Graduation 2009: May 9, 2009

Dr. Dino Pedrone, Rev. Vince Griffis, Mr. Chris Seavey

The Class of 2009

Senior Chris Dorais with Rev. Jerry Traister, Chairperson of Board (Class 1967)

Dr. Dino Pedrone, President (Class 1967)

Naomi and her parents from Sri Lanka

(L-R) Daniel Rathmell, Church Relations (Class 1973), his wife, Terry Robertson, Elizabeth Robertson, Mary Knapton (class 1950), Roger Knapton (class 1950), Dr. Dino Pedrone (1967), Terry and Elizabeth's two sons.

Members of the class of 1967 (and adopted 1968 member)
(L-R) Suzanne (Sisson) Griffis (1967), Vincent Griffis (1967), Walter Schlundt (1967), Jerry Traister (1967), Dino Pedrone (1967), and Janice (Weatherbee) Chandler (1968)

Graduation 2009 went very well on Saturday, May 9, 2009. A new group of Alumni have gone out of the halls of our fine college. The Sun never sets on PBTS, PBC, Davis Alumni and it so true in seeing the students that are leaving the college to go out into the world. There were many special events that happened during the ceremony. During the ceremony an award of Trustee Emeritus was awarded to Rev. Gordon Hay (Class 1954). Also a first for Davis College was the conferring of Honorary Doctorates.

The New York State Education Department has authorized Davis College to grant honorary doctorates. The Doctor of Divinity degree is conferred on individuals who have distinguished themselves in Christian ministry and leadership. Their life and service in ministry exemplifies the college's mission of impacting the world for Jesus Christ. Today the college honors two distinguished servants of the Lord with the Doctor of Divinity degree.

The two people that received them were Vincent Griffis and Terry Robertson.

From the program the bios of each:

Vincent W. Griffis spent most of his formative years on the campus of Davis College, graduating from PBTS in 1967. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Calvary Bible College, a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from Rhode Island College and a Master of Business Administration from Southeastern Massachusetts University. He is presently a doctoral candidate (Ed.D.) at Boston University. Vincent has served as headmaster of the Christian School of Greater Fall River, Massachusetts and was also the director of Rain Forest International School in Cameroon. Currently, he is serving as a Scripture Use Researcher with Wycliffe Bible Translators, examining how much use is made of the vernacular Scriptures in Cameroon. Vincent is married to Suzanne, and they have four children and one grandson. Griffis Hall in the Chatlos Building is named after his father who was a faculty member and administrator at PBTS.

Terry M. Robertson was raised in Alabama where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Samford University in Birmingham. He earned a Master in Religious Education degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He now serves as the Executive Director and Treasurer of the Baptist Convention of New York with offices in East Syracuse, New York. Terry has pastored churches in Alabama, New Jersey and New York and also served as the Director of Missions for Frontier Baptist Association of Buffalo. His passion is the church and reaching the lost with the Gospel message. He is actively involved in. church planting responsibilities in the central New York state region. Terry is married to Elizabeth, and they have three children and one grandson.

After receiving his honorary Doctorate of Divinity the now Dr. Vincent Griffis gave an address to the Graduating Class. He addressed them about the troubles that they will face, but to continue on. He gave wisdom from the Scriptures about the importance of prayer in a believers life. How we don't do it enough, but it is so critical.

After Dr. Griffis spoke the degrees were handed out as a new group of Alumni entered the school history. The ceremony concluded with a prayer of dedication and the singing of the Alma Mater.

Homecoming Day 2 (Friday, September 26, 2008)

Ed (class 1970) and Mary (Jones) Macie (1962)

Sue (Sission) Griffis, Dr. Dino Pedrone, and Vince Griffis classmates from 1967
Class of 1968 celebrating 40 years

Here are just a few pictures from Homecoming on the second day with the Alumni. It was a great time of fellowshipping with the Alumni. Mary Macie is the slightly younger sister of Grace (Jones) Fabian a dear friend of mine. Grace shared some memories early on this blog. You can read them here. Vincent and Sue Griffis where here for the Inaguration being classmates and dear friends of Dr. Pedrone. I spent my afternoon with the class of 1968 as they looked back on their 40 years since PBTS. Share some memories of Homecoming this year. I would love to hear them.

In Memory of Dr. Floyd H. Barackman

In the Fall of 1941, a few months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, a young student entered the grounds of PBTS. His name was Floyd Hays Barackman and he was from Girard, Ohio. He took up residence in the Inner Circle Men's Dormitory behind the Main Building. His class teacher was Miss Alice Chatlos for his first and second year and then the Rev. Marmion Lowe for his senior year.
During him time here at PBTS he met a wonderful woman named Ella Hayes. They would wed soon after graduation in 1944.

His Senior year he also played basketball (as seen below).

His love for PBTS brought him back only a few years after graduation to teach the the school which he loved. The class of 1965 dedicated that year's Theologue to him. Through his time of instruction at the college he wrote several books. His most famous is Practical Christian Theology. Others include Victors not Victims and How to Interpret the Bible. In all he taught at PBTS from 1962-1968, and then from 1968-1993, and he was the Dean of Men from 1971-1980.

Dr. Barackman and his wife Ella had two children, Ruth and Philip.

On Tuesday, September 11, 2007 the Lord which he had served with his whole heart brought him into the realms of glory.

Dr. Barackman thank you for all your labor now enter into the rest of the Lord Jesus Christ.