MacKenzie Dayne Hall

Their days were filled wandering around Riverside Park in Wichita, Kansas, partaking in some  sort of illegal activity. Bruce, Mark, Greg and Kip Dawson, were known for wreaking havoc in  their neighborhood.  

One hot June evening in 1960, the boys were at Riverside and came across a summer concert  playing in the bandstand- the perfect opportunity for trouble. Scheming a plan, the brothers  concluded that fireworks would make the concert more entertaining. With a lighted cigarette in  one hand and an M-80 in the other, they returned to the bandstand. Climbing to the top of the  venue, the boys set up shop. Just as they had finished lining up the mini bomb, “1812 Overture”  began to play. They couldn’t have imagined a more perfect piece of music for their pre meditated plan. In the middle of the song, what normally sounded like cannons going off in the  tune, were instead replaced with the loud blast of an M-80 echoing throughout the park painting  the evening sky with sparks of gold and white. The Dawson Brothers were satisfied with their  work as they watched confusion spread across the faces of the orchestra and enthrallment across  the audience.  

Raising four boys was chaotic. For Joy and Robert “Bob” Dawson, the brothers’ parents, there  was an added element of chaos. One morning in 1949, when Bruce was just 3 years old, Bob left  for work just like any other day. He worked as a Marine Corps test pilot at Toro Marine Air  Station in California. What seemed like a routine day on the runway and in the air would be the  day his life, and the Dawson’s lives, changed forever. While in flight, one of the propellers failed and Bob’s plane crashed into the ground, utterly destroyed. Miraculously, Bob survived. He left  the plane crash with multiple fractures to his left arm, broken ribs and permanently blind. 

A medical anomaly.  

Raising a family, loss of identity and career, adjusting to life without sight and moving all over  the country, resulted in a lot of stress and strain on the Dawsons. Sadly, in 1968 Joy and Bob filed for divorce- a decision that left the Dawson Brothers heartbroken.  

“The hardest thing for me was being a kid in the middle of Mom and Dad and the issues that they  had,” Bruce said. “Some of the issues they had weren’t even their fault. There was tension a lot  of the time. That was the toughest thing.”  

Greg shared, “When I found out my parents were getting a divorce that hit me really hard. We  suddenly realized we had been struggling as a family for some time, and now we were no longer  a family.” 

Amid the family’s tension, in hopes of a fresh start, they moved across the Pacific Ocean to  Hawaii. Days spent catching crawdads and building rafts in the Arkansas River were replaced  with exploring Honolulu and work at the Dole pineapple factory. For some, moving to Hawaii  would be luxurious. For the Dawson Brothers it was merely a bandage and distraction from the  family crisis that was crumbling before them.  

“We moved to Hawaii in between my junior and senior year,” Mark said. “We moved to this  awful house in the middle of my family’s crisis. I was feeling terrible. I felt the move was such a  bad idea and I was going to be left there all alone since Bruce was going back to college in Iowa.  It was a really, really, down moment for me. I was figuring out how I was going to cope.” 

Even in the middle of the family mess, the brothers still managed to do what they did best-find  mischief. This time, it was at an active volcano.  

“We went down into the caldera of this volcano. We were walking over solidified lava and went  over to the vent of the volcano. We were sitting at the rim of the vent looking down into it, you  could not see the bottom. One slip and you were done,” Mark recalled.  

Kip remembers that Joy called the boys back for breakfast. Instead of going around the volcano, the brothers decided to take a “shortcut” and cross the lava.  

“When Mom called for breakfast, it was time for breakfast. We knew we couldn’t go back  around the volcano, so we crossed over it crossing the lava,” Kip said. “I was a sixth grader and  couldn’t make it over the big cracks. I started running and Bruce picked me up and threw me  over the lava to Mark. They propelled me over this crack in the Earth. If it wasn’t for them, I  would not be here today!”  

This was one of the several stories the Dawson Brothers share. Together, their friendship and life  have evolved into an inseparable bond. True brotherhood.  

“We grew up with a father who was an amazing role model but at the same time, not your  traditional father,” Greg said. “He was not somebody you would look at and think, ‘He’s the guy  who is going to teach me to play football,’ or ‘He’s the guy who is going to take me to the  baseball game.’ Those things didn’t happen with our dad, they happened with an older brother. I  looked to them for understanding what manhood was all about.”  

The brothers had to rely on each other. Their relationship was the only consistent one in their  home. 

“We learned to depend on each other, but we learned cooperation too. We had things that had to get done and we realized we had to cooperate with each other to get things done,” Mark added.  

The Dawson’s family mantra was “You are a Dawson. You can do hard things.” Joy and Bob instilled the value of hard work, no matter the circumstance or situation. Whatever was going on  around them was no excuse for what they could achieve.  

“The family saying actually began with Roy and Mary, Bob’s parents. Working in the restaurant  business, their family moved a lot,” Kip said. “Bob always had to go into the restaurants to help  cook the food and bake the pies. Those were 14-hour days just to make a few bucks.” 

With Bob’s hard work in the restaurant businesses followed by serving in World War II as a  Marine Corp pilot, he expected his sons to be high achievers.  

Bruce said, “We were taught from the time we were born that we were going to achieve things. You were not going to be a slacker and were not permitted to lie around. We had this work ethic  between Mom and Dad that you were expected to get it done. It was always there.” 

From criminal behavior, to divorced parents and near-death experiences, the Dawson Brothers  walked through every season of life together. Their relationship was shaped by commitment,  alliance, loyalty and holding one another up during difficult times. A true brotherhood.  

Mark said, “In the midst of chaos and unhappiness, we found joy and happy times with  brothers.” 

They’re the ones that make us feel like family while at school. Familiar faces Sherry Cantatore, Kari Ledford and Madison Ledford work for Sodexo at Ouachita. Sherry is the smiling face standing behind the Simple Servings line, Kari diligently plans campus’ favorite events and Madison greets students as they pay for their Friday Chick-fil-A meal. Serving Ouachita is a family business for the three. 

 In March 2016, Latina Robinson, a Dietetic Internship graduate student from North Little Rock, Ark., lost her grandmother to Type 2 diabetes—a deadly disease that, according to the Centers for Disease Control, affects 37.3 million people in the United States.

Like father, like son: Allen triumphs

BY MACKENZIE HALL

News Editor

For quarterback Grant Allen, playing football for Ouachita was an opportunity that he did not think was going to happen.

After months of rehab and multiple surgeries, Allen, a junior accounting major from Springdale, Ark., was not sure if his football career would continue. During his junior year of high school, Allen tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder and later had surgery. After rehabbing back to health, Allen returned strong for his senior year of football. Later in his senior season, Allen broke his ankle– another setback to his football career. Despite these difficulties, Allen was an overcomer.

“I’ve had my fair share of adversity. Overcoming those injuries was a really big part of my story. I feel like those injuries made me who I am today,” Allen said. “It taught me a lot about myself and how I was able to overcome so much and still be successful at the college level. I didn’t know if my career would end or if I would get to play college football.”

Two weeks before National Signing Day, Allen received an offer from OBU.

“Up to that point, I had no idea where I was going to go. I feel like God kind of showed me this is where I needed to be. OBU has a great business school and great football program. Those two were big for me in my decision. I really feel like God opened this door,” Allen said.

His time with OBU football goes beyond the field. Allen values the brotherhood and life lessons he has learned from both his teammates and coaches.

“Football is the greatest team game there is. The relationships you form along the way are powerful and last beyond the game,” Allen said. “I have benefited from this football program so much. Not only on the field, but off the field. Our coaches teach us valuable life lessons. The game of football really prepares you for life. There are so many aspects to it that can be applied to the real world.”

For Allen, this love for the game started at a young age. Since he was 6 years old, people could always find him with a football in hand. Coming from a family of strong quarterbacks, it was natural that he picked up the sport.

“I grew up in a football family. My dad played quarterback at University of Arkansas, and both of his brothers also played quarterback in college,” Allen added.

Allen and his dad have similar stories. A redshirt freshman for the Hogs, in 1991 during his second year of what was quickly becoming a highlight season as a starting quarterback, in his eighth game versus Baylor he injured his knee and started the long road of recovery.

“Going through my injuries, I’ve really been able to rely on him. His experience has helped me get through mine; I just really look up to my dad,” Allen said.

From his time playing football and overcoming obstacles, Allen has learned that he is capable and can do more than he believes is possible.

“Nothing is guaranteed. There is no guarantee that you can play the game as long as you want, and I think that’s big. There is no challenge too big, and I am capable of doing more than I think,” Allen said.

From his time at Ouachita, Allen hopes he is remembered for not only his athletics, but also the way he cared for others on his team.

“I want to be known as a guy who was friends with everyone,” Allen said. “I think it goes beyond football because football is going to end, but relationships last forever. I want to be known as not only a good quarterback, but also someone who was respected by others and friends with everyone. Someone who could be relied upon.”

 For immediate release

 Ouachita presents A Festival of Christmas Dec. 3-4

 By MacKenzie Hall

 November 18, 2021

 For more information, contact OBU’s news bureau at newsbureau@obu.edu or (870) 245-5208

ARKADELPHIA, Ark.— Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts will present its annual holiday program, A Festival of Christmas, on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3-4, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center. The theme of the production is “Christmastime,” from Michael W. Smith’s 1998 album of the same name.

Dr. Joshua Brown, co-director of the performance and director of choral activities at Ouachita, said that A Festival of Christmas is “a treasured Ouachita tradition that was dearly missed last year. We are excited to have this opportunity to kick off the Christmas season at Ouachita.”

Festival of Christmas will also be directed by Stephanie Murry, assistant professor of theatre arts.

Performers will include the Concert Choir, Ouachita Singers, Women’s Chorus, Percussion Ensemble, Ouachita Saxophone Orchestra and three small vocal ensembles.

“It is just wonderful to have A Festival of Christmas again after having to take a year off due to the pandemic. The students are so excited to share this show with the community, family and friends again,” Brown said.

The program will feature traditional Christmas songs such as “A Marshmallow World,” written by Peter DeRose, and “Silver Bells,” written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, both arranged by Mark Hayes; “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s TheNutcracker, arranged by Mark Brymer; “The Christmas Waltz,” written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, and arranged by David Clydesdale; “Breath of Heaven,” written by Amy Grant and arranged by Lloyd Larson; and “Silent Night,” written by Heather Sorenson; as well as a performance to Avalon’s “Light a Candle” from students of the Arkadelphia studio DancePraize.

“We hope that our performance will give the audience an added measure of joy as we head into the Christmas season,” Brown added.

A Festival of Christmas is open to the public. Tickets are $12—students can get one ticket free with their Ouachita ID—and can be purchased at the JPAC Box Office, open weekdays from 1-5 p.m.; at obu.edu/boxoffice; or by calling (870) 245-5555.

 For immediate release

Ouachita students honored for their work published in “Assayers 30”

By MacKenzie Hall

For more information, contact OBU’s news bureau at newsbureau@obu.edu or (870) 245-5208

ARKADELPHIA, Ark.— Three Ouachita Baptist University students received awards for their nonfiction work featured in “Assayers 30,” the annual publication by Ouachita’s Department of Language and Literature.

The top three winners from this year's publication are Cora Saddler, a senior English and Spanish double major from Cabot, Ark.; Sydney Motl, a sophomore English major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; and Sabaoot Esho, a junior graphic design and psychology double major from Erbil, Iraq. Their work was chosen by a panel of faculty members led by Dr. Doug Sonheim, professor of English and holder of the Clarence and Bennie Sue Anthony Chair of Bible and Humanities at Ouachita.

Other students whose submissions were included in “Assayers 30” are Aubree Seibert, a senior chemistry, biology and applied physics triple major from Wylie, Texas; Lizzie Horton, a freshman from Arkadelphia, Ark.; Meredith West, a sophomore kinesiology/leisure pre-professional studies major from Sherwood, Ark.; and Elaina McKenzie, a senior English major from Gulfport, Miss.

Submissions from 2021 graduates Ashley Harrison, a communications & media/film and Spanish double major from Argyle, Texas, and Russell Wallace, a biology major from Bryant, Ark., were also included.

“Assayers” began 30 years ago as a tool to teach nonfiction writing and research skills to Composition 101 students, though submissions are not limited to this class. The collection includes both personal and research essays from students.

Saddler was awarded first place for her essay, “The Bartleby Dilemma,” on the short story “Bartleby, the Scrivener” by Herman Melville.

“My essay is about the story of ‘Bartleby, the Scrivener’ and the ways people—both in the book and critics of the work itself—have, I think unfairly, interpreted Bartleby as a symbol or concept that ultimately reflects anything but Bartleby himself,” Saddler said. “My goal was to bring back his humanity and try to argue for an interpretation of Bartleby with more emotionality and sympathetic imagination.”

Saddler said she hopes readers will learn the importance of keeping an open mind and not be defined by their past selves.

“I hope readers are encouraged not to let other people define their sense of self, and that they keep an open mind and do the same for others,” she added. “We are more than the work we put out, and we don't have to be defined by the people we used to be. Bartleby defies easy categorization, and I think we do too.”

Motl won second place for “The Art of a Woman,” a research essay that analyzes a painting by Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi.

“The painting is called ‘Judith Slaying Holofernes’ and it depicts Judith, a Jewish woman, beheading an Assyrian general who is attempting to invade her town,” Motl said. “What is interesting about Artemisia’s depiction is that Artemisia herself was raped and chose to bring that to trial; when keeping that in mind, the details that only a woman who has experienced violence herself can paint really come to life.”

Through her essay, Motl sought to bring awareness to victims of sexual assault or abuse through knowledge of gender.

“I would love for more to be aware of the new perspective that a thorough knowledge of gender can provide,” she said. “Having the ability to view art, literature or the world through the lens of gender can bring a whole new awareness of the issues facing those around them, especially victims of sexual assault or abuse.”

 “Knowing My Mama,” the third-place essay by Esho, tells the parallel stories of her life and the life of her mom.

“‘Knowing My Mama’ is a comparison between me and my mom. When COVID-19 hit, I couldn't go back home to Iraq; I was really sad, and it brought me down,” reflected Esho. “It got me thinking about who my mom was before she had me and how when she was in college; she was away from home and family because there was a war going on. It's basically me drawing strength from my mom and her story.”

Esho was inspired by a newspaper editorial by Edna Lepucki that describes the connection between mothers and their daughters.“This writer had asked all different girls to send pictures of their mamas before and after they gave birth. It was talking about how those women were the same women that they were before,” Esho said.

The award winners and other writers featured in “Assayers 30” were honored at a brief ceremony on Sept. 2.

Dr. Jennifer Pittman, acting chair of the Department of Language and Literature, said she sees the value of sharing this work with the Ouachita community.

“I think it’s really important for the students who write to showcase what they have done because they all work really hard on those papers,” Pittman said. “I also think it is important for students in the community to see their classmates’ writing and see that good work can be done in all the classes.”

For more information about “Assayers 30,” contact Dr. Doug Sonheim at sonheimd@obu.edu or (870) 245-5554.