Lee and Iris Whitney: Servants on the Journey
Chris Pepple |
It has been a long time since Lee (’54) and Iris Bomar (’53) Whitney joined the student body at Lipscomb. No one then could have pictured Allen Arena, the Ezell building or the renovated Student Center. A pharmacy school and master’s degrees in counseling were yet to be dreamed of. In 1954, the school celebrated its accreditation into the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, but never realized then what heights this university could soar to.
“I came from Pontiac, Mich., to attend Lipscomb,” states Lee Whitney, a Bible major. “Dr. Carroll Ellis came to my home congregation to hold the gospel meeting. While he was there, he made a great recruiter. Two of us from that congregation came to Nashville.”
“I’m from Shelbyville and grew up knowing I would come to Lipscomb,” states Iris Whitney, who majored in voice. “I’m not sure my sisters and I had a choice with my parents. They wanted us to have a strong Christian education.”
Both Lee and Iris reminisce about the changes on campus. They remember meals in the cafeteria when it was part of Sewell Hall. They remember students meeting around the big round table in the student center located in the basement of the Burton Administration Building.
“There weren’t many cars on campus then,” states Iris. “A student with a car was very popular with everyone. Plus, we didn’t have the meal selection that students do now. There were no fast food places on campus.”
“Back then, the biggest challenge was to try to get to the closest Krispy Kreme donut shop,” Lee adds. “We considered that high adventure if we could get away from campus and come back with inexpensive day-old donuts for everyone. Sneaking away to the old bell tower was our other high adventure. You weren’t supposed to be there after dark. The school watchman was all business. He would swing through and run everyone back to the dorms.”
As they approach their 56th wedding anniversary, Lee and Iris reminisce about their high adventures that continued throughout their lifetime. Iris taught school in Bedford County for thirty years, often writing songs about the area for the students there. She earned a master’s degree in education, a master of science in education with specialization in administration and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction. She also raises Tennessee Walking Horses and shows her horse named Rebels Tailor Made. “I was also a full-time mother until my youngest child went to kindergarten,” Iris adds. “We have five children and fourteen grandchildren. Our family is very important to us.”
Lee went on to work in engineering. He trained under experienced engineers and completed correspondence courses to teach himself the skills needed to work in that field. “Lee is by far one of the best design engineers that I have ever known,” states Fort Gwinn, associate professor and chair of the department of engineering mechanics. “He has the ability to see how every aspect of a project fits together. He is one of those rare individuals who can see how the tiniest detail fits into the overall project. Lee has been a tremendous example for me, both as an engineer and as a Christian.”
In 2004, Lipscomb professors turned to Lee Whitney to serve alongside the students in the mission field. Fort Gwinn first asked Lee to join a Lipscomb mission trip when Gwinn was unable to go due to an illness. “Lee Whitney’s first mission trip with the engineering department was on our first mission trip to Honduras in 2004,” Gwinn states. “I was planning on going on the trip when I was diagnosed with an infection in my left lung. I called Lee and asked if he would consider taking my place. He immediately agreed to go. His presence on that first trip made a significant difference. He basically served as the construction manager. I doubt that it would have been the outstanding success that it was without him.”
Now Lee and Iris are preparing for another journey with Lipscomb’s engineering faculty and students in May. “Lee and Iris Whitney have been invaluable assets to the engineering mission program,” states David Fann, assistant professor with the department of electrical and computer engineering. “Lee was a member of our first two engineering mission trips to Honduras as well as our first trip to Guatemala. Iris joined Lee on our second trip to Honduras and was also a member of the initial team to Guatemala last year. Both Lee and Iris are going with us to Guatemala this May.” The trip to Guatemala will be Lee’s fourth mission trip with Lipscomb students and Iris’ third trip with the group.
Fann adds, “As a retired engineer, Lee has brought a wealth of technical experience to our trips. From building a scale model of the rafters we were renovating in Honduras to constructing a special level to use in erecting the 130 ft. pedestrian bridge in Guatemala, Lee’s ingenuity has been a blessing on multiple occasions. Lee has a great sense of humor. He always makes the quote book we do every year. My favorite is when we were traveling down the highway in Honduras at dusk, and we passed car after car without any lights on. Lee offhandedly said ‘Headlights are for sissies!’ Lee has also been a great tutor for our students. Often I believe he knows exactly what we need to do, but instead of saying it directly, he guides the students to come to the right conclusion.”
Fann appreciates Iris’ contributions to the trips as well. “Iris has been equally invaluable on our trips to Central America. On our second trip to Honduras, our missionary contacts there thought it would be extremely valuable for us to go into the schools to teach basic science concepts while presenting them within a biblical context. We were blessed with Iris’ 30 years of classroom experience as well as her doctorate in education when preparing the lessons for the classes. The missionary was so impressed with our presentations that he asked us to expand our role in the schools in future years. Iris was also instrumental in the activities we did in the schools last year. She helped prepare both groups going into the schools in Honduras and Guatemala, even though she only traveled to the latter. This year, she is taking even more responsibility by presenting a seminar to area teachers as well as helping to lead the educational activities in the schools.”
Lee and Iris Whitney are equally impressed with the Lipscomb University faculty and students. “The rapport Lipscomb professors have with their students is wonderful. It’s a real spiritual experience to serve along with the students,” states Iris.
Lee adds, “I have been really impressed with Lipscomb students. I never hear a negative word about the conditions of the areas we travel into. They do very demanding physical work without complaining. It is a big bonus for us to travel with the kids. They welcome us into their group despite our age differences.”
The Whitneys are servants on the journey with the Lipscomb mission trips. They also travel with other groups to varying types of mission fields. One recent trip took them both to Nigeria. Iris writes, “It was into the Niger Delta region that a team of six intrepid souls from the Fairlane Church of Christ in Shelbyville dared to go. In the sweltering, tropical heat, we spent eight days on the well-kept grounds of Susana Homes teaching Bible, building furniture, doing general maintenance work, conducting a one-day health clinic in the village and forming close bonds with some of the most hospitable, wonderful people I’ve ever encountered.”
Susana Homes is a safe haven for impoverished mothers and children. It provides training and guidance through workshops and lectures. It also rescues abandoned children who have been left to die by their families. Susana Homes Christian School educates the children from the home as well as many children from the village. An active church on the grounds of the home provides worship opportunities, emotional support for the residents and a social network for the mothers and children. Before leaving the home, Iris had been adorned in native dress by the Nigerian women and Lee had been named an honorary chief called “The Encourager.”
Lee and Iris Whitney serve many people in many nations. They have touched the lives of Lipscomb faculty members and students. They have taught English and taught young children how to put together toy balsa wood gliders. They give God all of the glory for their work.