Wofford College - From The Archives

Leonard Auditorium

For whom was Leonard Auditorium named?  

That's a strange question to ask.  After all, Leonard Auditorium is undoubtedly the most important room on the Wofford campus.  It's the site of all campus convocations, the place where the portraits of former presidents hang, the auditorium for major concerts, for events that bring the community together.  And yet nobody gives much thought to who "Leonard" was.  

It was this fellow, the Rev. George Clark Leonard, class of 1895.  

And how did Rev. Leonard get the auditorium named for him?  

George Leonard arrived at Wofford in 1891 as a 25-year old freshman.  He graduated four years later and the following year, became a Methodist minister in South Carolina.  In 1914, he became a member of Wofford's board of trustees, where he served for some 31 years.  During his ministry, he was twice a district superintendent.  He was on close terms with Wofford President Henry N. Snyder, both as a fellow churchman and as a trustee during most of Snyder's presidency.  Snyder would have been the younger man's professor in the early 1890s as well.  Snyder wrote Leonard's obituary in the Annual Conference minutes in 1945.  

On his death, he made a bequest to the college's postwar capital campaign.  In February 1946, the board of trustees voted to name the renovated chapel in Main Building, which had never been known as anything but the chapel, in his honor.  Since 1946, the primary auditorium on campus has borne the name "the Leonard Auditorium" out of respect for the long service of an alumnus, clergyman, and trustee.  

Alumni Judges

I've talked a lot in the past year about faculty of years past, of buildings on the campus, and about various student activities and ceremonies.  I haven't written much about alumni.  Over the next few weeks, I'm going to try to highlight some noteworthy alumni who have distinguished themselves - and the college - in their professions. 

We've never had an alum to become a justice of the United States Supreme Court, but by my count, we've had three judges serve on the U. S. Court of Appeals for the fourth circuit.  One, Judge Dennis Shedd, of the class of 1975, is a current member of that court.  Another, Judge Clyde Hamilton, class of 1956, was a district judge from 1982 to1991, and became a member of the Fourth Circuit Court in 1991.  Another member of that court served long ago.  Charles Albert Woods, of Wofford's class of 1872, was the college's first prominent jurist.  Born near Darlington in 1852, Judge Woods taught and read law after graduating from Wofford.  He began practicing law in Marion, SC in 1873.  He became more successful when he partnered with Henry McIver, and his success continued after McIver was elected to the state supreme court in 1877.  He was a community leader in Marion throughout the late 19th century, and in 1902, he became president of the South Carolina Bar Association.  The next year, Wofford gave him an honorary doctorate.  He also served on Wofford's board of trustees.  In 1903, he was elected to a seat on the state supreme court, a seat made vacant by the death of his mentor, Chief Justice McIver.  After ten years on the state's highest court, Justice Woods was named by President Woodrow Wilson to a seat on the 4th circuit court of appeals in Richmond, VA.  He served on that court until his death in 1925.  One item in the file suggest he was at least considered for an appointment to the U. S. Supreme Court in 1916, an appointment that eventually went to Louis Brandeis.  When he died in 1925, he was the presiding judge and senior member of the circuit court

Several South Carolina Supreme Court justices have earned Wofford degrees.  A few years ago, three of the five sitting justices were Wofford alumni - justices John Waller, E. C. Burnett III, and Costa Pleicones.  The first Wofford alum to become Chief Justice of South Carolina was John G. Stabler, a member of the class of 1905, who joined the supreme court in 1926 and became chief justice in 1935.  In later years, C. Bruce Littlejohn, of the class of 1934, served as chief justice for 16 months in 1984 and 1985.  

Chief Justice Stabler graduated from Wofford in 1905 and taught Latin at the college's Carlisle Fitting School in Bamberg.  Taking a law degree from USC in 1908, he practiced law in St. Matthews, SC, in Calhoun County.  He was active in his local Methodist church and in civic actiities, and in 1920, was elected to the state senate by the voters in his county.  He served for six years, as in January 1926 he was elected by the General Assembly to the state supreme court. He took his seat in July.  In 1935, he was elected chief justice, and served until his death in 1940.  

Chief Justice Littlejohn graduated from Wofford
 in 1935 - he actually left the college for law school in 1933 and upon completion of two years in law school, Wofford gave him his AB degree.  He finished law school, started practicing law, and won the first of 5 terms in the state house of representatives all within a few months, in 1936.  He saw service in World War II, serving as an army lawyer and prosecutor in some of the postwar war crimes trials.  Returning to the legislature in 1947 at the head of a young veterans' movement, he was elected speaker of the house.  Two years later, he was elected to the circuit court, where he served until his election to the state supreme court in 1966.  After almost 18 years as an associate justice, he was elected chief justice in 1984.  His tenure saw a number of important reforms, and he helped revise a number of judicial procedures.  

Of course, other Wofford alumni have held high positions in the practice of law, and quite a few others have been federal district judges, South Carolina circuit court judges, United States Attorneys (including the current U.S. Attorney for South Carolina), South Carolina attorneys general, and bar association presidents.  Those serving today continue a proud tradition of Wofford graduates who have contributed to the law and the judiciary.

Little-known facts and factoids

My predecessor, Herbert Hucks Jr., of the class of 1934, served as a librarian and archivist at Wofford from 1947 to 1998, including 20 years as a part-time retired archivist.  He compiled a list of various "little-known facts" about Wofford.  I'll try to drop a few in every now and then, in the midst of various stories about Wofford people and events.  Many of these facts come from the D. D. Wallace History of Wofford College, published in 1951. 

On Wofford and the Civil War:  "The first martyr in the Southern cause was William Maxwell Martin, a Wofford graduate of 1857, who had developed into a gifted poet as well as orator.  His graduation speech, The Calico Flag, it was said, 'produced a sensation in its way beyond anything in the annals of the college.'  He died February 21, 1861, of illness contracted from exposure on duty at Fort Moultrie, standing by his canon through the cold damp night." 

Martin's father was a well-known South Carolina Methodist minister and Wofford trustee. 

On the Confederate bonds:  "The securities owned by the college at the close of the Civil War included $85,897 of Confederate bonds and certificates, $1,297 in Confederate money, and bank stocks of $17,525 par value, all of which was ruined by the war... It is correct, therefore, to say that the endowment was swept away by the war, although it was not all invested in Confederate bonds."

"At least 35 Wofford alumni died in the Civil War."

As Wofford is presently in a pattern of enrollment and faculty growth, it's interesting to note other times when the faculty grew.  On the faculty's recommendation, in 1866, the trustees created a chair of history and Biblical literature, and elected A. H. Lester to serve as professor of history and Biblical Literature.  They also voted to establish a divinity school to be conducted by Professors A. M. Shipp, Whitefoord Smith, and A. H. Lester.  Apparently it continued only a few years and amounted to little except specializing in a few religious subjects.  The point is interesting, however, that Wofford briefly had a divinity school.

Photo, above, of (left to right) Professors Whitefoord Smith, James Carlisle, David Duncan, A. H. Lester, Warren DuPre, and A. M. Shipp.  This is the oldest faculty group photograph that I've found in the collection. 

Homecoming

Homecoming is one of those rituals of the fall with which we are all familiar.  Class reunions, football games, Homecoming queens, Homecoming dances, the ceremonies are similar from one college to another.  Homecoming at Wofford has evolved through the years, with different traditions being dropped or added as times change.  Before the 1960s, many class reunions actually happened at Commencement, and we've reverted to that in a small way in the past 5 years with the fifty-year class having its reunion at Commencement.  Homecoming has been re-energized at Wofford in the past six years or so, with reunions, street parties, and all manner of events on campus and around Spartanburg. 

Below are some accounts from earlier Homecomings.  In 1958, fifty years ago this fall, the Terriers played Catawba at Homecoming, and the game was at 8:00 pm on Saturday night.  The main Homecoming dance was on Friday night, in the arena of Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, and it featured Tony Torre of Columbia.  The campus abandoned the tradition of a Homecoming parade that year, instead displaying floats around the fraternity houses.  The article in the Old Gold and Black describing the change said that the students wanted the event to be more campus-centered.

The alumni council met on Saturday (as they still do) and fraternities had open house on Saturday afternoon.  Following an alumni dinner and the football game, students sponsored an informal dance in the "little gym" in Andrews Fieldhouse at 10:30 PM.  Without any women students, the homecoming queens generally came from other colleges, including Converse, Limestone, and Winthrop. 

Whether in 1958, 1968, or 2008, Homecoming remains one of the highlights of the fall at Wofford. 

Photo: Buddy Hammond '55 poses with the SAE Homecoming float in 1952, the program from Homecoming 1969

James C. Dozier, Wofford’s Medal of Honor recipient

General James C. Dozier served his country throughout his life, and the South Carolina National Guard was his true love. 

He joined the guard before he made it to college. Born in Horry County in February 1885 and joined Company H of the 1^st Infantry Regiment of the South Carolina National Guard in 1905. Though much of his time over the next ten years was spent in business, he took time to serve in the guard. In 1915, he became a Wofford freshman, and though thirty years old, spent a year at the college. In 1916, his National Guard unit was called into federal service and sent to the Mexican border. While there, Dozier became first sergeant of his company. The unit returned to South Carolina in December 1916, but in April 1917, with American entry into World War I, his unit was called back into federal service. Commissioned a second lieutenant in the summer of 1917 and promoted to first lieutenant in December, Dozier and his unit arrived in France in May 1918. 

Dozier was wounded in action near Montbrehain, Frnace, on October 8, 1918, but despite his wounds, continued to command his two platoons. With a soldier, and under intense fire, he continued to move toward a German machine gun nest, where he killed the entire machine gun crew with hand grenades and his pistol. For this act of gallantry, Dozier was awarded the Medal of Honor on January 21, 1919, by General John J. Pershing. He was one of six South Carolinians to be awarded the Medal of Honor in World War I. 

Returning to South Carolina, he continued to serve in the National Guard. In 1926, Governor Thomas G. McLeod appointed Dozier, then a major, to be the state’s adjutant and inspector general. The position carried the rank of brigadier general. Dozier won the seat in the general election later in 1926 and was reelected every four years until he retired in 1958. In 1950, he was promoted to major general, and on his retirement, the South Carolina General Assembly promoted him to lieutenant general. 

Last summer, members of General Dozier’s family presented some of the general’s papers, photographs, and news clippings to the archives. They’ve recently been processed, and are available for researchers to view in the archives. These photos come from the collection, and the collection itself reminds us both of the sacrifice of men and women in the cause of freedom and also of Wofford’s contribution to the military. 

Samuel Dibble: Wofford's First Graduate

Wofford’s first graduate set the bar high for all of the men and women who followed him

Samuel Dibble, who earned Wofford’s first bachelor’s degree on July 16, 1856, later became the first of ten Wofford alumni to serve in the United States Congress. A native of Charleston, Dibble was born on September 16, 1837. His father was a hat maker with Connecticut roots. Dibble received some of his early education in New England and the rest in Charleston. In 1853, he enrolled at the College of Charleston. Late in the spring of 1855, a disagreement between students and faculty members led a large number of students to leave the college. Dibble, who was a Methodist, transferred to Wofford in the fall of 1855. He entered the junior class, but took the senior coursework in addition to the junior courses.

After the excitement of  South Carolina’s largest city, Spartanburg likely was awfully quiet for the young Dibble. Perhaps the lack of diversions accounts for his ability to take two years’ worth of courses in one year.

In October 1855, he wrote his brother Virgil about life in Spartanburg, in the house where he was boarding, and about college:

The weather has been pleasant for some time past. Several persons in the house have colds, but so far I am clear, and will try and keep so. Mr. Fripp and myself have a comfortable room... with the additional comfort of a fireplace. I am gradually getting over being foolishly homesick, and am tolerably well satisfied with my situation. I spoke in the chapel of the college on Thursday last. It is the custom to speak selected pieces. I gave them “The Future.”

I am getting used to the college, and like it very well, if they would only have regularity in ringing the bells; but they vary from about ten minutes before to ten minute after the proper hour in ringing the first time, and ring the second at the right time, thus creating great confusion… Add to this that college time is different from every other in the place, and is changed every two or three months as [Professor Herman] Baer’s watch is regulated, which is the college time, there being no clock on the premises.

Dibble lamented the lack of news in  Spartanburg. “I saw the first Charleston paper I have seen since I left Charleston this morning. The papers here have hardly any news at all, and what they have [is] very uninteresting. I wish you would send me some paper with interesting news about once a week.”

About two weeks later, Dibble wrote to ask his brother to send him some books he needed for his courses. He asked for a copy of “Antigone of Sophocles” and “Cicero de Oratore” because he was using borrowed copies and they could not be found for purchase in Spartanburg.

Dibble did not make the trip to Charleston for Christmas, remaining in Spartanburg. The college likely did not take a lengthy Christmas break as they did in subsequent years. Also, the railroad had not reached Spartanburg in 1855, making the trip even harder. He wrote on Christmas Eve to tell his brother of his holiday plans:

I suppose you would like to know how I expect to spend Christmas. Well, in the morning I do not know exactly what I shall do. I suppose I will dine with Mrs. Choice’s mother, Mrs. Cleveland, as the family is invited, and myself too. I have been invited to go on a partridge hunt in the afternoon, but do not know whether I shall go or not. The party tomorrow afternoon will consist of from a dozen to twenty of the young ladies and gentlemen of the village, and will be a very pleasant one without doubt, and I would go with great willingness and eagerness if I were not ashamed of my horsemanship. I suppose you will be shooting crackers, and setting off wheel rockets, etc, as usual on Christmas. I have been trying to get some wheel-rockets or something of the kind, but even firecrackers are not to be got here. Tomorrow night I expect to go to a “candy-pulling” at Miss Bobo’s, and hope to have a great deal of enjoyment.

As the only graduate in July 1856, Dibble gave the valedictory address on the subject of “Genius.” It was reported to have been a good speech, though the fact that many of the other addresses that day were in Latin may have added to its impact. Dibble received his diploma and King James Bible from the faculty and headed to Orangeburg, where he taught, read law, and married. Dibble soon married Mary Christiana Lewis of Orangeburg.

In 1878, Dibble was invited to give the annual address before Wofford’s literary societies during Commencement week. His address, “The Duty of the State in Regard to Education” was widely distributed in pamphlet form. The talk was an argument in favor of compulsory public education, which was, at least in South Carolina, a position about 40 years ahead of its time.

Following his service in the General Assembly, Dibble won a special election for a seat in the U. S. Congress to replace the 1880 election winner, who had died. Dibble ran for the seat again in the fall of 1882, winning that and three subsequent elections.

With the rise of the Tillman movement in South Carolina, Dibble did not seek reelection in 1890 and retired from Congress in 1891. He returned to Orangeburg where he continued to work in his business interests, including banking, practicing law, and serving as president of the Bowman and Branchville Railroad. In 1894, he received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Wofford, becoming only the second layman to receive an honorary doctorate from the college.

 The “Grand old man” of Orangeburg, as he was known, died on September 16,1913 and is buried in Orangeburg.

There's a longer version of this biography on the Archives website. That article includes information about his service in the Civil War and his service in Congress. 

Photos include a portrait of Samuel Dibble, a copy of his 1856 Wofford diploma, and a photo of part of his family. 

Carlisle Hall memories

Opened in 1912, the James H. Carlisle Memorial Hall was the college’s first large residence hall.  Before Carlisle Hall, most students had to find places to live off campus.  Fir the college’s first sixty years, students either lived in the village or they boarded with the professors who lived on campus (Imagine that – living with your professor!).  Some students lived in unused rooms in Main Building, and some lived in Alumni Hall – the building that now houses the Admission and Financial Aid offices.  Carlisle Hall was paid for by donations from Spartanburg citizens and cost about $55,000. 

The following story from The Journal tells of the opening of the residence hall:

Every student in College is pleased with the new dormitory.  Only Freshmen and Sophomores are accommodated, but the boys from the two upper classes were anxious to get rooms in it.  Every convenience is furnished – electric lights, steam heat, bath rooms – everything is handy and comfortable.  One hundred and fifty-five boys room in the building and one hundred and eighty take meals in the dining hall.  There is no faculty restriction whatever over the boys.  Each student is placed on his honor as a man to act as such.  The dormitory students elected a president, Mr. G. H. Hodges, the only Senior in the building.  He is assisted by an executive committee and nine monitors.  The duty of each monitor is to report to the president any misconduct that happens on the floor assigned to him.  The matter is then looked into by the president and the executive committee and turned over to the Faculty.  So far this system of student government has been carried out with much better success than the Faculty management could ever attain.  The boys are brought into closer touch with each other.  They know and are known, which is one of the finest things of a dormitory life.
Mr. D. L. Betts, a graduate of 1910 who has been teaching in the Carlisle Fitting School since he finished college, superintends everything in connection with the dormitory.  Mr. Betts is characterized by a business ability that will mean success in the affairs of the Carlisle Hall. 

Carlisle Hall remained in use as a residence until the late 1960s.  After the last students moved out, it served as a home for various campus offices.  In its early years, the Wofford Theatre Workshop was housed there. 

The college demolished Carlisle Hall in May 1981.  A newspaper account of the building’s demolition included reminiscences from several alumni, including ninety-two year old George H. Hodges ‘13, a retired Methodist minister living in Spartanburg, the senior in 1912 who had been the first president of the dormitory.

Photos (click on each for a larger image in a pop-up window) George H. Hodges '13 as a senior; Carlisle Hall in the early 1950s; students with a banner on the roof of the residence hall's portico, the cornerstone being removed in 1981.

Basketball sweater

Last month, an alum's basketball letter sweater came home. 

Mrs. Ann Turner Bevalaque donated her father's 1917 black and gold sweater to the archives.  Henry Grady Turner graduated from Wofford in 1917, and while at the college, he was a member of the Preston Literary Society and a three-year member of the basketball team.  The Bohemian, the college's yearbook, said of his basketball skills, "there's none to equal him.  His hands attract the ball as if they were magnets, then by some secret power, he thrusts the ball in the basket from any angle or distance."  A forward, Turner was chosen by the college basketball coaches in the state for the All-State team in 1916-17. 

After graduation, Turner joined Southern Bell, where he retired forty-three years later as a vice president specializing in marketing and merchandising activities.

Click on the images for larger versions.  The photo at left is Henry Grady Turner's 1917 Bohemian photo.