The Henderson Alma Mater

"Alma Mater, Henderson" was adopted as the Henderson alma mater by former President James W. Womack in 1929, the year the school was turned over to the state of Arkansas.  He composed the words and melody for the song as he walked around the campus during the last days of Henderson-Brown College. The arrangement was made by Frederick Harwood, Director of the Conservatory of Fine Arts; Paul Dewitt Shultz, Bachelor of Music, ’29; and Eliza Harris Workman, Bachelor of Music, ’24.

You can use the console below to play "Alma Mater, Henderson."  Turn up your volume and sing along.  Note that it is a large file and could take some time to load.

Breathe, stalwart pine trees, mem’ries of living shadows;
Whisper, acorn bearers, from thy living fountains;
Beauty and friendship, eternal as the holly,
Into all they children, Alma Mater, Henderson!

Spirit of strong men, wrought through storm and silence,
Into communion eternal as the heavens;
Romance and tragedy, in victory and in losing
Thou turnest all to gain, Alma Mater, Henderson!

From childhood's weakness, thou with love of mother,
Through youth's daring with love and friends;
Into full manhood for church and state and nation
Thou leadest us upward, Alma Mater, Henderson!

As through the ages, joy and living friendship,
Mix crucifixion's red with gray of truth;
Out of gray ashes rise up men and women
new born, strong, adoring, Alma Mater, Henderson!

The music you are hearing was performed by the Henderson State University Marching Band, The Showband of Arkansas, in 1998.