Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

A newsletter for faculty, staff and students

November-December 2004 • Vol. 30, No. 6

Four new technology-rich classrooms dedicated

Donors to the Classrooms for Tomorrow initiative of the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences were honored at dedication programs in October for four new “technology-rich” classrooms.

The classrooms initiative, which is part of the UA Campaign for the Twenty-First Century, has helped provide the latest teaching technology and a comfortable, attractive learning environment in a total of eight classrooms and auditoriums, said Dean Greg Weidemann. Recent pledges will allow renovation of two more rooms.

HEMBREE AUDITORIUM — H.L. Hembree, right, and his family were guests at the Oct. 18 dedication of the H.L. Hembree Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Auditorium. Other family members pictured are, from left, daughters-in-law Karen and Debbie, sons Lawson and Scott (both BC alums), and wife Janelle.

The Hembree family were guests of honor at the Oct. 18 dedication of the H.L. Hembree Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Auditorium. A major renovation of the auditorium was made possible by a gift from Mr. Hembree and his wife, Janelle.

The wood seats and chalkboard in use since the Animal Science Auditorium was built in 1964 were replaced with upholstered seats, a modern décor and an impressive array of electronic teaching tools.

The 144-seat auditorium is in what is now the Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Building that houses the Animal Science Department and administrative offices for the Bumpers College and the U of A System’s Division of Agriculture.

Hembree is a former chairman of the UA System’s board of trustees. He owns Sugar Hill Farms, Inc., at Fort Smith and Ozark, is former chairman and CEO of Arkansas Best Corporation and a recent director of Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co.

The Agnes Blew Auditorium in the Human Environmental Sciences Building was dedicated Oct. 23. The renovation was funded by a gift from Leland and Betty Tollett of Rogers in memory of Mrs. Tollett’s mother. The Tolletts are both members of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century committee, with Leland serving as co-chair of the group focusing on development for the Bumpers College and the U of A System’s statewide Division of Agriculture.

BLEW AUDITORIUM — The first major renovation of the auditorium in the Home Economics Building, built in 1939, was celebrated as part of homecoming activities by the School of Human Environmental Sciences. The renovation was funded by Leland and Betty Tollett. The Agnes Blew Auditorium was named for Mrs. Tollett’s mother.

A gift from Noal and Joanna Lawhon of Sherwood made possible renovation of a classroom in the Plant Sciences Building. The Jay and Lillian Lawhon Classroom, dedicated Oct. 22, is named for Noal’s parents, founders of Lawhon Farm Supply Company based in McCrory and the World Christian Relief Fund, a humanitarian organization. The Lawhon Classroom (Room 007) is equipped with kits for DNA fingerprinting by students in laboratory classes, state-of-the-art teaching microscopes and a powerful microscopy projection system.

The Carroll and Sue Walls Classroom in the Human Environmental Sciences Building was dedicated Oct. 22. The room was renovated using proceeds from the sale of property donated by the Little Rock couple. Mr. and Mrs. Walls are long-time supporters of the College, the Division of Agriculture, the Fayetteville campus and other campuses in the U of A System. Carroll Walls was named an outstanding alumnus of the College in 2003. He was the first chairman of the UA System’s Agricultural Development Council. He is a research forester with UAP Timberland LLC.

LAWHON CLASSROOM — Noal and Joanna Lawhon pose with son T.J. and his wife, Mandy, and their daughter, Sharee and granddaughter, Katelin, following dedication of the Jay and Lillian Lawhon Classroom, which was named for Noal’s parents.		WALLS CLASSROOM — Carroll and Sue Walls are joined by Dean Greg Weidemann and Dr. Mary Warnock, head of the School of Human Environmental Sciences, following the dedication of the Walls Classroom.