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A Keen Sense Of Loyalty To God,
The Church And His Country

During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln heard someone say he hoped the Lord was on the Union's side. Lincoln replied, I am not at all concerned about that, for I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side.

The most recognizable patriotic song in the nation. There are few songs that speak as strongly to America's patriotic pride as Lee Greenwood's classic. God Bless The USA

Hillard Johnmeyer

Trustee Stresses Personal Evangelism

At the end of the war we didn't think there were any fighter planes in the air. On April 7, 1945, while flying formation, a German fighter, black lacquered and shiny, came up under my wing and collided with the lead plane carrying my own bombardier, Fred, and my group commander, Col. Herboth. All in the plane were killed. My crew and I were flying less than ten yards away when the collision occurred. We were torn up, and crash landed.

Except for the grace of God and a few feet, Harding College would not have the esteemed services of Hillard Johnmeyer as a member of the Board of Trustees. Johnmeyer is a successful businessman ... operating a construction company which lays underground telephone cable; an experienced airplane pilot ... flying missions in two wars, in coordination with his business, and for pleasure; a dedicated member of the Church of Christ ... serving as a personal worker in evangelistic campaigns in the United States and abroad.

A staunch supporter of conservative Christian education, he regularly attends Harding's workshops and seminars on personal evangelism. Having received the needed training, he and his wife leave their business for a month each year, raise their own support, and participate in an evangelistic campaign in the United States or abroad. Besides scheduling each day's work in advance and making out reports each evening as group leader, he walks the streets, knocks on doors and conducts Bible studies to save souls during the day. His natural concern for others makes him effective in personal evangelism.

Johnmeyer was born in a rural community in Cooper County, Missouri. The family remained there only a few years before moving to Howard County where Johnmeyer attended school. Commenting on those early years in school, he recalls, "I quit school in the eighth grade and ran away from home. Later, my brother, Julius, put me through high school. I helped pay part of the expenses by driving a milk truck."

On December 14, 1942 he enlisted in the Army and, following intensive training in flight school, flew B-24 missions during World War II. He was recalled to active service during the Korean War and flew missions there. He attended the University of Missouri at Columbia for one year between the two wars, majoring in engineering.

Immediately following the Korean War he established a business in St. Clair, Missouri. Vividly recalling its establishment, Johnmeyer said, "I hired one man, rented a pickup truck and an air compressor, and began setting poles in solid rock. No other company wanted to do this work even though it paid more, so I started my business with those jobs. My contact with the telephone company came from a local telephone man who was a customer years ago when my brother and I cut brush for a living, getting $.50 a span, and it took one man a whole day to cut a span."

In 1965 Johnmeyer moved his business to Rolla, Missouri. Operating from an office on the Rolla airport, he scans the jobs listed in certain, trade magazines, flies his own plane to inspect certain ones, and then bids on them. "I bid on jobs all over the United States," he said, "but generally within a 600 mile radius of Rolla."

Reflecting upon his years of campaigning - conducting Bible studies and teaching others of Christ, he recalled his own conversion and that of his wife while studying with an Air Force associate, Gale Cummings, and his wife, 'T'. "While we were overseas, separated from our wives, Gale taught me the scriptures," said Johnmeyer, "and his wife befriended my wife and taught her." In 1952, while stationed at Davis Monthan A.F.B. in Tucson, Arizona, they both were baptized at the Country Club Road Church of Christ.

Of his service during World War II, Johnmeyer said, "At the end of the war I was in London flying sight-seeing missions for the 'ground-pounders' over battle torn areas. I saw America double-crossed by communist Russia. After the war, I watched the United Nations being built and saw socialism on the rise. As time went on, I knew I wanted to do something about it."

It was this deep sense of loyalty that led in the search for a conservative educational institution to an eventual meeting with Dr. Ganus and Dr. Bales, and his association with Harding College and the National Education Program. Greatly impressed with the campus and the friendliness of the students the awareness of the administration and faculty and their meaningful programs, Johnmeyer said, "Harding knows what's going on in the world."

Since that time, believing what he found still to be true, he has been an enthusiastic supporter and energetic worker for Harding College. He serves as a member of the Board of Trustees and faithfully executes his responsibilities in this capacity. He regularly attends the Bible Lectureships each fall, the Christian Workers' Workshops and the World Evangelism Seminars each summer, and encourages others to do the same. Of Harding's Mission/Prepare Program, Johnmeyer says, "The increase of personal evangelism both at home and abroad is one of the most encouraging signs in the church today, and Harding is contributing in a significant way to this increase through its Mission/Prepare Program."

Activism is not just a word with Johnmeyer; it is a way of life. He is endowed with a keen sense of loyalty to God, the church and his country. He is a participator, encourager and supporter of those things in which he believes. It is not uncommon to see the Johnmeyers on the Harding campus on any weekend. Although recovering from a broken back suffered in a recent jeep accident while [deer] hunting, his first trip from home during convalescence was to Harding to acquaint some friends with the school. Ten days later, he attended the Preacher's Forum, bringing with him other friends interested in visiting the campus and learning more about the school's programs. Not only do they come to see their son, 'H,' a junior at Harding, but they are enthusiastic with Harding's programs and eager to acquaint others with these programs.

Harding began as a senior college in 1924, when two junior colleges, Arkansas Christian College and Harper College, merged their facilities and assets, adopted the new name of Harding College, and located on the campus of Arkansas Christian in Morrilton, Ark. Harper had been founded in 1915 in Harper, Kan., and Arkansas Christian had been chartered in 1919.

The college was named in memory of James A. Harding, co-founder and first president of Nashville Bible School (now David Lipscomb University) in Nashville, Tenn. A preacher, teacher and Christian educator, James A. Harding inspired his co-workers and associates with an enthusiasm for Christian education that remains a significant tradition at Harding University.

With the merger J.N. Armstrong, who had served five years as Harper's president, became president of Harding College, and A.S. Croom, president of Arkansas Christian for two years, became vice president for business affairs. In 1934 Harding was moved to its present site in Searcy, Ark., on the campus of a former women's institution, Galloway Col lege.

One of Harding's first graduates, George S. Benson, returned from mission work in China in 1936 to assume the presidency of his alma mater. The vigorous educator quickly directed the College out of deep indebtedness and launched it on a journey to financial stability, national recognition and academic accreditation. When Dr. Benson retired in 1965, his 29 years of tireless service were more than evident in a multimillion-dollar campus, regional accreditation, a strong faculty, and a continually growing student body. Dr. Benson died in December 1991 and is buried in Searcy.

Dr. Clifton L. Ganus Jr., a 1943 graduate, served as president from 1965 to 1987. A former history department chairman and vice president of the College, Dr. Ganus kept alive his predecessor's drive for excellence by leading a plan of campus improvement and expansion. During his administration, enrollment increased from 1,472 in the fall of 1965 to 2,767 in the fall of 1986. Seven major academic buildings, four large residence halls, and several married students' apartments were constructed. A $1 million addition to the Science Building was completed in 1984. Also, six academic buildings were renovated and/or enlarged. The nursing program, the social work program, the Mission Prepare program, the School of Biblical Studies (with programs in Searcy and in Nassau, the Bahamas), and the Harding University in Florence (Italy) program were developed during his administration. In Memphis, Tenn., the Graduate School of Religion experienced significant growth, received accreditation by the Southern Association, and added the Doctor of Ministry degree to its program. Upon his retirement, Dr. Ganus became Harding's first chancellor.

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