One of the great professors
Is leaving Wake Forest. Charles Kimball of the Religion dept, who has been here I believe 12 years, is going to Oklahoma U. on June 1st. Charles is famous for his studies of Islam and was one of the premier commentators on Islam following 9-11. He did countless alumni and parent programs for me and he is one of the best minds I know. And funny as heck too.
I was fortunate enough to attend a small party for him lastnight. It was a great group - top administrators, some trustees, faculty, some athletics colleagues (because if you know Charles, you know he is a big sports fan and a great supporter of our Deacs). As a matter of fact, it was Charles’ class that helped both Josh Howard and Chris Paul decide to be religion majors. That’s how good he is.
So we roasted him - and bless him, he is a very good sport - with a goodie bag called his Oklahoma Survival Kit, replete with toy sheriffs badges (because there is a new sheriff in town), a shovel to dig the storm cellar, and a variety of similar things.
The evening closed with Charles being asked to do a dramatic reading of the OU fight song, which has remarkably few words - Boomer, Sooner, Boomer, Sooner, Boomer, Sooner, Go OU! or something like it. He is a great speaker and carried it off with aplomb.
I will miss him a lot. He is thoughtful and kind and so smart. His family is in Oklahoma and he grew up there. He and wife Nancy have a lot to look forward to.
But we sure will miss him.