Hugh's News & Commentary

Reporting the news that you can depend upon in a timely fashion is a major part of the mission of Hugh's News.

Our goal is to serve you on a moment's notice to bring the news you might not otherwise get.

When Bishop J. Floyd Williams and Dr. Joseph "Pappy" Campbell died a number of years ago now, I was not informed about their deaths until many days later. Melvine and I would have traveled to North Carolina and to Franklin Springs, GA, respectively, to attend both of these funerals.

It was Bishop J. Floyd Williams who called me when I was on active duty at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center at Lackland AFB, TX, in the Air Force in 1974, to prayerfully consider resigning my regular Air Force commission, giving up my career on active duty to go to Southwestern College to succeed Dr. W. R. Corvin who had recently resigned.  He told me that God had revealed that I was the person to become the president. That was not an easy decision for me to make. It took several days of prayer and fasting and studying the Word of God. God gave me Psalm 139. And He used Melvine to recommend that I read that chapter in The Living Bible.  That chapter spoke directly to me, and God gave me a vision about the college that was absolutely breathtaking. I have read that chapter over so many times that I have memorized it without trying. It has become a vital part of my understanding of God and my life.

That decision cost Melvine and me, and our children, several hundred thousand dollars, not withstanding a continued career as an Air Force chaplain. I had been selected to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and that was a factor that prevented my promotion to Colonel later in the Air Force Reserve. So, the retirement I get from the Air Force is less than what I would have received as a regular Air Force officer on active duty. However, I don't look back. I obeyed the voice of God and the rest is history. Consequently, I have a great love for Southwestern Christian University, and I always want to support this great institution. I rejoice in the progress that is being made under the capable leadership of Dr. Ed Huckeby.

I made the decision to resign my regular commission as an Air Force officer, and go to Southwestern College to become the third president of this great institution. I believe that historians will discover that my tenure as president, although less than 2 years, was indeed significant in the providential care of God to save the college in a crucial period of our history. God uses men and women to accomplish His work on earth. The time frame is not as important as the obedience to God's will. The people of the west deserve their own university to train their young men and women in higher Christian education in many fields of study.

Although things did not turn out like I wanted them to, I maintained my admiration, love, and friendship with Bishop J. Floyd Williams, and often saw him at Falcon, NC, at various events, and we talked and ate together on several occasions.

Dr. Joseph "Pappy" Campbell and I have a great deal in common. We were both born in Birmingham, AL. His mother, Mary, and my mother Julia Payne Morgan, were very close friends. Pappy often visited us when we were in the Air Force chaplaincy, and when I pastored in Birmingham at Good Shepherd Pentecostal Holiness Church which was formerly the First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Birmingham.  He loved Melvine's cooking and enjoyed eating pinto beans, Vidalia onions, old fashioned corn bread fritters, corn bread and buttermilk. The church in Birmingham was my home church, and I was privileged to be their pastor for 9 years.

On the Sunday that we were raising $100,000 in one day for our new church building, we were oh, so close to reaching that goal. I was exhausted, and I think I would have given up before the victory was won. Pappy was there that day, and he came up to me to speak an encouraging word. He sensed that I was about to give up, and he didn't want to give the devil any foothold. He said, "Hugh, you can't give up now. You are too close. You will get what you have believed God for. I will give the last $10,000."

As I recall, we were had reached a little over $80,000. That offer from Pappy Campbell put new life and energy in me, electrified the congregation, and with God's help and the generosity of my congregation we raised another $10,000 in record time, and Pappy gave his gift of $10,000. We achieved our goal, $100,000 in one day. Now, that was a miracle of God. I give Him all the praise, glory, and thanksgiving.

I tell you all of this to let you know that no one informed me that Bishop J. Floyd Williams and Dr. Joseph "Pappy" Campbell had died. People near where I lived in Athens when I was pastor of Tarkenton Memorial Church knew, but never told me. I am sure that in all honesty, they never thought about sharing that information with me. We are all caught up in our complex lives and telling someone else by phone may be something we don't think about. I don't blame them. But I do remember how greatly disappointed I was at the time.

So, out of my own experience of disappointment and lack of communications I endeavor to report the deaths of people, if I know it, for you to know so you and act accordingly.

In this special edition of Hugh's News, you will be able to read about the death of Peggy Fuquay.

Hugh and Lois Hoyle are great news reporters. They quite often send fast-breaking news stories. And I am grateful for them and appreciative of their communications. I call Hugh Hoyle, Superman, and Lois, Lois Lane, Superman's girlfriend.