A Majority of One

Forty years after his graduation, Joe Vaughn\u27s trailblazing influence is still felt on the Furman campus -- and beyond

Jim Pitts Oral History

Audio recording of an interview with retired Furman Chaplain, Jim Pitts. Jim Pitts graduated Furman in 1960, came back as Assistant Chaplain in 1967, became the Chaplain in 1981, and retired in 2003. Chaplain Pitts talks about his early memories of Greenville, SC, and mentions Dr. David Ramsay, Greenville Woman\u27s College president. He talks about what led him to attend Furman, life as a student in the 1950\u27s, getting married as a Furman student, and the relationship between the Greenville Woman\u27s College and Furman. Chaplain Pitts speaks of his time as Assistant Chaplain and Chaplain at Furman, highlighting big issues like the first social dance on campus, integration, race relations, the SSOC, Student Protest Era, Vietnam and the draft lottery. He speaks of the Furman Civil Rights Tour, and hosting Billy Graham, Jimmy Carter, John Kerry, and Benjamin Mays. Chaplain Pitts praises Betty Alverson, founder of Furman\u27s CESC, and retired faculty member Tom Cloer. He goes into detail discussing Joe Vaughn, Furman\u27s first African American undergraduate student. He also gives details about the separation between Furman and the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and working with President Johns during that time. He closes the interview discussing his concerns for Furman\u27s future and identity, his retirement, and his hope for Furman\u27s future.https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/oral-histories/1025/thumbnail.jp

Tommie Smith Oral History

Video interview with Dr. Tommie Smith, former track & field athlete, NFL wide receiver, coach, and professor. In the 1968 Summer Olympics, after winning gold, Tommie Smith raised his fist on the podium to show solidarity with people fighting for human rights in the United States and internationally. In this 2008 interview, Dr. Smith begins talking about how running has always been a part of his life. He tells of being a child of poor farmers in Texas during the 1940\u27s, moving to California at age 6, and of a life of hard work and church. He discusses becoming interested in civil rights in college during the 1960\u27s. Dr. Smith goes into detail about his experience during the 1968 Summer Olympics, the decision to raise his fist on the vicotry podium, and the response he faced afterwards.https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/oral-histories/1044/thumbnail.jp

Betty Alverson Oral History

A video interview with Betty Alverson, the founder of the Collegiate Educational Service Corps (CESC), what is today known as the Heller Service Corps, at Furman University. She also was the first director of the Student Center at Furman. In her 2004 interview, she shares memories of being a Furman student in the 1950\u27s, and the faculty and staff that meant so much to her, like Laura Ebaugh, Winston Babb, Maguerite Chiles, Junius Gladney, and Dr. Olivia Futch. Betty speaks about returning to Furman in 1965 and becoming director of the new Watkins Student Center. She speaks in detail about CESC, and also talks about the beginning of May Day Play Day and other programs like Film Arts, Talk a Topic, Values Dinners, and Dialogue. She shares memories of the turbulent times in the 60\u27s and 70\u27s, and some controversial matters of that time, like dancing on campus, etc. Betty speaks about working with Furman Presidents Gordon Blackwell and John Johns, as well as Chaplain L. D. Johnson, and Dean of Students, Ernest Harrill. She also spends a portion of the interview talking about Furman\u27s split with the South Carolina Baptist Convention.https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/oral-histories/1012/thumbnail.jp

Charles Townes Oral History

Video interview with Dr. Charles Townes, Nobel Prize winning American physicist, and inventor of the maser and laser. Dr. Townes graduated Furman in 1935. He begins his interview talking about what he considers to be his greatest accomplishments, what inspires him, and how he would like to be remembered. Dr. Townes speaks of his childhood in Greenville, SC, and his interest in science as a boy. He explains how it was at Furman that he decided to study Physics. He mentions Physics Professor Hiden Cox as one of his favorite Furman professors. Dr. Townes briefly speaks of life during the Great Depression. He talks of going to the California Institute of Technology, taking classes under Oppenheimer, and later working with Bell Labs during World War II on radar bombing systems. Dr. Townes talks in detail about his work with NASA during the Space Race, and the first landing on the moon. He speaks of the Cold War, and his time advising President Reagan on the MX Missle. Dr. Townes shares memories of Furman, studying science, modern languages, the band, and swimming. He briefly talks about what he is involved in at the time of this interview, traveling to Pakistan and Germany, meeting with other scientists. Dr. Townes finishes the interview discussing his thoughts on faith, religion, and science, and the relation between them.https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/oral-histories/1015/thumbnail.jp

Hardy S. Clemons Oral History

Audio interview with Dr. Hardy S. Clemons, Furman Trustee Emeritus, and former pastor of the First Baptist Church in Greenville, SC. Dr. Clemons is a 1955 graduate of Texas Tech University, and later earned a Doctorate of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Furman in 1994. In this 2004 oral history, Dr. Clemons discusses his work in civil rights early in his career in Texas. He tells of how he came to Greenville First Baptist, and how his relationship with Furman began. Dr. Clemons tells of his friendships with Gordon Blackwell, John Johns, and David Shi. He details the changing nature of the Southern Baptist Convention throughout the 1970s and 1980s, how it affected Greenville First Baptist, and gives his opinions regarding the causes and effects of the split between Furman and the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Dr. Clemons discusses the split between Greenville First Baptist and the Southern Baptist Convention as well. He discusses Furman\u27s religious identity since the early 1990\u27s, and speaks of some controversial issues the board faced during his tenure as a trustee.https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/oral-histories/1022/thumbnail.jp

Lillian Brock Flemming Oral History

Video interview with Lillian Brock Fleming, one of the first two African American females to graduate Furman University. Lillian enrolled at Furman in 1967 as one of the university’s first African American women. She graduated in 1971, and earned her Masters of Education from Furman in 1975. In 1981, she became the first African-American woman to serve on the Greenville City Council, and in 1989 she was elected Mayor Pro Tempore. In 1995, she became Furman’s first female African-American trustee, and in 2014 Lillian was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Furman University. Mrs. Fleming begins the interview talking about growing up in Greenville SC, and what led her to attend Furman. She shares memories of the 1960’s and the civil rights movement, integration, and her life as an African American student at Furman during those years. Lillian remembers Ernie Harrill, L. D. Johnson, and talks about President Gordon Blackwell and his relationship with the Furman students. She shares stories about her good friend, Joe Vaughn, growing up with Joe in the same neighborhood, attending Furman together, as well as life after Furman, working in education in Greenville County. Mrs. Fleming talks about her appreciation for Furman, and how she sees Furman now, and the direction the school is taking. She also speaks about being on the Furman Board of Trustees, the issues they faced, and their goals. Lillian closes the interview speaking about her continued relationship with Furman.https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/oral-histories/1045/thumbnail.jp

Frances Furman Hewitt Oral History

Video interview with Frances Furman Hewitt, great-great-granddaughter of Richard Furman, namesake of Furman University. Mrs. Hewitt begins the interview sharing memories of growing up in Greenville, playing with Charles Townes as a child, and attending Greenville High School. She talks about attending Greenville Woman\u27s College during the Depression, remembering May Day, the old campus, and certain professors that taught there, as well as dating during that time, meeting her future husband, and Furman football games. Mrs. Hewitt tells how she fits in the Furman family line, and shares memories of her Uncle Alester Furman, cousins Lucy and Alester Jr., and her Uncle Eugene Kincaid Furman. She gives details of Cherrydale, home of Furman\u27s first president, James Clement Furman, and playing there as a child. She tells stories about President John Plyler and his wife, and Mrs. Hewitt concludes the interview talking about her children and granchildren, and her family\u27s relationship with Furman University over the years.https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/oral-histories/1020/thumbnail.jp

Betty Durham Owens Oral History

Betty Durham Owens, born in 1934, grew up near Furman\u27s old campus in downtown Greenville, and in this 2004 oral history audio, she shares some of her memories associated with Furman. She talks about playing on the old campus as a child, roller skating in front of the library, going into the Bell Tower, as well as the beauty of Furman during that time. She mentions the Plyler boys, and remembers the house of their father, President John Plyler. Betty married a Furman student, and she discusses life in married-student housing at Furman in the 1950\u27s. Betty talks about her love for Furman football, she mentions Vince Peone, and also describes being at the basketball game when Furman\u27s Frank Selvy scored 100 points, as well as the feelings of joy and pride on campus, and in the community, after the game. Betty speaks of her long lasting Furman friends and relationships with Furman professors, and her continued love for Furman and Furman athletics.https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/oral-histories/1013/thumbnail.jp