Construction officially began Tuesday, Sept. 22, on the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation Wellness Center at Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge. The university’s Board of Trustees marked the occasion by joining in a ceremonial groundbreaking during their regular session meeting.
“This is a major step forward for WBU, our students, and the entire campus community,” said WBU President Dr. Stan Norman. “This beautiful structure will provide enhanced opportunities for fitness and recreation, and it simply gives us a great place for friends to be together.”
The $7 million wellness center will feature 26,000 square feet of space, including two basketball courts, weight and fitness equipment, an electronic gaming area, a student lounge, and a screened-in porch. The facility is being made possible, in part, by a $4 million grant awarded by the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation in 2023. Additional funding has been raised through other university supporters.
Ramsons Construction, based in Jonesboro, has been selected to build the center.
The Board of Trustees also took care of institutional business during its session, passing a resolution that emphasizes prayer as a campus priority. They approved a statement affirming their commitment to making prayer a foundational element of WBU’s Christian mission.
“It is our desire for WBU to be known as the ‘Campus of the Bowed Head,’” Norman explained. “Over the past several months, we have very intentionally set aside time and energy to make prayer an integral part of our operations as a Christian university. Our campus community has embraced these efforts, and we look forward to expanding our prayer initiatives this school year.”
The board additionally honored trustees completing their terms of service, including Clint Emfinger of Searcy, Dr. Shane Knight of Alexander, Dr. Heather Moore of Cabot, and Dr. Ben Rainwater of Little Rock. Trustees of WBU are appointed to three-year terms by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.
“We thank these trustees for their support, their counsel, and their friendship,” Norman said. “Their service to Williams through this board is sincerely appreciated.”