A lecture examining the political and religious rivalry between Rev. Hezekiah Balch and Rev. Samuel Doak, founders of Tusculum College, will be presented on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. in the Chalmers Conference in the Niswonger Commons by Jeff Lokey, assistant professor of business administration at Tusculum College.
“It’s interesting because their rivalry was transcended by Tusculum College,” said Lokey. “We haven’t forgotten it, but Tusculum doesn’t reflect that rivalry anymore.”
Balch’s and Doak’s animosity is historic to Greeneville. Several stories have been told detailing instances when the duo encountered each other.
As told by Richard Doughty, the late Greene County historian, “… [Balch and Doak] met one day on a plank over a particularly muddy spot. Doak was the first to speak. ‘I never make way for the devil.’ To which Balch quickly replied, ‘I do,’ and steeped aside in the mud to let Doak pass.”
While their rivalry is legendary, they both had a passion for higher education. Balch founded Greeneville College; Doak founded Washington College, formerly known as Martin Academy. Eventually, the two institutions merged to form Tusculum College.
Lokey said, “For more than 30 years, I have worked at Tusculum College, and I didn’t understand the rivalry between the two. I decided to find out what caused it.”
Part of the Tusculum College Humanities Series, the event will be open and is free of charge. For residential students, an Arts and Lectures credit is offered.
By Stephanie Turner, senior journalism and professional writing major from Shelbyville