Leading with ‘grace’

Longtime student affairs leader was an inspiration for African-American students

By California State University, Bakersfield

September 13^th, 2022

When Dr. Bill Perry and his colleagues started the Ernest W. Williams Scholarship fund in the 1980s, they did it for a singular purpose: To persuade African-American students to put their faith and effort into the pursuit of a college education at California State University, Bakersfield.

From the wellspring of their effort, some $500,000 has been awarded in scholarships to a long and growing list of Roadrunners since 1987, perhaps the most enduring legacy for Perry, who led “with grace” for 34 years as a student affairs administrator at CSUB.

Perry died on Aug. 27 at the age of 82 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. His funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 825 California Ave.

“We saw a need for the scholarship because most of the African-American students in Kern County were encouraged to go elsewhere by the counselors at various high schools,” said Charlie Craig, who joined CSUB in 1971 as an outreach administrator before transitioning to track and field coach. “Our outreach through the scholarship was a way to keep those students in town and go to Cal State.”

Among the many African-American students inspired by Perry’s example was EJ Callahan, a Roadrunner active in student government in the 1990s. In a true full-circle moment, Callahan — as assistant vice president for Student Affairs — has the unique perspective of overseeing many of the same programs and services that Perry, his mentor, administered.

“It was very inspiring to me to see that this was someone who was educated, high-ranking and respected on campus in those areas of leadership,” said Callahan, chairman of the scholarship begun by Perry and his colleagues. “It made you feel like you could do that also. I spent a lot of time talking to him about being involved. At that time, there were just not a lot of African-American administrators. He was a role model for a lot of us.”

Margo Perry said her husband of 58 years considered it his responsibility and privilege to mentor students.

“That’s how he lived his life — treating people well to help them and encourage other people around him," she said. "He was just always doing what was expected of him. When your parents tell you you have to do this, this and this to succeed, well, Bill was always doing that, that and that.”

A diehard Steelers fan, Perry grew up in Pittsburgh, Penn., and moved to Bakersfield in 1961 to play football at Bakersfield College. After graduating from BC in 1964, he attended Fresno State’s Bakersfield extension, then located on BC’s campus. That same year, he married Margo Malone.

In 1971, the brand new state college on the far outskirts of Bakersfield offered Perry a position as placement counselor, launching a long career that allowed Perry to help build the foundations of the Student Affairs division.

After earning his master’s degree in education at CSUB and, later, his doctorate from Brigham Young University, he eventually became assistant vice president for student life. Along the way, he oversaw housing, student activities, counseling, the children’s center, career planning and placement and was the adviser for ASI.

“He was a man of grace, always friendly, outgoing, connected to everyone,” Callahan said. “He loved CSUB and represented us both on the campus and in the community.”

In 1986, Perry and CSUB colleagues George Calhoun, Willis Hill, Lee Adams and Craig launched the Ernest W. Williams Scholarship fund, which still awards between $11,000 to $15,000 a year, Callahan said.

Craig recalled that the outreach the scholarship provided was nearly as important as the financial help.

“We reached out to all the high schools locally, and to the Friendship House and churches,” he said. “The success of the Ernest W. Williams program in helping students not only monetarily but with the EOP program, academic support and other resources has really helped a lot of African-American students reach their dreams.”

In addition to his work on campus, Perry served the community on a number of boards, including the Kern High School District board of trustees and the Bakersfield Police Civil Service Board.

“He was a part of so many things,” Mrs. Perry said. “I think he just lived a really good life. I can’t think of any mistakes, especially when he was dealing with his students. But I’m prejudiced!”

Craig had prepared some remarks to share at his longtime friend’s celebration of life service. The word that kept coming to his mind when describing Perry: Loyal.

“Bill made an imprint at Cal State," he said. "In those early days, everything he did had consequences. Between the two of us, we always felt as African-American educators and leaders that we were like fish in a bowl. If you look at gold fish in a bowl, that gold fish has no place to hide. We felt the same way. We had to make sure everything we did was on the up-and-up because our actions were seen by everyone.”