GREENVILLE, S.C. (May 1, 2018) – The Bob Jones University yearbook staff announced today the dedication of the 2018 Vintage to Mr. Rod McCarty, BJU’s stage manager for 31 years.
Originally from Southern Georgia, McCarty came to BJU in 1982. During his student years, he served on the stage crew under the leadership of Mel Stratton and, after Stratton’s death, assumed the role of stage manager.
In that role, McCarty oversees the staging of Stratton Hall, War Memorial Chapel, Founder’s Memorial Amphitorium, Rodeheaver Auditorium, and other venues on the BJU campus. He also leads the construction of stage sets and props, directs scene changes in Rodeheaver Auditorium productions, and has been involved with the execution of hundreds of University events.
“Rod’s fingerprints are on just about every production we have done in the last thirty years,” says Dr. Darren Lawson, dean of the School of Fine Arts and Communication.
In addition to his role as stage manager, McCarty has led First-Year Experience classes where he touches the lives of dozens of new students each year. McCarty consistently endeavors to minister to students on a personal level and intentionally disciples the students that work on stage crew, modeling the traits he would like them to develop.
Dr. Gary Weier, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, describes Rod as “dedicated, passionate and godly.” He is dedicated in that “he is extremely faithful, reliable and focused on what he is called to do.” He is passionate in the way he fulfills his responsibilities. He is godly in his personal walk with God and in his interactions with students and staff.
McCarty earned a BA (1986) and an MA (1988) in Bible from BJU. He and his wife, Shelley, are active members of Morningside Baptist Church, where he serves as a Sunday school teacher and is the former chair of the Deacon Board.
