Campbell trustees pulled together their own resources to purchase President Jerry Wallace a new vehicle as a token of appreciation for his service to the university.
BUIES CREEK — Campbell University President Jerry Wallace plans to keep this one.
During a luncheon Wednesday in Gore Arena to honor his 45 years of service at Campbell, the Board of Trustees surprised Wallace with a new car — a 2015 Buick Enclave.
It is not the first time that a group has tried to give Wallace a car in recognition of his service to an institution. About 50 years ago, members of Elizabethtown Baptist Church tried to give him a car when he was the pastor there.
But Wallace knew at least one of the women planning to contribute to the cause was already tithing her social security. “I could not accept that car,” Wallace told the nearly 325 people who attended the Wednesday luncheon that included trustees and their spouses, donors, student leaders, and members of the Wallace family.
But this one from the Campbell trustees? “I’m going to keep!” Wallace exclaimed.
The trustees pulled together their own resources to buy the vehicle and give it to Wallace as a token of their appreciation, said Bob Barker, founder of the Bob Barker Company and former chair of the Board of Trustees who presented Wallace with the keys to the vehicle.
Wallace said he was moved by the gesture and choked back tears, adding: “We have been together to share this journey. I am so grateful. Only when we do things together do we make things happen.”
Wallace was 68 years old when trustees selected him to be Campbell’s fourth president in 2003. After 12 years in the position, he will step down June 30.
His achievements over the last 12 years as Campbell’s president “have been nothing short of outstanding,” said Benjamin Thompson, current chair of the Board of Trustees.
Wallace possesses four qualities that have enabled Campbell to bloom over that time period, Thompson added: a sense of mission, pride and love for Campbell, vision and strategic thinking.
“Dr. Wallace is one of the greatest men I’ve ever known, and it has been an honor to know him and work with him,” Thompson said.
That is a sentiment that trustee David Clark also shared during his remarks at the luncheon.
Clark is a longtime friend of Wallace’s and a member of the Elizabethtown Baptist Church, where Wallace served as pastor from 1960 to 1975.
“In rural Elizabethtown in 1960, the search committee called a young man fresh out of seminary,” Clark said. “The family instantly captured our hearts.”
With Wallace’s leadership, the church grew from stagnant to flourishing, leading to the construction of a new sanctuary. “He loved us, and we loved him back,” Clark said.
Clark added he has seen the same happen at Campbell, which Wallace attested to.
“I’m so Campbell Proud today – proud of this school and what has happened,” Wallace said. “But the best is yet to come for this good place. . . . Campbell has a marvelous future because of who we are and whom we serve—the one who made this place, our Creator God.”
President Wallce addresses those who attended a luncheon Wednesday honoring his 45 years of service to Campbell University.