The Herald Online

Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Derek Good The ASU Student Union, which opened on March 24, 2004, replaced the Carl R. Reng Center.

The smell of coffee brewing, sweat dripping off glistening muscles as the rhythmic-panting grows quicker, checks being cashed, books being purchased, silence interrupted by pages turned by students studying. Where can so many activities take place at once? The ASU Student Union provides a different environment on each floor.

And, just like the Student Union, Dr. Carl R. Reng, the person the union was named after, provided the university with many services.

According to the book "The ASU Story," Reng was born in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from Buena Vista College with a bachelor of arts degree in 1932.

After he was principal and coach at Copper High School in Cooper, Iowa, Reng became superintendent of schools at Huxley, Iowa. While being Superintendent of Schools, Reng worked on his masters of science degree at Drake University, receiving his degree in 1940.

"The ASU Story," goes on to say that after serving in the Navy, Reng entered graduate school at the University of Missouri, where he received a doctor of education degree in 1948.

Reng then joined the faculty at the University of Arkansas where he established a graduate program in education administration.

He was holding this position when he was offered the Arkansas State College presidency; Reng became president of Arkansas State College in 1951.

In the "Voices of State," Reng's wife is described as not being "too happy" about coming to Jonesboro.

The couple had just bought a new home in Fayetteville.

Reng told his wife, "I think I can last one year over there, and when we retire and sit on the front porch of the poor house, you can always say I was president."

"Reng was a magician," said Robert Ferralasco, emeritus chair and professor of administrative services and computer information systems.

Ferralasco describes a time when he and Reng played a shooting game. During the game, "Reng moved the sight on the gun and I missed everything!" said Ferralasco.

In the beginning, times at the ASC were difficult for the new president, Ferralasco explained. When Reng arrived, the college was nearly broke. This did not stop Reng from working hard during his presidency. Reng gathered around him a lot of capable people, said Eugene Smith, president-emeritus of ASU.

Continued...

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