Hefner Endowed Scholarship Finalized on 100th Birthday

The Opie and Ruby Hefner Endowed Scholarship is now fully funded. The scholarship was established at Central Baptist College by Jay and Jana Hefner, the Hefner’s son and daughter-in-law, to pay tribute to Jay’s parents for their service and contributions to CBC. Jay and Jana presented the final $1,000 check to CBC’s President Terry Kimbrow on what would have been Opie Hefner’s 100th birthday.

Opie and Ruby Hefner were important members of the CBC community during the early years of the institution’s founding. They were also faithful members of both Antioch and Eastside Baptist Churches for more than 70 years, with Opie serving as a deacon and Sunday school teacher and Ruby serving as the beginner department superintendent for a number of years.

The Hefners were born and raised in Rupert, Arkansas, grew up together and began to date in school. Opie eventually went with his brother to Lawrence, Kansas, to help at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant during World War II, but while there began to miss Ruby, so he sent her a bus ticket so they could be married, which happened at the Douglas County courthouse in Lawrence on August 10, 1943.They celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2003 just prior to Opie’s death in 2004. After the war ended, the Hefners returned to Arkansas, eventually settling in Conway to give their children a chance to attend one of the three colleges in town.

When CBC started in 1952, Opie and Ruby volunteered to clean up Old Main so that classes could be held there. Ruby worked in the kitchen and helped prepare meals for the students and would later provide after church meals for CBC students in their home.

Ruby was known for her sewing and crochet work. She loved to make items to give away and many family members and friends benefitted from her craft. She was co-owner of H & S Daycare in the late 60's to early 70's. Many Conway children started their early learning years with her. She was also an excellent cook and loved sharing meals with others. Everyone looked forward to eating her homemade rolls on all occasions. She was an extremely giving person who always put others’ needs before her own.

Opie worked as the CBC maintenance supervisor from 1968-1980 under four presidents: the late Drs. Gerald Kellar, Wassell Burgess, Harold Cooper, and R. B. Hoshaw and was known during that time period as Bro. Jay said, “They supported CBC every day after that until their deaths, Opie’s in 2004 and Ruby’s in 2016.” Their three children, Janice Stephens, the late Ron Hefner and Jay Hefner, are all graduates of CBC.

As stated in the agreement, the scholarship award is to be given to a CBC athlete with first priority to an active member of a Baptist Missionary Association (BMA) of Arkansas, and second priority to an active member of at BMA of America church. “I can’t think of a better way to honor the life of two of the finest servants of God,” said CBC President Terry Kimbrow.

Central Baptist College has over ninety endowed scholarships representing over $4 million in contributions. Endowed scholarships serve as a lasting tribute, as contributions are placed in the permanent endowment and only a portion of the interest is awarded as scholarships.

According to Kimbrow, “Endowed scholarships can be started with as little as $1,000 and must reach the $10,000 level within seven years to be considered fully funded.” Jay and Jana Hefner established the Opie and Ruby Hefner Endowed Scholarship on August 4, 2017, with an initial contribution of $2,000.

Additional contributions to the Opie and Ruby Hefner Endowed Scholarship can be sent to Central Baptist College, 1501 College Avenue, Conway, AR 72034. Checks should be made payable to Central Baptist College with “Hefner Endowed Scholarship” indicated on the memo line. Gifts can also be made securely online at  cbc.edu/endowed. Include “Hefner Endowed Scholarship” in the comments box on the online donation form.

Central Baptist College is committed to transforming lives through education that integrates Christian faith and academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment, and is a four-year, private, liberal arts college owned and operated by the Baptist Missionary Association of Arkansas. CBC offers approximately 40 baccalaureate degree programs, 16 athletic teams that compete in the AMC conference of the NAIA, and 6 fine arts performance groups. For more information about CBC visit cbc.edu.