News - Columnists - Stan Tiner

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

Boll Weevil pride

My dad, Ray Tiner, is a Boll Weevil. Soon to be 101, he may be the oldest Boll Weevil of all.

Not so long ago you might have been somewhat clueless about the boll weevil-school mascot association with a particular university, but a recent television commercial featuring a boll weevil wrestling an aardvark has brought the University of Arkansas, Monticello, and its insect mascot into greater prominence.

Dad was a Boll Weevil long before television populated American homes, indeed before there was a University of Arkansas, Monticello. In his day it was Arkansas A&M, and he was a halfback on the Boll Weevil football team, and captain of the basketball team. He is the sole surviving member of the class of 1929.

His birth date, Nov. 8, 1908, predates the school.

When he arrived on campus there were three buildings, and neither the boys’ or girls’ dormitories had running water. The lone automobile on campus was driven by the school’s president, Frank Horsfall.

Through the years he has continued to love the little school, set among a grove of trees on a southwest Arkansas hillock, surrounded by pleasant fields. Today, the student body numbers more than 3,000, and the school’s 28 buildings present a welcoming face of graceful architecture. Arkansas natural sandstone is a notable feature of many of the buildings.

Dad and our family have continued to go back time and time again, sometimes just driving through the circular drive up the hill, through the campus, and on to family gatherings in Coleman or Tyro. Other times, we have stopped and walked a bit, feeling the crunch of acorns beneath our feet.

Almost every fall he has returned to Monti-cello for homecoming events, enjoying the camaraderie of old friends, and being a part of the place where such strong memories were born.

He returned from one of the homecomings to advise me he had met the young governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton. “Keep an eye on him,” he said. “He is going places.”

Later I interviewed Clinton, a year or so before his run for the presidency. Dad was there with us, listening and not saying much, but displaying a bit of that “I told you so” look.

Mother, Dad, my son and a nephew returned to the school last week for a happy day of celebration and memories.

Dad had been selected to be the grand marshal of the 2009 homecoming parade commemorating the school’s 100th birthday.

It rained on every mile of our drive from Shreveport to Monticello and continued throughout our time in Arkansas.

There would be no parade, but the university did a fine job of making the grand marshal and his family feel special.

A ceremony was held in the Senate Dining Room and the mood was festive. Dad talked about his long-ago days at the school and reflected on those times. The school’s motto is “Veritate Duce Progredi” (To advance with truth as our guide), and I know that is a value he has taken throughout his life.

The chancellor, Dr. H. Jack Lassiter, said some fine words and we enjoyed the company of college deans and staff.

The university offers bachelor of science degrees in 13 fields, the bachelor of arts in eight major areas, and master’s degrees in forestry and education. Dr. Lassiter also told of UAM’s cutting-edge program in spatial-information systems, and the Boll Weevil football team is getting a fancy new indoor practice facility at Convoy-Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium.

Family and friends from South Arkansas joined in the festivities and we were able to catch up on recent times.

It was a good day. One whose memory will not quickly fade for the grand marshal or his son.

Stan Tiner, vice president and executive editor of the Sun Herald, can be contacted by mail at P.O. Box 4567, Biloxi, MS 39535; phone 228-896-2300; or e-mail, tiner@sunherald.com