Foundational faculty, staff members recognized at second Pioneer Luncheon

Liberty University’s Office of Alumni Relations and Office of the Provost hosted the second annual Pioneer Luncheon on Nov. 22, inviting founding leaders, staff members, faculty, and administrators in recognition for their foundational contributions to the university in its earliest years.

The group of 75 pioneers and spouses gathered in the Liberty Mountain Conference Center to reconnect with former colleagues, hear from leaders including President Dondi E. Costin and Chancellor Jonathan Falwell, and reflect on their roles in making Liberty what it is today.

“Our job is to reach back and thank those that came before us, and you really can’t thank these people enough for their sacrifices,” said Executive Director of Alumni Engagement Dr. Greg Tilley. “Like we saw today, the top administration agrees that we need to do something special for these men and women. This is a chance for us to say ‘Thank you’ as an entire university to these people for their dedication to the Lord and to the university.”

David Beck was teaching at Boston University in the 1970s when he got a call from C. Sumner Wemp, Liberty’s chair of religion at the time, asking him to teach philosophy at what was then called Liberty Baptist College. Despite not having heard of Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell or the school, Beck traveled down to Lynchburg, and he said he fell in love with the campus. Beck began teaching in 1978 and continues as an online professor today, and he said he’s one of countless others who have been amazed by the growth of Liberty thanks to the vision of Dr. Falwell.

“It’s been incredible to watch what God has done here,” Beck said. “I remember when Jerry used to say, ‘Someday we’re going to have 25,000 students,’ and we all laughed because we had 1,000 at the time. Then he said we’d have 50,000 and we laughed again. We got 50,000, and he said 100,000 next. We’ve been over 100,000 for some time now.”

Beck said the luncheon allowed him to gather with peers from across his tenure at the university, including some he hasn’t seen in 25-30 years.

Before retiring in 2021, Ruth Gomes was a full-time professor in the Department of Human Ecology (which eventually was renamed Family & Consumer Sciences) for 25 years. While she still lives in the area, she said the luncheon reconnected her with those she used to pass by in the halls on campus.

“I got to see these people I used to teach with and other professors,” she said. “It’s exciting to be a part of a school that has grown the way (Liberty) has, and it’s still growing today. I’m amazed by what Liberty has done and what (the leadership plans) to do in the future.”

Following the luncheon, the guests were invited to board a bus for a tour of Liberty’s ever-changing campus. They were also offered tickets for the Nov. 23 Flames Football game and invited to services at Thomas Road Baptist Church on Sunday.