Dr. David Burks said that until fairly recently he thought he would retire at age 65. Yet as people across the nation began retiring later, Burks said, he decided to retire later too.
“When I was getting close to 65, I had to decide in my own mind if I wanted to stay in this position or not,” Burks said. “I talked to a number of people and I decided I really wanted to continue for a little bit longer, so the board asked me to stay on for another five years, although they didn’t limit it to that. But I felt it was time to change after that. I felt that because of wanting to spend more time with my family, wanting to have a little less of the pressure that comes with this particular kind of position, it was simply time to make a change.”
Although he originally wanted to retire about two years sooner, Burks said he decided to stay longer to see out the completion of several projects that were put on hold because of economic reasons. Burks said his final decision to retire, however, was a very personal one made with the support of his wife and close friends.
“The hardest thing is that I still have all kinds of plans that I would love to see put in place, but that has always been the case and I’m convinced it will always be the case,” Burks said. “At some point, you just have to draw the line and say ‘I’m going to have to let someone else do that.’ I’m getting ready to write a new chapter in my life — a very different chapter — but I think there will be some very neat things connected with it.”
After leaving the office this June and becoming Harding’s new chancellor, Burks said he looks forward to spending the month of July alone with his wife in Colorado. When he returns in the fall, he plans to spend that year settling into his new role and reorienting himself to the latest topics in business education. Burks said he would like to teach a few classes in the business department in coming years in business ethics and in finance and administration of higher education.
In the meantime, Burks said he looks forward to working with Harding’s new president, Dr. Bruce McLarty.
“I have complete confidence in Dr. McLarty,” Burks said. “I really look forward to working with him and being available to answer any questions, because I have obviously been in this position for a long time. But I want to be responsive to what he wants and I don’t want in any way to get in the way of his dreams and of how he wants to approach things.”
Dr. Clifton Ganus, Harding’s third president and current chancellor, said McLarty and the presidents who come after him should stay true to themselves.
“Be yourself,” Ganus said. “Don’t take on airs. Don’t pretend. Don’t try to imitate someone else, but be yourself. What (McLarty) has in his abilities and character are what it takes to be a president. He’s got a lot to learn; I did, Burks did, we all had a lot to learn. But with the right tools, by being yourself and by listening to others and by seeking and taking advice, you will succeed. Don’t try to run this show alone. Think about what an institution like Harding is. It is not just an academic tool; it’s a hotel, it’s a restaurant, it’s buildings and grounds, it’s public relations, it’s fundraising and development. No man can do it alone.”
After McLarty was appointed as Harding’s next president, he said he has been able to spend a lot of time with Burks talking about the presidency and about the future of Harding.
“My relationship with Dr. Burks has developed from him being someone I was aware of as a student, to him becoming a friend and a shepherd when I came back to Searcy to preach at the College Church of Christ and he eventually became my boss,” McLarty said. “But for the last several months, he has become a mentor. Since I was appointed to be the next president, I have had tremendous access to Dr. Burks. I have been able to ask him so many questions; questions about the budget, about the board of trustees, about the whole processes of things.”
McLarty said once he starts his presidency, he looks forward to working with Burks, whose office will be just across the Heritage lobby.
“I can’t imagine a better situation for an incoming president than to have the kind of access and support from the outgoing president that I have,” McLarty said. “I look down the road and am just so thankful to have someone with his experience just across the lobby. He will be there if I ever need to walk over and say, ‘How did you deal with this?’ or ‘Help me understand that.’ I think we both see this as being the continuation of a good relationship.”
Though Burks said he is excited about what the future has in store for him, he said it has been an honor to serve for the last 26 years as Harding’s fourth president.
“It has been a really high honor to be asked to be in this role,” he said. “I’ve been given more opportunities to travel and to meet with people and to work with students and to work with faculty than anyone could ever imagine. I’ve loved it. I wish Dr. McLarty every possible success in this journey as the Harding story continues. To him I would say to enjoy, enjoy, enjoy this opportunity to be a part of the mission of Harding. It’s a great blessing.”
