BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Campbell fans, alumni and friends, students, faculty and staff gathered Monday to honor University President Dr. J. Bradley Creed, who is retiring at the end of the month.

Along with the unveiling of the design transformation of the lobby area of the Pope Convocation Center, the University dedicated a display on the Gore Arena concourse to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Creed and his wife Kathy, and the impact they made during their tenure on campus.
 
Through the generosity of the Fighting Camel fan base, a visual display – that includes Campbell's two most recent Big South Sasser Cup trophies as well as highlights of Dr. Creed's decade of service to the University – was unveiled. The project was funded by the Fighting Camel Club.
 
During Dr. Creed's tenure at Campbell, Fighting Camel teams won 33 conference championships and 21 regular season titles and made 30 NCAA team appearances from the fall of 2016 through the spring of 2025.
 
The Legacy Wall project was executed by Stephens Direct, a full-service marketing and design agency in Dayton, Ohio.  The display honoring the Creeds includes five main areas.  A photograph of Dr. and Mrs. Creed along with a biography of his Campbell tenure is at the left side of the display.  Photographs and highlights of Campbell's move to scholarship football in 2018, the 110,000 square foot Harris Student Union, which was dedicated in 2020 and is the centerpiece of the Academic Circle, and the press conference announcing Campbell's move to the CAA in 2023 anchor the center.
 
At the right end of the Legacy Wall is a custom trophy case, which displays the two Sasser Cups, awarded to Campbell as the Big South's most successful athletics program each year.  At the end of the trophy case, in large all caps letters are the words "GO CAMELS!" which Dr. Creed routinely ended nearly every one of his public speeches.
 
"Under Dr. Creed's leadership, Campbell has grown – in stature, in opportunity, in spirit, in ambition and in belief in what's possible, and in Athletics, we've felt that support deeply," said Athletics Director Hannah Bazemore.  "To us, Dr. Creed has been more than just a president – he has been a true advocate, a consistent presence, and a firm believer in the value of sport as an extension of the academic mission.  He has understood that that value isn't just in wins and losses, but in what sport teaches our student-athletes about discipline, teamwork, and resilience. 
He's encouraged us to dream big, to do things the right way, and to always keep our students at the center."
 
Bazemore also recognized the many contributions Kathy Creed has made to the university and community. 
 
"Mrs. Creed – always gracious, always welcoming – has walked right alongside him," said Bazemore.  "Whether it was attending games, greeting students, or offering words of support, Kathy has made this community feel like family.  Together, they have modeled servant leadership at its finest."
 
Senior Associate A.D. for External Affairs Chris Hemeyer opened the program, then recognized Scott Evans '88, who serves as chairman of the AD's Advisory Board.  Not only did Evans pitch for the Camels in the mid-1980s, but his son, Christian, was a punter on the football team.
 
"I was talking with Christian, and he said, 'Let me tell you about the Creeds.  There were a bunch of us there during summer school.  We were athletes who had transferred to Campbell from other places.  The Creed family opened up their home to us, fed us, had Bible study, and gave us an opportunity to be a part of their family,'" said Evans.
 
"We appreciate everything they've done, their hospitality, gentleness, kindness, the way they go about their daily life and interact with people is really appreciated," said Evans.  "Thank you, Dr. Creed, for being one of us. Not only for being president of this great university for the last decade, but your fingerprint will be on this university forever.  We know it's a family effort and we appreciate you both."
 
During Dr. Creed's decade of service, Campbell claimed a pair of Big South Conference Sasser Cup trophies, which recognizes the best overall athletics program in the league.  That success led to an invitation to join the Coastal Athletic Association in 2023, further raising the profile of the university and its athletics department.
 
The school's program also moved from the Pioneer Football League to the Big South and scholarship football in 2018, remaining a member until 2023 when it transitioned to the CAA, one of the country's top Football Championship Subdivision conferences.
 
Opened in 2008, the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center, which houses Gore Arena, ranks among the finest facilities in the Coastal Athletic Association and the state of North Carolina.  The lobby project includes a 9x15 foot Running Camel logo on the wall facing the main entrance with Campbell's primary marks appearing throughout the space.  Also included are the lyrics to the University alma mater and fight song along with an image of the statue of Dr. J.A. Campbell, who founded the institution in 1887.
 
"As I've had the opportunity to travel to other campuses, especially in the CAA, I've taken inspiration from how they've told their stories, celebrated their student-athletes and their leaders," said Bazemore.  "We've now brought those ideas home – infused them with Campbell's unique identity – and created a space that tells our story, and that's just the start.  The lobby now serves as a welcoming front door to not just our athletic programs that compete in this arena, but to the larger university, community and student body that walk through these doors.  It's a place that connects past, present and future."