Damon Howell - April 8 was not another typical Saturday.  It was a day filled with emotional thoughts and memories of a place and a person special to me.  It started on campus with Dr. Tim Lake, Director-elect, laying out his vision of what the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies was to become and ended with a retirement dinner for Horace Tuner H'76.

Knowling Fieldhouse was full of people, some teary-eyed, watching Horace Turner (H.T.) thank many people that he has come in contact with during his time at Wabash College.  You see, after 35 years as the Executive Director of the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies, H.T. is retiring from the post and turning the leadership and direction over to the capable hands of Dr. Lake.  The MXIBS has served as many things here at Wabash, but none more important than serving as a home away from home with H.T. serving as the "father."  

Since the establishment of the MXIBS ins 1971 many prospective students, particularly African-American students have entered the campus with uncertainty that shakes their foundation.  For many, H.T. and the MXIBS have been there to strengthen that foundation for the past 35 years.  My colleague Walter Blake put it best on Saturday when he said, "H.T., for several years, you have made my job easier to recruit students to Wabash College." Quite frankly, I could not agree with Walter more.

Being a 1995 graduate of the College,  I can say first-hand that the MXIBS and in particular, H.T. were instrumental in my recruitment process.  Eleven years later, he is still on the front lines helping recruit young men to Wabash.

So as I sat at my table during his retirement dinner surrounded by current students, faculty, staff, alumni, well-wishers, and members of the Turner family, I can't help but think of the all too familiar phrase from Malcolm X himself "...by any means necessary!".  To me, this phrase exemplifies Horace Turner and the lengths he went to ensure students had every opportunity to realize their potential.

H.T., you thanked many of us that night, but it is you that deserves all the thanks. God Bless you Horace and your many days to come.