Woodward, Beulah, An Oral History of My Years (1950 to 1970) as wife of Ralph L. Woodward, President of Central Methodist College for this period. (Typescript, n.d., but obviously written in 1970 or after. 3pp. Published by Margaret Woodward Drakesmith as a "Letter to the Editor", THE DEMOCRAT-LEADER (Fayette, MO), 17 Jan. 1998.)

Title	Woodward, Beulah, An Oral History of My Years (1950 to 1970) as wife of Ralph L. Woodward, President of Central Methodist College for this period. (Typescript, n.d., but obviously written in 1970 or after. 3pp. Published by Margaret Woodward Drakesmith as a "Letter to the Editor", THE DEMOCRAT-LEADER (Fayette, MO), 17 Jan. 1998.)
Short Title	Woodward, Beulah M. (17 Jan. 1998)
Call Number	In Woodward genealogical papers
Repository	Woodward Library
_BIBL	Woodward, Beulah. An Oral History of My Years (1950 to 1970) as wife of Ralph L. Woodward, President of Central Methodist College for this period. Typescript, n.d., but obviously written in 1970 or after. 3pp. Published by Margaret Woodward Drakesmith as a "Letter to the Editor", THE DEMOCRAT-LEADER (Fayette, MO), 17 Jan. 1998.
_SUBQ	Woodward, Beulah, An Oral History of My Years (1950 to 1970) as wife of Ralph L. Woodward, President of Central Methodist College for this period.
Source ID	S324
Text	With my husband, Ralph (who had been elected the 18th President of C.M.C. in Nov. 1949), and children, Lee, Margaret, and Nancy we moved into Coleman Hall, the president's residence in June 1950. It would be impossible to put into words the feeling we have for this Coleman Hall, as it was our home for the next 20 years. Each of our children were married from this home. The presiding Bishop (Bishop Holt and Bishop Frank) always stayed in our home during the annual conference. From the beginning of our tenure at C.M.C. we felt the importance of a close personal touch with both faculty and students, and enjoyed having both groups in our home as often as possible. The Freshman class was welcomed to our home on the second Sunday after they arrived to the Freshman Reception. The first group of students to be leaving Central was the January class of 1951, as it was a small group, we entertained themn with a dinner in our home. When it was time for the May graduating class to be entertained, we sonered how we could entertain such a large class in our home, but thought of using our lovely back yard, and so the Senior Breakfast was the answer, and became one of the most lovely traditions. It was held the Sunday morning a week before commencement. The Seniors looked forward to this with great delight, as it was the last big social affair of their class before leaving college. In those days we had no catering service at the college, and Breakfasts were only made possible by the efforts and concern of many of the faculty and their wives. It would be interesting toknow just how lmany thousands of ham biscuits, Maud Rich backed in our oven over those years and how many dozen eggs Mary Lawrence and Maud Rich scrambled, on those Sunday mornings. But it was rewarding, even though I think Imust have baked thousands of cinnamon rolls and coffee cakes in those years. Even yet, when I meet some alumnii, they recall the "Senior Breakfast." Other groups that made for a special family feeling at C.M.C. were the P.K.s (preachers' kids), and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation groups. The P.K.s (I believe Carolyn Koch, the wife of the Minister at Linn Memorial at that time, was the one, who organized this group) met, I beleive once a month, either at the parsonage, the home of one of the professors of religion, or the president's home. Because of their long association with C.M.C., B. I. Lawrence and Ewing Rich had the inspiration of getting generation groups started, and each Fall would get the list to-gether. The Lawrences, the Riches and we would take turns in hosting a Spaghetti Supper, a special award going to the one with the most ancestors attending C.M.C. Other traditional affairs were, the "Hanging of the Greens" by the Senior girls. They all wore white formals and at the Christmas dinner the night before the Holidays began, they went about Howard Payne dining room, hanging the greens. Later in the evening was the Carol Sing in the Eyrie, where each fraternityh and sorority sang a carol. I remember that the Delta Sorority, always sung "Little Drummer Boy," and each Christmas whenever I hear that carol, I can see the Delta girls coming down the stairway, singing it. The A Capella choir always came caroling to our home at Christmas time. p.2/ In the early years, I decided I would complete my college work. I had a major in Biology to-ward the B.S. degree in nursing, but flet I would like to have an A.B. degree. I felt a little hesitant being over 40 at this time, but decided I would try it. This association with the students as class mates was special, and I never once felt "out of place." I received my degree in 1955, as my son Lee received his. It was quite a news item at that time (before so many older people went back to complete their education) and the pciture of the college president aswarding the degrees to both his wife and son at the same time, appeared in many newspapers across the country. On the occasion of a special artist appearing for a program at C.M.C., quite a few of the parents had come in for the program. It was to be in the sanctuary of the church. As Ralph and I walked over, we were surprised to see a large crowd in front of the church. We soon learned the reason. On of the students had planted a "stink boom [sic, bomb]" in the sanctuary. It was cleared out, and the program of the evening went on, just a little late. As usual, some of the parents were overnight guests in our home, and quite late that same night the phone rang; it was the night watchman, reporting that some students had released the brakes of a number of cars, parked over on the slope, back of Holt Hall, and the cars had rolled down the hill. One of our guests said, "Beulah, you should write a book about all that goes on here." My answer was, "If I could write a book and did, who would believe it?" But we did have many "freakish" happenings. At least once a year, usually after an unexpected football or basketball win, the students would march over to our house in a body, and usually after 10 p.m. and stand on the front lawn and chant "no school tomorrow." The president would let the group chant for some little time, and then appear on the front porch. There would be a spokesman for the students, and after some little time of a dialogue, between he and the president, as to why they should or lshouldn't have a holiday, a compromise was reached, and usually the holiday was granted. Then there would be hurrahs and cheering as they marched back to campus. I want to pay tribute to a special group, that has been a constant inspiration, joy and support to me, since my very first days in Fayette. This is to the C.M.C. Dames. That one group, could have so many fine women of such fine character, unusual talent and delightful personalities is truly amazing. To have enjoyed the friendship of those who were the Dames when I came as Anna Puckett, Beryle Buckner, Maud Rich, Bun Abernathy, Elizabeth Jenner, Betty Hix, Betsy Denny, Bertha Barker, Carolyn Koch, and others, I consider the greatest privilege I could have had. Later came others with the same fine qualities, and I have felt a very close relationship with each of them. The Dames club has had as its purpose to foster friendship, rather than to promote programs. But we did have one project, during those years, that we all felt very worthwhile, known as the "Green Shack." It served two purposes. We supplied clothing to those in need, at a very nominal price, and used that money to buy shoes etc. also books for the school children, who were in need of extra help. Often when we felt it wise, we would give the clothing. We did this service in cooperation with the Welfare office. p3/ I have enjoyed living in Fayette, where I have always found the folk friendly and for the most part proud to have the college and willing to do what they could to support it. My years in Coleman Hall were busy working in the college, community and church, and at a time when I was involved in all the activities that a family demands, but they were happy, joyous, and rewarding years, leaving me with pleasant memories and lasting friendships. Beulah M. Woodward
Linked to	Ralph Lee WOODWARD

Notes

This undated typescript was discovered among her papers in 1998, but appears to have been written several years earlier. The original typescript is in the Woodward Papers. Along with a copy of the published "Letter to the Editor."

Maintained by Michael Stafford.