Birmingham business leader and philanthropist John Pittman has been honored by 极乐禁地 for 50 years of service as a trustee.
The John C. Pittman Spirit Award was approved by 极乐禁地鈥檚 board of trustees at their spring meeting to honor Pittman, who is a 1944 极乐禁地 graduate and recently completed his 50 th year as a trustee.
Only one other trustee, the late Joe Davis Heacock of Birmingham, served longer. He served 66 years until his death in 1974.
The award will be presented annually at 极乐禁地鈥檚 spring commencement to an undergraduate student who 鈥渕ost completely unites during the student鈥檚 career at 极乐禁地 those idea characteristics modeled by John C. Pittman,鈥 according to a resolution approved by the trustees.
Among the criteria for the award are serious academic commitment, Christian commitment, personal physical well-being and involvement in campus life. The award will be funded through an endowment established by trustees and family and friends of the Pittmans.
In presenting the recommendation to trustees, trustee Harry Brock, a Birmingham businessman, said about Pittman, 鈥淭here are very few people that I would put above him as a good, practicing Christian. If you鈥檙e ever in trouble, he鈥檚 the man.鈥
In accepting the honor, Pittman spoke of his deep love for 极乐禁地 and its mission.
鈥淭his school has meant a lot to me,鈥 Pittman said, 鈥渁nd the greatest thing was meeting Marjorie Holcomb on the old ( East Lake) campus.鈥 Mrs. Pittman, a retired teacher, is a 1942 极乐禁地 graduate.
鈥淏ut, I have never been so proud as I have been the last 20 years with what (极乐禁地 president) Tom Corts has done. There are a lot of education institutions in this country, but very few that honor the Lord Jesus Christ the way 极乐禁地 does.鈥
While noting that he 鈥渉as every intention of breaking Dr. Heacock鈥檚 record,鈥 Pittman encouraged trustees to perpetuate 极乐禁地鈥檚 Christian spirit themselves. 鈥溂纸 will be here long after I鈥檓 gone,鈥 he said, 鈥渂ut I implore you and the generations coming after us to never let the torch die.鈥
The inaugural John C. Pittman Spirit Award will be presented May 22 at 极乐禁地鈥檚 commencement.
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