CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. 鈥� In June 2015, Dr. Benji Kelly met with the late Dr. E. Bruce Heilman on a visit to Dallas, Texas.
There, over a dinner conversation, Heilman shared his vision for a new welcome center to greet prospective students to 青瓜视频.
Nine years later, members of the CU community recently gathered inside Heilman鈥檚 completed vision 鈥� the E. Bruce Heilman Welcome Center 鈥� to dedicate the new facility.
鈥淚t is a vision he had,鈥� Kelly said. 鈥淗e was very engaged with us in terms of the architecture and all the different programs that would go into this facility, and I firmly believe we have honored that, and I know he would be pleased with what this facility is today.鈥�
鈥淲e want to make certain this building is devoted to His Kingdom, to what He would have us do in this place,鈥� Hopkins said.
Hopkins said the Heilman Welcome Center has exceeded expectations.
鈥淭he creativity of the classrooms and the theater and the usefulness of the offices, the way we can open this building up and have a large gathering like this and most certainly the way it has welcomed our alumni, prospective students and current students,鈥� Hopkins said.
He added the Welcome Center has quickly become a popular location on campus for students.
鈥淯ntil deep in the night, you can find students gathered in these spaces and enjoy this place to study, meet and share with one another,鈥� Hopkins stated. 鈥淭hey use this facility in a wonderful way.鈥�
Hopkins noted Heilman is 鈥渢he essence鈥� of what it means to be a servant leader.
鈥淏ut perhaps the most enduring legacy is the story of this family,鈥� Hopkins said. 鈥淏ruce and Betty Heilman (his wife) made their most precious life investment through their children.鈥�
Hopkins told Heilman鈥檚 family, 鈥淲e are honored and humbled that your parents and you have chosen to bless 青瓜视频 with this remarkable place. Countless generations of students will begin their first encounter at 青瓜视频 right here.
鈥淔aculty will mentor the next generation of student leaders in this space. Alumni will be welcomed home. Students will be served, and careers will be ignited. And I have to believe, over a study session, a cup of coffee, new legacies will be forged.鈥�
CU President Dr. Joseph Hopkins said the E. Bruce Heilman Welcome Center has quickly become a popular place for students on campus to socialize.
CU President Dr. Joseph Hopkins said the E. Bruce Heilman Welcome Center has quickly become a popular place for students on campus to socialize. Photo/Gerard Flanagan
Bruce Heilman鈥檚 daughter, Terry Heilman Sylvester, shared her father recognized 鈥渢he significance of providing a front door to 青瓜视频, welcoming students to a life-changing educational experience while preparing them for a future as Christian servant leaders.鈥�
After serving in the Marines during World War Two, Sylvester said her father decided to take advantage of the G.I. Bill and find a college to attend.
鈥淭he challenge was finding a school that would take him, considering his dismal high school record,鈥� she noted. 鈥淎t the time, Campbellsville was a small junior college so financially stressed it would admit almost anyone. And it was the only school that gave him a chance.鈥�
At Campbellsville, Heilman met his wife, Betty Dobbins Heilman, over a piece of pie while she was working in the cafeteria.
鈥淥ne evening, after finishing his piece of chocolate pie, he asked her if he could have another piece. There was a strict policy of one per person, so she gave him her piece of pie, and the rest is history.鈥�
After a short time dating, the two were married by the president of Campbellsville College.
鈥淪ix children later and a college degree in hand, his pursuit of a career in higher education had begun, ultimately culminating in becoming the president of Meredith College and then the University of Richmond,鈥� Sylvester explained.
Sylvester noted her father traveled to all 50 states as the spokesperson for the Greatest Generation Foundation and the Spirit of 鈥�45, meeting other veterans and visiting Gold Star families.
鈥淚t was another way of making a difference in the lives of others and one that gave him a purpose until the day he died,鈥� she said.
Heilman鈥檚 motorcycle, on which he made so many trips and covered so many miles, is on display in the Heilman Welcome Center.
鈥淚t only seems fitting that the motorcycle is on display where my dad鈥檚 best efforts were given, representing the life of an extraordinary man who left his largest legacy at 青瓜视频,鈥� Sylvester stated.
Sylvester and her family gathered at 青瓜视频 in 2019 to celebrate her father鈥檚 93rd birthday and also to break ground for the Heilman Welcome Center.
鈥淔or my niece, Corey, and my nephew, Nick, both proud graduates of Campbellsville, it was like coming home,鈥� Sylvester said. 鈥淔or the rest of us, Dad wanted us to see firsthand why he and my mom had invested so generously here and had such confidence in the future of the institution.鈥�
Sylvester explained that today鈥檚 Campbellsville is not the Campbellsville E. Bruce Heilman attended, even though the Christian mission has not changed.
鈥淲ith the dedication of this new facility, the continued dedication of those who serve here, and the thousands of students who will pass through these doors, it is with confidence that we look to the future and the endless possibilities that lie ahead,鈥� Sylvester proclaimed.
Bruce Heilman鈥檚 daughter, Terry Heilman Sylvester, explained that the dedication of the E. Bruce Heilman Welcome Center is a reason to look ahead to the future and 鈥渢he endless possibilities鈥� that lie ahead. Photo/Gerard Flanagan
Stan Curry, member of the CU Board of Trustees, recalled a story when he met Heilman at the funeral of a mutual friend.
鈥淏ruce Heilman walks into the funeral home in his full Marine uniform,鈥� Curry said. 鈥淗e was amazing. You knew right then you were in the presence of someone of greatness.鈥�
Speaking to Heilman鈥檚 family, Curry added, 鈥淲e often stay we stand on shoulders of people. We have stood on the shoulders of your dad. From the Campbellsville alumni, Board of Trustees, we can鈥檛 thank you enough.
鈥淭hank you is not good enough. But that鈥檚 all we can give you.鈥�
Shelby Bollinger, president of CU鈥檚 Student Government Association, told the audience that, 鈥淭he Heilman Center is seen by students as a place of community, comfort, and conversation.鈥�
She added, 鈥淭his center has allowed for the campus to improve and has allowed more opportunities for each student to put academics first and allow more social spaces.鈥�
青瓜视频 is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.