So long, Jerry

ROBERT SISK / News Virginian
Published: May 16, 2007

I don't know if I can imagine Liberty University without Jerry Falwell.

Most people remember him for Moral Majority, or even the Tinky Winky incident, but my classmates and I will always remember him as the Big Guy, Dr. J or Uncle Falwell.

I spent four years at Liberty University, and will forever been linked to Falwell. As soon as I say I went to the Lynchburg school, people quickly ask, "Did you meet Jerry-"

Well, I did meet him. Several times. But not the conservative activist that takes no prisoners; no, I met the compassionate grandfather figure who would give the shirt off his back for his students.

Once, a group of my dorm mates approached him at a basketball game and asked, very nervously, if they could take him out for a steak dinner. He laughed, scheduled the dinner and went out with a bunch of starving students … then picked up the very large check and proceeded to leave at least a 50-percent tip.

He reminded everyone that if you can't afford a tip, then you couldn't afford to eat.

He also liked to try and run over students while they were walking down Liberty's sidewalks. He would pop the curb and watch the kids run. I don't think he ever hit anybody, but it was the joke of the campus, and we all loved it, as long as we were watching from afar.

As a freshman, I sat through many of his sermons. I don't remember all of his messages, but I remember his stories. Most notably, when he stole his wife Macel from her boyfriend back when he was a just a young kid lurking the streets of Lynchburg.

He loved sports.

I was sitting on press row at a basketball game once, and three rows behind me, Falwell was in his normal seat. A fan was yelling the typical insults at the officials when Falwell turned around and shouted, "Sit down and be quiet."

He had no tolerance for bad sportsmanship.

When I was the news editor for Liberty's school paper, the Liberty Champion, I met Dr. J for the last time. 

The new Seminary building opened up and I was told it was supposed to be a semi-formal occasion, but Falwell strolled in without a tie, the first time I ever saw him without one.

I went to shake his hand and introduce myself, but he knew who I was and even remembered our first meeting my freshman year, 3½ years earlier, when I bumped into him in the hall.

He had a habit of slapping you on the back so hard it hurt, and laughing in his booming central Virginia voice while you tried to talk to him.

He knew how to talk to the media. At one point in his life, he was going to be a journalist. I couldn't help but notice, whenever he said a date, he would say June one, newspaper style, instead of June first.

On Saturday, LU will hold its commencement ceremonies, and there is going to be a large hole on the stage. He always called Liberty his greatest accomplishment, and he would never miss a graduation. But I have no doubt that he would tell his students "to get over it," one of his favorite sayings during sad times.

The students will get over it and move on - and maybe the sidewalks are a little safer - but the school will never be the same without Dr. J.

Robert Sisk is a sports writer for The News Virginian and a 2006 graduate of Liberty University.