The undergirding which had been in place since the school formed in 1904 was removed in 1972 when the Congress relinquished its interest in the property and the whole plant was deeded to the Operating Board for the unbelievable sum of $10,000. The bill to do this had been introduced by Congressman William R. Anderson, the former CMA graduate, (H.R. 10057) and in the Senate by Senators Howard Baker and Bill Brock (Senate Bill 2410). Without the government's interest, the property could be used as collateral for the rather large debt which ensued. When the debt reached over $850,000.00 the board simply turned the property over to a group of people formed from the Churches of Christ in the Columbia area and Columbia Academy began.

REQUIEM
On August 6, 1994, Jeane Walker '41, PG '42 and former battalion commander delivered the following at the