Lincoln College presents Retired Army Major General Byron S. Bagby Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters

 

[October 02, 2021] 

In a special convocation on Friday, Sept 24, 2021, Retired Army Major General Byron Bagby was bestowed the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Lincoln College. The Johnston Center auditorium was filled with LC faculty, staff, students and members of the community.

The prestigious recognition is awarded only to a select few who are reviewed carefully for their contributions to our society and on character. The Trustee and Honors Committee of the Lincoln College Board of Trustees makes recommendations to the full board, which then make selections and authorize Dr. Gerlach to contact the candidates to gauge their interest. He reports back to the board, who then vote on the final selections.


Patrick Doolin at podium

At the ceremony Bagby was presented by his sponsor, Chairman of Lincoln College Board of Trustees Patrick Doolin. Doolin spoke about Bagby’s academic, military career and professional achievements.

See citation: Lincoln College awards Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to Byron S. Bagby, retired Major General and Managing Partner of BMB Solutions, LLC.



Lincoln College President Dr. David Gerlach sashed Dr. Bagby and presented his diploma.

Bagby was selected in March 2019 and invited to be the guest speaker at the 2020 Convocation, which was cancelled due to Covid. In taking the podium, Dr. Bagby noted that the world and nation have been turned upside down by covid, and much has happened since giving the sense that a lot of time has passed. He jested, "And I'm certain many of you wondered if I even existed or maybe David Clapp (LC Trustee) created some fictitious character. Well, I am here!"

In his remarks Dr. Bagby would liken his life to that of the students there today and their lifetime of opportunities and choices that lay ahead.



"Today is the sum of the work of a large support group that I have had my entire life: my parents, my Sunday school teachers, my elementary school teachers, my professors at Westminster College, my ROTC instructors, mentors throughout my military career, my wife Monique and two adult children Jessica and Benjamin."

He said it had been a wonderful day on campus engaging with student groups, asking questions, exchanging thoughts; "spending time with Lincoln's most important stakeholder, its students."

Lincoln was the fourth campus he'd been on in 16 days: Westminster, William Woods University and West Point NY Military. "I truly treasure time spent with our nation’s most valuable resource, our college students."

He cited a few of the challenges of our times: corona virus, finding an immigration policy that will affect our nation in a positive way, and the U.S. is trying to define our place in the world order. He believes we are more divided politically, racially, financially and intellectually. However, he said, “no matter how bad it looks here in our nation, many nations have it much, much worse. I have lived in five foreign countries and visited almost 70, and there is no place like the United States of America.

“Our nation proves its resilience time after time and on a daily basis. The four part terrorist attack in 2001 is one proof.” It was the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

The timing of Bagby's visit to Lincoln was profound with the 20th anniversary of 911 observed just days ago, and Dr. Bagby would tell about that terrible day he was on duty in the Pentagon serving as an executive assistant to one of six top executives in the Pentagon. The Pentagon was one of the three targets terrorists crashed commercial aircraft into. One other terrorist-manned-aircraft attack was foiled that day.

The attack was personal for him as an active member of our country’s military. He said those 2,977 people who were killed were not nameless or faceless. They were family and community members with their own sphere of influence.

He said that at that time in history it was unfathomable that anyone would attack the defense headquarters of the world’s most powerful nation. He asked everyone to think about that.

His department with more than 400 people was destroyed and two staff members were killed. The most difficult task of his life was to sit down in a living room and tell a six year old that her mother, a single parent sergeant in his office, was deceased.

When looking at role models, Bagby said, "One person I have held in high regard is President Abraham Lincoln. To me being on the campus of Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois is extraordinarily special."

He recited the many hardships - personal, business and political losses the self-educated Lincoln endured; that he came from nothing and worked hard his whole life. During the primary race for president Lincoln beat more educated and wealthier men, and he brought those men into his cabinet when he won the Presidency. Lincoln demonstrated how to bring people together. He kept the Union together when he brought Illinois' native Ulysses S. Grant into the Civil War to be the commander of our military forces and won the war.

"To our students present today, you can accomplish anything in life. Yes, you'll have obstacles, you'll have challenges, and you'll have crucibles to work through. But if you persevere, remain focused, you can meet any challenge, just like President Lincoln did."


In Bagby's own heritage his parents were limited in options. African American's could not attend high school in their county. They too worked hard, appreciated what they had and helped him to get the education he did.

He credited a large support group to encourage him; “I earned a bachelors, I earned a masters degree, I earned multiple stars of a General in the Armed Forces, and today an honorary doctorate.

“Today is not about me. I'm just a sum of a support group that helped me work through life, provide encouragement and to identify positive opportunities.

"You can accomplish anything in your life no matter how you begin, but its how you seize upon positive opportunities like President Lincoln did; and many, many others."

Bagby observed the Lincoln College mission statement says, "Lincoln College empowers students to realize their full potential." It has been doing so since 1865 and will continue on for decades to come, he said.

He closed thanking all those involved in conferring him the doctorate and said, "God bless each and every one of you present and God bless America!"

Patrick Doolin, Bill Gossett, Dr. Byron Bagby, Jean Gossett and President David Gerlach share a moment.

Dr. Bagby recognized Lincoln legends Bill and Jean Gossett, who were sitting center front. It was jolly time following the ceremony. Outside, Bagby and the Gossetts would meet and share some laughs with President Gerlach and Doolin.


Bill Gossett and Dr. Byron Bagby; two legendaries meet.

Bill Gossett made history at this past 2021 commencement completed an Associate of Arts Degree at age 97. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2020. Gossett's formal education had been cut short when he joined the Army Air Corp in WWII, and on his return to the states he again had to forgo his education in order to run the family dry cleaning business due to his father's illness. Bill served many years on the LC Board of Trustees and is now trustee emeritus.

In his opening remarks, Bagby also appreciated LC Executive Assistant Amy Gallagher, saying that executive assistants of college presidents keep colleges running smoothly; and complimented President Gerlach for his role leading LC.

Bagby met with five student groups while on the LC campus and of Student Government President Klaudia Blaszczy he said, she brings experience leading her peers about “governance and leadership that will pay many dividends down the road.”

Bagby thanked all the college family who made the event and various activities happen and the Gerlach's for their gracious hospitality. He also thanked Trustee David Clapp, who hails from the same home town as Clapp and connected him to Lincoln College.

The ceremony concluded with the LC alma mater song lead virtually and closed in prayer.

[Jan Youngquist]

Past related

11/12/2020 - Lincoln College awards Bill Gossett with Honorary Doctorate

11/12/2020 - Caravan honors Dr. Bill Gossett at Lincoln College - slideshow

05/18/2021 - Lincoln College Student Crosses Commencement Stage at Age of 97
William “Bill” Gossett Earns Associate of Arts Degree