HISTORY OF
TOMLINSON COLLEGE

Excerpt from 1991 Witan:

As Tomlinson College is celebrating its 25th year as an educational institution, we thought you would enjoy knowing how TC began and where it has come from. The following is an excerpt from TOMLINSON COLLEGE: A BRIEF HISTORY by Beth Murray Aukerman of Canton, Ohio. We wish to extend our thanks to her for graciously allowing us to reprint this.

Tomlinson College began as an expressed interest by individual members of the Church of God of Prophecy in a Church-affiliated institution of higher education. Because of this interest, General Overseer Milton A. Tomlinson officially brought the topic of such a college before the Church in 1964 during the 59th Annual Assembly of the Church of God of Prophecy. In his Annual Address to the Assembly, Tomlinson stressed the need for trained workers in the Church and proposed a skeletal framework of operations for the planning stages of the new college.

Acknowledging the input of Curtis M. Knowles, a junior high school principal in Miami, Florida, in developing the initial plans of the institution, the General Overseer first introduced to the General Assembly the nature of the proposed college: a liberal arts junior college with vocational training in business and with a strong Bible emphasis. Tomlinson also introduced an administrative structure for the proposed college in the 1964 Assembly. A Board of Control, composed of seven members (later expanded to a nine-member board) was to be appointed by the General Overseer. For the new college, this board was to develop policies of operation, insure its financial support, choose a building site and determine an opening date. The implementation of these policies, as well as the preparation of a budget, the selection of a faculty, and the determination of the curriculum and building needs of the college was to be the duty of the college president who was also to be appointed by the General Overseer. For its financial needs, the school was to rely on tuition fees and special fund-raising campaigns initiated by the administration. Locating a site for the college was of primary importance to those involved in the planning phase of the college. In its report to the 1964 Assembly, the School Committee proposed that the site chosen be at least forty acres and that the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools' accreditation standards serve as a guideline for all campus developments undertaken. At this time, the School Committee suggested the possibility of developing the Tomlinson Memorial School site (the present location of the college) to serve as a campus. By the next Assembly, however, the Committee on Education (previously known as the "School Committee") decided to locate the college at the Tennessee state campground in Madison because of the offer of the campground's use to the college by the state overseer, L.V. Jones, and the Church in Tennessee.

During the 60th Annual Assembly (1965), the Committee on Education reported that a survey made by the Committee of "prospective students, members, pastors, overseers, and general workers" showed a twelve-to-one ratio in favor of the Church having a college. The Committee at this time proposed the hiring of a full-time college president and one full-time Bible teacher The 1965 Assembly also saw the adoption of the name "Tomlinson College" for the new institution. This name was chosen because "A.J. Tomlinson and M.A. Tomlinson have both been instrumental in emphasizing the need for trained workers." Tomlinson College was now an officially endorsed arm of the Church's training ministry.

Following the endorsement of the college by the Church in September, 1965, the General Overseer appointed Curtis M. Knowles to serve as acting president and Harry Lee Moore to serve as College Administrator during the college's year of preparation. Under the leadership of these men, along with the Committee on Education (soon to be known as the Board of Directors and later as the Board of Trustees), the college prepared to open to students in September, 1966.

On March 1, 1966, Tomlinson College was chartered by the state of Tennessee. Of great importance at this time was the development of the campground in Madison as a college campus. A number of Church members from several states freely gave their time and labor in construction and remodeling work on the campsite. These members did leveling work on the grounds, remodeled youth camp dormitories, and helped build a college chapel and classroom building valued at over $225,000

Operating as a provisional institutional member of the American Association of Junior Colleges, Tomlinson College opened on September 20, 1966, with an enrollment of forty freshmen and a faculty of seven, including a new president, J.D. Wilkinson, Jr. Facilities for the college consisted of a chapel and classroom building (which also served as a church for the local Madison organization), a one-room cafeteria and student center (which housed one ping-pong table), four youth camp cabins which served as temporary dormitories and could accommodate fifteen students each, and an office building shared by the college and the state staff of the Church in Tennessee.

With the objective of "providing educational opportunities in the context of a Christian community," the college emphasized spiritual life as well as academics. Prayer meeting, bi-weekly chapel services and revival campaigns each semester set a precedent, which was to be followed by each succeeding class at the college. Coming from sixteen different states and the Bahamas, this "pioneer" class, as they called themselves, faced certain hardships such as "unfinished classroom, mud and temporary quarters." But they also paved the way for the many Tomlinson College students to come.

In 1967, the second year of Tomlinson College's operation, the college moved from Madison to Cleveland, Tennessee. Of this change in location, the General Overseer stated in his Annual Address to the 62nd Assembly:

"There are many things to be considered, but one of the primary considerations is the fact that it seems necessary for the school to own its property in order to meet the requirements of the accrediting association. We will also be able to use some of the headquarters personnel to a greater advantage in the school program with it nearby."

With the recommendation of the Questions and Subjects Committee, a portion of the land owned by the Tomlinson Home for Children on North Lee Highway was deeded to Tomlinson College. Thus, Tomlinson College came to be located at its present site of 105 acres. During the 1967 school year, the only completed building on campus was the building which formerly housed the Tomlinson Memorial School, now the academic building. This building was smaller than the present academic building, but it served as classroom building, cafeteria, library, office building and chapel. Because the campus lacked dormitories, the students lived off-campus, with the Cleveland Court Motel on North Ocoee Street serving as home for the women and the Cherokee Hotel on Inman Street in downtown Cleveland serving as home for the men. Transportation to and from the college was provided by a county school bus which picked up the students at 7:30 in the morning and brought them back at 6:00 in the evening.

As is the case with most new ventures, there existed some differences of opinion concerning the college in its early years. Some members of the Church wanted the college to retain its liberal arts emphasis, while others wanted the college to become strictly a Bible school. Concerning this issue, M.A. Tomlinson spoke to the Church in his Annual Address of 1967:

"It has been the thinking all along that the school should be a liberal arts college with strong Bible emphasis and with the Word of God woven into the total program of instruction. This is what the Assembly accepted and what has been provided. A school that would be strictly a Bible college would be of value to many of our people, but it would eliminate those who desire to prepare for professions in teaching, business, music and many other fields ... We want to develop a quality program of instruction that will compare educationally with what the student could get at any college, but we want to offer this in a framework of Christian ideals and principles that will promote the spiritual growth of the individual during his years in college."

On May 31, 1968, the first graduating class of Tomlinson College held its commencement exercises in Cleveland, Tennessee. Twenty-three of the original freshman class of forty received degrees in Bible, general studies, music, and business. Although some expressed apprehension over the ability of the graduates to transfer their credits to other colleges after leaving Tomlinson College, a report from the Board of Directors at the 63rd Assembly showed that several colleges had accepted credits from Tomlinson graduates. The college was becoming an accepted institution of higher learning.

By 1969, the college campus had expanded from one building to three buildings. Not only did the students now have a classroom building, but they also had a dormitory and a combination cafeteria and student center. The dormitory served as home for both men and women with the men on one end of the building and the women on the other. During the 1972 school year, another building on campus was completed - the music and physical education building. (Until this time, basketball was an outdoor affair consisting of a concrete court with two basketball goals ...). Also, during the 1973 academic year, the Mission Department Apartment Complex was completed.

The year 1973 saw the departure of J.D. Wilkinson, Jr., as college president. Under Wilkinson's seven years of leadership, the college came from a rather tenuous beginning with forty students in Madison to a growing, established college of 178 students in Cleveland. Robert J. Pruitt, formerly the Church Sunday School Literature Editor and instructor at Tomlinson College, was appointed by the General Overseer to the position of president during the 68th Annual Assembly.

In 1975, after serving as college president in 1973/74 and college president and communications minister of the Church in 1974/75, Robert Pruitt completed his term as president of Tomlinson College. Appointed as the new college president was Harry Lee Moore, formerly the Assistant Publisher and Business Manager of the White Wing Publishing House. H.L. Moore served the college and performed the duties of Church pilot until his tragic death during the fall semester of 1976. Important during Moore's term as president was the establishment of the Tomlinson College Extension Department. This department was established by the college to provide an opportunity for those living away from Cleveland to take both credit and non-credit courses.

Assuming the college presidency and the position of Church pilot during the fall semester, 1976, was a member of the Board of Directors, Emerson G. Hall. Hall, a skilled pilot, former head of the aviation division of the Purex Corporation in California, and an owner of the Woodbridge Furniture Industries at the time of his appointment, came to the college at a very difficult time and served the college for the next seven years.

Following a two-year period of deliberately not seeking accreditation, the college resumed its efforts toward becoming accredited in 1977. This reversal of policy was officially endorsed by the Question and Subjects Committee during the 72nd Annual Assembly.

In the late 1970's, a drastic increase in college enrollment (from 132 in 1975 to 297 in 1979, with many applicants turned away because of insufficient space) gave the college the impetus needed to redouble its building efforts. Housing for the students was of primary importance. One dormitory was simply inadequate to meet the needs of the college and many of the students had to live off-campus until 1980, when a new men's dormitory was completed. Also completed during the 1979/80 school year was the much-needed library. Prior to this time, the library was housed in a portion of what is now the academic building ... Under the able leadership of Emerson Hall, additional improvements on the college campus during the early 1980's included the construction of the intramural athletic field, cafeteria expansion and remodeling, and a renovated campus entrance with a new sign. Giving an indication of the magnitude of campus construction during President Hall's administration is the fact that from 1976 to 1981 alone, the college's total assets increased from $800,000 to $3,500,000.

It is interesting and somewhat amazing to look back on the brief history of the institution and realize how far the college has come since its first year on a state campground with forty students. Because of an able, dedicated and often self-sacrificing administration, faculty, and staff; because of the support given the college by the Church; because of that extremely vital factor in making a college successful - the student body; and, most importantly, because of the goodness of God; Tomlinson College today is a strong Christian institution whose influence has positively affected countless lives. For this, we must acknowledge the Source of all good gifts and proclaim, "To God be the glory." (Beth Murray, December 8, 1983)

In addition to the above, William E. Gailey, Sr., a member of the College Board of Trustees, was appointed as president in 1983. It was during his tenure that the college finally reached its goal of accreditation. Bro. Gailey served faithfully until his return to the secular work force in 1985, when Emerson Hall again served as president from 1985 to 1986. In the General Assembly of 1986, educator and former American Airlines executive Donald Newlun was appointed to succeed Emerson Hall in the presidency. Under Bro. Newlun's direction, TC expanded it's horizons to include a teleconference center called Project SKY-TC (Service and Knowledge Yielded - To Christ) and forged ahead in TC's quest for four-year accreditation of a baccalaureate program in ministry. Upon President Newlun's departure in June of 1989, our current president, Perry E. Gillum, was appointed.

TC's long-anticipated goal of four-year accreditation was formally accomplished in June of 1990 with the graduation of nine seniors. Also under President Gillum's leadership TC saw the renovation of many buildings and offices as well as the construction of a student plaza (including a clock tower), and the construction of a chapel - the beautiful new Victory Chapel in which many future TC students will find the spiritual help they need in a place specifically designed for worship of our Lord.

Well, that's an overview of the first 25 years. As long as the Lord tarries, Tomlinson College will continue to strive to fulfill the Institutional Vision adopted by the Board of Trustees on May 1, 1988:

The primary role of Tomlinson College is to prepare men and women who will be equipped to fulfill the Great Commission, anointed for service and broken in heart for lost humanity.

In order to accomplish this, Christ must be exalted as head over all things and His glory shown to all men through this institution.

History To be continued......