Friday, October 23, 2009 marked a long awaited day for the Howard Payne Art Department. Having previously been housed in the old Camp Bowie Barracks, the new updated facility marked quite an occasion. Students from past and present, along with special guests, faculty, civic leaders, and distinguished donors celebrated with a dedication ceremony, naming the facility after local artist Doakie Day.
The 1920s era Coca-Cola bottling plant is completely modernized as an amazing addition to the HPU campus. It features the J Waddy Bullion Lecture Hall, the Dorothy and Wendell Mayes Art Gallery, an atrium, a student lobby, department chair suite, classroom & studio space, photography dark room and faculty offices.
At the dedication ceremony, VP for Academic Affairs, Dr. Mark Tew welcomed guests and acknowledged the HPU Jazz Ensemble which provided musical entertainment before and after the event. Dr. Robert Smith led the Invocation, followed by HPU President Dr. Bill Ellis who made special introductions of guests.
Brad Helbert, Chair-Elect of the HPU board of Trustees conveyed a promise of continued conservative service to the campus. Molly Gore, an Art Communications major offered gratitude of students and noted the exciting possibilities for future students’ learning and creative opportunities. Mayor, Bert Massey told of how the City of Brownwood initially acquired the Coca-Cola building knowing that Howard Payne would one day make it a “magnificent addition” not only to their campus, but also to the City of Brownwood. County Judge Ray West followed with remarks of how unlike the study of science, which is a finite study, art is “the use of the human mind to be creative in infinite numbers of ideas.”
Ricky Wright, representing Congressman Mike Conaway, brought greetings and congratulations. He also added to West’s remarks noting how art is important in the U.S. Capital buildings, as displayed in individual works and also in the design of the structure, namely the rotunda.
Recognition of donors was given by Dr. Bill Ellis. Doakie Day’s son and daughter-in-law, Ed “Beezer” & Virginia Day, are major contributors to the project. Their gift is one of the largest in the university’s history. Mrs. Jane Ellen Jamar and her brother, Wendell Mayes, Jr. were also noted donors, the art gallery being named after their parents Dorothy and Wendell Mayes.
Other donors included Mrs. Jackie E. Barron, Mr. and Mrs. William Bell, Mrs. Wilma Bullion, the J. R. Beadel Central Texas Foundation, Dr. and Mrs. Rick Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Day, the Dodge Jones Foundation, Mr. Gary D. Goates, the Pearl Churchill Harris Estate, Mrs. Kathy R. Hillman, the Meadows Foundation, the Dian Graves Owen Foundation, Dr. Frank & Mrs. Louise Sharp, and Mrs. Marguerite Wilson.
Mr. Day then spoke of his mother Doakie Day, of her love of the arts, how she was born in 1899 and passed away just 4 months short of her 100th birthday. She was a homemaker and also a lifetime resident of Brown County. In appreciation, Dr. Ellis presented a drawing of the Coca-Cola building as the “Doakie Day Art Center” to the Days. Dr. Ellis also presented a framed Letter of Recognition of the Dedication of the facility to Howard Payne, which was given by Governor Rick Perry.
After the dedication ceremony concluded, a ribbon cutting was held in front of the building. Balloons in blue & yellow bunches were released into the air, marking the end of the occasion.
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