New pastor, new baby, new scholarship
Warm beautiful weather and LOTS of activities have made the past week fly by. Thank heavens we can now relax following the NC primary and let the telephone take a rest from automated calls during the dinner hour! Due to the many events in Davidson in the past seven days, this week’s Around Davidson will cover lots of ground - from the new pastor at DCPC to Melissa and Brad Reddick’s new baby to a new baseball scholorship in honor of Will Dubose - with more photos and less copy. 
Hope our readers will take time to study the many faces featured and congratulate each in the coming days on a “job well done!”
Our lead-in photo does not feature a face but rather a “face of nature” found in the beautiful wisteria brightening our town’s landscape in so many places.
DCPC welcomes new senior pastor
Sunday, May 4, was an important day in the life and history of the Davidson College Presbyterian Church. 
The church’s new senior minister, Lib McGregor Simmons, led worship and delivered her first sermon to a full church. Following the 11 a.m. service, she greeted church members on the front steps (see photo at right) and then gathered with the congregation on the lawn for a “very southern” picnic lunch complete with barbeque and a bluegrass band, the Davidson Express. Beautiful weather made the occasion even more memorable.
Lib and her husband, Gary, moved to Davidson just a few weeks ago and are already well settled in their town home in the New Neighborhood.
Photo: Supporting the McGregor Clan of DCPC’s new senior minister, Lib McGregor Simmons, were Scottish kilt enthusiasts (l-r) Alex Rankin, Riley Burgess, Ed McLean and Bob Carter, an added attraction at the picnic following Lib’s first Sunday of leading worship at the church.
Happy Mother’s Day, Melissa!
Our thanks to Dad Brad Reddick for taking this wonderful Mother’s Day photo
of Mom Melissa surrounded by Annabel (4), Wiley (8) and newborn baby Ruth Chase Reddick. Baby Ruthie was born on April 21 to the delight of her older brother and sister. Ruthie weighed 6 lbs. 10 oz. and stretched to 20.5 inches. Congratulations to the entire family and special good wishes to Mom Melissa. Hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day this Sunday!
Davidson College’s Spring Convocation Honors Will DuBose
What wonderful news to learn that the Davidson College April 30th Spring Convocation included the announcement that Will DuBose, son of Bill and Sally DuBose of McConnell, would have a baseball scholarship established in his name. 
Will has been Equipment Manager for the Athletics Department since the mid 1980’s and over the years has had a special interest in the baseball teams. The scholarship in Will’s name was established as a part of the Davidson Scholars Program by a group of young Davidson alumni and former baseball players: Stephen Aldrich ‘02, Matthew Hanson ‘05, Justin Hartanov ‘05, Michael Torre ‘01 and Mark Williams ‘03. This scholarship recognizes Will’s many years of dedicated service to the men’s varsity baseball team. How well deserved! Congratulations to you, Will, and to all your family.
Photo above: Can’t wipe the smile off the face of a proud and happy Will DuBose, who is joined by his parents, Sally and Bill DuBose, for this candid shot.
Lifetime memberships conferred
Dozens of women who are members of the Davidson College Presbyterian Church gathered last Thursday for the annual Presbyterian Women’s Birthday Celebration and luncheon. 
The meeting held on the morning of May 1st celebrated 20 years of Presbyterian Women - the organization’s current name after decades of being called Women of the Church (WOC). New officers were installed, a birthday offering was given and two new honorary life memberships were presented to Margaret Stauffer and Caroline Plyler who have given so much of their time and talent to the betterment of the church. Thanks to Carmen Mase, Special Givings Communicator, who organized this event and special congratulations to Margaret and Caroline for their years of service.
Photo: Margaret Stauffer (l) and Caroline Plyler received honorary lifetime memberships in Presbyterian Women at last week’s DCPC luncheon.
Spring derby party at The Pines
The theme was “Off and Running;” the assignment was “Having Fun!” The Pines Retirement Community in Davidson threw its annual Spring Garden Party last Friday with a late afternoon reception and buffet dinner. Invitees included current as well as future residents. 
A record crowd enjoyed the bright sunshine and cooling breezes on the outside courtyard or chose to remain inside in the Davidson Room and enjoy the live music provided by the Jerry Goodman Band. For their part, Pines Executive Director Eddie Muller and his wife, Betty, (see photo at left) enjoyed seats in the Gazebo and admired a beautiful bouquet of “Derby” roses which decorated each table.
With decorations reminding one of the Kentucky Derby (held the next day), residents and guests were encouraged to wear gaily decorated hats for the occasion. The chapeaus were wonderful and the fellowship delightful. “Hats off” to the hard working staff who made sure that the retirement community was indeed “off and running” without a hitch for this annual occasion.
Photo above- Pines’ residents Dee Russell (l) and Margaret Hipple were right in the swing of the Derby party with their superbly decorated hats!
Sam Spencer honored
On Saturday 4.26.08, WDAV held a Founders’ Day to celebrate those pioneers who worked for some three years to start a new radio station which began broadcasting on May 22, 1970 - during the tenure of Dr. Sam Spencer as president of Davidson College. Alumni who were instrumental in that effort returned for the occasion. WDAV also took the opportunity to honor Dr. Spencer by naming the Spencer Production Control Room at the station. President Tom Ross announced the naming to the gathering of about 75 people. Congratulations to Sam Spencer for this wonderful honor. Sam and his wife, Ava, continue to live in Davidson and reside at The Pines.
Photo: Dr. Sam Spencer in the newly named Spencer Production Control Room with students most instrumental in starting WDAV, Skip Smoak ’71 (l) and Ed Dobbs ‘71.
Revisiting Town Day
After seven or more Saturdays in a row of RAIN, the Town of Davidson got lucky with a beautiful, albeit windy, day on Saturday to celebrate Town Day. 
There is no longer a parade but the Green and surrounding streets were filled with games, demonstrations and vendors of all kinds encouraging you to sample their food, watch their wood turning or buy something special - maybe with Mother’s Day in mind. It was a wonderful day to showcase our town and have a chance to visit with friends and neighbors.
Many thanks to DavidsonNews.net’s newest correspondent Nathan Hartle who did such a fine job covering Town Day. Here is just a bit of follow-up with some favorite photos still in the camera:
Above: New Director of Downtown Davidson, Sandy Lemons, had Budd Berro (r), Board President of Downtown Davidson with her at Town Day, as well as Fountain Walker (l) peddling tote bags for the Lands Conservancy.
Left: Connor Humer, son of Beth and Andy Humer, visited with “Itsy Bitsy” 
(actually Pat Irvin) from Carolina Clowns.
Right: Boy Scouts from Troop 58 kept a careful eye on children brave enough to tackle the rope bridge.
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