By Richard Walker

T&D Staff Writer

Dr. and Mrs. Henry N. Tisdale                Photo by Cecil Williams

One driver, one breakdown, two stops and nine hours later, Virginia Lewis Carson made it to Orangeburg from her home in Delaware for the ceremony Sunday honoring Dr. Henry Tisdale.

“It is wonderful that your peers think highly of you to recognize what you’re doing,” Carson said. “It’s just heartwarming.”

About 150 Claflin University alumni, faculty, family, and city and county leaders gathered at Minister’s Hall on campus to recognize Tisdale’s 15 years of service to the school and community.

“Alice (Carson Tisdale) and I accept this honor on behalf of the board, on behalf of the alumni, and the community,” Tisdale said. “We thank you, we thank God, and we thank the community for the support you’ve shown us.”

Tisdale received a bachelor of science in mathematics from Claflin, graduating magna cum laude.

After being awarded a master of education from Temple, Tisdale became the first African-American to receive a doctorate in mathematics from Dartmouth College.

In 1994 Tisdale returned to Orangeburg, becoming the first lay Claflin graduate to serve as president of the school.

“Now you’ve broken my heart when you took him away,” Carson said of her son-in-law. “But he had a vision as to what he wanted for the school and he wanted it to be a premier school.”

Under Tisdale’s leadership, Claflin became ranked as a top campus in Baccalaureate Colleges in the South by U.S. News and World Report for nine consecutive years and cited for “Best Value” and “Annual Alumni Giving.”

This year, however, and for the first time, the 140-year-old school has been recognized by still more publications that grade colleges and universities. The school has been placed among the national rankings.

Consumers Digest deemed Claflin number three for “Best Value Top Private Colleges and Universities Nationally.” U.S. News and World Report published its first list of “America’s Best Black Colleges” and ranked Claflin seventh among the country’s best-known and most highly regarded historically black colleges and universities.

“I think we have an opportunity to do some things at the university to achieve national recognition,” he said.

Tisdale said that, early in his administration, he set about identifying Claflin’s academic strengths and potential for growth in the health care field on an international basis.

In 1997, Tisdale orchestrated the Professional and Continuing Studies Program, which offered area adults degree-completion courses. This year, the program boasts more than 300 students in four counties.

School officials say that, from the time he assumed the presidency until 2008, the student body has almost doubled. Nearly 1,800 students are enrolled from 42 South Carolina counties, 24 states, and 15 countries, with the average freshman graduating with a GPA of 3.0 or better.

“I want to be known as the one who came in and strategically positioned and sustained the university as one of America’s best colleges,” Tisdale said in an earlier interview.

Executive Vice President Drexel Ball said that, a year and a half ago, he came from a school laying claim to be the best historically black college to serve in Orangeburg.

“I came from Number 1 to be with the best,” he said, smiling. “If you want vision as to the future, look for Dr. Tisdale.”

The Tisdales’ service goes beyond the campus borders, said Don Tribble, executive director of the Community of Character program.

“I have never asked them for something we needed and for the Community of Character that they haven’t graciously provided – speaking to the kids, providing facilities,” Tribble said. “They’ve just been wonderful citizens for the community of Orangeburg.”

Under Tisdale’s direction, “Claflin University” replaced “Claflin College” in 1998, restoring the institution’s original and historic name.

Claflin opened its doors on October 27, 1869, as a university with the support of philanthropist Lee Claflin and his son, Massachusetts Gov. William Claflin.

Despite the level of trouble she had getting to Sunday’s informal gathering to honor the long-term president and her son-in-law, Carson said she’d do it again.

“I’d come down three times” if that’s what it took, she said.

“We heard a doorbell around 9 o’clock (Saturday). We didn’t know who it was; the kids are away,” Tisdale said. “And it was Alice’s mother, Virginia, from Dover, Delaware.”

In addressing those attending, Tisdale deflected much of the credit aimed at himself, instead pointing out that he had the support of Alice, his wife of more than 30 years, and of the faculty and community.

“It’s all happened because of you and because of the support we’ve gotten from Orangeburg,” he said. “We didn’t do it alone.”