Dr. James D Bales was a dapper figure around Searcy AR back in the days when Harding University was Harding College. He lived on Race Street in Searcy within walking distance to his job at Harding. He was a Professor of Bible and theology from 1944 to 1980 and can be found on wikipedia which is quite an accomplishment. The article is somewhat controversial but tells a lot about him.
My memory of him is seeing him hastening across campus with the HIGHEST head of hair with deep waves carefully controlled. My husband's memory is of his quickly coming out of his house, which was across the street from his business, and hurrying down the sidewalk with his suit and tie and enthusiasm for his job.
I took one of his classes and was required to write a composition which he carefully poured over and made many comments because the things I talked about in the paper differed from his views. I still have the paper and went over it recently. Looks as if he took lots of time to argue his point and teach me the proper beliefs.
The hair is why I recognized him in these pictures that I found at a thrift shop in Searcy. He was very young in this one and had already apparently received a gold cup probably for debating. He had the reputation of being a strong orator.
Look at the hair!
In the same batch of photos that had been given away I found this one. A family member has surfaced and told us that this was at Dr. Bales wedding. In this picture the hair blends in with the dark background but it is still Dr. Bales!
These pictures were with the one that I blogged a few days ago. It was a man in a room studying his Bible. Here is what the family member who has surfaced and would like to have the pictures back in the family had to say about the photos.
This photo was found in the thrift shop along with some photos of my parents' wedding in 1940. J. D. Bales married Mary Smart on July 2nd in Toronto, Canada. One of mother's bridesmaids was Margaret Whitelaw who never married and who just died this spring at 97. Her brother was Lyn Whitelaw, pictured in the photo in question. He is also deceased. I discovered this connection when Barbara informed me of the name on the back of the picture and I called a Canadian friend who ferreted out the rest of the story!
I do plan to return the pictures to the family member UNLESS I discover that they are as valuable as a Disfarmer photo. Disfarmer was a photographer at Heber Springs AR. Look him up! And I think we have added a new Sleuth to our group of Seary Sleuths. Thanks, Mary Ethel Bales Gale!
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