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KENNEDY FAMILY

TOURS CENTER

On July 20th, members of the Dr. Ken Kennedy family took a tour of the nearly completed Kennedy Center named in honor of Dr. Kennedy.  Dr. Jack Tichenor was on hand to guide the family through the building.  Dr. Kennedy was accompanied by his wife, Wanda, and his daughters Elaine Trafton ‘65, Beverly Ladd,

‘71 and granddaughter Katelyn Ladd. The family expressed pleasure at the spacious facility and are anticipating being on hand on November 2, 2007, for the official dedication of the Kennedy Center at 2:45 pm. 

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Front Entrance of The Kennedy Center
Text Box: Jeanie Turner Smith ’86 returned to campus during Summer Spree. She was a guest at the home of Dr. Pat Schafer, professor emeritus, in Oakland City. Her 8 hour drive to campus was to bring her son, Kermit, to summer spree. Kermit will start classes in Fall 07 and will also be playing basketball for Coach Sandifar. Dr. Schafer explained that Jeannie had been office assistant when she was a student here. That friendship has lasted throughout the years. Dr. Schafer stated that Jeannie “was an excellent worker, volleyball and softball player”. Jeanie lives in Thornfield, MO, where she has taught at a K-8 school for 22 years. She teaches PE, computers and works in the library. She and her husband have two children. Not only does she teach throughout the year, Jeannie shared that her summers are full, too. Usually a week after school is out in the spring until time to start back in the fall, Jeanie is a camper. She works at Kanakuk Christian Camp near Branson, MO. She has been working there every summer for 24 years. Currently she is the camp kitchen manager and oversees the preparation for feeding 500 campers three meals a day. She says it is a wonderful place to work and her enthusiasm for the camp and the campers is evident. One interesting fact about this camp is that there are no soft drinks or snack foods served. And no air-conditioning! When asked what memories she had of her college days, she laughed and recalled the time she accidentally struck Dr. Barber with a volleyball and knocked him down. She also commented that what she liked best about being here was the friends she made, the small size of the campus and the Christian influence. When Jeannie’s son Kermit begins classes this fall, he will be continuing a family tradition. Jeanie’s sister and brother-in-law, Linda ’85, and Wendell ’85 Daughtery are alumni. Their daughter, Belena Brantley ’01, and her husband, Anthony ’01 are alumni, as well as her brother and sister in law Gaylon ’87 and Karen ’85 Turner. What a wonderful reflection on OCU for this family that believes in Christian education. Thanks, Jeanie, for sharing your story and good luck Kermit, we’ll be looking for you on the basketball court.

Jeanie turner smith, ‘86—a family tradition continues