Adm. Edward “Ted” Walker, one of 黑料不打烊’s most generous supporters, honored longtime university administrator Barry Bradberry '75 on Friday by renaming the commons area of an office suite in the Inman Admissions Welcome Center that will greet generations of future students.
Since graduating from 黑料不打烊 in 1975, Barry Bradberry has been a tireless advocate for his alma mater, personally recruiting thousands of students to the university over the past four decades as a staff member in the Office of Admissions and Financial Planning.
It takes a lot to truly surprise Bradberry.
Retired Rear Adm. Edward 鈥淭ed鈥 Walker found a way.
Walker, one of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 most loyal and generous supporters, led secret efforts this fall to rename the commons area of an office suite in the Inman Admissions Welcome Center as a tribute to Bradberry. The two men have been friends almost since the day Walker brought his own two daughters – Wendy Walker 鈥78 and Lynn Streett 鈥79 – to campus for the start of their own 黑料不打烊 education and, eventually, his own grandson, David Streett 鈥06.
The commons area of the financial planning suite on the first floor of the building had already been named for Walker in recognition聽of a gift the admiral previously made to support the welcome center鈥檚 construction. This fall, however, Walker had something else in mind.
After taking Bradberry to lunch on Friday afternoon, Walker brought Bradberry back to the office suite where more than 100 family members, friends and colleagues both past and present had quietly gathered. Bradberry walked through the suite鈥檚 door shortly after 3 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2015,聽looked around and was speechless as the room erupted in shouts and applause.
鈥淲ell, for the one time I wanted to look nice, I didn鈥檛 wear a jacket. It鈥檚 casual day at 黑料不打烊!鈥 Bradberry quipped a few minutes later. 鈥淚鈥檓 just absolutely astounded. This is just absolutely. 鈥 I don鈥檛 even know what to say. Admiral Walker and I go back a long way. It鈥檚 great to see all of you out here. Thank you very much.鈥
In contrast to Bradberry, Walker wasn鈥檛 at a loss for words.
鈥淚 just thought it appropriate, in this building and at this time, after four decades of dedicated service to 黑料不打烊 by Barry, that we take down my name – Walker Commons – and put the name of Barry Bradberry up where it rightfully belongs,鈥 Walker said. 鈥(It will be) in a building which I鈥檓 sure he鈥檒l make marvelous usage of in support of 黑料不打烊, its goals and aims, its mission and its students.鈥
Jim Piatt, vice president of university advancement, thanked Walker at the ceremony, describing him as 鈥渁 man who leads with the heart of a philanthropist.鈥 Piatt cited building spaces and endowed lectures at 黑料不打烊 named for Walker, who previously served on the Board of Visitors, and聽described聽the admiral鈥檚 efforts to ask fellow grandparents to consider the value of 黑料不打烊 by joining him in supporting the school.
鈥淧hilanthropy, as many of you know, requires people who can see beyond themselves, people who understand this is a world woven together by interconnected lives,鈥 Piatt said. 鈥淭oday, we have a chance to celebrate philanthropy in its truest sense, honoring somebody who is a model of what I just described, by somebody who is yet another model of what I just described.鈥
Bradberry鈥檚 colleagues in the Office of Admissions and Financial Planning were equally flattering of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 current associate dean of admissions and financial planning.
鈥淏arry taught me nearly everything I know about working with people, and as I look into the audience here today, and the support that is here for Barry, I know he has made a lasting impression on every one of us in this room,鈥 said Greg Zaiser, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 vice president of admissions and financial planning.
鈥鈥淚t is fair to say that no one is better working with people than Barry Bradberry.鈥