"It is my humble testimony that even my arrival on the Mississippi College campus seems part of a drama with Divine direction, as I have neither script nor foreknowledge of the next scene. Having placed my life in God's hands, intent on following His will in my life, I discovered His plan one day at a time. This larger-than-life-size learning experience was one student at a time, one curriculum task at a time, learning one step at a time to do fund raising for equipment and scholarship needs. I learned that my own stewardship of resources and personal talent had to precede anything I asked or expected of others. It was necessary that I be the first to give and to be the first to roll up my sleeves for work at a ploddingly difficult task. God has been faithful, supplying every need to establish an art tradition at Mississippi College, a curriculum which would launch young lives into unique art careers, and to inspire unselfish service, holy and acceptable to Jesus Christ, our Blessed Redeemer and ultimate Art Critic." –Samuel Marshall Gore

Dr. Samuel Marshall Gore joined the MC faculty in 1951 following his completion of a three-year BFA program of study at the Atlanta College of Art. Prior to this assuming the leadership role, pioneering effort and influence could be traced to the teaching of Marie Hull at Hillman College and more recent art instruction by others on faculty. Completing his BA requirement at MC in 1952, he was invited to remain in the only full time art position at that time and to nourish a quiet but significant tradition of interest in art on campus. He developed the Art Major curriculum and recruited students with art career interests. From the beginning, his commitment was to the church-related mission of the college and to a concept of art with a strong Christian emphasis. He further qualified himself by completing both the Masters and Doctoral degrees. Through his perseverance the full time art faculty grew in number from one to six with an equal number of adjunct and part-time instructors, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees including the Master of Fine Arts. He has been successful in fund raising for art scholarship funds and established the Sam Gore Art Scholarship Endowment. Under his leadership significant firsts have been achieved, among which are: hosting of the first loan exhibit in the South from the Guggenheim Museum, in being the first of forty Southern Baptist Colleges to offer an MFA degree program and in being the first among the small colleges to have a graduate elected to membership in the National Sculpture Society. His students have been highly motivated and have achieved a tradition of notable success in both studio and teaching careers. In recognition of this contribution to art in Mississippi, he received the following awards:

• The Mississippi Governor's Award for Career in Art, 1997
• The Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award by the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, 2000
• The Ageless Heroes Award for Creativity by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, 2002
• The Order of the Golden Arrow Award by Mississippi College, 2002

As a tribute to Dr. Gore's faithful stewardship of energy and talent toward serving college students and in establishing a legacy of teaching art from a Christ-centered perspective, the college administration established the Samuel Marshall Gore Art. Galley. The Gallery, located initially in the Aven Fine Arts Building, will be relocated in permanent facilities which will house permanent art collection and ongoing art exhibits. Upon the completion of the larger, more easily accessible facility, the Gore Gallery will be enabled to perform an even greater and more unique service role of the Department of Art in Christian higher education.