Belton’ s University of Mary Hardin-Baylor marked another “first” in her 164 years in higher education with the inauguration of one of her own as the 22nd president of the university, except that the new president is a former student at UMHB. Randy O’Rear, graduate of the class of 1988 and married to a UMHB girl, is the first man who graduated from the once all girl finishing school, to be elected to the highest position the university can offer.  

Inauguration ceremonies before a well-filled Mayborn Center Auditorium opened with a parade of Flags of Nations carried by students from 12 foreign countries now enrolled. This emphasized the university’s generations of educating students from other nations.

Banners of the seven colleges of the university, carried by their deans, formed the stage backdrop.

Another first. The colors were posted by the first on-campus UMHB Army ROTC Unit.

Dr. O’Rear opened his acceptance speech by quoting from the “History of Baptist Churches in Texas.”

“In 1844 Tryon and Baylor proposed preparations for a college to meet the demands of ages to come.” O’Rear termed the quote “a worthwhile vision.”

The new president outlined five phases of development for the university and paid tribute to the late Dr. Bobby E. Parker who had a major role in creating the university as it is today.

The phases are the founding of the university in 1845 (tuition $8 per semester), creation of separate girls and boys schools, the move from Independence to Belton, establishment of the Cottage Home System for poor students and the admission of Campus Boys and becoming coeducational in 1971.

O’Rear said when he was leaving the office of president, “Dr. (Jerry) Bawcom gave me three envelopes, numbered 1,2,3 to be opened in case of emergency. I had three instant emergencies. No. l said ‘if something goes wrong, blame me. 2. Reorganize. 3, prepare information for a new president’.”

Dr. O’Rear stressed that UMHB is among the small number of universities that “remain Christian based with emphasis on serving the Lord and His work.”

The new president pledged support of existing programs and plans with a vision to future growth and development.

Inauguration delegates from 21 colleges and universities includes institutions organized from 1841 to 1965.

Dr. Andy Davis, pastor of the First Baptist Church, presided and Guy Wilson was Faculty Processional marshal. Music was by UMHB Combiner Choirs, Concert Choir, Bell Civic Chorale and the Women’s Chorus.

Greetings were by the Hon. John Carter, US Congress; Belton Mayor Jim Covington, Temple Mayor Bill Jones III, Dr. Keith Bruce, Baptist General Convention of Texas, Dr. Carol Holcomb, president of the Faculty Assembly; Cindy Breaux Roberts, Alumni Association president and Tommy Wilson, Student Government Association president.