'58 Alumni Award - Baxter Ridenhour

Biographical sketch of Baxter Ridenhour, 1958 Alumni Award recipient. This and other articles may be found in the University Archives.

Citation for this article is: "'58 Alumni Award," Alumni Bulletin, Volume XII, No. 1, Summer, 1958.

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The East Carlina College Alumni Association presented its Distinguished Alumni Award for 1958 to Baxter R. Ridenhour of Durham, North Carolina. Mr. Ridenhour is the 19th recipient of this award which has been made to 12 women and 7 men graduates of East Carolina College.

Mr. Ridenhour, principal of the Club Boulevard School in Durham, was graduated from East Carolina College in 1938 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts with a major in Social Science and Science. In 1948 he received the Master of Arts degree from East Carolina College, majoring in School Administration.

Prior to registering at East Carolina College, he was graduated from Cooleemee High School and from Rutherford Junior College. During his student days at East Carolina College he was a three-letterman, playing football, basketball, and baseball. He was captain of the baseball team and member of the Varsity Club; in his student citizenship he was elected president of the Men's Student Government Association.

From East Carolina, he began his educational career as teacher and athletic coach at Magnum High School in Durham county, where he remained for four years. He then went to Burlington, N.C. and for four years was a member fo the faculty and director of athletics in the senior high school, and for four years was principal of Maple Avenue School in that city. He returned to Durham in 1950 to become principal of Club Boulevard School, one of the city's newest and largest elementary schools, where he is now situated.

As an educator, Mr. Ridenhour has maintained a sound philosophy and has constantly endeavored to keep his professional advancement as an objective. He is a member of the North Carolina Education Association, the National Education Association, the North Carolina Principals Association, the North Carolina Elementary Principals Association, the Durham Teachers Association, the Durham Schoolmasters Club, and the Club Boulevard Parent-Teacher Association.

He has actively promoted the safety program of the Schoolboys Safety Patrol and in his own school has kept active a sound relationship between pupils, teachers, and patrons. His school plant has been expanded since his first year as principal.

In civic affairs, Mr. Ridenhour ahs been a member of Civitan Clubs in both Burlington and Durham, serving as president of each of these clubs. In 1957-58, he was lieutenant governor of Zone 5 of the North Carolina District of Civitan International and for the club year 1958-59 has been named as assistant to the District Governor of Civitan.He was chairman of the Durham Inter-Club Council during his term as president of the Durham Civitan Club, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Boys Home, Inc., of North Carolina at Whiteville, as well as serving as a director of the Durham Parent-Teacher Council.

In a summary of Mr. Ridenhour's contributions to the life of his community, it is well to recognize his church and religious interests.A member of Trinity Methodist Church in Durham, he is newly elected superintendentof its Church School, member of the Fishermen's Club, past president of the Methodist Men's Club, and served as assistant superintendent of the Church School and superintendent of its Adult Division. He is a memrber of the church official board, its Commission on Education, its Commission on Missions, and its Commissison on Membership and Evangelism.

As an alumnus of East Carolina College, Mr. Ridenhour has ever expressed loyalty to his Alma Mater through service in a varied number of activities. He is a Life Member of the East Carolina College Alumni Association, served as president of the Burlington chapter two years and the Durham chapeter three years, has been a director of the Raleigh-Durham District of the Alumni Association two years, and was president of the General Alumni Association for the 1955-57 term.

During his administration as alumni president, interest in scholarship tuitions was advanced, and a program of contribution of books to the Joyner Memorial Library of the College was initiated under the project of "Friends of the Library." Several hundred volumes were donated to teh library by alumni and friends. He served three years as alumni representative on the ECC Athletic Council.

Mr. Ridenhour is the son of the late J.F. Ridenhour and Mrs. Ridenhour, who survives.His brother, Lester Ray Ridenhour, principal of Williams Senior High School in Burlington, his sister-in-law, Mrs. Pennie Burkett Ridenhour, and his wife, Mrs. Estelle Wilkins Ridenhour, are East Carolina alumni, and alumnae, respectively.Mrs. Baxter Ridenhour was Miss Estelle Wilkins of the Bahama community of Durham county.This "alumni couple" has maintained an alive and continuous interest in the college since their first student associations here.

Mr. Ridenhour has a busy schedule in his profession, but he has three hobbies:East Carolina College, Civitan International and baseball.

Of Mr. Ridenhour it has been said by one alumnus: "I am convinced that no graduate of East Carolina College has been more loyal.

"Whenever Baxter Ridenhour meets with a group, large or small, he highly praises his Alma Mater. Not only is he an excellent public relations representative in his vocal appraisal of the College, but his burning desire to better his community is sufficient cause for his fellow workers to look kindly and favorably on East Carolina College."