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Quick Facts about
Prosser Hall
- Approx. 20,000 square feet
- Sleeps 96 students and a resident
director
- Split male and female by wings
- 16 suites with six people in each
suite
- Each suite has two baths and a
common living area
- Attractive open lobby area
- Recreation room with television,
sofa and chairs
- Laundry facilities
- First building in Bethel history
funded completely through gifts
- Total cost: $2 million
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The Bethel College campus became a picnic grounds
Saturday as guests from near and far gathered in
celebration of the school's newest facility, Prosser
Hall, and to honor those whose contributions fully
funded the cost of the $1.6 million facility. Chief
among those donors was 1955 Bethel freshman Ray
Morris, revealed as the long-anonymous benefactor who
made good his promise to match dollar for dollar the
pledges of others, in the end investing some .75
million in the venture.
Named after Bethel President Bob Prosser and his wife
Toni, Bethel's director of development, Prosser Hall
is home to 96 students. The facility was the first new
building on Bethel's campus in 30 years. The Bethel
Board of Trustees voted to name the new building
Prosser Hall to honor the work of the Prossers on
behalf of the college.
Overflowing from beneath the canopy of a yellow and
white circus tent, guests enjoyed a feast of chicken
and pork barbecue as members of Bethel's new,
45-member musical ensemble, Renaissance, inspired the
audience with their impressive vocal and instrumental
talents, singing as a whole and in various groups in a
range of styles including bluegrass gospel. Clusters
of roving Renaissance members welcomed and serenaded
picnickers as the time neared for the official
ceremony.
Renaissance - The Bethel
Musical Experience
Aptly named, Renaissance was only one of a number of
exciting changes alumni, some who graduated from the
institution 50 years ago, discovered as they returned
to their alma mater. Alongside College Drive,
McKenzie's newest road that was a railroad track in
their heyday, construction was also underway for
athletic facilities including a football stadium. For
many years the Wildcats have met their opponents on
the field behind the McKenzie Middle School, lacking a
field of their own.
The college also boasts the largest freshman class of
its 162-year history, with record on-campus enrollment
and record extended campus enrollment, a fact to which
officials point as "the best evidence of quality
programs, committed and capable faculty, and effective
staff and administration."
Despite the addition of the new residence hall, in
which every room is filled to capacity, over 50 rooms
in other dormitories, that normally house two
students, are home to three students each.
Bethel College is "consistently ranked among America's
top 25 schools by US News and World Report in least
amount of debt among graduating students; home of
nationally ranked sports teams and All-Americans; and
the regional winner and national "Rookie of the Year"
in the nationwide Students in Free Enterprise
competition," said Dr. Jeff Clark, Bethel's campaign
director and executive producer of Renaissance who is
also an educator, business leader and pastor.
Citing Bethel as the second oldest college in
Tennessee, he said, "There's more history right here
on this magical campus than at Memphis, UT or even
Vanderbilt."
Bethel has experienced tremendous response to their
Physician Assistant Program, established in 2001, and
the Success Program which has expanded to many
locations across the state. Now with extension
campuses in Memphis, Nashville, Jackson, Clarksville
and Chattanooga (to name a few), said Clark, "Bethel
College is everywhere... but McKenzie is always home."
Present at the event were McKenzie Mayor Walter
Winchester and Bethel alumni Kenny McBride, county
mayor, and Dale Kelley, mayor of Huntingdon, who is
also a member of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.
State Senator Don McLeary, state Representative Mark
Maddox and dignitaries from throughout the
tri-counties plus alumni and Board of Trustees members
from many states joined local guests in the
celebration. Many thanks were offered to staff members
of local utilities departments, NatureScapes of
Huntingdon, Maffett-Stamps architectural and
engineering firm of Cookeville, and Venture
Construction Company of Norcross, Georgia.
Said Toni, in speaking of the strength of character
gleaned from her immediate extended families, "I feel
so fortunate; Prosser Hall will forever be a reminder
of the love and support that have been such strengths
in my life."
President Prosser equated Bethel's recent explosive
growth with an aircraft that first taxied down the
runway, then gathered speed and took flight. "It's a
little scary along with being exciting," he declared,
"but one doesn't come without the other in this life.
"We recognize better than any person here that we
haven't made the plane fly," he said, continuing the
analogy. Although he monitored the instruments and
regulated the controls of the craft, he said, "the
power and lift were provided by hundreds and thousands
of persons from the student body, teachers,
administrative staff, and the support of the community
and our mother church, the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church."
Prosser noted, "The new residence hall is a big step,
but the first of many steps in a developing major
improvement plan that will bring tremendous change to
the campus."
In humility he thanked those present as well as those
whose work in generations past helped set deep roots,
both intrinsic and tangible, that brought Bethel into
the current age.
Then, with obvious conviction, his voice tight with
emotion and determination, the president dedicated
Prosser Hall to the service of students and the future
and consecrated that effort to the service of God.
Along with Bob & Toni
Prosser, Ray & Linda Morris, and the Student
Government Association Cabinet, SGA President Sarah
Luffman cuts the ribbon to Prosser Hall.
Under mounting heat from clearing skies, as the
ceremony concluded, the Rev. Wally Renner, a life-long
friend of the Prossers, sang Bless this House,
accompanied by Renaissance.
Student Government Association President Sarah Luffman
cut the ribbon to officially open Prosser Hall after
which Bob and Toni Prosser led family and friends,
faculty and staff, students, and community members in
a tour of Prosser Hall.
Special Friends Present for the Dedication
Former Bethel College President Dr. Bill Odom and his
wife Carol; Rev. E. G. Sims, moderator of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church General Assembly; From
Bob's home church, the White Oak Pond Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in Lebanon, Missouri: Rev. Wally
Renner, Bob's life-long friend and hunting buddy who
sang at Bob and Toni's wedding 42 years ago, and his
wife, Pat; Mrs. Johnnie McCloud whose husband was
pastor of the church for 26 years; Mrs. Peggy Coffman;
Rev. Phil Appling and his wife, Linda; Rev. John
Appling and wife, Peggy; Rev. and Mrs. Hillman Moore,
the former pastor of White Oak Pond when Bob was a
teenager.
Toni's family members: Toni's mother, Twila Walker and
her brother, James Walker; aunts, uncles, and nieces
Gene Walker; Brownie Walker Trams and her husband,
Bob; Faye Boyett Bryant and her daughter, Gail Bryant
Bullwinkle and her son, Walt Bullwinkle; Quinton
Boyett and his wife, Norene; Tina Walker Rollins and
Melissa Walker Fraley.
Bob's family members: Bob's brother, Rev. Forest
Prosser and his wife, Mina; his sister, Mary Prosser
Bunton and her husband, Wally; and cousin Melba
Prosser Shewmaker.
Bob and Toni's children and grandchildren: Steven
Prosser, his wife Rena and their children: Colby,
Shelby, Luke, and Abbey. Cynthia Prosser Nienaber, her
husband Kirk and their children: Josh, Zack and
Sarabeth.
Ray Morris, Benefactor
"This is about sharing; that's why we're here," said
Bethel benefactor Ray Morris during the Saturday
dedication. Morris began his higher education at
Bethel in 1955 after first rebelling at the notion of
attending college, although teachers had counseled him
to pursue a career in engineering.
He credited Harold "Chick" Carter with rescuing him
from basic math classes and funneling him into
advanced studies where he determined he was worthy of
his calling, under the tutelage of a "wonderful math
teacher, Mrs. Stobbe."
McKenzie native Charlie Cox, "sent by the Lord,"
further influenced him in a summer moneymaking venture
(selling family Bibles door to door) after his first
semester at Bethel, said Morris.
He completed his bachelor's degree in civil
engineering from Tennessee Tech.
"Thanks to all the friends helping me and helping each
other we now have Prosser Hall," he said.
Morris is in his 35th year as founder and president of
Venture Construction Company in suburban Atlanta,
Georgia with offices in six cities, general contractor
licenses in 45 states, and 289 engineers, not counting
thousands of contractors. Most of their work is in
restaurant, drugstore, and shopping center
construction.
Morris' support of Bethel College "runs as deep as his
proud West Tennessee roots": in 1987 he and his
brother, the late Jack Morris, honored their late
brother Joe Morris, civic leader and former mayor of
McKenzie, by naming Morris Hall in his memory. He
serves as a member of the Bethel College Board of
Trustees and holds from Bethel College the Doctor of
Humane Letters.
He has been recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year for
the entire southeastern region of the United States;
president of Associated General Contractors of Georgia
and board member of the Associated General
Contractors, National.
Pat Adams, Supporter
Pat Adams is arguably Bethel's "biggest sports fan"
and father of Board of Trustees member Dr. Heath
Adams, who played basketball at Bethel before
graduating in 1996.
"While he was here he became a Cumberland Presbyterian
and my wife and I became Cumberland Presbyterians,"
said Adams, who hails from Madisonville, Kentucky. So
intent are his efforts in supporting Bethel athletics
that he was the only fan, other than parents, present
as the women's soccer team played in Santa Barbara,
California. Likewise, he was in Berea, Kentucky for
men's basketball and Sioux City, Iowa for the women's
team, among many other appearances.
Adams is matter of fact about what sets Bethel apart
from other schools: "Our son started at Hanover College
in Indiana," he relates, likening the prestigious
school to Princeton and other ivy league offerings.
"After one semester, he transferred here and found a
home, and that's why I support Bethel so much."
Jeff Clark's Comments Regarding the Prossers
Toni Prosser . . . gracious, you know that. When
you've been greeted by Toni Prosser you know you've
been greeted by one of the most gracious people you'll
ever meet.
Toni Prosser . . . dynamic, you've witnessed that.
Toni has posted a distinguished career as a successful
leader of development efforts for almost a quarter of
a century.
Toni is a 1963 graduate of Bethel College and her
Bethel career began in 1980. In 1991, when she was the
vice-president of institutional advancement, she left,
for what fortunately for Bethel, was a temporary
interruption.
While on hiatus she served as director of development
of the Memphis Inter-Faith Association and director of
development of Crichton College.
She returned to Bethel in 1998 as director of
institutional advancement.
Only six times in the long history of Bethel College
has gift revenue exceeded $1 million dollars, and five
of those six times Toni Prosser was the leader that
made it happen.
Without any doubt, the residence halls wouldn't be
packed and enrollment records would be shattered
without the strong and faithful leadership of Toni
Prosser.
I know that you, like me, are proud to call Toni
Prosser our director of institutional advancement,
proud to call Toni Prosser the first lady of Bethel
College, but most blessed to call Toni Prosser our
friend.
I can tell you without any equivocation, Bob Prosser
is the most interesting, innovative, and effective
chief executive I have ever worked with or even met.
Bob is a 1962 graduate of Bethel College and he holds
the Bachelor of Divinity from Memphis Theological
Seminary and Master of Arts from the University of
Tennessee. His leadership has been recognized with
honorary doctorates from Bethel College and from the
College of the Ozarks.
He served the Cumberland Presbyterian Church as stated
clerk of the General Assembly for 11 years and has
pastored in Knoxville, Memphis, Huntsville, Alabama
and, for 15 years, at the First Cumberland
Presbyterian Church right here in McKenzie.
Bob, I want you to know that as a Cumberland
Presbyterian and as someone that loves Bethel College,
I am deeply grateful for your willingness to take a
big chance and make the move to Bethel as President in
1998.
Bob's gift of vision enables him to see what very few
others can see.
Bob's gift of courage enables him to tackle what very
few others will tackle.
Bob's gift of leadership enables him to facilitate the
triumphs of others and then rejoice at their good
fortune.
Simply put, Bob Prosser is the smartest person I know
and his tremendous intelligence joins unshakable
integrity to form a man of passion and purpose -
justice and mercy.
Special Donors
Suites Provided by
Rev. and Mrs. Don C. Alexander
Mr. and Mrs. Nolen Allen
Mrs. Hazel Holland Anderson
Mr. Lindle E. Freeman
Dr. Ludie Gaines
Mrs. Annie W. Mills
Dr. O.C.Wells, Jr.
Lobby and Lounge Furniture
The Terrence Bybee Family
Rooms
Mr. James L. Adams
Chap. and Mrs. Ronald Bynum
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Card
City Drug Co.
Dr. Leo J. Davis
Dr. Norvel J. Headden
Mr. and Mrs. Steve R. Perryman
Rev. and Mrs. Norlan D. Scrudder
Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Midlothian,
Texas
Dr. and Mrs. DeLyle R. Youngman
Room Provided in Honor
Rev. and Mrs. Eugene Leslie
50th Wedding Anniversary 2-8-03
By their children
An additional 425 names are listed on a separate
plaque, the Roll of Honor, listing donors of $250 and
more.
