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Fellowship Hall Dedicated to Bentleys
by Derek Hodges
Fred and Doris Bentley unveil plaque
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Mars Hill College President Emeritus Fred Bentley and his wife, Doris, were honored on the campus Saturday, April 26. During the event, which featured several speakers including Bentley himself, the Broyhill Fellowship Hall was renamed the Bentley Fellowship Hall in honor of the Bentleys.
Bentley served as president of the college for 30 years, from 1966 to 1996. When he took over the reigns of the college after the retirement of Hoyt Blackwell he was only 30 years old, making him the youngest college president in the nation at that time.
Bentley has been recognized for the great steps forward the college took during his time as president. During his first few years at Mars Hill the college was successfully moved from being a two-year junior college to accreditation as a four-year senior college.
During the ceremony Troy Day, vice chair of the Mars Hill College Board of Trustees, gave an in-depth description of some of the Bentleys' accomplishments at Mars Hill. "They changed the entire landscape of this school," Day said.
Among the facilities constructed during Bentley's administration are: Gibson Dormitory, Fox Dormitory, the townhouses, Dickson-Palmer Apartments, Wren Student Union, Blackwell Hall, Cornwell Hall, Harris Media Center, Pittman Dining Hall, Broyhill Chapel, Watt Physical Plant, Meares Stadium, Harrell Pool, and Chambers Gym. Also, extensive renovations were completed on several other facilities, including Wall Science Building and Founders Hall.
Political Science Professor George Peery, chair of the faculty, said he remembered Bentley as an advocate of academic excellence and a steady voice for the mission of Mars Hill College. "As the culture changed, as the world changed, as our faculty and students changed, as the church changed, Dr. Bentley kept his eye on the centrality of who we are," Peery said.
Chris Alley, president of the student body, told the story of the time he met Fred Bentley. Alley recalled that he was on a mission trip with Mars Hill's New Beginning Singers. The group had traveled to Morganton, NC to work on a Habitat House, and Alley says he had been promised he would be meeting one of Mars Hill's former presidents.
Alley recalls thinking he would be able to spot a former college president among the rest of the construction crew. The giant of a man who approached the group in shorts, tennis shoes, a t-shirt, and a baseball cap did not meet Alley's expectations. "My first thought was 'Wow,'" said Alley, amazed that a man of such distinction would blend in so well at a work-site. After getting to know Bentley, Alley said he realized, "This is what Mars Hill is all about."
Along with Day, Peery, and Alley, other speakers included: John Hough, MHC class of '55, retired Dean of Education, and vice-chair of the National Alumni Board; Dan Lunsford, class of '69 and interim president of Mars Hill College; Hope Williams, president of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities; and Robert Melvin, '51, retired Professor of Religion, who delivered the benediction.
After Lunsford presented a plaque on the side of the fellowship hall denoting it as the Bentley Fellowship Hall, Bentley took the podium to respond to the gift. In his message Bentley said, "We deeply appreciate the support we received from the trustees for 30 years. During those years the trustees kept their focus on traditional Baptist values. Therefore this college was protected from any form of 'creedalism', which seems so rampant in religious life today. Through their commitment, the trustees established an environment of academic freedom with responsibility at this place. I pray that such will continue.
"To the faculty: I appreciate your commitment to teaching and learning. I must admit that one of my greatest joys came when you received a grant to complete graduate studies, to engage in research, or to publish. As you grew in your knowledge your teaching became more effective. I'm thankful that I played a small role in promoting such grants," Bentley continued.
Bentley also had a few words for the students who had been at Mars Hill during his time and for the students who are currently attending the school. "To the alumni: Mars Hill College alumni love their college. They know from experience that this is a good place with great people carrying out our mission of Christian higher education. We are grateful for your support. To the students: You are what we are all about. Without you, we have no mission - no challenge. One of my greatest pleasures was to be a part of scholarship interviews. Bright, enthusiastic young people came to us, challenged us, and made this a better place," said Bentley.
The fellowship hall was constructed during Bentley's time at the college through the generous support of the Broyhill family. The facility was renamed by the board of trustees earlier this year through an official vote with the support of the Broyhill family.
Click for Photos by Marla Milling
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