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Three pinnacle days of celebration!This is a way of describing the multiple centennial celebration events of Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Pembroke State University. With these events, PSU’s celebration of its 100th birthday during this 1986-87 academic year reached its zenith.Gov. James Martin’s visit... the unveiling of the statue of Hamilton McMillan, one of PSU’s founders ... Eric Sevareid’s speech ... the announcement at the elegant Centennial Founder’s Day Banquet that PSU has exceeded its three-year fund-raising goal of $1 million ... the N.C. Symphony’s performance ... the premiere performance of Elliot Del Borgo’s ““Centennial Ode’’ done so beautifully by the PSU concert band .. . the influx of hundreds of musicians for the 12th annual PSU Instrumental Music Festival... the national TV exposure on ABC and NBC ... the excellent “Carolina in the Morning” hour-long program, hosted by Wayne Jackson and devoted to PSU’s centennial on WECT-TV in Wilmington... the superb coverage by area media, etc. It all made for three tremendous days in the life of this century-old institution.PSU also made every effort to have President Reagan visit. He was unable to, but send a special letter by Federal Express, which Chancellor PaulGivens readtheletterJoseph Sandlin, PSU distinguished execu-residence, read at Friday’s banquet. Thesaid ifc* conclusion; congratulate the•oke State University familjWh this historic* on. and you have my best wishes for thenext century of excellence in educationMartin, in his speech University, our nation’) supported institutionPembroke StateGENE WARRENversity family.”SPECIAL ALUMNI PARTICIPATETwo of PSU’s outstanding alumni were part of the platform party participating in Thursday’sconvocation.Bearing the golden mace was the grand marshalthe occasion, Mary Hammond Locklearof ’33.Giving the invocation was the RevWMaynor, the first graduate of PSU when it became a four-year college in 1940. He is now pastor of Bear Swamp Baptist Church near Pembroke.PLAYING OF “CENTENNIAL ODE” OUTSTANDING The PSU concert band, directed by Robert Romine, provided one of the highlights of the cen-Founder’s Week” with its stirring rendi-of theItcompositionten especially for PSU’s centennial by Elliot Del Borgo, professor of music from State University of New York at Potsdam.A TRULY INSPIRING PRAYER Providing the dedicatory prayer for the unveiling of the statue of McMillan, the state legislatorfrom Red Springs who introduced the bill beginnings 4he forerunner of PSU in 1887rwi5 the Rev. Tryon Lowry. A member of the PSU administrative staff, Lowry also pastors New Philadelphus United Methodist Church and CollinsMethodist Church in Robeson Countyrespect for and appreciation of all mankind without regard to race, color or national origin... We dedicate this memorial to the glory of God and in memory of your humble servant, Rep. Hamilton McMillan, and his family.”IDEA OF STATUE WAS ADOLPH DIAL’SThe idea of erecting a statue honoring Hamilton McMillan as one of the founders of Pembroke State University was the idea of Adolph Dial, chairman of the PSU American Indian Studies Department. His committee raised the money for the statue, picked the sculptor (Paul Van Zandt, chairman of the PSU Art Department), chose the site, etc.The inscription on the marker under McMillan’s statue says: “Honorable Hamilton McMillan. 1837-1915. State legislator, educator and historian. Sponsored legislation in 1885 establishing public schools for Indians of Robeson County. In 1887 heintroduced legislation to establish Croatan Normal School — now Pembroke State University. Erected March 5,1987.”McMILLANSTRAVEL LONG DISTANCE TO ATTENDTen descendants of McMillan attended the dedication ceremonies for the statue and came from points as distant as Houston, Texas, Jacksonville, Fla., Anderson, S.C., and Columbia, S.C.The unveiling of the statue was done by RichardWiUlam Carr Jr.j a great-great-grandson from1 Jacksonville, Fla., assisted by his sister, Betsy, and John Tudor, a great grandson from Columbia, S.C.Spokesperson for the group was Jane McMillan,prelude to his prayer, Lowry said with deep who like her sister Mignon lives in Red Springs.today stands and shines as one of the feelingI’m proudthis dedicatorybrightest stars in our galaxy of higher education.”Givens, in his welcome at the convocation, said:“Today we celebrate the 100th birthday of Pembroke State University, and I am delighted that we have come together as students, faculty, trustees, alumni and friends to hold our heads high and say how much we appreciate being a part of this Uni- we, as did Hamilton McMillanPISANO’S EFFORTS ARE SALUTED After it was announced by Josephbehalf of Rep. Hamilton McMillan. As an alumnus chairman of PSU’s centennial fund-raisingof PSU in its 100th year, I have the privilege giving thanks unto God for a friend of our people who helped to open the doors of opportunity.”that PSU had surpassed its $1 million goal Friday’s Centennial Founder’s Day BanquetChancellorGivens saluted the efforts ofLowry’s words included: “May Richard Pisano, PSU vice chancellor forhavetional advancement who coordinated the efforts
Newspaper Details
Lumberton Robesonian
Lumberton, North Carolina, US
Thu, Mar 12, 1987
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Barret R.
NA, 29 Aug 2022
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