CCES
Alumni Career Program Keynote Address
by Billy Campbell ’78
Additional
Links:
Alumni News
Billy Campbell’s Advice
to Our Students
Billy
Campbell ’78 Dazzles Students
Connie
Lanzl Introduces Billy Campbell ’78
 It's
pretty hard for me to believe that it's been 30 years since I was
sitting in those seats and wondering where life might take me, how
I'd like college, and who I might meet along the way. What an exciting
time for each of you: many of you will be graduating soon and the
rest of you probably can't wait for summer to be here—first
week at the beach and, I hope, interesting summer jobs and new experiences.
Today
I want to share some of my life with you, but also share a few thoughts
on the choices you'll need to make and how they'll shape your future
going forward.
One Great Advantage
You have one great advantage already: you're attending Christ Church
Episcopal School. Your education is superb, your support system
will be even better, and the friendships you've made will last your
lifetime, if you make the effort.
I started at CCES in 1974, way before any of you were born. My family
had just moved here from Charlotte, and, I must say, my sister and
I weren't really keen on starting at a new school and leaving all
of our friends behind. But from the moment I entered the front door,
I felt like I'd entered a friend's home, and thirty-four years later
it feels just the same (only the furniture looks much better).
We Never Wanted to Experience That Feeling Again
I immediately felt welcomed, and played football, basketball and
baseball all four years. The teachers were extraordinary: they were
demanding yet always accessible and willing to go the extra mile
when I needed a little nudge or extra help. (Special thanks to Nancy
Baker and Jackie Suber for pushing me
to be the best I could be). My four years here served as a fantastic
foundation—I have so many fond memories, too many to list—but
a highlight was my senior year and our football team.
 During
my junior year, our football team struggled a bit and got pounded
in the first round of the playoffs at Whitmire: we had two punts
blocked and really didn't tackle anybody. On the bus ride home,
it was deathly quiet. I was sitting next to my buddy, David
Quattlebaum ’79, who was one of the best high school
football players I've ever seen. We told each other that we never
wanted to experience that feeling again and made a commitment that
"next year" would be our year. Starting that
next morning, QBall and I alternated weeks by coming to each other's
homes, and we'd run three miles each morning before school, rain
or shine, and talk about winning the state championship. It seemed
like a distant dream much of the time, but as you'll see during
my talk, if you really believe, and you're willing to sacrifice
and work hard, dreams can and do come true.
On a crisp December night in Bluffton, a group of 27 young men whipped
a cocky McCracken team on their home field. There's not a day that
passes, even thirty years later, that I don't think about that accomplishment
and get a big smile on my face. There's no doubt in my mind that
winning the state championship in a Cavalier uniform has been a
tremendous source of pride and confidence throughout my life. I'm
so excited to hear about the new CCES coaches coming in, and I heard
that 60 students have committed to making the team! That's sensational!!
Homesick at Harvard
High school at Christ Church was nirvana for me, and if I'd had
my say, I'd still be here—the oldest senior on record!—but
college beckoned and I applied to Harvard and Clemson. I was accepted
to Harvard early, just before the Christmas holidays, but didn't
get into Clemson until late April. (To this day I think my Dad enjoys
telling people that "at least Clemson still thoroughly reviews
their applicants.")
That
summer my Mom ordered most of the LL Bean catalogue, and I headed
north to Boston for my freshman year. From the moment my Eastern
Airlines flight closed the door (I know, you've never heard of Eastern
Airlines), I was so homesick that I wasn't sure I'd ever be happy
again. Lots of my buddies and, of course, my sister were starting
their senior years and enjoying another year of Cavalier football,
and I was heading off to a place where I knew no one.
It got off to a rough start. When I arrived on campus, it actually
took about 15 minutes for the cab driver and the campus police to
understand my accent and send me to the correct dormitory. I unpacked
my bags, took the remaining top bunk, and then headed into Harvard
Square to get something to drink. I was guided to the landmark sandwich
shop Elsie's, which had been John F. Kennedy's favorite haunt, and
I ordered an iced tea. Not only was there no "sweet tea,"
but the abrupt waitress told me that they didn't serve iced tea
after "Labuh Day." Still in shock, I ordered a chocolate
milk shake, and that's exactly what I received: chocolate milk,
shaken. (When you go to Boston, if you want a real milk shake, you
have to order a frappe). Several days later at my first Ivy League
football game, as our team lost to a terrible Columbia University
squad, I could only think that maybe I should have gone to Clemson.
But
like most things in life, if you hang in there and keep plugging
away, things get better. I made fabulous friends, and even after
suffering a broken ankle on the first day of practice, I played
basketball for the college my freshman year and then joined a fantastic
club team called the Harvard Classics and played against both the
Cuban and Danish Olympic teams in Havana and Copenhagen.
Living and Traveling Around the World
After graduation I headed to Wall Street to work for Smith Barney
in their Mergers and Acquisitions group and had my first opportunities
to live in New York and travel across the country. One bit of advice
I'd offer each of you: at some point in your life, as an intern
or after college, live in New York City for a stint. It's one of
the most remarkable experiences you'll ever have—and it'll
help you appreciate the joys of being Southern.
How many of you have ever been to a foreign country? As my two years
on Wall Street concluded, I was fortunate to win a Rotary International
Scholarship representing my home chapter here in Greenville. I headed
off to The Chinese University of Hong Kong and had a most magical
year. The Rotary Scholarship is incredible: you choose where you'd
like to live and study, and besides learning and having fun, your
major obligation is to be "an ambassador of good will."
I spoke at numerous Rotary functions during the year, but enjoyed
most my talks with high school students about our electoral process.
I loved my time in Hong Kong: I learned some Mandarin (which is
quite difficult with a Southern accent), took a night class with
Chinese businessmen, and played basketball for the university team,
which won a medal at the Nanjing University Invitational Tournament.
One fun memory was playing in mid-February in a gymnasium with no
heat. With the temperature in the thirties, we warmed up in ski
parkas and only had five minutes of hot water to shower after the
game (it's helped me remember how lucky we are with our many daily
indulgences).
During
my scholarship year, I was able to travel throughout the region---I
visited Singapore on my way there, spent a week in Thailand, played
a round of golf on Christmas Day at the New Delhi Country Club with
one of my college buddies from India, played blackjack in Macau,
and had a most memorable week in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma
(home to the nicest people I've ever met in my life).
“Bollo Gai”
I lived in a dormitory with all Chinese students. They helped me
tremendously, particularly when it came to ordering dinner. Upon
my arrival, not knowing anyone, I unpacked and headed into the massive
dining hall. The system is a little quirky (at least it was for
me). You order your food from a little lady who writes it down on
a slip of paper, which you hand to the cooks in the kitchen. The
order slip has a number on it, which is read over the loudspeaker
when your food is ready, but since I didn't speak Cantonese, I had
no idea when my dish was served. I think I approached the counter
over ten times hoping my number had been called. Finally, a sweet
young woman realized that I was CLUELESS, and said that since I
couldn't understand the Chinese numbers being announced, maybe it
was better if the kitchen just called out my dish. She practiced
with me for a minute and finally I headed to pick up my supper when
the chef proclaimed "Bollo Gai." From that night on, for
the rest of the year whenever my dinner was ready, the kitchen staff
would smile and yell into the microphone "Bollo Gai"—
whether I had ordered pineapple chicken or not! I must admit that
it threw me the first few times when fellow classmates would pass
me and say, "Hello, Bollo Gai."
The Television Business: A Case of Serendipity
After that extraordinary year in Hong Kong, I returned to Boston
and spent two years at the Harvard Business School. I loved the
challenge of the curriculum and formed some of my strongest friendships.
What I didn't learn until late in my final year was where I wanted
to focus my career. I knew from the year overseas that as much as
I loved the Wall Street experience, "just doing deals"
wasn't as exhilarating as I had thought it would be.
So, how did the television business come into my life?? I still
marvel at that serendipity. I attended a marketing class on a snowy
morning of my final semester and met the protagonist in that day's
case. The CEO of Capital Cities/ABC was there to offer his insight,
and after the class concluded, the rest of the students left, and
I thanked him for joining us and asked him a few questions. He suggested
I send him a letter and resume.
Within
three hours my note was in the mailbox, and three days later I was
flown to New York City to meet with him and the President of ABC.
At lunch they explained that the company needed someone to move
to Los Angeles, help them learn the programming aspects of the business,
and become a "bridge" between the “creatives”
and the “suits.” To the surprise of my friends and family,
I was headed to California. (Two lessons come to mind: one is to
be "politely aggressive" when pursuing your goals, and
two, don't skip class—you never know what might happen when
you're attentive!)
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