and Management or in General Ministry.The first new building to be built on campus in 30 years wasdedicated to the glory of God on February 23, 2002. Namedfor the long-term relationship of the Ernie and Naomi Laughlinfamily, the Laughlin Center was constructed to house a 30,000square-foot gymnasium named the Thomas A. Gaston Arena(provided as a memorial by the Gaston family). The facility providesarena seating for 1,100 people, training and locker rooms,office space, a fitness center, and much needed parking space.At year 2004, Lincoln was turning yet again another corner as theneeds of the 21 st century pressed upon us.Earl C Hargrove Chapel todayBy 1984, at the time of Lincoln’s 40 th birthday, combinedenrollment for both schools had reached 578, and her facultyand staff numbered more than 70. By 1994, at her bi-centennialyear, enrollment was at 844. By 2004, enrollment reached 1,260and faculty and staff numbered more than 100.Between 1974 and 2002, new construction came to a halt.However, a new office/meeting room facility located just west ofthe campus proper was purchased and renovated in 1995 by theAlumni Association. It was named the L. H. Appel Alumni andVisitors’ Center in honor of our second president, Leon H. Appel.7