Razors on a Plane

Back in October of 2003, Guilford student Nathan Heatwole made a valid point: Two years after 9/11, security measures remained lax at the nation's largest airports, getting items such as box cutters, bleach, matches and clay past TSA on six different occasions at Raleigh-Durham International and Baltimore-Washington International airports.

I remember the headlines blaring, "North Carolina college student fools TSA, gets dangerous items on planes." Honestly, the very first thought that came to my mind was, "that kid has to be a Guilford student." And he was. It was meant to expose holes in the system, with Heatwole saying it was "an act of civil disobedience with the aim of improving public safety for the air-traveling public.''

Feelings were mixed among the Guilford College community, with English department chair, Jeff Jeske saying:  

(*) "He's a very principled young man, and it's a shock to the system...I suspect it was to prove a point...I think there's ambivalence toward it, because on the one hand, Nat seems to epitomize one type of Guilford student, which is activist, antiwar pacifist. He pointed out how porous our defense against terrorism might be. But on the other hand, some might be concerned about his methods.''

(* Source: New York Times.)

Facing felony charges and a possible 10 year sentence, Heatwole ultimately received probation, a fine, 100 hours of community service, and some amount of lasting fame by exposing lapses in security protocol of the U.S. transportation network. It's not an endorsement of an illegal act but I give him props for risking significant jail time to not only act on his beliefs but also notify the authorities of the act. He may have embarrassed the TSA (and to some extent the College and his family) yet his act perhaps helped to bring about change and tighter security measures, which truly benefit all. This is the kind of social awareness and conviction that defines a Guilfordian. 


***UPDATE: 

Nat is now a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Southern California's Center for...(wait for it)...Homeland Security.
 

The Shot Seen Around the World

Guilford has a long, storied and sucessful athletic tradition but rarely makes the highlight reels of major sports outlets. In general, teams of the NCAA's Divsion III get short shrift in the media, with scant coverage. But back in January of 2005, Captain of the basketball team Jordan Snipes and his squad were on a constant loop of ESPN' s highlight reels.

Guilford and conference rival Randolph-Macon were tied up 88-88 with 0.6 seconds left in overtime (hence the "3" in the period space of the scoreboard). A Randolph-Macon player sinks a foul shot, seemingly winning the game, but misses the second shot. Jordan Snipes rebounds the ball and hurls it the entire length of the court, swishing the shot and giving Guilford College an improbable 91-89 victory and ample coverage on local, state and national news.
And ESPN. And Sports Illustrated. "The Shot" is widely considered one of the greatest in NCAA history, and the greatest in school history - by a long shot. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

(* The original poster of the video says, "a guy from the purple team" makes the winning basket; however, these Guilford uniforms are alternate, darker versions of their usual, lighter crimson and gray.)

Video of the "buzzer beater" has almost 11 million views on YouTube and continues to receive hits eight years later. Guilford AD and basketball coach Tom Palombo said of the winning Hail Mary heave, "It kind of put us on the map."  

Interestingly, the feat proved to be no fluke. A few nights later, Snipes repeated the shot on WFMY News 2 in Greensboro, N.C. from the same spot, around 90 feet from the basket. Snipes became a bit of a campus and Greensboro celebrity. He credits the play with securing a part-time job soon after, as the manager of the business was aware of him and the play. There are numerous searchable articles and mentions of "The Shot" on the web. 

Snipes was named first team all-conference, graduating in 2007, and briefly played pro ball in Germany before returning to North Carolina. He's currently an active alumni and family man living in Greensboro, and is a territory sales manager for Reynolds America.  

Toboggans for the Whole Team!

Orville Weldon Hinshaw's toboggan from his playing days, 
looking no worse for wear after 30+ years.
Photo from personal collection. 

I heard a great story from some alums recently. The football squads from the late 70s and early 80s had warm, hand-knitted toboggans to wear on winter walks to class, courtesy of Rick "Wild Man" Powers' mom, Lou Anne. She'd taken to knitting during his high school games, keeping an eye on the game and her boy, the other on the yarn.

Upon becoming a player for Guilford, his mother began knitting red and white striped toboggans for Rick, Weldon and their teammates. Everyone wanted one. She had a football roster and checked off each name upon completing a piece. The rows of white, separated by the red stood for their number (Rick was number 64, so he had six rows of white, a row of red, then four more rows of white).

Lou Anne churned out a number of toboggans for the boys through several seasons. Once, a younger teammate approached Rick asking if his mom would knit one for him before Rick graduated - he didn't want to miss his chance to be gifted one of her sturdy toboggans!

"Wild Man" and "Orv" have enjoyed reconnecting with players from that era, who usually report that they still have those knits and appreciate Lou Anne's kindness.

Lou Ann Powers passed away in January of 2011. Rick said it would please her very much to know his teammates still have her handmade toboggans after all these years.

Great story, great "team mom." Thanks, guys.

Thanks,"Rock" Maynard...

Guilfordians recently lost an icon of the college, Stuart "Rock" Maynard. This history blog wouldn't be worth its salt if I didn't include the story of his loyalty, service and dedication to Guilford and his influence on generations of Guilfordians. His story and the eulogy from the Guilford website, below.

Stuart “Rock” Maynard ’43, head baseball coach at Guilford College from 1952-84 and mentor to countless students, died Wednesday at his Greensboro home. He was 94.  A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. April 13 at New Garden Friends Meeting. Those who knew Stuart are invited to share memories on the Guilford College Facebook page.

Stuart served his alma mater for 33 years in a number of roles, including athletics director, director of physical education and head football coach. His teams enjoyed success on the field, but he was best known for his caring leadership.

Stuart became a mentor to Gary York ’65, then a first-year Guilford student and member of the football team, in 1961. Homesick and afraid of failure, Gary considered quitting college. After hearing words of encouragement from Stuart, however, he unpacked his suitcase.

“Coach changed my life – possibly saved it,” Gary, a former trustee, said last year. “He’s my role model and hero.”

Stuart also made a permanent impression on Randy Doss ’82, who played baseball. “The man so many of us referred to as ‘The Rock’ was a teacher, coach, mentor and friend for generations of Guilford students,” Randy said.

Born April 12, 1918, Stuart was raised in Harnett County, N.C., where he grew up on a farm in the midst of the Great Depression. His education was interrupted as he worked with his siblings in an unsuccessful effort to save the family farm.

The Maynards moved to Dunn, N.C., where Stuart and the other children returned to school. His high school football coach recommended he continue his education and playing career at Guilford, so he boarded a train for Greensboro in 1940 with $2.75 in his pocket and a note from Quakers’ football coach Block Smith, a man he had never met.

The note said Block would help Stuart get through his first semester and what time to meet him at the train station. Stuart signed an IOU for his second semester and worked throughout the year to earn his tuition. He continued this practice until he graduated debt free in 1943.

In addition to working on campus and making good grades, he excelled on the baseball and football fields. He captained both teams in 1942 and was named the school’s Best Senior Athlete. After graduation he married his college sweetheart, Ruth Weisgerber ’43, and served two years as a chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy, where he earned his famous nickname. Stuart started coaching at Williamston (N.C.) High School in 1947 and took the football team to the 1950 1A state title.

The following year, he accepted President Clyde Milner’s invitation to return to his alma mater as athletics director, director of physical education, head football coach and head baseball coach.

Herb Appenzeller arrived in 1956 as head football coach and athletic director, but Stuart stayed on the football staff as one of Herb’s assistants for six years. He remained the director of physical education for 21 years and maintained a full teaching load, earning his master’s degree from UNC Chapel Hill largely by taking summer classes.

His baseball teams enjoyed unprecedented success in the 1960s, which resulted in numerous team and personal awards. He was named the NAIA National Baseball Coach of the Year after guiding the 1966 Quakers to 25 wins and the school’s first NAIA Baseball World Series berth. He earned the Carolinas Conference Coach of the Year Award a year later and won four District 26 Coach of the Year prizes in his career. Guilford returned to the NAIA World Series in 1976, which led to his receipt of the Professional Baseball Scouting Association’s Coach of the Year Award.

A member of the NAIA Hall of Fame, Stuart was inducted to the Guilford College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. He coached 11 Guilford students who signed professional baseball contracts and three All-Americans. The baseball team was 436-394-4 in his 33-year tenure, which ended with his retirement in 1984. He holds Guilford records for most baseball coaching wins and years of service.

Baseball players greet Stuart and Ruth at the Maynard Batting Center dedication in 2010.

He received the 2006 Charles C. Hendricks Distinguished Service Award from Guilford’s Alumni Association, which also presented him with its Alumni Excellence Award in 1982. Guilford dedicated the Maynard Batting Center on campus in April 2010 and installed “Rock’s Rock” nearby to honor the coaching great. Students honor the former coach and teacher when they touch the rock upon entering and exiting the Armfield Athletic Center.




Stuart is survived by his wife of 69 years and the couple’s five children: Marcella “Molly” Maynard, Stuart Tyrus “Rusty” Maynard, Jr. ’68, (wife Karen), William R. “Bill” Maynard, Linda L. Maynard, and Andrew Thomas Maynard ’82 (wife Amy). Other survivors include his grandson, Stuart Tyrus Maynard, son of William, and brother, Lonnie Maynard, Jr., of Dunn, N.C., as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In place of flowers, the family requests contributions to a favorite charity; Guilford College, 5800 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro, N.C. 27410; or New Garden Friends Meeting, 801 New Garden Road, Greensboro, N.C. 27410.

Maynard's Rock, located between 
the football and baseball fields. 
Players often touch the rock to honor Maynard before and after games. 
Photo from personal collection.

Thanks for being such a great friend
to the college, Rock...we'll miss you.

(*Most pics courtesy of Guilford College.)