Lambuth University

Lambuth University

Lambuth University Logo (Trademark of Lambuth University)
Motto	Whatsoever Things Are True
Type	Private
Established	1843
President	R. Fred Zuker
Undergraduates	750
Postgraduates	0
Location	Jackson , Tennessee , USA
Campus	Urban, 50 acres
Colors	Blue & White
Mascot	Eagles
Website	www.lambuth.edu

Lambuth University is a small, co-educational, liberal arts university located in Jackson, Tennessee. It is associated with the United Methodist Church. They participate in the NAIA's TranSouth and Mid-South Conferences.

Lambuth University is an independent undergraduate, church-related institution supported by the Memphis Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Since 1843, when it began as the Memphis Conference Female Institute, Lambuth has provided students an opportunity to use their intelligence in the service of God and humanity.

Lambuth University is located in Jackson, Tennessee, a city of about 55,000 people, in the heart of West Tennessee. Jackson is easily accessible by highways Tennessee State Route 20, US 45 and US 70 and Interstate 40. The city of Jackson is a major commerce center for West Tennessee and has three other institutions of higher learning in addition to Lambuth, a civic center, coliseum, symphony orchestra, excellent medical facilities, AA minor league baseball, performing arts center, parks and shopping centers.

Lambuth has a limited enrollment with small classes; faculty members participate in research and scholarship, but their primary responsibilities are teaching and advising.

The University has a sequence of courses required of all students. These requirements include two courses in religion; competency in certain skills such as writing, speaking, and physical education; knowledge of subject matter such as natural science, mathematics, social science and computer science or computer information systems; two interdisciplinary courses, and comprehensive evaluation at the senior level. In offering such a sequence of courses, the faculty realizes that students need more than a certain number of hours in order to be educated. As the Purpose of the University clearly states, liberal education at Lambuth involves a reaffirmation of the Wesleyan emphasis on academic excellence and faith in a world that needs freedom of inquiry, careful analysis, communication, responsibility, and service to others.

History

On December 2, 1843, the Memphis Annual Conference of the Methodist Church received a charter from the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee authorizing the establishment of a college for women to be known as the Memphis Conference Female Institution (MCFI). Almost without interruption this institution served West Tennessee with an educational program for women that was widely recognized. In November 1921, the Memphis Annual Conference in Session at McKenzie, Tennessee voted to establish a coeducational institution of higher learning. Accordingly, the MCFI charter was amended on January 3, 1923 providing for coeducation, and the name was changed to Lambuth College in honor of the pioneer Methodist missionary bishop, Rev. Walter R. Lambuth, M.D.

The MCFI property, consisting of five acres on East Chester Street, was sold and the present site on Lambuth Boulevard was purchased. The administration/classroom building, now known as Varnell-Jones Hall, was erected in 1934-24. Dr. Richard E. Womack was elected president of Lambuth College on May 12, 1924, and accepted the College's first coeducational class on September 10 of the same year. Dr. Womack served as president until September 1952, at which time he resigned and was elected president-emeritus.

Dr. Luther L. Gobbel was elected president of Lambuth, and assumed his duties on October 12, 1952. In June 1962, Dr. Gobbel retired. Dr. James E. Wilder, Jr. assumed the duties of the presidency of Lambuth on July 1, 1962, and served until June 1, 1980, at which time he became chancellor of the College. Dr. Wilder retired in December 1981. Dr. Harry W. Gilmer assumed the presidency of Lambuth College on June 1, 1980. He resigned in October 1986, and Dr. Hugh A. Latimer served as interim president until June 1987. Dr. Thomas F. Boyd assumed the presidency on June 2, 1987. On July 1, 1991, Lambuth College became Lambuth University. Dr. Boyd resigned in February 1996. Dr. Joseph R. Thornton, III, who was Vice President of Church Relations and University Chaplain, served as interim president until January 1997. W. Ellis Arnold was elected president of Lambuth in November 1996, and he assumed his duties on January 1, 1997. Dr. R. Fred Zuker was inaugurated as Lambuth University's seventh president on April 2, 2005.

2007 National Championship

On March 20, 2007, Lambuth University (Tenn.) defeated TranSouth Athletic Conference rival Cumberland University (Tenn.) 63-50 to win the first NAIA title in program history at the 27th Annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Championship at Oman Arena.

It was the first NAIA Division I Women's Basketball championship game since 1988 in which both participants were playing in the title game for the first time. Lambuth, seeded fifth in the tournament bracket, is the lowest-seeded champion since the NAIA implemented bracketed quarters in 2003, and the Eagles are just the fourth different team to claim a title over the past 14 seasons, and they set up the surprising title game matchup with a semifinal win over Union (Tenn.), which had won the previous two titles. Southern Nazarene (Okla.) won six titles during the span, while Oklahoma City won four straight titles from 1999-2002.

Lambuth University, led by Coach Joe Reints (2007 NAIA Coach of the Year), finishes the season 27-9 overall after claiming the NAIA crown after a four-year absence from the national tournament. In four previous appearances from 1999-2002, Lambuth was eliminated three times in the second round and exited once in the first round. Lambuth player Reggie Maddox was named the Tournament's MVP and Lambuth's Dee Preyer made the All-Tournament Second Team.

Greek System

Sororities

• Alpha Omicron Pi 1957
• Alpha Xi Delta 1957 (closed since 1984)
• Sigma Kappa 1957 (closed since 1991)
• Phi Mu 1969
• Alpha Gamma Delta 1997
• Alpha Kappa Alpha 1908 (black, non-panhellenic)

Fraternities

• Kappa Alpha Order
• Kappa Sigma
• Sigma Phi Epsilon 1971

Notable Alumni

• Ray King - Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals
• Ron Dixon - Former player in the National Football League for the New York Giants
• Tia Sillers - Grammy Award-winning Country & Western songwriter
• Tommy Scott - Playwright/Author
• Stefan Rodgers - offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles
• James W. Moore - Nationally acclaimed author and preacher.

Events Hosted

• 1998 Funeral of Carl Perkins

External links

• Lambuth University
• Lambuth Football Community
• Lambuth Eagles Athletics

Template:TranSouth Conference