Investing in The Future

"Louie's Kids" could easily be the title of the latest television sitcom or a Saturday morning cartoon show for toddlers. In reality, Louie's kids affectionately refers to a growing group of Harding students benefiting from the foresight and generosity of Pangburn, Ark., farmer Louie Yingling. Prior to his death in 2006, Yingling created the Louie Yingling Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, providing financial assistance to students preparing for lives of service in ministry. Officially the students are known as Yingling Scholars, but Yingling always considered the future scholarship recipients as his kids.Yingling was not a typical Harding alumnus, attending only one academic year from 1937-38. He came from a farming heritage and was the third generation of German immigrants that came to White County in the 1840s. He rode the train 18 miles from his home to the Harding campus.

The inability to pay for more than one year of a college education limited his Harding experience. However, that single year had a profound effect on his life. His teachers included J.N. Armstrong (Harding's first president), as well as Florence Cathcart, M.E. Berryhill, L.E. Pryor, Knox Summitt, and other icons in those early Harding years. He developed a love for the school and a sincere interest in Harding's mission to train ministers.

Yingling also knew firsthand how financial pressures could cut short a college career. He had to borrow $138 on a note personally signed by then President George S. Benson. It was not much of a student loan by today's standards, but in 1937 it was a significant investment. Family members attest to Yingling's dislike for borrowing money, and many believe that his college loan may be the only time he borrowed money.

After leaving Harding, he returned to the farm. He loved agriculture, and cotton farming provided his livelihood for more than seven decades. Louie married the former Eloise Capps in 1939. They lived on the 185- acre Yingling homestead for their entire 66-year marriage. She preceded him in death by six months.

Prior to his death, Yingling decided he wanted "to do something" for two things that were important to him - Harding and preaching the gospel. According to family members, he always had the desire to make a gift to Harding. It wasn't until late in his life that he decided how to "make a wise investment." That investment was in the lives of Harding students preparing for ministry. He knew that these students would make a difference in the lives of future generations.

For Yingling, his $2.1 million gift to establish the scholarship fund was the perfect gift. Dewitt Yingling, executor of his cousin's estate, noted that Yingling downplayed the size and significance of his gift and wanted no recognition during his lifetime. Yingling sacrificed during the final years of his life to preserve his gift and legacy to Harding. Yingling never had any children, but according to Dewitt, Louie never failed to get a twinkle in his eye when he talked about students who would be beneficiaries of his scholarship fund. To Yingling, these unknown and unnamed students were "his kids."

During his lifetime Yingling had a favorite saying, "Let's see how they do!" It appropriately summarizes his expectations for the investment he made in the lives of young people committed to ministry. Yingling knew his kids would make a difference.