A straight-A student from Paducah, Kentucky, she had her choice of colleges to attend in 1948. Betty Nance picked Lipscomb, and after serving as a Bison cheerleader for her first three years on campus, she has been an unofficial cheerleader at sporting events for more than 70 years. Even since husband Ralph passed away, she has remained a fan: “If I’m in Allen Arena, I’m a happy woman.” We learned more about this super supporter when she visited this week with lipscombsports.com.
What years did you cheer for Lipscomb?
Well, I’ve cheered for Lipscomb for about 70 years since I first arrived on campus in the fall of 1948, but I served as an official cheerleader my first three years, 1949-51. I graduated early in the winter of 1952, so I chose not to cheer my senior year.
I handed down my cheerleading genes to a granddaughter, Lindsey, who cheered for the Bisons for the past three years (see photo).
What teammate was most memorable?
Several teammates stand out to me. I got to cheer with my sister, Barbara Owens (Story) one year, and that was fun. I also remember Joy Gregory (Binkley), who was one of the best, peppiest cheerleaders I’ve ever known – in fact, she still is. I also remember Bob Brooks and Fannie Rice Gill, who were teammates of mine for two years in college.
What degree did you earn?
In those days, Lipscomb’s academic schedule was based on quarters instead of semesters. I graduated in the winter quarter of 1952 with a major in Sociology and minors in Psychology and Physical Education. We eventually had six children and went to hundreds of sporting events, so my sociology and P.E. backgrounds came in handy.
Why did you attend Lipscomb?
I’m glad this is one of your questions. The short answer is I wanted to attend a Christian college near my home in Paducah, Kentucky.
The more complicated answer is: another Christian school offered me a free education – tuition, books, and room & board – but it was a two-year school at the time, and I wanted a full degree without having to transfer to a new school in the middle of my college career. I was facing that dilemma when Willard Collins visited us at Broadway Church of Christ in Paducah, and he completely sold me on Lipscomb. That series of events took place about 72 years ago, and I can’t imagine the impact that one decision made on my family and me. I will always be thankful for the opportunity to come to Lipscomb and for Bro. Collins’ engaging personality.
What is your favorite athletic memory at Lipscomb?
Cheerleading was completely different in those days. We were far less talented than today’s Lipscomb cheerleaders, and it seemed easier to get our crowds to cheer along with us. With that as a background, my favorite memory involves a cheer we did every game in McQuiddy Gym. We divided the student section in half, and one side screamed “Ky-Yee” and the other answered “Ky-Yo.” We went back and forth three times for each side before the entire section yelled in unison “Yay Lipscomb, let’s GO!”
To us, it was memorable because it was uniquely ours and we made it a Lipscomb tradition. I’ll never forget it.
What do you recall about life on campus at Lipscomb?
I have fond memories of daily chapel services led by Willard Collins. He always had a way of keeping things fun and interesting while helping us to learn. Buddy Arnold was the song leader each day, and he was dynamic. Although I came from a relatively large congregation in Paducah, I had never experienced singing and worshiping together with that many young people at once. I remember thinking, “This must be what heaven will be like.”
I also remember our dorms: Johnson and Sewell were for women, and Elam was for men. Fanning, High Rise and the Village were all built later.
Our small student center was located in the basement of Alumni Auditorium, and the Dining Hall was tucked into the basement of Sewell Hall. McQuiddy Gym was brand new, with large swimming pools located underneath – one for women and one for men.
What is the most valuable thing you took from your time at Lipscomb?
That’s the easiest question yet – the best things I gained from my time at Lipscomb were a Christian husband and family.
Ralph was a few years older than I was, but we knew each other because our families worshiped together at Broadway in Paducah. After graduating from Tilghman High School, he was accepted into the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, and our friendship continued while he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. He then went to work for an oil company and began travelling the world on an oil tanker. In the meantime, I graduated from Tilghman and enrolled at Lipscomb. At this point, his sister BarBara (Etter) emerged as a key individual in our friendship. She was a student at Lipscomb, and rumor has it she began writing him and describing both the hundreds of Christian young women on campus and the male students who were talking with me. I can’t promise which topic inspired him, but something prompted him to quit his job, move to Nashville, and enroll in Bible classes at Lipscomb.
In those days very few students had cars, but here he was – a handsome, mature man with a yellow Dodge convertible, and he became an instant sensation on campus. We eventually resumed our friendship, and we were married in December 1952 as soon as I graduated. With the exception of a few years in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, our entire married life took place in Nashville and on the Lipscomb campus.
In addition, our very best friends in those important child-raising years were Bob and Elizabeth Kerce, whom we met thanks to our time together at Lipscomb. We vacationed and played Rook with them more years than I can tell, and their family is still precious to us.
Who was your favorite professor?
The chairman of the Psychology department was a brilliant man named J. Ridley Stroop. I found him to be a gifted teacher, and I consider him to be my favorite professor.
What do you do now?
I live in Nashville and attend every Bison basketball and volleyball game possible in Allen Arena. Ralph and I raised six children, and after the youngest one started kindergarten I began teaching part-time. I eventually became executive secretary for the Tennessee Library Association with, conveniently, an office on the Lipscomb campus.
Tell us about your family:
We have six “birth” children and six “chosen” children: Ruth (Phil Henry), Rebecca (Earl Lavender), Paul (Lynn), Martha (Mark Ezell), Mark (Nancy), and David (Shelley). They have blessed us with 17 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren ... and counting.
Ralph preached at Highland Avenue in Nashville – which became Natchez Trace – and Berry’s Chapel in Franklin, all while teaching for 53 years at Lipscomb. He passed away in 2009.
FAST FINISH
Favorite food: I like ALL food.
Favorite TV show or movie: The Andy Griffith Show
Favorite scripture: Isaiah 40: 29-31 – “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Favorite sports team: Lipscomb Bisons
Favorite season: Summer
Pick one – salad or dessert: Salad
Dream vacation spot: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and DisneyWorld
Early morning or late night person: Early morning
