INAUGURATION SPEECH
BY H. DOUGLAS LEE
NOVEMBER 6, 198 7
INTRODUCTION: WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?
As some of you know, last June the University graciously
initiated the renovation of the historic President's home here at
Stetson. It was a significant task. The timetable was tight,
the workmen were taxed to their maximum energy and skill. And,
it was hot. One day in early June, I dropped in around 11:00
a.m. to see what was going on. A sign on the door read, "Do not ■
enter!" But, I entered anyway. Dust and dirt were everywhere,
and my path was blocked by a tall ladder, on top of which was a
very big man, covered with dirt and sweat, who bellowed out,
"Hoy! What are you doing here? Can't you read! This is no
place for a guy who works in a coat and tie!" As the new
President of Stetson University, I was stared down . . . and I
left.
Well, today is the day when I can't afford to be stared
down. After all, new presidents (relatively run; anyway) are
expected to share their: thoughts about the future on
inauguration day, to explain why they are here, and that I will.
My father was, at one point in his career, a Baptist
minister^. My brother and I used to get a kick out of this.
After all, we lived on a day to day basis with this man, the one
who on Sunday morning became "the preacher," the virtual symbol
of the West Main Baptist Church of Danville, Virginia,
congregation. My father confessea one time that as preacher, he
had a recurring dream on Saturday night. The dream was
