Posted on Friday, February 18, 2022
LaGrange College professor Dr. Greg McClanahan isn’t sure which came first – his love of math or his love of baseball. Both passions date to his childhood.
His lifelong interests equate to an intriguing lecture choice for “Boston: Back to the Beginning,” the college’s current 3D Journeys lecture and travel series. Dr. McClanahan’s Feb. 28th lecture, entitled “Triple Play: Mathematics, Baseball and Board Games,” will journey back to baseball’s beginnings and his own.
Boston and baseball are closely linked, the professor noted. The city’s passion for the Great American Pastime is legendary. Fabled Fenway Park, home to the city’s beloved Red Sox, is the oldest Major League ballpark, completed in 1912. Great players like Ted Williams, Jimmie Fox and Cy Young himself became larger-than-life heroes there.
Baseball and math also fit hand in glove, Dr. McClanahan said.
“Math and baseball are the most interrelated of all the major sports. There are so many statistical ways you can look at baseball.”
McClanahan’s personal connection to baseball dates to his third-grade year in Seattle, Washington. When he wasn’t playing shortstop, he honed his math skills keeping baseball stats and playing Strat-O-Matic, a famous board game that simulates real baseball games. He still plays almost daily, but now it’s a virtual version played with his grandson.
Dr. McClanahan says baseball was his “ticket to acceptance” when his family moved to Auburn, Alabama. His math talent proved equally pivotal. His high-school math teacher arranged an independent study for him at Auburn University, and he continued there after high school, earning a bachelor’s in mathematics in 1975 and his master’s, also in math, in 1977.
“By my sophomore year in high school, I knew I wanted to teach,” Dr. McClanahan said. “Teaching is my calling.”
He and his wife, Charlene, lived briefly in LaGrange while he was finishing his master’s and she worked for West Georgia Medical Center. They went on to Clemson, where he received his doctorate in mathematical sciences in 1982. A chance meeting at a ball field, where he and Charlene were serving as MYF counselors, led to a nine-year stint as math professor at Anderson College, now Anderson University, a private liberal arts school with a strong Christian focus.
His positive impression of LaGrange from his earlier residency and his preference for faith-based higher education influenced Dr. McClanahan’s decision to join the LC faculty in 1988. He’s been a mainstay of the college ever since and now chairs the Mathematics and Sciences Department.
“The church-related environment is big to me,” said Dr. McClanahan, an active layman and Sunday school teacher at LaGrange First United Methodist Church. “I couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend my career.”
He and Charlene raised their family in LaGrange and now have three grandchildren. Dr. Beth McClanahan, one of their three daughters, is Assistant Professor of Mathematics at LaGrange College.
Being a long-term professor at a small college brings many opportunities for personal growth, he added.
“You get asked to do stuff you never expected to do,” he said, smiling, such as being a math teacher called on to give a 3D lecture to a group of lifelong learners focusing on Boston.
Colleagues, like Martha Pirkle, the college’s Director of Alumni and Community Relations, are confident he’s up to the challenge.
“I believe Dr. McClanahan will hit a home run,” she said.
The 3D Journeys travel and lecture series is now in its 12th year. All 3D Journeys lectures are free and open to anyone with an interest in learning. Dr. McClanahan’s presentation will be at 10 a.m. on Feb. 28 at Callaway Auditorium.
Olympic sprinter Mattline Render will present the Black History Month keynote address at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Callaway Auditorium. In 1971 she won a gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay at the Pan American Games and set a world record in the 4 x 110 m relay. The year after, she competed in the 100 m and 4 × 100 m events at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and placed fourth in the relay.
The Black Student Union will hold an Alumni Meet ‘n’ Greet from 2-4 p.m. Saturday in the Bailey Room in Smith Hall. Business attire is requested, and light dessert and refreshment will be provided. Register here. All COVID policies will apply.
Dr. John Tures, Professor of Political Science, was interviewed Feb. 7 for the Washington Times article “Republicans Warm Up to Climate Change, Offer Alternative Solutions from Nuclear Power to Carbon Capture” on Feb. 7. This is his contribution:
John Tures, a political science professor at LaGrange College, said the real-life effects of the increased severity of natural disasters are waking the public up to the impact of climate change, and pressuring Republicans to respond.
“The public is starting to recognize that things are just not normal when it comes to the climate,” Mr. Tures said. “The storms, floods, and natural disasters are becoming unnatural, and that’s gotten some Republicans to realize business as usual can’t go on. This will start costing people.”
REMINDERS:
The Wilkinson Family Servant Scholars program is accepting applications through Feb. 28 for next year’s Servant Scholars participants. Click on this link to apply.
Tim Fitz-Gerald, Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre, will present a virtual Lunch-and-Learn event from noon- 1 p.m. Wednesday. Based on his recent Interim Term course, “No Games – Just Sports,” he will examine the role of sports in storytelling, specifically how sports can be used as a vehicle in demonstrating man’s ability to overcome adversity, disadvantage and prejudice. Register here to receive details about this event.
Nominations are being taken for alumni awards to be presented during Homecoming 2022. Deadline for submissions is March 20. The Shackelford Alumni Achievement Award is given to alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally and brought honor to the college. The Outstanding Young Alumni Award goes to someone who graduated from LaGrange College within the past 10 years and who has been distinguished in his or her career and community and has brought honor to the college. For more information or to make a recommendation, contact Martha Pirkle, Director of Alumni and Community Relations, at mpirkle@kongtiao11.com or by calling 706-880-8245.
Check LC Connect for Virtual CE events and instructions. For in-person events, all COVID guidelines apply.
THROUGH MARCH 22
Service Project: Panthers Protecting Children
SATURDAY
Opening reception, Fourth LaGrange Southeast Regional
6-9 p.m., Lamar Dodd Art Center
TUESDAY
Black History Month Keynote Address: Olympian Mattline Render
11 a.m., Callaway Auditorium
THURSDAY
A Military Career: Know Your Options While in College
11:30 a.m., Dickson Assembly Room
Men’s Basketball
Senior Kyle Brown had a career-high 31 points to lead the Panthers (14-10, 9-2 USA South) to a 94-75 USA South win over Huntingdon in Mariotti Gym on Wednesday night. Brown was named the USA South Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending Feb. 13.
Women’s Basketball
The Panthers (15-9, 10-5 USA South) defeated USA South rival Huntingdon 80-70 in overtime last Sunday in Mariotti Gym. Gracie Brunel led LC with 19 points, while Breonna Glover and Ema Turner had 14 points each.
Baseball
The Panthers (3-0) came from behind to beat Berry 12-9 at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium on Tuesday night. Freshman Jorge Fragoso had two hits and three RBIs for LC.
CALENDAR
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Tuesday
Join LaGrange College Professor Greg McClanahan for an interesting take on what the city of Boston means to America. Hear “Triple Play: Mathematics, Baseball and Board Games” at 10 a.m. Feb. 28 at Callaway Auditorium.
Taste of Storytelling offers preview of 25th annual Azalea Storytelling Festival – LaGrange Daily News, Feb. 15, 2022
Category: Community, College, Arts and Culture, Faculty, Academics, Students, Events
Keywords: 3D Journeys baseball Boston Fenway Park
