While in Oklahoma City for the CASE District IV conference, Jeanie Bismark, executive director of the SAU Foundation, was determined to get me in a cab. I was excited. The opportunity came on Sunday night as we prepared to hit the town for dinner. Cattleman’s Steakhouse in the OKC Stock Yards would be our destination.

Like someone who was very sophisticated and seemed to know what he was doing, I walked out the front door of the Skirvin Hilton Hotel and asked the valet to call us a taxi. He asked where we were going, and we told him. Without missing a beat, the valet looked up to the back of the parking lot and beckoned a black, stretch limo. Our ride awaited.

A limo?!?! Yes, a LIMO!!! Needless to say, we were a bit giddy. Josh Kee and I actually had photos posted to Facebook before we ever left the car. It was too neat to pull up at the restaurant in a black limo. I felt event more sophisticated than when I had asked the valet to hail a cab for us!

The driver gave me his card and asked that I call him when we were ready. The only thing neater than arriving at the restaurant in a limo was leaving in it. I must note that the driver worked on tips only and that no university money was spent for the limo ride.

Later in the evening, some of our colleagues from SAU rode in the limo. The driver remembered us. I guess we were the only ones to get that excited over the ride that night.

I still have the driver’s card. I guess I’ll have to look him up next time I’m in OKC. It was a very memorable experience to say the least.

What a day it was. I got to work about 7:20 a.m. and began implementing the plan that had been put together over the course of several months. The plan had been fine tuned only hours before I left work on Tuesday. I’ve got to stop here and note that there was an absolutely wonderful out pour of support from the entire SAU community that helped make Founders’ Day a success. I don’t know how we would have ever pulled it off without their help. I am blessed to work with such wonderful people.

So after arriving at work, the day soon began to pick up steam. Volunteers began pouring in to fill balloons, ice down 3,000 cokes, set up tables for the cook-out, and so much more. At the same time, the student activities staff was working with the professional stage company on the mall to erect a huge, and might I add very impressive, stage on which Tracy Lawrence would soon sing.

Then noon came, and it was time for the first major event – the groundbreaking for the SAU Alumni Centennial Bridge. I went over to the Welcome Center for that event, and then stopped by the baseball field for the 1 p.m. game. It was part of the celebration, and it allowed for a brief break and bite to eat. My hat’s off to Don Davis who was grilling for us.

By about 1:20 p.m., I was back in the office, determined to get everything ready for the 4 p.m. ceremony. Time absolutely flew by. Soon enough it was 4 p.m., and the biggest activities of the day were about to start. The radio station was in place for the live remote, the food was set up for the cook out, the games were set up for the birthday party, and it was time for the show to begin. At Dr. Rankin’s request, the SAU theatre department re-enacted the passage of Act 100 of 1909 which created SAU and its three sister universities. It was a great ceremony. Dr. Rankin spoke, and Cory Davis, president of the student government association, spoke and presented Dr. Rankin with a proclamation from the Governor naming April 1, 2009, as Southern Arkansas University Founders’ Day. Miss SAU sang “Happy Birthday” to SAU, the band played the fight song, and the SAU Heritage Singers sang the alma mater. It was a beautiful ceremony. Without a prepared script, I closed it out. I think I had the most important job — I told everyone where to eat!

The meal went well, and out catering service deserves a pat on the back. I didn’t get to eat, however, because I was running around making sure everything was still working correctly and making sure certain people were getting to where they needed to be.

Finally, the time had come for the Tracy Lawrence meet and greet. I was happy to have a ticket! I had my picture made with Tracy, and I got two items signed. I only have one of those items now. I gave one to a good friend.

When the concert began at 7 p.m., I was beyond exhausted, but there was still work to do. About halfway through the concert, I escorted Dr. and Mrs. Rankin backstage. They went on stage and presented Tracy with a nice gift from SAU as a thank you for all he has done. In turn, he presented them a check for $10,000 to be used for scholarships. We’re excited about that!

By the time the concert was over, I could barely walk. My shoes (black dress shoes) were not made for long term walking, and I didn’t realize that. Oh, but I learned my lesson. After talking to some friends from Gurdon until alomst 10 p.m., I left for home. I was proud the event was a success, but my feet told me otherwise. Thursday and Friday were nightmares! I barely walked around!

Luckily by Saturday, I was able to walk amost normally. A whole new adventure started on Saturday, but you’ll have to read my next post to find that one out. I’ve got a feeling you won’t have to wait long . . .

Until then . . .

Coming up on April 1, SAU is celebrating its 100th birthday. We’re calling it Founders’ Day, and as chair of the Centennial Celebration Committee, my plate has been pretty full. The stress is getting a bit more intense as we get closer, but I know a lot of that stress is coming from trying to force myself to perform up to standards that I may have set too high. We’ll see. There is a wonderful steering committee behind the celebrations, and I am blessed to get to work with them. I’m determined that there will be abundant sunshine on April 1. Please pray that I’m right. For more information on the festivities, click here.

Besides Founders’ Day, there’s Muleriders on Tour. That’s where we’re going around the state holding gatherings for alumni and friends of the University. A lot of work, but there should be a lot of profit in the end by getting alumni back involved in the University. We held our first MOT in Texarkana this week. It was extremely successful.

I’m thinking about taking a vacation at some point in the early summer. Now I just have to decide where to go and what to do.

Stay tuned…

I had one such opportunity yesterday. I traveled with my boss, SAU President Dr. David Rankin, and SAU Tech Chancellor Corbet Lamkin to the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock. We had business to attend to, and with the General Assembly in session, let’s just say we weren’t the only ones in that grand building with a mission.

We were sitting in a room on the Senate side of the Capitol, and I kept thinking, “if only these walls could talk.” I would assume a lot of extremely important business has taken place in the room where we met. If I used the six degrees of separation theory and started with some of that room’s previous occupants, I would assume I could reach foreign leaders, kings, queens, famous actors and actresses, and maybe even some of my own heroes. But could I get to Reba through those six degrees? Maybe, just maybe.

But what stories could we hear if those walls did talk? The political scientist in me would love to know, and the journalist in me would love to write it all down.

The day wasn’t all politics, but there was enough of it to make me happy. I absolutely love to be involved in and study our political system. I guess that’s why I have a college degree in political science. Before getting to Little Rock, I had a unique opportunity. The three of us – in our shirts and ties – ate lunch at the Bear City Diner in Bearden. Let’s just say we probably looked a bit out of place in this particular diner wearing a tie. I was relieved that Dr. Rankin suggested we leave our jackets in the car.

Coming home we had a similar experience at a small diner in Sheridan. It is one that I have frequented more times than I could possibly count, but I’ve never caught the name. Who said you had to eat at a big named resturant to get a good meal? I don’t think you do.

That’s enough rambling from me for now. I hit the road on business again in about two weeks. This time, I’m leaving the state (and the nation if you count driving through the Indian Nations as leaving the country). I’m going to Oklahoma City for the C.A.S.E. conference. I’ll explain later.

The next two weeks will be my busiest at SAU yet. Despite assisting in research for energy grants, I’m helping with the planning for an alumni and friends of the university event at the Texarkana Country Club on March 17, and then there’s that little party we’re throwing for the university’s 100th anniversary on April 1. I wish it were a joke! It’s going to be the biggest blow-out of a party you’ve ever seen. I’m more than just a bit stressed. I’ll be glad when it’s behind us!

I have the opportunity to travel for my employer, Southern Arkansas University, on an increasingly regular basis. I returned to work this morning from a two day trip to Little Rock during which a co-worker and I met with Capt. Robbins, the education service officer for the Arkansas Army National Guard, at Camp Joseph T. Robinson. Our goal is to foster a relationship with the guard that could eventually lead to SAU enrolling more soldiers. That’s a whole other story.

So while meeting with Capt. Robbins, he told us about another program offered through the base and offered to drive us over to meet with the coordinators. We accepted. He told us to wait for him in front of the building. “I’ll pick you up in my Prius,” he said.

Now I had been meeting with this gentleman for at least a half-hour. He knew how tall I was, so I thought he was cracking a joke about my height. (Some people are just jealous!) Sure enough, when it came time to get in his car it was  a Toyota Prius. It was the tiniest car I had ever seen.

I doubled over once and then twice, but I got in! He laughed. He said he didn’t realize how tall I was. My legs were supporting my chin. My head was turned sideways. The Prius was the largest car the captain had ever owned. He said that he thought the car had a lot of head room. It didn’t.

When we were leaving our second meeting to return to Capt. Robbins’ office, he mentioned to one of his co-workers, “You wanna see something funny, watch Langley get in my car!”

I thought he would have at least had a Hummer.