Tharp, Zeno Chandler
Zeno C. Tharp (1896-1985) was the sixth Superintendent of the Bible Training School, now Lee University, from 1935 to 1944. In 1942 the position title was changed to President, and he was the first to use that designation.
Tharp, a Michigan-native, was 39 years old at the time of his appointment and had graduated from BTS in 1923. He came to this role directly from a successful pastorate in Greenville, South Carolina. He also had studied some at Holmes Bible Institute. Tharp was married to Annie Mae Caruthers Tharp.
Superintendent Tharp’s tenure was long and effective. He served nine years in this position– guiding the school with sound financial management during the difficult days of the Great Depression. When he arrived the school account held $12.95. There was no food and no textbooks– all results of the economic depression. Tharp took out a personal loan of $900 to pay the teachers and clear school debts– and then he went to prayer, called the school to prayer, and began intentional recruitment efforts. God supplied. During the Spring term 1936, the loan was repaid and all school debts cleared.
Tharp was a strong disciplinarian– and he had no problem calling you out during chapel services for your misbehavior, but he also was personable. He had a way of connecting with all types of people, and he connected with the type of students found in Church of God homes. Soon, the tide began to turn and enrollment increased.
For several years the need for a new dormitory was discussed. It came to fruition during Tharp’s tenure. Built in 1937, the new dormitory for women was the first building constructed by the school and cost $12,000. But even a new dorm was inadequate. The school needed more space.
In 1938 the former Murphy Collegiate Institute was purchased for $30,000 dollars and the school relocated to Sevierville, Tennessee. The larger campus gave the school room to grow. At Sevierville, the school experienced fast growth in enrollment almost immediately. Tharp also led the school in paying off the debt on the Sevierville property, and new buildings were constructed.
As the school grew, Tharp enlisted the assistance of experienced personnel on staff to form a strong academic team. The year before Tharp was elected to lead the school, Royd Rufus "R.R." Walker was employed as principal of the high school department. R.R. Walker was the first minister in the Church of God with a four-year Bachelor’s degree and had successfully led a Mississippi public school to earn accreditation while serving as a local school superintendent. President Tharp and Professor Walker formed a strong friendship (which lasted until their retirement years when they enjoyed fishing together on Wimauma Lake in Florida), but they also relied upon each other’s strengths. R.R. Walker, with the guidance of President Tharp, served the key role in beginning the two-year Junior College in 1941.
The junior college ultimately began because some students graduating from the high school desired to attend college, but they were interested in academic programs other than the traditional vocational ministry track. This is one of the most momentous events in the life of the school between its beginning and when it returned to Cleveland a few years later. The beginning of a two-year junior college program ultimately led to the current university the school is today. With the beginning of the junior college program, the school was renamed Bible Training School and College.
Another significant achievement during Tharp’s tenure was the first accreditation received for the school. The high school was accredited in 1943 by the University of Tennessee, which was the accreditation process in those days. The accreditation efforts were started with R.R. Walker’s tenure as high school principal and completed by Mary Elizabeth Harrison Green when she served as principal of the high school. Green was hired in 1942 and was the first administrator of the school with a Master’s degree.
During Tharp’s tenure, the General Assembly created the office of President in 1942. Tharp became the first to use the title. Additionally, the school’s curriculum was restructured, the term increased to 9 months; departments were clarified (Christian Workers, High School, and Junior College). The Junior College curriculum was developed for prospective teachers, business administration, and business education.
When president Tharp assumed his leadership role, the school had about 100 students. By the end of his tenure, the school boasted more than 600 students. The GI Bill of Rights made it possible for veterans to go to college, the high school saw an immediate increase after accreditation, and the new junior college curriculum attracted students.
In 1944 President Tharp returned to South Carolina to serve as state overseer for the Church of God. He would later be elected as the denomination's general overseer in 1952.
Tharp Hall dormitory on campus is named for him.
/ L.F. Morgan
Tharp, a Michigan-native, was 39 years old at the time of his appointment and had graduated from BTS in 1923. He came to this role directly from a successful pastorate in Greenville, South Carolina. He also had studied some at Holmes Bible Institute. Tharp was married to Annie Mae Caruthers Tharp.
Superintendent Tharp’s tenure was long and effective. He served nine years in this position– guiding the school with sound financial management during the difficult days of the Great Depression. When he arrived the school account held $12.95. There was no food and no textbooks– all results of the economic depression. Tharp took out a personal loan of $900 to pay the teachers and clear school debts– and then he went to prayer, called the school to prayer, and began intentional recruitment efforts. God supplied. During the Spring term 1936, the loan was repaid and all school debts cleared.
Tharp was a strong disciplinarian– and he had no problem calling you out during chapel services for your misbehavior, but he also was personable. He had a way of connecting with all types of people, and he connected with the type of students found in Church of God homes. Soon, the tide began to turn and enrollment increased.
For several years the need for a new dormitory was discussed. It came to fruition during Tharp’s tenure. Built in 1937, the new dormitory for women was the first building constructed by the school and cost $12,000. But even a new dorm was inadequate. The school needed more space.
In 1938 the former Murphy Collegiate Institute was purchased for $30,000 dollars and the school relocated to Sevierville, Tennessee. The larger campus gave the school room to grow. At Sevierville, the school experienced fast growth in enrollment almost immediately. Tharp also led the school in paying off the debt on the Sevierville property, and new buildings were constructed.
As the school grew, Tharp enlisted the assistance of experienced personnel on staff to form a strong academic team. The year before Tharp was elected to lead the school, Royd Rufus "R.R." Walker was employed as principal of the high school department. R.R. Walker was the first minister in the Church of God with a four-year Bachelor’s degree and had successfully led a Mississippi public school to earn accreditation while serving as a local school superintendent. President Tharp and Professor Walker formed a strong friendship (which lasted until their retirement years when they enjoyed fishing together on Wimauma Lake in Florida), but they also relied upon each other’s strengths. R.R. Walker, with the guidance of President Tharp, served the key role in beginning the two-year Junior College in 1941.
The junior college ultimately began because some students graduating from the high school desired to attend college, but they were interested in academic programs other than the traditional vocational ministry track. This is one of the most momentous events in the life of the school between its beginning and when it returned to Cleveland a few years later. The beginning of a two-year junior college program ultimately led to the current university the school is today. With the beginning of the junior college program, the school was renamed Bible Training School and College.
Another significant achievement during Tharp’s tenure was the first accreditation received for the school. The high school was accredited in 1943 by the University of Tennessee, which was the accreditation process in those days. The accreditation efforts were started with R.R. Walker’s tenure as high school principal and completed by Mary Elizabeth Harrison Green when she served as principal of the high school. Green was hired in 1942 and was the first administrator of the school with a Master’s degree.
During Tharp’s tenure, the General Assembly created the office of President in 1942. Tharp became the first to use the title. Additionally, the school’s curriculum was restructured, the term increased to 9 months; departments were clarified (Christian Workers, High School, and Junior College). The Junior College curriculum was developed for prospective teachers, business administration, and business education.
When president Tharp assumed his leadership role, the school had about 100 students. By the end of his tenure, the school boasted more than 600 students. The GI Bill of Rights made it possible for veterans to go to college, the high school saw an immediate increase after accreditation, and the new junior college curriculum attracted students.
In 1944 President Tharp returned to South Carolina to serve as state overseer for the Church of God. He would later be elected as the denomination's general overseer in 1952.
Tharp Hall dormitory on campus is named for him.
/ L.F. Morgan