ARKADELPHIA -- Declaring that "this dedication has been long anticipated by me," Ben M. Elrod expressed appreciation to family, friends and colleagues who gathered for the June 11 dedication of the new home of Ouachita Baptist University's Ben M. Elrod Center for Family and Community.
"This beautiful building is like a dream come true," Elrod said. "It will be a worthy house for the home of the center."
Elrod served from 1988 to 1998 as Ouachita's 13th president. He created and endowed the center in 1997 to coordinate and facilitate public service, volunteerism, servant leadership and community engagement by students, faculty and staff. Trustees named the Elrod Center in his honor following his retirement.
The new two-story office complex is located on the corner of Sixth and Cherry streets on campus.
It features the Heflin Community Room named in honor of the Heflin family, including special appreciation to Sharon Heflin who chaired the fundraising committee for the new facility.
The Whipple Conference Room is named in honor of Ross and May Whipple, who have supported the work of the Elrod Center since its inception, both personally and through the Ross Foundation. The Palmer Conference Room is named in honor of Gordon and Melbaree Palmer, personal friends of Elrod and his wife, who wished to honor their service to Ouachita.
The new center includes several staff offices as well as a reception area and kitchen facilities.
The facility is funded by gifts from the Heflin Family Foundation, J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, Keith Smith Company, Morris Foundation, Olds Foundation, Ray White Lumber Company and the Ross Foundation, as well as generous gifts by Elrod and his wife and several other individual donors.
"You can tell it's an event honoring Dr. and Mrs. Elrod because it's standing room only," said Jay Heflin, chairman of the Ouachita Board of Trustees.
Ian Cosh, vice president for community and international engagement, has served as director of the Elrod Center since its inception.
"Thank you for being here today for the opening of this beautiful building that will facilitate the flow of compassionate students, faculty and staff who wish to honor God with their hearts and their minds and to love others as Christ has taught us to do," Cosh said. "I hope we are going to wear this building out through the energy and creativity that our students always bring to their endeavors and in particular their commitment to serve."
Ouachita President Rex Horne said the dedication service provided a reminder of a family, a man and a mission, as well as a great resource and a great impact. Horne described Elrod as "a man who showed great courage, great wisdom and continues to do so on behalf of Ouachita."
School on 07/03/2015