Ethel Craddock had a wish. She wanted to return to a place that continues to be the source

Ethel Craddock holding hands with Education Dean Frances Kochan surrounded by family members.

of fond memories for this 99-year-old woman. She wanted to return to Auburn University.

Craddock earned two degrees from the College of Education—a bachelor's degree in 1949 and a master's degree in 1962, both in general education. This Loachapoka native now lives in a retirement village, Christian City, located in Union City, Ga.

Life Enrichment Director Chris Loga helped "informally" start the One Wish program at Christian City about three years ago.

"We have a large population of residents that cannot afford the basics of life, so I set out to give them a little hope in their lives," he said. "We started by finding wheelchairs and other items they could not afford or that Medicaid would not provide. About two years ago, I started going further in my requests, asking the basic question, 'What is your most favorite wish in life?'"

Craddock's response set the wheels in motion and Loga contacted the college's directors of development, Josh Hawkins and Becca Grace, to find out what could be done to make Craddock's wish come true.

After months of planning and throwing a surprise "Pep Rally" for Craddock at Christian City, they were able to organize a special luncheon for Craddock's family and a fellow Christian City resident, Bob Johnston. Johnston is the older brother of the late W.G. Johnston, Jr. who is the founder of the Auburn staple J&M Bookstore. He and Craddock did not realize they both had Auburn roots and a deep love for the loveliest village until the pep rally where it was decided the two would make a return trip together.

As for Craddock, the reason she loves Auburn so much is a sentiment that has been echoed by thousands of students and still rings true today. Auburn University is a friendly campus.

"I just can say I enjoyed every minute I was at Auburn and I had so many nice friends that helped me in so many ways," Craddock said.

Craddock's teaching career began 79 years ago in a one-room school in Lee County.  The teaching job "fell into place" because Craddock's older sister, Kathleen, got married and the school needed someone to substitute for her beginning September 1926.

If  Craddock's sweet blue eyes are an indication of what she was like at 20, it's no wonder the principal of the school pulled her aside at the end of the year with a specific request.

"The principal came over to me at the closing of the school year and said, 'I want you to do me a favor. I want you to go to summer school and get your teaching certificate because we want you back here and we need you here. You're so good with children,'" Craddock recalls. "So I went to Auburn and got my certificate to teach and I liked it so well that the next summer I did the same thing. I started taking classes every summer and I did that until I got my degree."

Craddock's experiences not only at the university, but in her career, demonstrate a time gone by—a time before federal and state regulations mandated the definition of "highly qualified." Craddock, who moved to Phenix City in the early '30s with her first husband William Darnell, was able to continue to teach second grade while working toward her degrees.

And for Craddock, it did not take a president's definition of highly qualified to let her know that she made a difference in the lives of many second graders that called her "teacher" throughout her 40-plus years in the classroom.

"There is not any other vocation that I could have chosen that I would have loved so much. Those second graders would just hug my neck at the end of the day and say, 'I want to be a teacher just like you,'" Craddock said. "I taught so many good children and their parents were so good to me too."

Cradock's son, Bob Darnell, recalls his mother's knack for making her students feel special.

Ethel Craddock with her son, Bob Darnell, of Cummings, Ga.

As the years passed and her students moved through the Phenix City School System, they found themselves graduating from Central High School where Craddock's husband was principal.

"My mother would always get invited to every graduation ceremony and to all the high school reunions because her students always loved her. She had a way of making them feel like a part of her family," he said.

This dedicated educator is still living her life to the fullest, exercising three days a week and spending time with her friends at Christian City where she is able to share her fond memories of her time at Auburn and the head of the class.

"Life is a big thing to live through and it's wonderful if you can remember it," summed up the 99-year-old Craddock.