Charles E. Perry papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-0995

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Scope and Contents

The Charles E. Perry Collection is comprised of correspondence, files, literary productions, printed materials, articles, clippings, photographs, awards and sports-related memorabilia pertaining to Chuck's academic life, career, and involvement with fundraising for athletics at BGSU and the dedication of the university's Field House in his honor in May 1998.

The prestigious public relations tribute - the Silver Anvil Award - was presented to BGSU and Chuck Perry in 1964. It is among the collection's more notable artifacts and is displayed at the Perry Field House.

Almost half of this collection concentrates upon Perry’s career planning and academic preparation to serve administratively at the university level first at BGSU and then in Florida as Governor Kirk’s Education Aide and as first president and founder of Florida International University. Further documentation shifts the focus to the business world when Perry oversaw the Charter Company’s Family Weekly publication and Jack Nicklaus’ Golden Bear organization. The other half of the collection concentrates upon Perry’s involvement with fundraising for BGSU athletics and the dedication of BGSU’s Field House in his honor. Details are extensively represented in the collection’s correspondence, printed materials, and photographs.

This collection contains a number of examples of sports apparel dating from both 1959 and the mid 1990’s. These include a 1959 MAC blanket, a letter jacket and sweaters from the same time period. Polo shirts and t-shirts mostly affiliated with BGSU are included from the mid 1990’s.

Most elements of the collection pay tribute to an incredible career and a remarkable talent for success.

Dates

Creation: 1954-2008

Extent

5 Cubic Feet (15 letter size manuscript boxes, 7 oversize boxes )

Creator

Perry, Charles E. , 1937-1999 (Person)

Biographical / Historical

From the Charles E. Perry Field House plaque:

Charles "Chuck" Perry was an alumnus of BGSU and a member of the champion football teams of the 1950s. Chuck has had a distinguished and successful career as a higher education administrator, government official and business executive. From 1959 through 1967, he served Bowling Green State University as Admissions Counselor, Director of Admissions, Director of Development and Assistant to the President. He has also created several important athletic related fundraising and support programs for BGSU, including the Falcon Club (1964) and the University Athletic Endowment.

In September 1969 Chuck was named Founding President of Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, Florida. This gave him the distinction of being the youngest state university president in the country at that time.

After seven years as President of FIU Chuck embarked upon a seventeen year business career which included being President and Publisher of Family Weekly Magazine, President and CEO of Golden Bear International (Jack Nicklaus' business partner), Chairman and CEO of Worldvest, President and CEO of the Friedkin Companies, and Chairman and CEO of Western Trading and Management.

In 1992 Chuck "retired" to become founder/owner of Buffalo Creek Golf Club and Dean of the Graduate School of Management at the University of Dallas (known for granting the largest number of MBA's in the southwest).

On May 29, 1998 the BGSU Field House was named in Chuck's honor. He died a year later.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

Materials in English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection, donated by his wife, Betty Perry, in July 2000 and April 2010, documents his academic life, career, and involvement with athletics' fundraising at BGSU in the 1990's and the naming of the BGSU Field House in his honor in May 1998.