RALEIGH — Campbell President Jerry M. Wallace joined a prestigious list of North Carolinians Tuesday night when he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor the state can give for those with a proven record of extraordinary service.
Wallace was surprised with the announcement during a well-attended meeting of the Wake County Alumni Chapter at the Governor’s Mansion in downtown Raleigh. He was presented with the honor by North Carolina Secretary of State and 1981 Campbell Law graduate Elaine Marshall, who read aloud Wallace’s accomplishments during his 12 years as president — from establishment of new health science schools and programs to leading the way toward record enrollment for a school that is now home to more North Carolinians than any private school in the state.
“His presidency at Campbell has been nothing short of amazing,” Marshall said. “Some say you never stand so tall as when you stoop to help a child. Others say nobody cares how much you know until they know you care. All of this applies to Jerry Wallace.”
Created in 1965, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine is unique to North Carolina, and its recipients are chosen based on their contributions to their communities, extraordinary careers and many years of service. The honor is often presented when a person retires — Wallace will step down as Campbell president this June after 12 years as president and 45 years total at Campbell.
Choking back tears, Wallace said he was “deeply, deeply grateful” for the honor and privileged to receive it in front of a large group of alumni in the state’s capital.
“This honor comes to me, I know, because of hard work and splendid sense of place Campbell occupies in your hearts and the hearts of so many people in this state,” Wallace said. “The highest honor of my life has been to serve as president of Campbell University.”
In his 15-minute off-the-cuff acceptance speech, Wallace reflected on the past, present and future of Campbell — telling the story of founder J.A. Campbell and his start-up academy that survived a post-Civil War era that closed down other similar schools. He spoke with great admiration of his predecessor and mentor, Norman Adrian Wiggins, and credited Campbell’s current success to “its marvelous past.”
“It’s textbook,” he said. “It’s the story of fairy tales. And it’s the delight of my life to tell the story of Campbell. [But] I’m convinced the best is yet to be.”
Jerry Wallace awarded state’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine