Memories ... Birthday ... BMI ...

Today is my dad’s 83rd birthday. I remember when he was about to turn 80 and he just wasn’t sure he would live that long. Even last year, it seemed that he didn’t know if he’d make that 82nd mark – but he did!!

Last week, Tim and I shared memories of Dad … we were the two oldest children and there were 4-1/2 years before Mark arrived. So, for a while, I guess we were the “All American Family” by the world’s standards. Two children, a dog and a cat. Well, I really am not sure about the dog at that point but I know we had a cat, “Speckles”. A beautiful, long haired, mixed colored cat. I don’t know how to explain her color other than that it had a blend of colors. With very long, silky hair. Over the years, I have looked for cats with long hair like hers but haven’t found many. Anyway, my dad was a pastor for part of that time in Monmouth, Illinois. We lived across from the high school so got to see their band practice on the steps. I remember learning to ride my bike and hunting for Easter Eggs in the enclosed sand box my dad had built for us. I remember birthday parties and Halloween (when I was scared to go to the door!) I remember my dad always being the one to tie the sashes on my dresses – they had to be perfect, you know. Oh, and I even got ‘spit-polished’ every once in a while if a hair wasn’t in place!!

One of the unique memories had to do with a man whose wife attended our church in Monmouth. He wouldn’t come to church but loved all of us kids (in the right way, of course!) While he waited on his wife after church, he’d let us all pile in his car and he’d drive around the block, letting us take turns steering the car. I’m not sure why that was so special but to us, it was.

I remember the Christmas play that was put on at our church there. Years later, I would take that same play, rewrite it – and have it performed at several churches. A play about a little crippled girl whose father was an innkeeper. Based on truth? Probably not but one of those “could have been” stories with the impact of the touch of the Master in the form of a baby.

My dad’s passion and calling seemed to focus on preparing young people for ministry – so we shouldn’t have been surprised after Mark was born (in fact, just a little baby) that we moved to Rock Island, Illinois where he would becoming the founding president of the Bible Missionary Institute. I spent lots of time on that property which was owned by my dad and his three brothers. The three brothers agreed to parcel off about 12 acres as I understand where the Bible college would be built. Some of those memories are classic to a young 9-10 year old. Such as:
~Remembering church services at Washington Junior High School when we first moved to Rock Island – and sometimes held at the Todds’ home.
~And wondering if heaven had just opened up and dropped four gorgeous teenage boys in our front yard – who included Bob Owens, Richard Grimillion and Benny Durr. (I still forget who the fourth one was.) They were some of the first students to arrive at BMI and had just driven in from Louisiana!
~Charles and Joanne Porter arriving … and the birth of Carol Ann. One of my dad’s most vivid memories is when Carol Ann fell out of a second story window and he went to the hospital. Thankfully, she was okay but he said he remembered how badly she looked when he arrived.
~The campground … the Milan campground!! Who wouldn’t remember that!! And the church across from the campground where classes were held – and the gray building where the boys lived and the motel where the girls stayed. Marilyn Cook (Darnell) and I had lots of fun tagging along behind some of the college girls – which probably irritated them to death and I’m surprised they even talk to us now!! Like – Avis Hayford, Nancy McBurney, Violet Eason, Patricia Smith … (using their maiden names here!) Avis, in particular, seemed to have patience with us so we latched on to her (at least, I did!) Just a couple days ago, I talked to Violet Etter’s daughter, Corene (spelling probably isn’t correct). It seems like just yesterday, I was holding her oldest sister on my hip (Eve)!! Don’t worry, Eve, I won’t tell your age except that it is over 45!!
~The construction of BMI and the day a man fell off the second floor – and an ambulance arrived! Scared us all!! And the time Emma Dean Crowe smacked our hands with a ruler because we slid down the back hill in the snow after being told not to. (Imagine that!)
~The deep ravine or gully or whatever you call it which was our road to get in – which later got totally filled and houses and proper roads are built there. But, back then – especially during the winter, you went flying down the hill and hoped to get up the other side. I remember when Don Hughes wore out his transmission trying to get unstuck! The only other way at that time to get to the Institute was through the cemetery (where my grandparents are buried!) To get from the cemetery to the Institute was a boardwalk and I’m sure there are several students who could tell all kinds of stories about the graveyard and the boardwalk. Of course, I always remember Troy Cook standing outside the back door of the school twirling his canes and say, “Margaret, I’m spinning my wheels!!”
~I remember carrying love notes between students – somehow they thought that if I did it, no one would get in trouble – right, Larry (Jewett)?? I also had to deliver a ‘break up’ message one time and I can’t believe I even agreed to do it. I must have thought it would make me feel special to deliver such a message!! Poor soul!
~I remember the weddings – I think there were 12 in the summer of 1960!! The first three – James and Ruth Todd! The first one, that is, right at the end of graduation. We couldn’t figure out why we had to sit down after the benediction and then the “Wedding March” started! I believe the other two that weekend were Wally and Mae Eason and Don and Edith Lantz. We wondered if it was a race to see who could get hitched first – or who could receive her “Mrs.” Degree first!! LOL!!
~I remember when my brother, Thad, was born and my dad asked the student body to vote on a name. However, I’m not sure they used it! Thad was over 11 pounds when he was born and while he was sleeping in his car bed in the library, someone put a sign “Goliath” on him!! He now stands about 6’5” tall!!
~I remember not liking the summers when the students would return home and the place would seem sort of empty for a while. To this day, so many of those students hold a special place in my heart. I got to be in Mary Wardlaw and John Copeland’s wedding. They have been special friends for so many years – as are Bob and June Owens, Benny Durr, Richard and Carol Grimillion, Donnie Plemons, Oren Etter, Violet Etter, Larry & Trisha (Pat) Jewett, Darrell and Cathy Fankhauser … and I could go on and on.
~I remember Ann Turner being my fifth and sixth grade teacher – her husband, Richard, and Don Wardlaw were the first two graduates of BMI. I loved her as a teacher!! Part of that school year was held right in our own home on 16th street. (Where the photo was taken of five of us!)


I think I’ll stop here – much more to share but need to stop somewhere. My dad faces lots of regrets over the past these days – mistakes he made, feeling he was too harsh and unbending during Bible College days. And yet, there are lots of good memories, too. Satan likes for us to dwell on the negative ones and at this time in his life, my dad questions decisions in his life and wonders about the “what if’s”. I assure him that hindsight is always 20/20 and we all make mistakes and I’m sure God understands all of that. And for us (children) … it means the world to us that he is willing to say, “I’m sorry … I wish I would have done this differently.” He also expressed that to alumni who attended a BMI reunion a few years ago in Rock Island.

So, today I honor my dad … for giving his life for us and for all those who down the road would darken the halls of the Bible Missionary Institute. Had BMI not been, I wouldn’t have had all these memories to share – and these are just a few!!! I could probably tell some tales on some ….

(The picture at the top of the page includes me as the oldest -- this photo includes Rachel -- who is the youngest and the best sister anyone could ever have!! And also, the three 'little boys', Mark, Joel, Thad.)