The following classes will have reunions in 2015:Class of 1945...................... 70 yearsClass of 1950...................... 65 yearsClass of 1955...................... 60 yearsClass of 1960...................... 55 yearsClass of 1965...................... 50 yearsClass of 1970...................... 45 yearsClass of 1975...................... 40 yearsClass of 1980...................... 35 yearsClass of 1985...................... 30 yearsClass of 1990...................... 25 yearsClass of 1995...................... 20 yearsClass of 2000...................... 15 yearsClass of 2005...................... 10 yearsClass of 2010........................ 5 years

Keepers of the dream...alumni...the bridge buildersThe Bridge Builder

by Will Allen Dromgoole

An old man going a lone highway,Came at the evening, cold and gray,To chasm, vast, and deep and wide,Through which was flowing a sullen tide.The old man crossed in the twilight dim;The sullen stream had no fear for him;But he turned when safe on the other sideAnd built a bridge to span the tide.“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim, near“You are wasting your time with building here;Your journey will end with the ending day;You never again will pass this way;You’ve crossed the chasm, deep and wide. Why build you this bridge at the evening tide?”The builder lifted his old gray head:“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,“There followeth after me todayA youth whose feet must pass this way.To the fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.”

ALUMNI – (plural) most commonly referred to as graduates of both sexes. If you are a female graduate and do not wish to be referred to in the plural form, you are an alumna (a female graduate or a former student) or an alumnus (male graduates or former student)

While attending OBI, you became part of the growth and legacy of this great institute. From the first graduating class of five students in 1908 to the present time, the works of Oneida Baptist Institute can be summed up in the words of Rev. H.L. McMurry in The Cru-cible -- “Burns, this school will grow into a great institution, because it is purely the work of God, which cannot be overthrown”.

We now have over 300 students and we continue to grow. Each student of every graduating class should be gloriously proud of be-ing part of the dream of Oneida Baptist Institute. We all remember our time here, as it is indelibly etched in our hearts and souls. Some of Kentucky’s finest have graduated from Oneida. The school has provided an atmosphere of learning, spiritual growth and hope. OBI has produced scientists, educators, doctors,ministers, lawyers, au-thors, politicians, businessmen and even school presidents!

Professor Burns wrote these words in his book, The Crucible: “The work of Oneida Institute has scarcely begun. It shall be carried on into the ages, a heritage for generations yet unborn. Workers will live and love and labor till their task are done – others will rise up to take their places – to carry the banner still further to the front.”

One of OBI’s best and most distinguished graduates, Larry A. Gritton, Jr. has returned to serve as President. While students here, Larry and Angie (Berry) Gritton received the highest awards given to students, including Mister and Miss Oneida. One of Larry’s goals was to progressively get local students back to OBI. He could not have chosen a more capable ambassador to get the job done than Dr. Ed. Lowenback. Ed has worked tirelessly to make it happen. We now have 27 local students, with two buses picking them up in all directions. In the early years of the school, Oneida served the chil-dren who lived within a day’s journey by horse, mule or wagon from Manchester, Booneville, Hyden, Buckhorn or Burning Springs.

As each of us accepted our OBI diplomas, the torch was passed to the next graduating class, the new “bridge builders.” If you have always wanted to give back but were not sure what to do, remember that no gift or service is too small and it’s never too late. Kentucky has been cited as one of the the poorest states in the union, par-ticularly eastern Kentucky. The first classroom on the campus was built by families donating a rafter from their cabin, nails, tools, logs and horses! That same benevolent spirit is still alive here. Everyone is working together for the good of the Lord and our students. Many of you have given to Oneida and have helped keep the legacy of James Anderson Burns alive. q

A great contribution to OBI would be to attend Homecoming if possible. YES, each person and every class is important. Your class helped “build the bridge” for future Oneida graduates. Our alumni are an integral part of OBl that provide won-derful memories and history of our school. As an alumnus or alumna, please support our Alumni Association by keeping us in-formed of any address, email or phone number changes. We truly want to hear from you and keep you informed.

We offer to you the alumni on staff who are serving and consider them-selves servants of God as they continue to be “Keepers of the Dream.”

OBI staff alumni

Ethan Allen ’94 -- houseparentNoel Spencer Cordle ’03 -- teacherJoanna Renea Barger Cushman ’96 -- tutorLolita Parker Cartwright ’00 -- Tutoring Lab DirectorGeneva Couch -- food serviceDerrick Evans ’09 -- farmAngie Gritton ’91 -- Assistant to the PresidentLarry A. Gritton, Jr. ’93 -- PresidentJeff Kelsey ’89 -- Dean of Boys, coachStacy Hasty Miller ’93 -- teacherTara Frost Mills ’07 -- teacherAmy Burkhead Nelson ’88 -- tutorAmanda Roberts ’62 -- (volunteer) Librarian, Alumni Director, assistant golf coachDavid Robinson ’82 -- Principal, Athletic Director, coachLaura Stockton ’86 -- Purchasing AgentFrank Stratton ’01 -- Assistant to the Athletic DirectorB.J. White ’82 -- houseparentAnna Woods ’85 -- houseparentKeshia Woods ’03 -- Donations CoordinatorMark Woods ’99 -- maintenanceMargaret Youtsey ’55 -- food serviceDeb Moore ’76 -- food service

ALUMNI NEWS VOL. 19, NO. 1

Education for Time and Eternity February 2015A newsletter for alumni of Oneida Baptist Institute

OneIda BapTIsT InsTITuTePO BOx 67

OneIDA kenTuCkY 40972-0067

ADDReSS SeRVICe ReQueSTeD

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

Oneida, KYPermit No. 4

Can you come?

What’s new?

Anderson Hall renovation is now complete.•

Homecoming weekend 2015 will be October • 23, 24, 25.

The fall drama production will now be on • Homecoming weekend.

There’s a new boys’ dorm on the way!•

Buy a brick for the new dorm -- $10 per • brick, given in memory of an event, person, or class.

Education for Time and Eternity February 2015OBI ALUMNI NEWS Education for Time and Eternity February 2015OBI ALUMNI NEWS

Alumni Director: Amanda Louise Roberts E-mail: amanda.roberts@oneidaschool.org

(606) 847-4111 ext. 268 www.oneidaschool.org

In Memoriam 2014 - 2015

Stanley Napier ’60Joyce Rasnake ’60Patricia Combs Robinson ’84Troy Couch - former studentMidge Feltner - former staffBetty Allen - former staffGoldia Sizemore Combs ’48Jack Tillman - former staffShirley Allen Moore ’60Billy Joe Bays ’89Calvin Davidson ’47Carol Sue Collinsworth ’56Fern Williford - former staff/daughter of former president D. Chester SparksAngelia Smith May ’83Keta Dean Sodrel - former elementary studentEugene Hamilton - former Oneida Baptist Church pastorGrover Spurlock - former studentJudy Lawson - OBI staff memberBilly Baker - former student Walter Lee Reed ’47

Highlights and activities for Homecoming 2015

plan nOW to attend!

Friday, October 23: w 2nd annual Homecoming golf scram- ble at Crooked Creek Country Club, London, Kentucky, 8:30 A.M. shotgun It’s not too early to make your reservation for the tournament! w 5:00 P.M. Alumni dinner in the Burns cafeteria

w 7:00 P.M. Fall drama production

saturday, October 24: w Homecoming registration begins at 9:00 A.M.

w OBI Athletic Hall of Fame -- see criteria and nomination form in the January/ February 2015 Oneida Mountaineer

w 50th anniversary class of 1965

w 5:00 P.M. Supper in the Burns cafeteria

w 7:00 P.M. Fall drama production

sunday, October 25: w 7:00-10:00 A.M. Chit & Chat Breakfast with friends in Burns’ Cafe

w 11:00 A.M. Worship at Oneida Baptist Church

w 12:00-1:00 P.M. Friends & farewell -- Enjoy one more meal with friends before you leave Oneida Fair.

Why an October Homecoming? The majority of guests surveyed last year indicated they would prefer a fall date, so we hope for better attendance plus nicer weather. And our students will be on campus, so they can participate!

It’s not too early to make your

reservation for the play and alumni &

Friends dinner!

The next edition of the Alumni news will be in June.Be watching for it!

Mark your calendar...

enjoy more photos from Homecoming 2014

Our first annual Homecoming golf scramble was quite a success, with 15 teams play-ing. It’s not too early to be getting a team together for our 2015 tournament!

The class of ’94 with former guidance counselor and alumni director,

Myrtle Webb Cooke ’60.

Sean Godbold, class of ’99 visited the campus with his sons, Samuel and

Owen. Sean is married to Laura Beth Hasty Godbold ’98.

Alumni visited and shared memories in a number of places around campus.

Our brass trio played at the grand reopening of Anderson Hall -- Tim Cochran, Charles Roughton, and Steve Grant.

OBI president Larry A. Gritton, Jr. ’93 greeted guests.

First lady Angie Berry Gritton ’91 posed with visitors.