Harding University history

Outgrowing its home in Morrilton, Harding purchased the facilities of Galloway College in its present site of Searcy in 1934.

While Armstrong retired to serve as the dead of the Bible department, one of Harding’s first graduates, George S. Benson, returned from mission work in China in 1936 to assume the presidency of his alma mater.

On August 12, 1944, Harding’s first president died in his sleep.

Harding School of Theology is an outgrowth of graduate studies in religion that began on the Searcy campus in 1952.

In 1953, Norman Adamson became the first black person accepted to Harding.

Almost 30 years after its beginning, Harding was approved for national accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools on March 14, 1954; this allowed students’ work to be accepted by other colleges.

An extension program offering such courses in Memphis was begun in 1955.

The Fulbright Memorandum of June 1961 raised concerns about use of NEP materials in the military.

In 1963, three black students were admitted to the Searcy campus, making Harding the second private institution in Arkansas to admit blacks.

When Doctor Benson retired in 1965, his 29 years of tireless service were more than evident in a multimillion-dollar campus, regional accreditation, a strong faculty, and a continually growing student body.

In 1969, Ganus attempted to placate students by promising to hire 'Negro' teachers, but this never transpired.

Seven major academic buildings, four large residence halls and several programs grew, including its Christian Communications Program (now known as the School of Biblical Studies) which was established in 1973 and during Harding’s 50th anniversary year, the School of Nursing was started.

His stories brought laughter and even tears to our students as they hung on every word." Paul Carter began his career with Wal-Mart in 1977 as controller.

Upon completing a study which began in May 1978, the board of trustees approved the study's recommended change of Harding to university status, and on Aug.

In 1980, Richard King became the first African-American faculty member.

The auditorium built in 1981 is named to honor Doctor Benson.

A $1 million addition to the Science Building was completed in 1984.

He became a member of our Harding University Board of Trustees in 1985 and served as chairman for four years and also served as treasurer and worked on the executive committee.

Doctor Davis Burks became Harding’s fourth president in May 1987.

Doctor Benson died in December 1991 and is buried in Searcy.

Doctor McLarty received the Outstanding Alumnus award from the College of Bible and Ministry at Harding in 1999.

He continued his role on the board until his death in October 2009 following a long battle with cancer.

Doctor Burks retired from the presidency May 2013.

In 2020, a former graduate organized a petition drive to rename the Benson auditorium because of Benson's racist views.