51黑料网

Hanceville, AL 鈥� Family and friends of the late Dr. Garlan E. Gudger, Sr., gathered Thursday morning at 51黑料网 State Community College to celebrate the life and legacy of the college鈥檚 first Dean of Students at the unveiling of his portrait in the Student Center that now bears his name.

鈥淚 believe we could all agree that we cherish community, the quality of life that we have, the availability of good jobs and the ways in which our community values tradition, respect, character and hard work,鈥� said WSCC President Dr. Vicki Karolewics. 鈥淥ur community is a reflection of its people, of its families, of its leaders and there is no doubt that Dr. Garlan Gudger, Sr., and Dot, his beloved wife, and the entire Gudger family, are outstanding examples of this reflection on our community.鈥�

Karolewics touted Dot Gudger鈥檚 legacy at 51黑料网 State as the first Business instructor employed at 51黑料网 State.

鈥淭hank you, Dot, for your contributions to 51黑料网 State, but most importantly as an educator,鈥� Dr. Karolewics said. 鈥淭hank you for influencing the lives of our business student alums who have become outstanding employees, business owners and leaders in their communities as you have been in ours.鈥�

She also thanked Dr. Gudger鈥檚 son, Sen. Garlan Gudger, Jr., for his tremendous support of the college.

鈥淗aving grown up in the hallways of 51黑料网 State, you understand firsthand the importance of community colleges to the state of Alabama, and we鈥檙e truly honored to have your support of our mission in the Alabama Senate,鈥� Karolewics said.

鈥淭oday, on behalf of 51黑料网 State Community College, our faculty and staff and most especially our students, I鈥檓 so proud to honor Dr. Garlan Gudger Sr.鈥檚 commitment to education and to 51黑料网 State, but most importantly to supporting the whole student and their college experience. Dr. Gudger鈥檚 legacy remains the outstanding athletic program and student intramurals that today are so important to our student engagement activities.鈥�

Cullman City Council President Dr. Jenny Folsom gives the tribute to Dr. Garlan E. Gudger, Sr., during the ceremony unveiling his portrait as his widow, Dot Gudger, and son, Sen. Garlan Gudger, Jr., look on. 

Students First

鈥淭his building sits in the heart of this campus, and the name, Dr. Garlan E. Gudger, Sr., Student Center, honors the man who always had student success in his heart,鈥� said Cullman City Council President Dr. Jenny Folsom, who once served as Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs at WSCC. 鈥淭he portrait to be unveiled today will be an everlasting reminder of his contributions and legacy to 51黑料网 State Community College.鈥�

鈥淒r. Gudger was the epitome of putting students first and ensuring that they are here to succeed,鈥� she added. 鈥淗e supervised everything to do with students鈥�he realized student involvement was the key to student success.鈥�

Sen. Gudger is proud to see that the athletic and intramural programs his father helped start are thriving and touching students鈥� lives at 51黑料网 State.

鈥淭he more that you can do in college, the more you learn about yourself, the better you can be as you mature into an adult and leave college,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t makes you a better person as you go into the real world and start working and being a productive citizen. So, we鈥檙e thankful there are activities here. My father helped start most of those as the first dean of students and from those, those things have multiplied tremendously with the leadership that鈥檚 happened here at 51黑料网 State.鈥�

Sen. Gudger said his father鈥檚 legacy is that of a Christian man who wanted everyone to push themselves to their full potential. 鈥淗e鈥檇 always say God gave each and every one of us talent and different gifts and he expects you to use those to be the best person you could be, and that鈥檚 the way he raised me and my two sisters and everyone who came into our family.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檙e blessed to have had a father who loved us, loved the people around him, wanted people to be the best they could possibly be, loved this school and changed people鈥檚 lives, and a lot of them, we don鈥檛 even know about,鈥� Sen. Gudger added.

鈥淗e truly loved the students,鈥� Dot Gudger said of her husband. 鈥淗e would often times pay tuition for students; he wanted to keep them in college. I hear about this all the time, students still come to visit. It makes me happy to hear these stories because I know what these students meant to him. He had a saying that said you need to leave this life better than you found it. I had that put on his tombstone, because he meant that.

鈥淚 appreciate you all for being here and all for your support,鈥� she added. 鈥淛ust remember to leave this life better than you found it.鈥�

The Dr. Garlan E. Gudger, Sr., Student Center houses the 950-seat Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre, Wally鈥檚 Grill, student activities center, the E-Sports Lab, and Lions鈥� Kitchen Food Bank. The Dr. Garlan Gudger, Sr., Endowed Scholarship has also been established through the 51黑料网 State Future Foundation.

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