As always, I extend greetings to all past, present and future U of A Black Alumni Society members! Happy Birthday wishes also go out to all Razorback alumni celebrating a birthday during this great nation’s birth month of July!
In my last communication with you, I began by congratulating the latest recipients of the prestigious Silas Hunt Legacy Award. I continued on to explain what Silas Hunt’s life meant and that it was a scholarly lesson for each of us to learn and then demonstrate our understanding by putting it into practice. I continue to reiterate several examples by which you can demonstrate to some needy and deserving young minority U of A students. The first is to “Think Back” to the tumultuous times of your matriculation at the U of A. Now that you are thinking back, “Look Back” at the stony paths you trod across the campus, city and northwest region. The next impressionist step is then to “Come Back” and get a firsthand view of the numerous changes which have taken place and continue to evolve since your last romp on the campus. I am convinced you will be amazed at most of the campus changes. New buildings have sprung up where we once trod and others have been demolished where we once resided. Where some once swam and others played in the water is now an administrative building named after none other than Silas Hunt. Bi-directional streets are now one way avenues with electronic gate controlled access. Despite all of those progressive changes, some things have yet remained the same — the academic, cultural, social and financial plight of our minority students who have replaced you and me, almost on a one-for-one basis on the U of A campus. Now that your “Thinking Back” has caused you to “Look Back” and your “Looking Back” has motivated you to “Come Back,” I am convinced that you will clearly see and understand the need to “Give Back” of your time, knowledge, experience, wisdom, encouragement and finances to those striving diligently to follow in your footsteps. I ended my last letter stating that if you would only “Look Back, Think Back, Come Back and Give Back,” then you would not only follow in but rather further extend the footsteps of the legendary Silas Hunt. You can, and I am eternally optimistic that you will make a positive, significant and lasting impact in the life of our minority student progeny. Abraham Lincoln reminded us that we all will have a legacy and be remembered in one way or another when he said, “The fiery trials of life through which we pass will one day light us down, whether it be in honor or dishonor.” If you “Look Back, Think Back, Come Back and Give Back,” the legacy you personally and individually create for yourself will truly be one of honor and well worthy of your remembrance. The choice is yours! My hope and prayer is that you choose the honorable and most noble one………….
A Luta Continuum,
Bobby W. Jones, M.D.
President, U of A BAS
