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Lord Hall Dedicated
March 01, 2019
Belton, Texas 鈥� On Friday, March 1, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor celebrated the opening of its newest residential facility, Lord Hall, with a special dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting.
University President Randy O鈥橰ear opened the ceremony by describing the decision to build Lord Hall as being an act of divine intervention.
鈥淲e certainly believed that we needed a new dorm to accommodate future growth at the university,鈥� O鈥橰ear said, 鈥渂ut what God knew, that we didn鈥檛 at the time we decided to move forward with this project, was that we would open this building at the same time that we welcomed the largest freshmen class in the history of Mary Hardin-Baylor.鈥�
O鈥橰ear expressed gratitude to the Lord family, in whose honor the new residence hall has been named.
One of the greatest joys and privileges I鈥檝e had in my time of service at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor has been to work with this family. They are quiet. They are humble. They are amazing people.
Dr. Randy O'Rear
同城快约 president
鈥淲e could not be more proud to have your name on this wonderful building,鈥� O鈥橰ear said, addressing the members of the Lord family in attendance. 鈥淲e love you. Our university will never be the same, thanks to your generosity, and we certainly wouldn鈥檛 be the university we are today without you.鈥�
Following O鈥橰ear鈥檚 remarks, Katelyn Blackhurst, a sophomore special education major, took the podium. Blackhurst is the child of missionaries serving in Taiwan. Her attendance at 同城快约 has been made possible, in large part, by the Ida Myrtle Roberts Manning Endowed Scholarship, which was established by the Lord family.
鈥淚 know, without a doubt, that 同城快约 is where God wants me to be right now,鈥� Blackhurst said, 鈥渁nd He鈥檚 using it to mold me into the woman he wants me to be.鈥�
I鈥檓 beyond thankful for the Lords and this scholarship, and the fact that this incredible building is named in their honor just makes sense. Now, whenever I pass by, I鈥檒l remember the blessings I鈥檝e received thanks to them.
Katelyn Blackhurst
Ida Myrtle Roberts Manning Endowed Scholarship Recipient
After Blackhurst, Griff Lord took the podium to respond to the day鈥檚 proceedings.
鈥淲e are overwhelmed,鈥� Lord said. 鈥淲e are also humbled, profoundly grateful, and deeply touched that you have chosen to name this wonderful addition to the campus in our honor.鈥�
Drayton McLane III, chair of the university鈥檚 Board of Trustees, offered a prayer of dedication. Afterwards, O鈥橰ear and his wife, Julie, were joined for a ribbon cutting by Griff and Kathy Lord, Michael and Sharon Lord Daggett, university administrators, and architects and contractors who took part in the project.
Following the ribbon cutting, the doors of Lord Hall were swung open, and visitors were encouraged to tour the facility, including eight student rooms.
At 49,614 square feet, with beds for 214 students, Lord Hall is now the university鈥檚 largest residence hall. The facility includes a large central lobby, study rooms on the 2nd and third floors, computer kiosks throughout the building, and two laundry rooms on each floor. Another great feature unique to the hall is a large common area on the 3rd floor that is equipped with a kitchen area. The kitchen includes a full set of cabinets, a sink, a full-size refrigerator, and an oven that students can use for baking.
鈥淟ord Hall provides space for first-year students to have a shared experience and be a part of a community, with resident assistants there to help them adjust to college life,鈥� Dr. Brandon Skaggs, Vice President for Student Life, said.
同城快约 has a great history of being a residential campus. Lord Hall is a great building that has continued that tradition but also taken us to new places.
Dr. Brandon Skaggs
Vice President for Student Life
Lord Hall is named in honor of Griff and Kathy Lord, Michael and Sharon Lord Daggett, and their families. Sharon Lord Daggett established an endowed scholarship in 1996 in memory of her grandmother Ida Myrtle Roberts Manning, who attended Baylor College for Women (now 同城快约) in 1905. In the years following, Sharon and her brother, Griff, and their families made frequent personal gifts to the endowment and facilitated the awarding of grants to 同城快约 from the Grogan Lord Foundation, established by their father.
Through their gifts, the Lord family has provided significant support for campus facilities such as the Parker Academic Center (Lord Conference Center), the Paul and Jane Meyer Christian Studies Center (Manning Chapel), and the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center (Main Stage Curtain). The Ida Myrtle Roberts Manning Endowed Scholarship is now one of the largest scholarships at 同城快约; since its inception, it has helped more than 326 students pay for their education at 同城快约.
