The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1266731
JULY/AUGUST 2020 ■ 25 "Bobby Purcell has been synonymous with both the Wolfpack Club and NC State athletics for over three decades. He is a pioneer in his profession, has always put NC State's best interests above his own and his profound impact cannot be overstated. Bobby is con- nected to every generation of Wolfpack athletics, and he has created a true legacy that will endure. We are grateful for all that Bobby has done and meant to NC State athletics." — Current NC State director of athletics Boo Corrigan (2019-present) "When I first got into this industry in 2004, the first industry conference I went to was either that summer or the next, and the brand of the Wolfpack Club and the name Bobby Purcell came up pretty quickly, as in this is a good way to do this business. They have something figured out at NC State. "Then around 2010, I had the plea - sure of meeting Bobby personally at a conference meeting where he went out of his way to be kind to me. "I've known Bobby for seven or eight years personally, and profes- sionally from a distance for probably 15 or so, and I've have always admired the work that he and the Wolfpack Club have done at NC State." — New Wolfpack Club executive director Ben Broussard "In this day and age, staff members come and go far too frequently, usually for perceived or real advance- ment in careers. The fact that Bobby remained at NC State for more than three decades is a tribute to his loyalty to all things Wolfpack-related. That exten- sive tenure allowed him to develop deep roots with many people, relationships that have made a positive difference in the life of the athletics department." — Former NC State director of athletics Debbie Yow (2010-19) "Bobby knows everybody, and everybody at NC State knows him. But I told him the other day he has to stop calling me, because every time he calls me, it's to tell me that somebody died. I told him he needed to call me with some good news. He called me about two days later and said, 'Everybody is still here.' It was good to hear." — Former NC State director of athletics Lee Fowler "Bobby has been a loyal friend to me for almost 40 years. He just came out to visit me, with a couple of former players and coaches, for my 80th birthday. He is an exceptional person who loves NC State, something I've known since I first hired him for my staff in 1981. He's done a great job, something he should be proud of and something the Wolfpack Club should be proud of." — Former NC State football coach Monte Kiffin "In any job, it comes down to relationships and obviously Bobby has been a master with relation - ships and a great friend to every- body. Every single person associated with NC State is important to Bobby — and to his great credit, I never saw him treat somebody differently based on the amount of money they potentially could donate or did donate. He took time for everybody. He was kind to everybody. He's the ultimate gentleman. "And over those many years, he developed incredi - ble relationships and friendships, and that — coupled with his expertise in his job — made him somebody that every chancellor and every athletics director wanted by his or her side." — Former men's basketball coach Herb Sendek "This is the kind of person Bobby Purcell is: My granddaughter is a high school senior and she wanted to visit NC State to learn more about its com- munication department. Bobby arranged for her to sit in on a class and take a tour. She had a wonderful experience. She saw everything she wanted to see. "It was the same kind of thoroughness he had as a coach. Taking care of every detail. He would have been great in any job he had. I just love the guy. NC State is going to miss him more than it thinks." — Former football coach Dick Sheridan "I look around the country and I've seen some of these programs just completely fall apart. There have been two or three programs along with the Wolfpack Club that have been able to thrive. We've been for - tunate. We've had good leadership at the university and in the athletics department, and we've had great leadership within the Wolfpack Club for a long time. Bobby has been a big part of it all." — Former Wolfpack Club executive secretary K.M. 'Charlie' Bryant "The Don of Donations," shortly after the Wolfpack Club became just one of three booster organizations in the nation to reach 20,000 members. He appreciates the outside recognition, but nothing means more to him than the thanks of his staff, the camaraderie of his deep-rooted coaching tree and the interac- tions he has on a daily basis with donors, whether they give $100 or $10 million. Purcell has managed major gift-givers like Wendell Murphy, Curtis and Jacqueline Dail, Richard Vaughn, and Randy and Tiffany Ramsey, as well as the grassroots donors that have been the foundation of the Wolfpack Club's success for its 80 years of service as an independent contributor to the university. Paying the bills is not always easy, of course, especially in economic downturns and a worldwide pandemic that has put the com- ing fall and winter sports seasons in jeopardy. Purcell leaves in place a full-time staff of more than two dozen fundraisers and staff members, with total assets in excess of $100 million, including real estate, facilities and pledges. He has launched the careers of more than 20 fundraisers and administra- tors, including Kansas athletics director Jeff Long, UNC Wilmington athletics director Jimmy Bass and Denver athletics director Karlton Creech. And his reach around the state spans all 100 counties, all municipalities and innu- merable households. He leaves with recognition from across the country, including numerous prestigious laurels from the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD). Purcell served as president of the organi- zation from 2004-05, won its University Division Fundraiser of the Year in 2007 and was given its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Not long ago, the NAADD named its mentor program in Purcell's honor. "What Bobby has done to maintain con- sistency and continuity at NC State, through a lot of highs and lows, has been amaz- ing," longtime baseball coach Elliott Avent said. "If we had been changing fundraisers through all of the difficult and lean times, I think things would be a lot different within our athletics department. "We all owe a great deal of gratitude and thankfulness to Bobby Purcell. I hope no one ever forgets that. What he's meant to this ath- letics department has been immeasurable." ■ What They're Saying About Bobby Purcell "Bobby was such a great part of my time at NC State and a really, re- ally good person. He was in exactly the right position, for him and for NC State. From my end of it, he was fantastic to work with. I couldn't have asked for any more support. "And he was smart enough to get out of the coaching end of it, I have to give him credit for that." — Former football coach Mike O'Cain Tim Peeler is a regular contributor to The Wolfpacker and can be reached at tmpeeler@ncsu.edu.