Brothers Give 89 Years of Service, Baxter & Lester Ridenour
An interview with alumni Baxter & Lester Ridenour. This and other articles may be found in the University Archives.
Citation for this article is: "Brothers Give 89 Years of Service to Alma Mater," ECU Report, Volume 15, No. 5, September 1983.
Frequently alumni are surprised at teh changes on campus when they come back for visits.This is not the case for Baxter and Lester Ridenour for they have had a continuing relationship with the school since they received degrees in 1938 and 1939 respectively. They make several trips a year to the campus, but also notable is the manner in which they have lived their loyalty to their school in their home areas. Both helped organize alumni chapters in Burlington and Durham and held offices in these chapters. They know the newspaper pepole and the politicians in their areas and make sure they know the ECU story. Recently Baxter defended the University in front of 80 people when a reporter made a disparaging remark about the football team. The brothers have woven their pride in their alma mater into the fabric of their professional, religious, civic and social lives.
Baxter and Lester played all three sports (football, basketball, and baseball) for East Carolina and they have been active Pirate Club members and Baxter is a Plank owner.Along with their wives, Estelle and Penny, they attend every home game and frequently away games also.
Lester's primary involvement with the Alumni Association has been on the grass roots level, but he has served as the Associations's president one term.Baxter has held every office the Association has and has won most of its major awards such as Outstanding Alumni in 1958 and Distinguished Service Award in 1982.He helped organize the recently formed Past President's Club.
There has never been a job too large or too small for the brothers when it pertains to ECU.Baxter says one of the biggest thrills of his life was when he got a call from the governor's office asking if he would serve on the ECU Board of Trustees.Without a moment's hesitation he said, "I sure will. "That term was from 1959-1963.
When Baxter was president of the Durham Chapter of the Alumni Association he instigated a special dinner for some of the teachers from the college.In March of 1953 alumni from Durham and five other counties expressed their appreciation to their former professors who were able to attend. "This had never been done before, and I don't think it has been repeated," said Baxter.
Last month the ECU Report had the privilege to reminisce with Baxter and Lester about how it was and how it is now at ECU and their hopes for its future.
What set of circumstances led you to what was then ECTC?
Baxter: We grew up in a textile community of Cooleemee in Davie County and both of us worked in the mill after finishing high school.It was that experience more than anything else which made me think about going on to school. I was playing semi-pro ball and was offered a scholarship to Rutherford Junior College and graduated from there in '33. I was offered a basketball scholarship to Salem College in Virginia, but only stayed two weeks.I went down to ECTC and told them I didn't have any money, but I could play three sports an they took me.I stayed one full year and dropped out two or three times, started teaching before I had the degree and then came back to finish winter quarter of '38. I think even back then we realized that by getting an education, we could make some contributions to humanity which we wouldn't be able to do otherwise.
Lester: I also knew I didn't want to spend the rest of my life at the mill. I had never been east of Raleigh, but I was playing semi-pro summer baseball with G.L. Mathis who was going to take a coaching job at East Carolina and he wanted me to come there, so I went and played all three sports and ended up earning 12 letters.Our parents were behind us getting an education, but they didn't have the means to help for there were 12 children. There was some federal grant money and I got $45 per quarter for which I took care of two clay tennis courts -- sweeping, rolling, watering, and lining them each day. I also graded papers for professors and refereed and umpired at games. I did borrow $500 from the college so I could finish and then paid it back while teaching at Ayden for three years.
How was the student-faculty relationship?
Baxter: The faculty were not only my professors, they were my friends. On several occasions some of my professors slipped me a little money, for they knew what a struggle it was. I kept up with it, and when I paid it back they said, "You don't owe anything, that was a gift. "I told them I considered it a loan. And Dr. Wright (first president) had a big heart. At the end of every quarter he would call us in and check on our progress and even if we couldn't pay, if we were doing alright, he would tell the registrar to let us register for he knew we'd pay eventually. It's just wonderful we had a man like that to start off the school and you have never seen a town and campus so saddened as when that man died.
Lester: There were times we both lived in the homes of our professors. Baxter was with Dr. Herbert ReBarker his first year. One time I was ill and Dr. Hubert Haynes insisted I come to his home rather than the infirmary. He brought my lesson plans home and took the work back to the professors and I finished out the quarter living there.We also played tennis together. All the professors were so open -- you could take any of your problems to them.When I'd come back to the campus after graduation, I would try to visit some of my professors and they truly appreciated this.
What was it like to be a student in the 1930's?
Lester: For one thing your whole life -- social, religious, academic -- centered around the college.Since I played sports there weren't many oppportunities other than Christmas to go home.We had great turnouts for our games, nearly all the students and 95% of the faculty.There were about 1000 students so you knew everyone.
Baxter: The social life centered around the dances which were five nights a week right after dinner. There was a free movie in Austin Building on Saturday evening. The dances were in college building (now Wright Auditorium) and the dean of women, [Annie] Morton, was always right there. Those were the days when men were men and women were glad of it, for the ratio was about nine women to one man.
Surely after graduation you were busy with your careers and further studies since you both came back to earn masters degrees.Why did you choose to get involved as alumni?
Lester: Well you see this ring I wear (ECC class ring).It says "To Serve" and that is what I have tried to do.I was with the Burlington School System for 36 years and retired in 1970.I feel I should give to my community and I have served my church. I've been Sunday School Superintendent for 26 years. I've been an officer in the Salvation Army and the Civitan Club and am now president of Retired School Personnel for District 9.I've been a consultant for Burlington School System since retirement. My alumni involvement is just part of that service.When I was president of the Alumni Association, I went to the General Assembly every time Leo Jenkins spoke because I felt it was important that the Association was represented.
Baxter: I believe the more we do for ECU, the more ECU is going to be able to do, and the greater ECU becomes, the greater we become as alumni. We were brought up with a sense of sharing. Our parents had little formal education and not much financial means, but they were well thought of in the community and they did things for their community and this is what serving is about. (Baxter has received numerous awards from the Durham Civitan Club and in 1963 was chosen Civitan of the Year for all of North Carolina.In his retirement years he has served as the first director of the Retired School Personnel office for the state and treasurer of his church the past ten years and president of the Exchange Club Industries in Durham.)
Both of you are so unselfish in your service, especially to East Carolina University. Do you have any advice to other alumni?
Baxter: I wish I could transfer my enthusiasm to other alumni. A person should have priorities and I feel your church and your alma mater should be high on the list. A person should always remember what their alma mater has meant to them and support it to the best of their ability.
Lester: It must begin before one becomes an alumnus.School spirit will lead to active alumni. We got most of our school spirit on the weekends because everyone stayed on campus, but that's not the case now. The student government could be a leader in this.When they graduate it is still not too late to be involved. Alumni should start contributing right away, even if it is a small donation, and another thing that would help would be to get them back to campus more often.
