This tour was about to end with the the student talent show. It took place at the Falany Performing Arts Center. The acoustics of that place was awesome. The performers were magnificent. Unfortunately, the auditorium was not filled to capacity because there was an accident on Georgia Hwy 140 which caused traffic to be backed off and eventually, blocked off (drives had to take alternate routes). The organizers tried to wait it out, hoping traffic would improve and that people would eventually get here. But it didn't and the show started at about 7:30 p.m. from the noted 7 p.m. start.
I sat with Mr. McGarrity in the middle row upfront but he wasn't sitting in his chair for long. He was moving around and about, taking pictures up close while in action with the digital. Every time he got up, the seat would flap and flutter with that sound. Man, I thought some of the performers were going to get distracted but to their credit, they were professional. There were three judges looking in, one being my former counselor, Dr. Beth Russell. She sat in the front row.
Now the talents. You had a singing duet between the beauty girl and gawky, shy boy. It was decent and both put the effort and the work in but the girl seemed more comfortable and the guy kind of leaned toward her for support. He was too timid to look at her when they finished the song but the girl wasn't (Whats this story about the princess and the frog). Beauty girl dominated. Next was the dancing duo who performed a big band jazz tune. The MC was supposed to perform with this girl but he got hurt so he says. Eventually, another guy performed with her. I have to say this dude was awesome and fluid. He performed without thinking, spontaneously and energetically. On the other hand, dancing girl was watching her steps and tried to make sure that she didn't step on his. She didn't seem comfortable. However at the end, they finished off well.
Next you had a solo dancer and a singer. The dancer did a hop-hop routine which I thought was the best of the dance routines but unfortunately she kept looking up toward the audio booth instead of the audience. It was as if she was in a zone and didn't want to lose her groove that would derail her. She was cute too with that black outfit but didn't get much applause, though. After intermission, this female singer came in and sang "My Redeemer" which really made my feet tap. She did pitch off (her voice) here and there. However, I thought up to this point, she was the best performer because she seemed calm, looked to the audience, and performed the song well.
Piano man came. He wrote his own song but was visibly very nervous. He couldn't even hit the piano. He played "Chop Sticks" for laughs and said no, he didn't write the song. I think that act ticked the judges off. However, he played an incredible piece but I was holding my breath because it looked he was going to fall off that piano stool. He sat very awkwardly in a fetal position, bending low and his hands barely reaching the keys. It felt like an figure skating routine. He had to hit the routine perfectly or he was going to fall. When he finished, he received the most thunderous applause. Well, deserved.
The last dancer wore this costume where a mask cover one side of the eye and her cheek. Her clothes were risque and it was further enhanced by starting the routine with her back turned to the audience who gave a loud thunderous scream. She hit the routine confidently, played the audience like she was looking at everyone, and presentation was excellent. However, it was very short and kind of abrupt. You wanted more. It was kind of like that song by Shakira good but short.
When the judges presented their votes to the MC, the last dance won which drew surprise from everyone including me but remembering my experience as a judge, I wasn't surprised. Piano man's early nerves cost him but he got second. Third place to me was bull, the singing duet got it and I thought it should have been the solo-singer. But beauty did a great job and should take all the money from awkward, shy boy. It was like a doubles team of the Williams sisters at this year's U.S. Open: Serena made all the plays and Venus chipped in here and there. Mr. McGarrity thought they should have had awards from 5th place and on. I went up to "Redeemer" girl and told her that she did a great job and deserved to win. She was somewhat upset but very thankful for the compliment.
After the excitement, I took Mr. McGarrity to his car. He wondered how come they haven't put a motel in this area yet? He wanted to stay one more day but would have to go to Canton to stay at a motel and leave. He was bit frightened of being by solo at this time of the night. I was very gracious for his friendship. Without him, I wouldn't have this kinship feeling. I left town on a detour route back home. What a one day vacation, filled with warm and fuzzy memories of Reinhardt.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
The Alumni Dinner
I entered paying ten dollars for this alumni dinner. It was run by the school and alumni directors. Jo Ellen Wilson was one and the other lady whose presence was known to me as Dr. something. Older skinny woman with short black hair turned grayish who could spunk up at moments. She did the MC of introducing the alumni awards and others. She also started the tour and did the student center reception by giving out drinks. There was another person who was a bit younger and ahead of the Alumni something. In short, they seemed important but this thought entered my head: "here today, gone tomorrow."
That was the vibe I felt. The dinner was inside this convocation hall in the admissions office. I remember the head of admissions, John Head who would ax workers and some even teachers during the middle of the school year. I remember a student named, Shonte Gulley was so upset in of those ax jobs by Mr. Head. What stood out for me was my first week at Reinhardt, the head of the campus police was let go for reasons unknown. Another campus police officer was fired for bringing search dogs continuously to my room for drugs without success. Man, she had all those children to feed. But let me say this, these administrators made these decisions because they thought about students first and these instructors were held to meet a certain standards for students to respect their Christian authority. With that said, her instincts were correct.
Back to the dinner, I got me a plate of chicken, vegetables, and salad with carrot cake. Of course, tea came with it, unsweetened. Sat across a couple and what appeared to be college-age school girl. They seemed nice and then older gentleman came to the table and sat right next to me. He graduated from Reinhardt in 1948. He told me stories about three jobs in college before the school President told him to work two because they would have to own him money. His name was Alvin McGarrity. He talked about being trained as a bookkeeper and a typist which served him when he later went into the navy. I believe he mentioned about working as court stenographer but I'm not sure. He was animated with alot of spunk. He had those big glasses with a brimmed mustache. He certainly didn't act his age. I felt at home talking to him.
When I was getting food on a table stack, a female alumni from 1964 or 1965 talked about how "everybody knew each other, they were in the same social class, worked while in school, and went to church together on Sunday's." My reaction was "wow, how did you get there without an interstate (it wasn't built till the late 80's) and how did you get to this place" (with admiration). She kind of was taken by surprise when another alumni from 1965, talked about two-lane roads from Marietta (I learned later you came from Ga highway 5, then Ga 140, and maybe one more highway at that time). He mentioned about going to University of Tennessee after Reinhardt. In response, I mouthed off "Richmond Flowers" and he was pleasantly surprised and the lady from '64 was shocked to submission. He asked me how did I know? I told him I watched the 1966 Gator Bowl highlights between Tennessee vs. Syracuse on YouTube. Richmond Flowers was the star player for the Vols in that football game. Everything seemed to loosen up with respect from the elders. I wasn't them but I was alumni. A former president smiled and thanked me for coming.
The award dinner was fun. Moderate intros of the winners. Lot of tears from the recipients. They put a lot heart and work into receiving this award. They thanked the school and their families. After the ceremony, a guy stood out for me. I went up to him and noticed that he was from a Georgia town where a famous ballplayer was from. As I talked to him, his wife introduced herself to me. I was taken back when I noticed a bruise on the side of her face. I don't know, maybe she fell, bruises easily due to a disease, or a bad face lift. I kind of looked away but then she got my attention and thanked me for being there. I don't like to judge since I have been judged on this day but let me tell you "here today, gone tomorrow" came to mind.
That was the vibe I felt. The dinner was inside this convocation hall in the admissions office. I remember the head of admissions, John Head who would ax workers and some even teachers during the middle of the school year. I remember a student named, Shonte Gulley was so upset in of those ax jobs by Mr. Head. What stood out for me was my first week at Reinhardt, the head of the campus police was let go for reasons unknown. Another campus police officer was fired for bringing search dogs continuously to my room for drugs without success. Man, she had all those children to feed. But let me say this, these administrators made these decisions because they thought about students first and these instructors were held to meet a certain standards for students to respect their Christian authority. With that said, her instincts were correct.
Back to the dinner, I got me a plate of chicken, vegetables, and salad with carrot cake. Of course, tea came with it, unsweetened. Sat across a couple and what appeared to be college-age school girl. They seemed nice and then older gentleman came to the table and sat right next to me. He graduated from Reinhardt in 1948. He told me stories about three jobs in college before the school President told him to work two because they would have to own him money. His name was Alvin McGarrity. He talked about being trained as a bookkeeper and a typist which served him when he later went into the navy. I believe he mentioned about working as court stenographer but I'm not sure. He was animated with alot of spunk. He had those big glasses with a brimmed mustache. He certainly didn't act his age. I felt at home talking to him.
When I was getting food on a table stack, a female alumni from 1964 or 1965 talked about how "everybody knew each other, they were in the same social class, worked while in school, and went to church together on Sunday's." My reaction was "wow, how did you get there without an interstate (it wasn't built till the late 80's) and how did you get to this place" (with admiration). She kind of was taken by surprise when another alumni from 1965, talked about two-lane roads from Marietta (I learned later you came from Ga highway 5, then Ga 140, and maybe one more highway at that time). He mentioned about going to University of Tennessee after Reinhardt. In response, I mouthed off "Richmond Flowers" and he was pleasantly surprised and the lady from '64 was shocked to submission. He asked me how did I know? I told him I watched the 1966 Gator Bowl highlights between Tennessee vs. Syracuse on YouTube. Richmond Flowers was the star player for the Vols in that football game. Everything seemed to loosen up with respect from the elders. I wasn't them but I was alumni. A former president smiled and thanked me for coming.
The award dinner was fun. Moderate intros of the winners. Lot of tears from the recipients. They put a lot heart and work into receiving this award. They thanked the school and their families. After the ceremony, a guy stood out for me. I went up to him and noticed that he was from a Georgia town where a famous ballplayer was from. As I talked to him, his wife introduced herself to me. I was taken back when I noticed a bruise on the side of her face. I don't know, maybe she fell, bruises easily due to a disease, or a bad face lift. I kind of looked away but then she got my attention and thanked me for being there. I don't like to judge since I have been judged on this day but let me tell you "here today, gone tomorrow" came to mind.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Student Center Reception
I'm still wearing my green sweater over my dark powder blue shirt when I got to the student center. Three story building but it was for the students with table tennis, TV's, and stores with University clothing, flags, and books. Nice bathrooms. Elevators. Finally, the students on an autumn lazy day sitting on those couches watching American football. This one dude was betting on Georgia to win even though he went to Alabama. He was there because his sister went to Reinhardt and she sat across with her former roommates.
The reception took place on the bottom floor. There were sitting tables with old yearbooks of Reinhardt from the the 1946 to 1973 (the year that James Burgess served as President of Reinhardt College). Likewise, there was a HD plasma screen in front of the couches. Guess what everybody was watching: Georgia. vs. LSU football. Lot of old men with their wives. Some were former students who met their husbands on campus. I met this one guy who graduated in 1952 who became a pastor at a Lutheran church in Snellville. He graduated from a class of four in his high school in Savannah. All four went to college and graduated.
The person who stuck out with me was this lady named Ruth. Like a lot of women, you notice three names on their name tags with their class year they graduated. I forgot the maiden or middle and the last. One of the few times I didn't nose or talk to anybody. I sat in this corner with the yearbooks and letting my imagination run. Ruth then comes in and introduces herself to me which struck me as kind of odd. She looked like a school, guidance counselor who looked about 52 years old to 60 years old. No grays in her hair, face hardened a bit but no visible wrinkles but some strains, teeth look okay. You could tell she exercised because she was well-toned on her muscles with some flab disease. Then she throws a bomb, she tells me that she graduated in 1950.
I was visibly "flooored." I asked her what she did and mentioned working in corporate America and now works at charity organizations for people who are disabled. She can ask for a salary if she chooses but doesn't even though she easily moves up to head of the organization. Then she asked me what I did. I told her and she said about my job and looked at me and said, "it looks like the caregiver is going to go before the person you care for." There were a lot of pity and condemn type backbiting remarks from her as the conversation went on. I think she liked me but was angry at me. For what, I don't know. It was as if she knew me through somebody like a spy or something. I didn't want to look at her but she kept looking at me before leaving. I was amazed she could still walk with those flat top heels up those stairs. I couldn't find the 1950 yearbook but I looked for in the 1949 yearbook and she wasn't there.
That session was mostly soda's and something else. I did meet some more old folks and younger folks like in the early 1970's. My favorite photo from the yearbook was this long haired guy with his girlfriend or fiance looking at the horizon. I just hoped, that dude kept his hair. What struck me odd about this meeting, was the preacher saying that he didn't not know anybody from the reunion. If you listen to the theme, everybody knew each other and how they all gather to meet during church. There were people who graduated in 1952 but didn't hang around his circle. This info was very relevant for the next session. Stay tuned.
The reception took place on the bottom floor. There were sitting tables with old yearbooks of Reinhardt from the the 1946 to 1973 (the year that James Burgess served as President of Reinhardt College). Likewise, there was a HD plasma screen in front of the couches. Guess what everybody was watching: Georgia. vs. LSU football. Lot of old men with their wives. Some were former students who met their husbands on campus. I met this one guy who graduated in 1952 who became a pastor at a Lutheran church in Snellville. He graduated from a class of four in his high school in Savannah. All four went to college and graduated.
The person who stuck out with me was this lady named Ruth. Like a lot of women, you notice three names on their name tags with their class year they graduated. I forgot the maiden or middle and the last. One of the few times I didn't nose or talk to anybody. I sat in this corner with the yearbooks and letting my imagination run. Ruth then comes in and introduces herself to me which struck me as kind of odd. She looked like a school, guidance counselor who looked about 52 years old to 60 years old. No grays in her hair, face hardened a bit but no visible wrinkles but some strains, teeth look okay. You could tell she exercised because she was well-toned on her muscles with some flab disease. Then she throws a bomb, she tells me that she graduated in 1950.
I was visibly "flooored." I asked her what she did and mentioned working in corporate America and now works at charity organizations for people who are disabled. She can ask for a salary if she chooses but doesn't even though she easily moves up to head of the organization. Then she asked me what I did. I told her and she said about my job and looked at me and said, "it looks like the caregiver is going to go before the person you care for." There were a lot of pity and condemn type backbiting remarks from her as the conversation went on. I think she liked me but was angry at me. For what, I don't know. It was as if she knew me through somebody like a spy or something. I didn't want to look at her but she kept looking at me before leaving. I was amazed she could still walk with those flat top heels up those stairs. I couldn't find the 1950 yearbook but I looked for in the 1949 yearbook and she wasn't there.
That session was mostly soda's and something else. I did meet some more old folks and younger folks like in the early 1970's. My favorite photo from the yearbook was this long haired guy with his girlfriend or fiance looking at the horizon. I just hoped, that dude kept his hair. What struck me odd about this meeting, was the preacher saying that he didn't not know anybody from the reunion. If you listen to the theme, everybody knew each other and how they all gather to meet during church. There were people who graduated in 1952 but didn't hang around his circle. This info was very relevant for the next session. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Reinhardt College Reunion, third part
After the Varsity meal, I decided to head out to the soccer game were the Reinhardt Eagle ladies were playing Milligan College of Tennessee (Del Harris and Sonny Smith went there). The soccer field was a long way from the athletic building. Man, it felt like India with those rock stones on the path. Likewise, you had to walk uphill above a softball field where the girls were doing hitting and fielding drills. The whole time I was believing that the game would be over because it started at 1 p.m. but it was about 3 p.m but to my surprise, the game was only in the 3rd quarter with seven minutes left.
When I got there, it was a 0-0 game but very fast moving with lots of noise from both teams and their fans. Defense was excellent but there was lot of passing and individual plays on scoring attempts. Reinhardt was wearing the whites with blue letters and numbers as well as gold stripes while Milligan was wearing orange with white numbers and letters. Both teams fans sat on metal seat risers beside each other. On the other side, both teams benches were next to each other. I was able to move freely from one group to another but didn't dare go to teams benches even when the game was over.
I ran into one guy whose daughter played and he played football at Auburn during the 60's. Man, he told stories about making you practice on those a two-a-day drills without water. On the Milligan side, you had this Indian dude who didn't where Milligan College but dressed in orange, rooting for them. What stood out for me was this girl rooting for Milligan who had an orange tank top,remnant tattoos on her back and parts of her neck. She looked an athlete that got suspened from the team so she started her weight gain. If you know Milligan College rules, one week suspension with a beer can, student or athlete.
A soccer mom from Reinhardt kept talking about this player from Milligan who wore no. 11 named Kristen Crute. You couldn't dribble past her, she was really quick. Not good offensively but on defense, she was Asante Samuel. A small girl at 5'2 lean but built like fire hydrant. You didn't want to run into her. What made it worse was that she was from Atlanta. Soccer mom's daughter was the goalie for Reinhardt. She was praying that it didn't go to a shootout. Well, it didn't. As a another Georgia girl from Marietta scored with .5 seconds in the second overtime for Milligan.
When the game was over, I went down to the softball field and watch the Reinhardt girls play. They were very annimated in their drills, throwing, hitting and cheering like it was tournament time. But by the time I got there, the girls were getting tired.They have been there for at least two hours indicated by that 36-22 score and the scoreboard operator stopped clicking because they scored some more when I got there. Then, a first baseman threw the softball to this fielder/pitching machine operator so hard, she gave a dirty look like she was going to kick her butt. On the previous play, the first baseman received a throw from the pitch-fielder and dropped it in a casual manner much to the shagrin of the pitch-fielder. It looked like a fight was going to occur but luckily the girls got back to their drills and the coaches decided to call it a day on this hot one.
When I got there, it was a 0-0 game but very fast moving with lots of noise from both teams and their fans. Defense was excellent but there was lot of passing and individual plays on scoring attempts. Reinhardt was wearing the whites with blue letters and numbers as well as gold stripes while Milligan was wearing orange with white numbers and letters. Both teams fans sat on metal seat risers beside each other. On the other side, both teams benches were next to each other. I was able to move freely from one group to another but didn't dare go to teams benches even when the game was over.
I ran into one guy whose daughter played and he played football at Auburn during the 60's. Man, he told stories about making you practice on those a two-a-day drills without water. On the Milligan side, you had this Indian dude who didn't where Milligan College but dressed in orange, rooting for them. What stood out for me was this girl rooting for Milligan who had an orange tank top,remnant tattoos on her back and parts of her neck. She looked an athlete that got suspened from the team so she started her weight gain. If you know Milligan College rules, one week suspension with a beer can, student or athlete.
A soccer mom from Reinhardt kept talking about this player from Milligan who wore no. 11 named Kristen Crute. You couldn't dribble past her, she was really quick. Not good offensively but on defense, she was Asante Samuel. A small girl at 5'2 lean but built like fire hydrant. You didn't want to run into her. What made it worse was that she was from Atlanta. Soccer mom's daughter was the goalie for Reinhardt. She was praying that it didn't go to a shootout. Well, it didn't. As a another Georgia girl from Marietta scored with .5 seconds in the second overtime for Milligan.
When the game was over, I went down to the softball field and watch the Reinhardt girls play. They were very annimated in their drills, throwing, hitting and cheering like it was tournament time. But by the time I got there, the girls were getting tired.They have been there for at least two hours indicated by that 36-22 score and the scoreboard operator stopped clicking because they scored some more when I got there. Then, a first baseman threw the softball to this fielder/pitching machine operator so hard, she gave a dirty look like she was going to kick her butt. On the previous play, the first baseman received a throw from the pitch-fielder and dropped it in a casual manner much to the shagrin of the pitch-fielder. It looked like a fight was going to occur but luckily the girls got back to their drills and the coaches decided to call it a day on this hot one.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Reinhardt College Reunion, second part
After that tour, I hung out during lunch with a couple named Bruce and Dell and their son. They invited me to sit with them (Thanks). We sat on picnic benches on the grass side of the athletic department after a long wait on the line for food. Bruce and Dell are Reinhardt parents who attended the tour. Their son just transferred from Andrew College. They liked the campus and the teaching from Reinhardt professors. I reinforced the same view with my perspective of students and professors in my years there.
Bruce talked about his days in Georgia Tech and how when he first got to campus, they were so many students that were smarter than him. He eventually got his degree and masters in textile engineering. I told him about the factory that my grandmother owned for a few years. It was small but a working factory.
Then he talked about India and some dude who went there or they know somebody there. As I finished finished my chili dogs and onion rings, they told me that they lived in Druid Hills area near Emory University. Don't know how they met and all but they did mention about that area being the largest area of publishing works. I think?
After that, they headed on out with Dell saying that she was going to see me later at the reunion (talent show)and Bruce nodded in agreement but first they were going to visit their son's dorm. I was going to the soccer game and stay on schedule.
Side note: Never did see Dell and Bruce or their son again.
Bruce talked about his days in Georgia Tech and how when he first got to campus, they were so many students that were smarter than him. He eventually got his degree and masters in textile engineering. I told him about the factory that my grandmother owned for a few years. It was small but a working factory.
Then he talked about India and some dude who went there or they know somebody there. As I finished finished my chili dogs and onion rings, they told me that they lived in Druid Hills area near Emory University. Don't know how they met and all but they did mention about that area being the largest area of publishing works. I think?
After that, they headed on out with Dell saying that she was going to see me later at the reunion (talent show)and Bruce nodded in agreement but first they were going to visit their son's dorm. I was going to the soccer game and stay on schedule.
Side note: Never did see Dell and Bruce or their son again.
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Reinhardt College Reunion, Part One
The Reinhardt College reunion was a fun one and it was just for one day (Oct 3, 2009 to be exact). Though every alumni is invited they have special ones for different groups of alumni. I hung around the group from 1946-1973 during the James Burgess presidency. Doesn't say I have to but I did. Truthfully, I enjoyed being around them than my own group when I went to my 10th reunion. Truth be known, I don't like to hang around one group too much. Funny thing, these old-timers didn't want to hang around each other as well because they didn't hang out with each other during their college years. Yet, they talked about how everybody knew each other and blah, blah when they went to school.
One alumni worked three jobs just to stay in school before the president told him to just work two because the school would have to owe him money. I tell you that dude can still move at 80 years old. He was jumping out of his seat and taking pictures during the talent show like a little kid jumping in front of the TV at every chance when somebody new was on stage. He said he did typing and bookeeping. I noticed his thick glasses. One thing he mentioned about a plane crash in the North Georgia mountains that occurred during the late 40's when he was a student. The plane crashed during the summer but the plane couldn't be found due to the thick forest so he and classmates went to look for it during the winter not to find the body but to collect the airplane parts.
Another alumni was this lady who said she graduated in 1950. Remember, Reinhardt was a two year college then but still this lady didn't look a day over 52 years old. No wrinkles or gray hair. Finally, this alumni became a preacher at a Lutheran church in Snellville. He went to a high school in Savannah that graduated only 4 people but they all went and graduated from college.
The reunion tour started outside (didn't rain on this water season in Georgia) with some directors and alumni presidents talking about the legacy of Dr. James Rowland Burgess. One of the legacy was these trees that he got from travels Asia, Europe and the United States. He would care for the seeds in his lab and then plant them on or in the campus area. Most of them were from the late 1940's through the 1960's with some in the 70's. There was tour guide who had a job as a horticulturist at some college or company, I'm not sure. He didn't go to Reinhardt; yet, he knew the campus like it was the back of his hand. Very talented, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic.
That tour was ardous. Walking around campus that long to spot trees and identify what each one of them are, my hip bone was hurting. I don't know how the ladies who were walking with heels, came? The weather got hot as well. The tour started around 11 a.m. and ended about 1 p.m. One thing I learned about the tour was the meticulous care of Dr. Burgess for these trees which otherwise left in the wild would have easily dissolved or gone away from disease or lack of nutrients. He kept incredible notes and files on every tree that he planted like it was his own child. He put them in areas where they could grow, mature, and age gracefully. Unbelievable, that an acorn grew up to be 60 feet high due to his care.
Likewise, he put the same care into his students by creating an environment where they can grow, mature, and age. He refused his college to be under a public system of Georgia despite large monetary offerings by the Lane family. I do believe he planted trees with nice aromas into these pathways surrounded by the street lamps so that a certain romantical effect would occur (Just my observation).
One alumni worked three jobs just to stay in school before the president told him to just work two because the school would have to owe him money. I tell you that dude can still move at 80 years old. He was jumping out of his seat and taking pictures during the talent show like a little kid jumping in front of the TV at every chance when somebody new was on stage. He said he did typing and bookeeping. I noticed his thick glasses. One thing he mentioned about a plane crash in the North Georgia mountains that occurred during the late 40's when he was a student. The plane crashed during the summer but the plane couldn't be found due to the thick forest so he and classmates went to look for it during the winter not to find the body but to collect the airplane parts.
Another alumni was this lady who said she graduated in 1950. Remember, Reinhardt was a two year college then but still this lady didn't look a day over 52 years old. No wrinkles or gray hair. Finally, this alumni became a preacher at a Lutheran church in Snellville. He went to a high school in Savannah that graduated only 4 people but they all went and graduated from college.
The reunion tour started outside (didn't rain on this water season in Georgia) with some directors and alumni presidents talking about the legacy of Dr. James Rowland Burgess. One of the legacy was these trees that he got from travels Asia, Europe and the United States. He would care for the seeds in his lab and then plant them on or in the campus area. Most of them were from the late 1940's through the 1960's with some in the 70's. There was tour guide who had a job as a horticulturist at some college or company, I'm not sure. He didn't go to Reinhardt; yet, he knew the campus like it was the back of his hand. Very talented, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic.
That tour was ardous. Walking around campus that long to spot trees and identify what each one of them are, my hip bone was hurting. I don't know how the ladies who were walking with heels, came? The weather got hot as well. The tour started around 11 a.m. and ended about 1 p.m. One thing I learned about the tour was the meticulous care of Dr. Burgess for these trees which otherwise left in the wild would have easily dissolved or gone away from disease or lack of nutrients. He kept incredible notes and files on every tree that he planted like it was his own child. He put them in areas where they could grow, mature, and age gracefully. Unbelievable, that an acorn grew up to be 60 feet high due to his care.
Likewise, he put the same care into his students by creating an environment where they can grow, mature, and age. He refused his college to be under a public system of Georgia despite large monetary offerings by the Lane family. I do believe he planted trees with nice aromas into these pathways surrounded by the street lamps so that a certain romantical effect would occur (Just my observation).
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