Ouachita Stories

Three retiring faculty and staff members with a combined total of more than 70 years of service to Ouachita Baptist University were honored during a recent campus retirement reception.

The honorees included Dr. Hal Bass, professor emeritus of social sciences, who taught 40 years at Ouachita; Kathy Fendley, who served 14 years in building services; and Suzetta Glenn, who served nine years as a lecturer in music.

Noting that Dr. Bass has served at Ouachita since 1976, Dr. Stan Poole, vice president for academic affairs, said, “It’s not just that Hal has served for four decades. He has developed a distinguished career here, and he’s made an indelible impression on thousands of students and on the university.”

Citing a number of Dr. Bass’ recognitions, including being honored several times with the Student Senate Outstanding Faculty Member Award and in 2005 receiving the Ouachita Purple and Gold Heart Award for outstanding service to the university, Dr. Poole added, “There is no doubt that Hal has truly made Ouachita Hal’s place, and we’re grateful for that.” He expressed appreciation to Dr. Bass for “the profound contribution that you’ve made to your students, to your discipline, to Ouachita and to the local and even broader communities over all these years.”

Dr. Bass, who holds degrees from Baylor University and Vanderbilt University, has served in several administrative roles, including chair of the Department of Political Science, director of the Maddox Public Affairs Center and founding dean of the W.H. Sutton School of Social Sciences. He has been active in professional organizations on the state, regional and national levels, including serving as president of the Southwest Social Sciences Association in 2007-08.

Dr. Bass also has been involved in community organizations, including serving as a longtime member of the Arkadelphia Rotary Club, the Clark County Democratic Committee and the Clark County Election Commission. He and his wife, Mitzi, are active members of First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia.

Kathy Fendley has worked in building services since 2002, working in Daniel Hall and more recently in Tollett Hall in Ouachita’s Student Village.

John Hardman, director of facilities management, noted that Fendley “took the job to heart.” He voiced appreciation to her “for your service, your friendship and, more importantly, the impact that you made on a lot of lives since you’ve been here.”

Suzetta Glenn has served as a lecturer in music since 2006 in the School of Fine Arts.

Glenn “has been a constant source of inspiration to her voice students,” said Dr. Poole. “She’s helped them be successful with their sophomore and senior recitals. She’s taken students to NATS, the regional competition for their National Association of Teachers of Singing.

“She is loved and respected by the music faculty and, of course, will be very much missed,” Dr. Poole added. “Thank you, Suzetta, for all that you’ve done for the vocal area, the Division of Music and Ouachita Baptist University.”

 

By Trennis Henderson, OBU vice president for communications // Photo above: Dr. Hal Bass, professor emeritus of social sciences, retired this May after serving at Ouachita since 1976. Download full image.