DALTON, Ga. — The Burran Bell Tower at Dalton State College was moved from France to the campus and weighs 1,323 pounds — two facts sophomore Katie Owens didn’t know until she started preparing for a trivia contest at the college.

In celebration of the publication of “The Dalton State Trivia Book,” a TV-style trivia contest was held recently in the Pope Student Center. Associate professor Kris Barton, who died suddenly in May 2016, and members of an upper level communication class developed the book project two years ago in advance of the college’s 50th anniversary this year.

The book’s authors are Barton and Jose M. Gonzales, Brooklyn Cole Herrera, Monica Prince McDaniel, Meagan I. Standridge, Shelby M. Yarbrough and Sean Self, students who have all since graduated from the college.

Owens and her teammates Lydia Chandler, a junior; Matthew Carter, a sophomore; Ashley Ray, a junior; and Kaitlin Weaver, a sophomore, took home the top prize of $200 in cash from the contest.

“I didn’t know we’d be able to use the book during the contest,” Owens said. “We didn’t really have a strategy, only to win.”

Owens plans to use her portion of the money to buy new tires, while Ray will put hers toward a crib mattress for her baby who is due next month.

“I’m going to give my mother the money,” Chandler said. “She could really use it.

The book has been “a long time coming,” said McDaniel.

“I’m so overwhelmed to be a part of it,” she said.

McDaniel said she and the other authors worked hard together.

“We wrote and researched questions and put in countless hours collaborating,” she said. “To see all of the hard work pay off is awesome.”

After Barton’s death, the book was completed with the assistance of the student authors and edited by Mary Nielsen, dean of the School of Liberal Arts; Barbara Tucker and Cicero Bruce of the School of Liberal Arts; and David J. Elrod and Joshua J. Wilson of the Dalton State Foundation. The foundation provided a $500 Campus Enrichment Grant to kick-start the project.

For nearly two hours during the trivia contest, “ThinkFast!” host Rob Pedini asked questions about the college from the book, and also questions about celebrities and music from the various decades spanning the college’s 50 years. “ThinkFast!” is a touring educational game show-type program.

Trivia contest video

Teams made up of two to 10 participants answered questions like “Who is Snoop Dog doing a cooking show with?” and “Who was the first woman president and chemist at Dalton State College?” The answers are Martha Stewart and Margaret Venable.

Venable said she had the first conversation with Barton about the book in November of 2015.

“That was my first introduction to what an exciting person he was,” she said. “I was impressed from day one with Kris Barton, here we are two years later full circle.”

Venable said the trivia contest was a great way to honor Barton, who loved trivia.

Venable said the college’s “tag” is “Run Boldly.”

“Kris embodied that concept of running boldly, we’re creative, ambitious and run boldly at Dalton State,” she said. “I think it’s a wonderful way to honor Kris and the college and I’m so excited to see so many people here.”

Shelby Parrish, a freshman, said she enjoyed the contest. Parrish was one of more than 100 people either participating or looking on.

“It was very entertaining, upbeat, and I’d love for it to happen again,” she said.

McDaniel said Barton would be “proud of the book.”

“I know I can’t speak for everyone else, but he made me a better communications major,” she said.

McDaniel said she’s been able to excel because of Barton’s guidance.

“I give him all the praise,” she said. “He helped us become better writers.”