Wendle Quick

Dr. Wendle Randolph (Randy) Quick, 89, of Arkadelphia, became face to face with Christ his Savior on August 9, 2010, at home surrounded by his beloved family. An eighth generation Arkansan, he was born September 5, 1920, in Midway, Arkansas. He was the son of Joseph Columbus (Lummie) Quick and Susie Bell Fenter Quick. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Charlene.

Dr. Quick leaves the twinkle of his eye, Helen (Jane) Fowler Quick, his loving wife of 62.9 years, along with two daughters, Connie Quick, of Arkadelphia, and Carol Quick Lane (Chuck) of Hot Springs, Arkansas. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Charley Z. Lane of Waco, Texas and Catie Lane Curtis (Ryan) of Fort Smith, Arkansas, who are with child.

As a teenager at Summer Camp in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Dr. Quick entered into eternal relationship with His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He taught Sunday School for many years for groups varying from young marrieds to older gentlemen at Homer's Cafeteria in downtown Arkadelphia. His love for Jesus was manifested daily in reading, loving, caring and sharing. Dr. Quick's creativity, wit and humor spawned life whether awaking in the morning at home, lecturing to his Sociology classes or ordering food at a restaurant.

Dr. Quick was either in a university or teaching in one for 50 years. He held both an M.A., Sociology, 1948, and a B.A., Sociology, 1946, from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. As with so many, his education was interrupted with World War II. Dr. Quick volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corp Officer Candidates' Class. He returned to Baylor, after having attended classes at the University of Pennsylvania and Colorado University. Upon graduation from Baylor, his first employment was as an instructor in the Radio-Television Department and Production Manager of station KUHF-TV (the first educational television station in the United States) at the University of Houston, Houston, Texas, until 1953.

Dr. Quick felt the calling of the Lord to come to Ouachita in the Fall of 1953, as Assistant to the President (Dr. Harold Haswell) and Chairman of the Sociology Department. His calling was to share the scientific knowledge of human behavior with Ouachita students, especially those with some concrete Christian commitment to serve the Lord. He lovingly watched myriads of students, "mature, grow and develop their personalities into the finest young Christian leaders in the world". He entered graduate school at Indiana University in 1961 and attended a year in 1962-63, plus the Summer post session of 1966. Upon receipt of the doctorate, with a double major in Sociology and Higher Education, Quick returned to Ouachita, where he remained for a total of thirty-three years until the "modification of his lifestyle" in 1986. He was also a federal consultant with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and a Regional Supervisor of Head Start for many years. He served locally on the Ouachita Area Committee and was a civil volunteer supervisor. An avocational farmer, Randy tirelessly and lovingly managed the farm upon which he was born, the dwellings of which are still in tact.

"Prof Quick", as he was affectionately known by his students at OBU, touched countless lives, both professionally and personally. to this day, when his former students are encountered, they quote Prof Quick in ways that quickly bring his character and integrity into sharp focus. His advice to students: "Live, read, care and share, II Timothy 2:15, and Matthew 25:35-40, and as a wise old philosopher named Randall J. O'Brien once said, 'If that doesn't melt your butter, your skillet is not hot.'"

Ever faithful and loving, his wife, Jane, will always be his best audience. She thanks her God upon each remembrance of Randy, starting with their courtship and marriage in Waco. Theirs is a love story, ever fresh and this parting is, "just a pause", to quote Charley Q, their grandson.

Following the 1:00 P.M. visitation at First Baptist Church, Arkadelphia, in the Fellowship Hall, the Memorial Service will be at 2:00 P.M. in the sanctuary on August 12, 2010, with Dr. Charles Lane, III and Dr. Lee McGlone officiating. Interment will be private. The family will observe a season of privacy in a remote location while prayerfully appreciating the cascades of prayers, flowers and precious expressions of love and honor for Dr. Quick, our Husband, Father, and Grandfather.

Memorials may be made either to First Baptist Church or to the J. Dennis and Marsha Riddle Wilkins Family Endowed Scholarship at Ouachita Baptist University, which awarded its first scholarship to sociology major in honor of Dr. Randolph Quick.