Members of the university got it right.

Eastern President Lou Hencken’s life was illustrated in two scrapbooks, created by members of the university.

The books were presented to Hencken at the Celebration of Dedication reception in his honor Wednesday in the University Ballroom at the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The scrapbooks contained photos and text of Hencken’s life.

“You don’t know much this has touched me,” Hencken said.

The scrapbooks were devised Judy Gorrell, executive secretary to the president, Kelly Davis, secretary and Colleen Peterlich, events coordinator.

“They have captured the personality who have participated (with Hencken),” Gorrell said.

To make the scrapbooks, they sent a memo to the individual departments asking them to add pages or spreads. Then the trio combined the pages into two books.

The various people in the scrapbooks mirrored the people that attended the event.

“Everybody loves Lou,” Gorrell said. “Some of the things in the scrapbook pages will only mean something fun to him and them. Everybody loves Lou. They’re here in person. The scrapbook is paper.”

There were more than 100 people who attended the event, including professors, students and alums.

“I was surprised that some of the people that came through,” said Mary Kay Hencken, Lou’s wife.

Other attendees included John Inyart, Charleston mayor, Blair Lord, vice president for student affairs and Rich McDuffie, director of athletics.

Hencken was surprised by the turnout.

“I had no idea to know what to expect,” he said. “That was very pleasing (to see the variety of people). I tried to hit all aspects of the university.”

He also enjoyed the scrapbooks.

“There’s a lot of history in there,” Hencken said. “It was like Lou Hencken had a good time. Every page is humorous.”

The scrapbook contained a variety of people and pictures.

One of the pages was dedicated to Hencken when he was a football referee. Ken Baker, director of campus recreation, helped put together this spread.

“I don’t know of everyone that cares more or contributed more than President Hencken,” Baker said. “He earned it. It’s going to be hard to replace him.”

Hencken’s contract expires June 30.

He will be teaching two sections of the freshman foundations course in the fall and will still continue to teach an administration and leadership in higher education course in the fall.

Eastern president Lou Hencken accepts a scrapbook from Judy Gorrell, his secretary during the “Celebration of Dedication” ceremony held for him in the Grand Ballroom at the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union on Wednesday afternoon. (Kevin Murphy/The

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