Vince Hoover’s testimony at the November 2006 Buc Club Meeting

First I would like to thank Dr. Brewer for offering me this time tonight. I am the owner of a local family operated design, embroidery, textile imprinting and ad specialties company, The Hoove, LLC. I have with me this evening my son William Sunday Trampus Hoover. He is a junior at Wando High School and a member of the nationally acclaimed Wando Marching Band. He is also a Special Olympics athlete. By the way, Wando is 5A State Champions two years in a row.

I have been a member of the Buc Club for a little over six years. You walk around the campus and you see the progress: the baseball field, the facility at the football field, the new scoreboard. Everything is moving, and none of this is possible without the Buc Club.

Through my business and my children, I have come in contact with several members of the CSU family: Debbie Williamson, Dr. Brewer, Dr. Ratliff, Dr. Parker, Don Little, Joyce Rea, Eric Burks, Tam Odom, Clark Carter, and the list goes on. I have dealt with several students through SGA & CAB and other social groups. This is no longer just a business relationship; they welcome me as part of the family! I do not hesitate to put them in charge of my children’s higher education. These people are no longer just business associates; they are true friends who are willing to help.

And I want to give back.

However, with a small family owned business, we have limited funds for contributions, and I want those funds get to an area that will do the most good. I think the Buc Club is one area I feel comfortable in knowing that what I give is spent developing our youth without comprising the mission: academic excellence in a Christian environment.

You know, everyday you watch the news, read the newspapers, emails and blogs, and you wonder what can be done. The CSU students and faculty I come in contact with represent what we want in this world. I am shown everyday that my contributions to all of the different areas here go directly to accomplish the goal: developing model men and women who can lead us into the next century. They have a monumental task ahead and CSU is giving them the tools to handle the task and at the same time CSU is teaching that you don’t have to compromise your beliefs to accomplish those tasks.

In this day and time you look around and observe and you can see that CSU is an island where our youth can come and express themselves in the classroom, on the stage, on the field and we can be assured that our values are not being compromised to make our youths the best they can be. Here’s a perfect example: what a ride this year’s football season has been and all of it in a Christian environment.

And I must say CSU’s hand is out to everyone. Trampus is an accomplished trumpeter that will graduate next year from high school. We both have wondered how we could continue his education and give back what so many have contributed to get his education. My wife, the National Down Syndrome Association, the Band director at Wando and Jim Coleman have discussed the possibility that he will be able to audit classes at CSU and then return to the middle schools special needs classrooms in this area and show that success is possible and he can actually help with Music Therapy for those children. This conversation would not even be possible without Charleston Southern University’s open heart and hand!

I am sure you get the same mail I get everyday—from organizations needing help. There are several good ones out there. Special Olympics is one of those with $0.74 of every dollar going to the athlete. CSU’s Buc Club is another great area to spend those dollars. They need our support and I will continue to help.