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The ADVANCE, August 25, 2021/Page 13A
Chat
continued from page 11A
ball. I coached my kids. As
they grew up playing ball, I
was right there with them.”
When the COVID-19 pan
demic hit, his hobby was
put on hold. However, as
the world returns to some
sense of normalcy, Benny
hopes to start coaching
again in the future.
When asked about his
hopes for the future, Benny
McLendon expressed his
firm trust in those who
will take over McLendon
Enterprises in his stead. “I
have a family meeting with
all my kids and nephews
once every quarter, and
this is my first question.
‘Do y’all want to keep do
ing this kind of work? There
are easier ways of making a
living.’ But they all say ‘yes.’
They all love what they do.
I love what I do. My vaca
tion is my vocation. I look
forward to each Monday
morning.” He chuckles at
the fact, and recognizes it
as the rare blessing that it
is. Benny said that his bat
tle with leukemia gave him
“a lot of time to think about
a lot of stuff. It made me
delegate better and realize
that other people could do
things. It ultimately helped
with the business.” As his
kids and nephews gradu
ally take over the details
of running the family busi
ness, Benny says his goal
is “to not be responsible
for anything,” to focus on
the parts of the business
he enjoys most, and to get
back out on the sidelines of
a football field, investing in
the kids of his community.
Benny McLendon
didn’t really want to sit
down and chat about him
self, his life, as he isn’t one
to enjoy being the center
of attention. In fact, dur
ing our chat, he was more
eager to praise his wife
and her accomplishments
than his own, affirming the
phrase that “behind every
successful man, there is a
strong woman.” I believe
that it is his humility that
has made him not only a
good son, husband, father,
and business owner, but
also a valued and steadfast
pillar in our community.
COACH MCLENDON—"I don't hunt, I don't fish. Coaching kids has always been my
hobby," McLendon said. He hopes to be back out on the sidelines soon.
GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON—Pictured here are Robert Toombs Christian Acad
emy's alumnus, Benny McLendon, and his grandson, Luke Hollis when he was a student
at his grandfather's alma mater.
New Director of the
Academic Success Center
for Brewton-Parker College
GO DAWGS—Father Ben Dallas, a former priest at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and
a dear friend of the family, joined Benny McLendon and sons at the 2018 Rose Bowl in
Pasadena, California.
MCLENDON ENTERPRISES-- When asked about his hopes for the future, Benny McLen
don expressed his firm trust in those who will take over McLendon Enterprises in his
stead,
(L to R): Front Row: SGA Advisor LaRee Findley, Marli McCranie, Caroline Thompson,
□lie Graham, Kate Kennedy, Back Row: Andrew Tuck, Dawson Pinckard, Meredith Dur
den, Madison Williams, Hannah Meek, and Jackson Newton.
RTCA Announces SGA Officers
By Evan Riekhof
BPC Marketing Coordinator
Brewton-Parker Col
lege (BPC) recently an
nounced Dr. Frank Sharpe
of Laurens County as the
Director of the Academic
Success Center (ASC). As
the Director, Dr. Sharpe
will facilitate educational
support and tutoring ser
vices to BPC students and
plans to expand the online
tutoring services. The ASC
also offers specialized help
with student papers at the
Writing Center.
Before accepting
this position, Dr. Sharpe
taught full-time last fall
and taught remote classes
in BPC's prison and Youth
Challenge programs in
the spring. Prior to join
ing BPC, Dr. Sharpe was
a Junior Fellow with the
Blount Program at the Uni
versity of Alabama. Educa
tion has always been a pri
ority for Dr. Sharpe as both
of his parents and his older
brother are teachers.
Dr. Robert Brian,
BPC’s Provost, shared his
enthusiasm by saying, “I
am very excited that Dr.
Frank Sharpe will be join
ing us this fall in the key
role of ASC Director. Over
the spring and summer,
we have strengthened our
capacity for spotting stu
dents showing early signs
of disengagement or those
Dr. Frank Sharpe
who just need more aca
demic support. Dr. Sharpe
will be leading a team of tu
tors, advisors, and mentors
charged with making stu
dent success an attainable
goal for all Barons.”
Dr. Sharpe under
stands some of the chal
lenges that come with
being a college student.
“Students are already in
a new environment with
high expectations.” He
sees the services provided
by the ASC as a way to be
more actively engaged in
the success of students and
meeting those expecta
tions. Dr. Sharpe hopes to
see growth in the number
of students progressing in
their classes and success
fully making it to gradua
tion. “I want them to know
we're on their side. Com
bine that with the chance
to help people on a per
sonal level and then I think
we'll really have something
to feel good about.”
The work of the ASC
is valuable to both stu
dents and BPC according
to Dr. Sharpe. “Your time
in college is valuable, not
just because of tuition, but
because you will only be
here for so long. These four
years will go by before you
know it, so do the best you
can without looking for
shortcuts.” He believes we
need to provide a strong
support system for stu
dents who are struggling,
stating, “This is important
to both our success as an
institution and the morale
of the students.”
Dr. Sharpe said his fa
vorite Bible verse is, “In
the world you have tribu
lation, but take courage; I
have overcome the world”
(John 16:33b). Regarding
Servant Leadership, Dr.
Sharpe stated, “Service is
one of the most meaning
ful things we can do in our
world. And I think servant
leadership is leadership
with its heart in the right
place.” In his new position
as Director of Academic
Success, Dr. Sharpe looks
forward to seeing Brewton-
Parker grow and prosper
while staying true to its
mission and core values.
“It’s just an honor to be a
part of that.”
Robert Toombs Chris
tian Academy’s Student
Government Association
has officially elected the
2021-2022 officers. After
student and teacher votes
were counted and teacher
recommendations were
factored into the equation,
the following is a list of stu
dents nominated:
SGA Executive Officers:
SGA President: Elbe
Graham, SGA Vice-Pres
ident: Madison Williams,
SGA Secretary: Kate Ken
nedy, SGA Treasurer: Jack-
son Newton, SGA Projects
Chairman: Marli McCra
nie.
SGA Class Officers:
Seniors: Grade Chair:
Hannah Meek, Class Rep
resentative: Morgan New-
some.
Juniors: Grade Chair:
Andrew Tuck, Class Rep
resentative: Dawson
Pinckard.
Sophomores: Grade
Chair: Caroline Thomp
son.
Freshmen: Grade
Chair: Meredith Durden.