Apr 09
Jeremy LangleyCurrent Events, Southern Arkansas University CASE IV, Cattleman's Steakhouse, OKC, Oklahoma City, SAU, Southern Arkansas University
I’ve never ridden in a taxi. Don’t hold it against me. I grew up in a town of less than 1,500 people. The only taxi cab we had was the one Mama drove!
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.
Apr 09
Jeremy LangleyCurrent Events, Southern Arkansas University Founders' Day, Magnolia, SAU, Southern Arkansas University, Tracy Lawrence
Well, in case you missed it, we made it through Founders’ Day at SAU. I know, I know, in this new media age, I should have written this by 10 p.m. on April 1, but I was busy. I didn’t even get home til then!
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.
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Mar 21
Jeremy LangleyCurrent Events, Southern Arkansas University April 1, Founders' Day, Muleriders on Tour, Southern Arkansas University, Texarkana, vacation
Life is extremely busy for me these days – and I mean EXTREMELY busy. I’m not really complaining, I guess.
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…
Mar 10
Jeremy LangleySouthern Arkansas University Education, General Assembly, Little Rock, Reba McEntire, Southern Arkansas University, State Capitol
I love my job. Have I mentioned that lately? I guess my favorite part about it is being able to leave the office and work beyond the boundaries of the University’s campus.
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!
Mar 03
Jeremy LangleyUncategorized Boomtown Classic, El Dorado, El Dorado Promise, Football, Randy Rainwater, Southern Arkansas University, University of Arkansas at Monticello
A big announcement was made in El Dorado yesterday. It was so big that Randy Rainwater himself broadcasted “Drive Time Sports” from Arkansas’s oil capital.
In a nutshell, here’s the scoop: Southern Arkansas University and the University of Arkansas at Monticello have entered into an agreement with the City of El Dorado to play the inaugural “Boomtown Classic” football game in the city’s Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7. This is a project that has been in the works for a number of years, but due to circumstances beyond our control, it was put off until now. This is the perfect opportunity for me to plug our Centennial Celebration. UAM is celebrating 100 years in 2009 as well.
I’m excited about this opportunity. While the Mulerider fans in Magnolia might not be thrilled with the decision, it is an excellent opportunity for the University to showcase itself before one of the most important high school student bodies in the state. Of course I’m speaking of those in El Dorado that receive the El Dorado Promise scholarship (note my headline on this post). I think this is a great opportunity for SAU (and UAM) to make a play for those students and that scholarship money. It also gives us a LOT of “free advertising” in one of the regions most populated areas.
It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. The El Dorado A&P Commission has pledged their full support. They are working to secure other entertainment for our students and fans that make the trip to El Dorado for the ballgame.
On an interesting note, the two schools have played in El Dorado before. They were each others’ main rivals beginning in 1914 and usually played on Thanksgiving day in El Dorado. What was the trophy? Here’s a sneak peek at a passage from the soon-to-be-released centennial history of SAU by Dr. James Willis:
Monticello added to the festivities by bringing a white female Angora goat to be awarded to the winning side. Each season for the next seven years this goat—named for the Monticello president, “Frankie Horsfall“, when won by Magnolia and “Charlie Overstreet” by Monticello–became the prize of the Turkey Day game. Knowing that a mule and a goat were featured mascots of the famous Army-Navy football rivalry, the Arkansas Democrat opined that “from the frothing and foaming and sputtering which goes on” the “Mulerider-Boll Weevil game bids to become the Army-Navy battle of Arkansas football.
I’ll keep you updated as we get closer to time.
Feb 21
Jeremy LangleyRandom thoughts Muleriders, Ouachita Baptist University, Southern Arkansas University, Tigers, University Police
Well, I don’t figure I’ll have very many opportunities to feature an OBU Tiger here on the blog since I work for a conference rival. Tonight is an exception, and yes, there is a story behind that headline.
I had to make a Saturday evening run to my office earlier to grab some paperwork I meant to take home with me on Friday. While in my office, I needed to run next door to the mail room. Keep in mind that the building is empty because it’s Saturday. I got what I
needed from the mail room, and returned to my office. My door was locked. I had forgotten to prop the door open or unlock it. There I was, in the hallway. I had no keys. I had no phone. I thought for a moment that I was up the dreaded creek without a paddle. I couldn’t even get in my vehicle because my keys were on my desk.
Since my phone was also on my desk, I knew I couldn’t very well call anyone, so I started across campus to find a trusty campus police officer. The police department was empty and dark. Something told me to look towards the gym. Sure enough, the game was in progress, and the officer on duty was there. I caught a ride back to my office with him, and he unlocked my door. I’m glad he was close by.
Let’s back up to the gym for a minute. I didn’t know it until I walked in, but the Ouachita Baptist University Tigers were in town! I was glad to get to visit with some folks, but others that I would have liked to seen were not there. I guess I can be happy for both schools tonight. The university that pays my salary (SAU) won in the men’s game, and the university that bestowed upon me my bachelors degree (OBU) won in women’s action.
I guess you can have your cake and eat it too!
Feb 20
Jeremy LangleySouthern Arkansas University Arkansas National Guard, Camp Robinson, Southern Arkansas University, Toyota Prius
Small cars aren’t made for tall people, so when Capt. Robbins said he’d pick us up in his Prius, I thought he was joking. Okay, I’ll back up and tell the whole story.
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. More
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