CHANCELLOR’S AMETHYST

Chancellor Cecil Staton and his wife, Catherine, award the Amethyst to Bill Clark.

Thanks to donor initiatives, an East Carolina University student with dyslexia is succeeding in his classes, a nursing student with financial need is getting help paying for her education, and Pirate baseball fans are enjoying a higher-quality game experience.

Chancellor Cecil Staton acknowledged these dream-makers and life-changers with three of his Chancellor’s Amethysts at a Board of Trustees dinner celebration at ECU on April 19.

The Chancellor’s Amethyst is a special recognition of philanthropic commitment and generosity to ECU that is awarded each fall and spring. The tradition began in 2016 and is awarded to individuals, couples, foundations, and corporate partners who generously support the university. This spring, Staton honored Bill Clark, Max Ray Joyner Sr., and The Oak Foundation for their ongoing altruism and service.

“Your tireless work for this university is vitally important, especially as we move forward with key strategic initiatives and our $500 million comprehensive campaign,” Staton said.

The first recipient, Bill Clark, was a major contributor to Clark-LeClair Baseball Stadium, which bears his name, and committed the lead gift of $1.5 million in support of the project. As the first person in his family to go to college, Clark said ECU opened many doors. “I probably would never be where I am if it hadn’t been for East Carolina,” he said.

After earning bachelor’s degree in social studies in 1966 and his master’s in business administration in 1968 from ECU, Bill founded Bill Clark Homes, now one of the largest privately owned homebuilding companies in the state. In the midst of his success, Clark passed his spirit of philanthropy and love of the Pirates to his three sons, two of whom attended ECU. Most recently, Clark’s family continued his legacy of giving with $900,000 in support of the Dowdy-Ficklen Renovation Campaign.

“Bill Clark is a loyal Pirate and a leader in fundraising efforts for athletics,” Staton said. “The Clark family’s devotion and generosity are vital to our athletic department, our student-athletes and our fans.”

The next recipient, Max Joyner, “is one of the university’s most reliable volunteers and most generous donors,” Staton said. “He has nurtured ECU in much the same way the university has nurtured the region.”

Chancellor Cecil Staton and his wife, Catherine, award the Amethyst to Max Ray Joyner Sr.

Joyner is a lifetime member and past president of the Pirate Club and former president of the ECU Alumni Association. He was a founding member and president of the ECU Foundation and served on that board for more than 20 years. He served two terms on the Board of Trustees and was its chair for two years.

While he was giving his time to ECU, Joyner was also generously supporting the university through regular donations. From an endowed scholarship in the College of Nursing to the first endowed chair in the Brody School of Medicine to an Honors College scholarship, his kindness earned him membership in all of ECU’s major philanthropic groups.

“I’ve enjoyed giving. There’s a big need for scholarships,” Joyner said. “I hope I made a difference in some way.”

The final recipient of the night was The Oak Foundation. The foundation’s cumulative grants to ECU total more than $5 million. Its most recent $1.5 million grant went to the UNC System’s College STAR program in coordination with ECU’s STEPP Program, an initiative that helps college campuses be more welcoming to students with learning differences. The Oak Foundation is an international organization is based in Geneva, Switzerland, but has strong ties to North Carolina and ECU.

“Thanks to the Oak Foundation’s support, students who might have struggled or been at a disadvantage in a higher education setting have found a home and a place to thrive at ECU,” Staton said.

Sebastian Turner, a soon-to-be ECU alumnus and grandson of The Oak Foundation’s founder Alan Parker, accepted the award on behalf of the foundation.

Clark, Joyner and The Oak Foundation join several illustrious individuals and organizations honored with the Amethyst vase since 2016. They are: The Harold H. Bate Foundation, Dan Nichols, Harriet Wooten, The Golden LEAF Foundation, Walter and Marie Williams, BB&T, Carl and Connie Rogers, and Drs. Mary Raab and William McConnell.

Chancellor Cecil Staton and his wife, Catherine, award the Amethyst to Sebastian Turner, representing The Oak Foundation.