P: Do you go through an inauguration and that sort of thing?

R: Not until several years later when we are out in the new campus. We have a nice
 little ceremony.

P: So you just automatically moved into his office.

R: That is right.

P: And you were still in Buchholz?

R: But we have just begun work on the new campus when Joe left.

P: Now, you took over at the end of 1971 or the beginning of 1972?

R: Really, to all intents and purposes, my administration begins January 1, 1972. I took
 over, officially, December 1, 1971. However, this period (when I became president
 of a college) was marred for Mary and me because this was a period of great worry
 about our son, Douglas, who was serving in the Army in Vietnam. He had two
 combat tours of duty in Nam with the 173rd Airborne Infantry. This was in 1968-
 1971. He was discharged in April 1971 with the rank of Sergeant.

P: Was he wounded?

R: Thank God he was not. He had many difficult experiences but came home whole.

P: A great relief to you both.

R: Amen to that.

P: These are the statistics I have on the makeup of the school in 1971, and I presume
 it is the end of Fordyce, the beginning of you. About 1,600 students.

R: I would say a little more than that.

P: Ninety-four instructors and four buildings.

R: Well, I would think we probably had 3,000 or 4,000 students, Sam.

P: You think that many when you took over.

R: Of course, now, [there is a difference] in terms of part-time or full-time faculty, I
 think 150 full-time would be more likely. I am just trying to remember.




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