The President's Post
       Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Some of my best family memories, simple yet lasting, occurred on Thanksgiving Day in a small town in Ohio. Preparing for the traditional dinner was a family affair, and we each had our individual responsibilities. Since my cooking skills were – and remain – minimal, I was the pre-meal table setter and the post-meal table clearer. I was good at it then and, as Sherée can attest, remain just as skilled today.

Families have a tendency to become scattered over the years, and our childhood traditions, though not forgotten, fade into black and white memories. And that is as it should be: life is a casting off, an exploring of new pathways. My family now lives in Arizona, Sherée’s is in Ohio, and the two of us will celebrate Thanksgiving in Arkansas. Life’s paths, and where they lead us, are impossible to predict.

When I was a boy, my family and I would gather around the Thanksgiving table, join hands, and thank God for our many blessings. This Thanksgiving a number of dinner tables in Arkansas and around the United States will be missing a loved one who is serving our country overseas. As they pray before dinner, their circles will be a little smaller.

As you pray before your Thanksgiving dinner, wherever you may be on that festive day, I’m asking you to include a special thought for those who serve and protect our lives and the lives of our global neighbors. They and their families deserve our prayers. And when you hug your loved ones this Thanksgiving, hug them a little tighter and express your love a little stronger. The times with your family become memories all too soon.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Dr. Rick Niece
President

Public Relations Office,
Mabee Administration Building,
Unversity of the Ozarks, Clarksville, AR 72830.
Phone: (479)-979-1420