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Chancellor Emeritus Charles B. Runnels is sometimes referred to as the “Grandfather of Pepperdine,” and this year as he celebrates his 40th anniversary with the university, the love and respect he receives from colleagues and community members is as strong as ever.
His story is one of hardship, perseverance, loss, chance and God; making the balance of strength and humility seem effortless.
“I have known Charlie for 38 of his 40 years here at Pepperdine. He is the consummate gentleman,” said Dr. Jere Yates, professor of Organizational Behavior and Management. “He and his wife have worked tirelessly making friends and raising funds for the young people at Pepperdine.”
Born in Nacogdoches, one of the smallest and oldest cities in Texas, Runnels said he learned the value of hard work at a young age. When the Great Depression hit the United States, Runnels’ parents survived on the product of the land. They worked on a small farm, struggling to provide for their four children.
“We always had food on the table,” said Runnels. “And that was enough.”
He certainly did not experience the many luxuries of Malibu until many years later. At the age of 16, Runnels enrolled in Stephen F. Austin College in Texas while working as a bellhop at a local hotel to pay for tuition.
Runnels’ life was changed drastically shortly after as Pearl Harbor was attacked later that year. He enlisted in the Navy at age 17.
“They let me go to school for another year at Southwest Louisiana Institute until I was 18,” Runnels said. “ After that, I went to aviation school to get my wings.”
Hard work and perseverance would prove to be vital during this time in his life. Runnels initially wanted to be a carrier fighter pilot, but the Navy called for single-engine pilots at that time.
“I admit that I was disappointed,” Runnels said, “ but it just went the other way this time.”
After years of flight school and training, Runnels received his wings just as Japan surrendered.
“It wasn’t great timing, but I made the choice to stay in the Navy for one more year,” Runnels said. “I was an assistant to the Orient and spent my time in Japan and China.”
After leaving the service when he was 22, Runnels went back to college to receive his bachelor’s degree and would later attend the University of Houston Law School, only to be forced to drop out a year later after his father became ill.
“I then met my wife in 1950,” Runnels said. “And that certainly changed everything.”
While juggling the responsibilities of a family (he and his wife had four children), Runnels returned to law school at night and passed the Texas bar exam in 1959.
After landing a successful job with the Tenneco Oil Co., Runnels and his family headed to Los Angeles.
“I met Pepperdine’s president, M. Norvel Young, while the campus was still in Los Angeles,” Runnels said. “He eventually talked me into staying with the school in order to help secure land for a new campus. They promised me that if I stayed with Pepperdine, my four children would have scholarships here.”
Runnels could not resist the offer and became a permanent member of the Pepperdine family in 1967.
As the opening of the anticipated Malibu campus was fast approaching, another obstacle stood in the way of the Runnels family. Their second son, Raleigh, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. He died in his senior year of high school, right before joining the first class at the new college in Malibu.
“I bet students come here and never know that the pool was named after Raleigh,” said Runnels. “It was built entirely from donations made in his name, and was named the Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.”
“It was absolutely the hardest thing our family had to go through,” Runnels said, “but it was encouraging to see the Olympics held there in 1984. Still, nothing will make it better.”
Tragedy did not stop Runnels from climbing the ladder at Pepperdine. After developing the Youth Citizenship Seminar, which trains 250 high school junior to be moral leaders and better citizens that has touched 5,000 lives since its founding, Runnels was unanimously elected chancellor Dec. 31, 1984.
“The YCS is what I am most proud of since I have been here at Pepperdine,” Runnels said. “ We have had speakers such as George Forman, Art Linkletter and Tom Selleck.”
Runnels also recently received an award that he considers one his proudest achievements. Runnels accepted the Chairman’s Lifetime Achievement Award from Interfaith CarePartners on Feb 27.
Interfaith CarePartners sponsors and conducts interfaith and interdisciplinary programs of scholarship, research, education and service.
Alongside acclaimed journalist Walter Cronkite and two-time Grammy Award-winner Rita Coolidge, Runnels was certainly in good company as he accepted the award.
“It was a great honor to come to my hometown of Houston to receive the award,” Runnels said.
In his 40th year at Pepperdine, Runnels enjoys the company of his granddaughter, Megan Runnels, who is a freshman this year.
“The history with Pepperdine and my family definitely helped my decision to go here,” Runnels said. “It’s also really nice that I can stop in and see my granddad whenever I want.”
Runnels’ son and two daughters also attended Pepperdine.
All three met their spouses while attending the school, which Runnels said makes the role Pepperdine plays in his life even more prominent.
Runnels said that one of the most important things he has gained from Pepperdine are his friendships.
Submitted 04-05-2007
MALIBU, CA
