College of the Ozarks hosts James Brown, NFL announcer, for Fall Convocation Oct. 12

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — College of the Ozarks featured James Brown (also known as JB), host of The NFL Today on CBS and a special CBS news correspondent, as keynote speaker for the Leonard B. and Edith Gittinger Fall Convocation on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. A three-time Emmy Award-winner, he has hosted the Super Bowl a record-breaking 11 times.

The convocation was held in The Howell W. Keeter Gymnasium and started with a prelude by the College of the Ozarks Concert Band, directed by Dr. Kevin Powers, assistant professor of music. After an introduction by Dr. Sue Head, vice president for cultural affairs and dean of character development, and honoring the flag, College of the Ozarks President Brad Johnson introduced JB to the audience.

“This evening is dedicated to letting the light of Christ shine brightly through our lives in everything we put our hands to,” Johnson said. “Tonight, we recognize excellence and influence in journalism, broadcasting, and in the sphere of athletics.”

The convocation followed a fireside chat style, hosted by Dr. Brad Dolloff, dean of School of the Ozarks. Student athletes joined them on stage as JB answered questions about living a life of faithful influence. He also shared memories, life lessons, and stories from those who have impacted him most in his journey.

“The most famous and important people in my life were my mother and father, who are in heaven right now,” said JB. “I like to say they were high school graduates, but they had Ph.D.s in drive and determination. All they wanted for their five children was to get the best in life by earning it the old-fashioned way.”

Dolloff asked questions on the importance of living a faith-driven life with excellence in all aspects. JB described learning at a young age from his coaches that while God and sports were both important parts of his life, God must come first. He has carried this principle with him through his life and now applies it to his current career as an NFL broadcaster.

“I know that my company did not hire me to proselytize. They hired me to do my job excellently. My faith is what they get because that is who I am. I try to model my faith, but I don’t walk around trying to beat people over the head with a Bible. If they ask me a question, they are going to get a biblical answer.”

Passing on the Influence

JB finished his time by encouraging the students in their faith. He also offered words of wisdom for students to continue deepening their knowledge of God and the Bible.

“I got a chance to see the College in person today with all these outstanding young people who give me hope. There is hope, as God says in His Word. No matter what we see going on out in the world. We have some awesome people here at C of O, and God is getting ready to unleash them on the whole world. All I would encourage each of you to do is to not compromise.

“It is all about the Word of God. I wish I could tell my younger self to learn more about God earlier. Thankfully, He preserved me until I became saved at age 24, so I could continue to dig more deeply into the Word of God.”

“From what I’ve seen the students doing here, Hard Work U. is absolutely an appropriate way to describe this College,” JB said. “I love seeing the teamwork that’s evident among the students here. They model Jesus Christ in everything that they do, which is with excellence.”

Student-made Gifts

JB was presented with traditional student-made gifts at the conclusion of the convocation. His gifts included an iconic C of O sweatshirt, a mixture of student-made products, and a customized stained-glass piece. The piece was created with deep meaning, as it reflected three of the most impactful individuals in Brown’s life. These people included his high school basketball coach, his mother, and his father. It featured a poem by his mother written in her handwriting.

“I always like finding ways to touch people's lives through stained glass, but it can be hard to convey an idea through glass,” said Amy Leaming, student-made product manager. “This piece was different because we added a personal touch. Through some connections, we were able to attain a poem that his mom wrote and place it as the focal point of the piece. We engraved it into a wooden piece in her handwriting. Quotes from his coach were also engraved into a piece in the corner. These things stood out to me, and I knew the piece needed to be centered around the people who were so inspirational in his life.”

Head, Heart, and Hands Award

The College also honored Coach Steve Hancock, area coach and administrator, with a prestigious Head, Heart, and Hands award. Hancock is currently serving in his 52^nd year of impacting the lives of young men through coaching football. Hancock’s daughter, Layne Wilks, serves as administrative assistant at School of the Ozarks.

“Coach Hancock is the same person on the field, in the classroom, in the community, at church, and at home,” Wilks said. “He is constantly serving, teaching, encouraging, and glorifying God in all he does.”