Dr. Jim Krudop, director of LBW Community College’s Greenville campus, has seen his name attached to many things during his 37-year tenure with the college.

But during a luncheon prior to the start of this year’s Camellia City Classic golf tournament, he saw it engraved on a particularly special plaque.

The LBW Community College Foundation gifted Krudop the plaque, which signified the establishment of the Dr. James D. Krudop Scholarship Fund, on Wednesday afternoon in grateful appreciation for his decades-long service to LBW.

The scholarship, among several others, will provide Butler County students with an opportunity to seek a higher education.

Arlene Davis, LBW faculty member and tournament organizer, said that the scholarship money awarded through the Foundation Scholarship not only improves the lives of prospective students, but the Butler County community as a whole.

“I have a really unique perspective.  I’m not just a person who helps with the tournament,” Davis said.

“I’m on the frontlines and in the trenches in the classroom behind the podium, and I actually see the benefit of what each person in this room does, as well as the ones that aren’t here. It not only enriches the lives of my students; they finish their terminal degrees and actually come back here and enrich the lives of our community.”

Dr. Jean Thompson, a longtime friend and colleague of Krudop’s, introduced him to a crowd of tournament sponsors.

“He had been my supervisor for 17 years at the college, and I was only there for 18,” Thompson said. “And he and his wife, Holly, have been my friends for 22 years, and I really do appreciate his leadership. I just can’t say enough about him.

“Many would say that Mayor Dexter McLendon is Greenville’s biggest cheerleader, but Dr. Jim Krudop is LBW’s greatest cheerleader.”

Krudop had little to say Wednesday afternoon, but his few words were ones of thanks.

“This is probably the largest foundation in the Alabama two-year college system,” Krudop said.

“Because of these individuals here, they work hard and they raise dollars because they care about students. They have been on the cutting edge more and more. For example, they started a mini-grant program for our faculty and staff to write mini-grants to enhance our instructional programs and help students get to that margin of excellence, so I can’t say enough about each of you. You all are so important to us.”