Department of History and Political Science

Born in 1903 in Hillsboro, Texas, Clifton L. Ganus, Sr. lived a life of service to God, his family, and those around him. He and his wife, Martha Jewell Bearden, used their talents to encourage people and provide opportunities to help others flourish.

In 1929, Ganus moved his family to New Orleans. Though he had dropped out of school after the fourth grade, Ganus developed into a trusted leader in business, banking, civic life, education and faith.

In 1932, he founded Finest Foods Inc. The company’s A&G restaurants, cafeterias and Mrs. Drake’s Sandwiches were soon established in the local food culture, providing jobs to hundreds of New Orleanians. His ethical behavior and bold business practices led him to numerous leadership roles, including helping to found Progressive Bank and Trust Company. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s he organized support for orphans, military servicemen and other worthy causes. Though never running for office, Ganus engaged in civic life by appointment to numerous local committees and boards, including being selected in 1950 to help write the charter for the City of New Orleans.

In 1939, he sent his oldest son to Harding College to begin a long relationship with Christian education. Appointed to Harding’s Board of Trustees, he served as the chair between 1940 and 1954. In 1950, he founded a Christian school in New Orleans that became the Clifton L. Ganus School after his death. Ganus’ devotion to his own faith, and to helping develop faith in others, guided his life. His childhood sweetheart and wife, Martha Jewell, joined him in all of his efforts, but especially in encouraging spiritual growth in those around them.

Ganus passed away in 1955 at the age of 51. His wife and children — Cliff, James, Arvis and Joy — each continued his legacy of devotion and created their own.

May all of the faculty, staff and students be inspired by his diligent devotion to helping others, to leading his family and to living his faith.

The Dr. Gene and Dorma Rainey Endowed Scholarship is awarded each year to a student within the History and Political Science Department preparing for a career in teaching.  It is awarded each year to a junior or senior who demonstrates a high level of scholarship, leadership, and integrity. The scholarship was established in honor of Dr. Gene Rainey, who taught Political Science at Harding during the 1950s and his wife Dorma Rainey who worked in public relations.

Explore history where it happened. Many of our department's courses offer immersive travel experiences that bring history to life through interactive learning environments.

The American Experience Tour: This summer travel program takes students beyond the classroom to explore key historical sites across the United States. Students have the unique opportunity to experience history firsthand, with recent trips including visits to the Cane Ridge Meeting House, U.S. Capitol, Ellis Island, Boston Freedom Trail, Gettysburg, Independence Hall, Mount Vernon, and the USS Constitution. The American Experience Tour takes place during the summer of even years.

African-American Civil Rights: Gain a deeper understanding of the U.S. civil rights movement by visiting pivotal locations across Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Arkansas State & Local Government: Students meet alumni, members of the state legislature, and the governor during a visit to the Capitol building in Little Rock, offering insight into the workings of state government.

U.S. Military History: Travel to renowned military battlefields and museums such as the National Infantry Museum in Georgia, the National Naval Aviation Museum in Florida, and the National WWII Museum in Louisiana.

U.S. Civil War: Embark on a multi-day trip to significant battlefields in the South, including Shiloh, Corinth, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and Franklin.

At the conclusion of each school year, the Clifton L. Ganus Sr. Department of History and Political Science confers an "Outstanding Student Award" to the student from the department who has demonstrated the highest levels of scholarship. This award is presented in chapel and noted in the Spring Convocation program.

In addition to this award, the faculty confer awards to the outstanding student in History (Phi Alpha Theta Award), Political Science (Pi Sigma Alpha Award), Public Administration and Social Science. On occasion, the department may give an award to an outstanding student in American Studies. Awards for the most recent seven years are listed below.

2023-2024 Awards went to:

Outstanding Overall Student: Luke Ziegler
Outstanding History Major (Phi Alpha Theta Award): Isaac Copeland
Outstanding Social Science Major: Meghan McElroy
Outstanding Political Science Major (Pi Sigma Alpha Award): Zoie Dean
Outstanding Public Administration Major: Trey Crow
Raymond Muncy Scholar: David Granberg
Dr. Gene and Dorma Rainey Scholar: Meghan McElroy

2022-2023 Awards went to:

Outstanding Overall Student: Brianna Hall
Outstanding History Major (Phi Alpha Theta Award): Paxton Davis
Outstanding Social Science Major: Michael Wester
Outstanding Political Science Major (Pi Sigma Alpha Award): Abby Long
Outstanding Public Administration Major: William Johnston
Raymond Muncy Scholars: Elijah Fisher, Paxton Davis and Jacob Anderson

2021-2022 Awards went to:

Outstanding Overall Student: Eric Johnson
Outstanding History Major (Phi Alpha Theta Award): Grace Ann Green
Outstanding Social Science Major: Jacob Jones
Outstanding Political Science Major (Pi Sigma Alpha Award): Caroline Barineau
Outstanding Public Administration Major: Mary Grace Golden
Raymond Muncy Scholars: Grace Ann Green and Jackson Montgomery

2020-2021 Awards went to:

Outstanding Overall Student: Paul Anderson
Outstanding History Major (Phi Alpha Theta Award): Maddox Burgess
Outstanding Social Science Major: Cayleigh Porter
Outstanding Political Science Major (Pi Sigma Alpha Award): Ilse Ghent
Outstanding Public Administration Major: Jake Riggs
Outstanding American Studies Major: Eric Johnson
Raymond Muncy Scholars: Richard (Trey) Bailey and Chelsea Blankenship

2019-2020 Awards went to:

Outstanding Overall Student: Olivia Womack
Outstanding History Major (Phi Alpha Theta Award): Kaylee Rice
Outstanding Social Science Major: Austin Taylor
Outstanding Political Science Major (Pi Sigma Alpha Award): Michael Krupka
Outstanding Public Administration Major: Isabel Waller

2018-2019 Awards went to:

Outstanding Overall Student: Ty Galyan
Outstanding History Major (Phi Alpha Theta Award): Anessa Bridges
Outstanding Social Science Major: Daniel Moore
Outstanding Political Science Major (Pi Sigma Alpha Award) Olivia Womack
Outstanding Public Administration Major: Nick Sullivan
Raymond Muncy Scholars: Austin Taylor and Brijana Paic

2017-2018 Awards went to:

Outstanding Overall Student: Savannah Donnell Wallace
Outstanding History Major (Phi Alpha Theta Award): Samuel Aly
Outstanding Social Science Major: William Sullivan
Outstanding Political Science Major (Pi Sigma Alpha Award): Anna Lowery
Outstanding Public Administration Major: Justin Manchester
Raymond Muncy Scholars: Ty Galyan and Scott Cravens