Four thousand students sprawl around campus. Prominent brick buildings rise overhead. The secluded Ped Mall welcomes debates and relaxing discussions alike.

While the previous description may read like a pamphlet for prospective students, it is also everyday life for students of Lee University in 2008.

This year Lee celebrates its 90th birthday. The university today shares only a remote resemblance with the Bible training school formed in January 1918.

“It was not an elaborate beginning, but in its [Lee's] scope was the vision of thousands of other young people who were to be greatly influenced by this humble beginning,” said Philip Morris, Church of God historian.

The original class of twelve students probably never dreamed of their school growing and evolving to the place that it is today, but the vision of its founders foresaw the thousands of students attending in 2008.

In 1918, tuition cost one dollar per week, five dollars per week including room and board. Textbooks and private music lessons cost extra. The first class of twelve lost half of its students due to the World War I draft, and one student died from the flu.

During that first year, students had a choice of one major, Bible; only one teacher, Nora Chambers, taught at the school. Four states were represented: Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana.

Lee began in Cleveland, Tennessee, but for nearly thirty years was only known as the Church of God Bible Training School. In 1947, the college was renamed in honor of the school’s second president, Flavius J. Lee.

Although history may bore some and seem useless today, Lee would not exist without the Nora Chambers, Paul Walkers, Ellises, and Lees of the past.

The names dance in front of each student on their daily jaunt across campus, yet the university encourages you to take new meaning to the names. They should be recognized as legends who walked down the same Church Street ninety years ago.
In ten years Lee University breaches the centennial landmark and the celebration guarantees to top any homecoming or presidential anniversary of the past, but until 2018, take pride in being a part of birthday number 90.
Happy birthday, Lee University.