The Legion of Honor Award was established in 1978 to recognize a member of Phi Delta Theta who has made a major contribution of his time, effort and energy to serve the Fraternity and improve its stature; has distinguished himself in representing the Fraternity’s principles of friendship, sound learning and rectitude; is widely recognized as a leader of fraternity men and identified with the promotion of fraternities; and has widely advanced and enlarged the opportunities for growth and leadership among college men through fraternities.
Dr. Charles L. “Charley” Pride was initiated into the Kentucky Eta Chapter at Western Kentucky University on October 29, 1986 and would serve as president of his chapter. He was employed in 1989 by the General Headquarters as a traveling Leadership Consultant in Oxford, Ohio where he met his future bride, a member of Delta Zeta, who was also a traveling consultant headquartered in Oxford. Not long after completing his two-year term on staff, Charley served Phi Delta Theta as a Province President for four years until 1996 when he was elected to the General Council.
Brother Pride held several offices on the Council through 2002 and served as General Council President during the 2002-2004 Biennium. He was also instrumental in the Fraternity’s Alcohol-Free Housing initiative while serving on the General Council. Charley has remained steadfast in the volunteer ranks of Phi Delta Theta, and he continues to give his time, talent, and energy to the Kentucky Eta House Corporation and the Fraternity’s Survey Commission.
Professionally, Brother Pride is the Director of Student Activities and University Center at Western Kentucky University. His experience in student affairs began with his B.A., M.A. and Ed.S. from Western Kentucky University. He later earned his Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Louisville. Charley’s fraternity and sorority history of engagement and advocacy is expansive, and he has also served on the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI) faculty, as a five-time Southeastern Panhellenic Conference Region Advisor, and as a three-time Southeastern Interfraternity Conference Area Advisor. For his contributions to the field over his career, Brother Pride has been awarded Sigma Nu’s Greek Advisor of the Year Award, a Kappa Alpha Order Appreciation Award, the Jane H. Sutton Advisor of the Year Award and an Order of Omega Fellowship.
Charley was the 2015 recipient of the Association of Fraternity-Sorority Advisors’ esteemed Robert H. Shaffer Award. The award is given to an individual in the field of higher education who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to fraternities and sororities and has demonstrated a commitment to fostering positive change on college campuses through the advisement of the fraternity/sorority community, building partnerships in higher education and the interfraternal community, had positive and lasting impact on both campuses of employment and the profession of fraternity/sorority advising and mentoring new and seasoned professionals.
While Western Kentucky University is his passion, Brother Pride has dedicated his life’s work to fraternity and sorority life and improving the lives of students on college campuses everywhere. His love of his profession is apparent to all who know him. In accordance with his unwavering loyalty to Western Kentucky University, he and his wife Julie have resided in Bowling Green for many years and continue to raise their family there.
For his lifelong and continuing support of his career industry, his community and family, and Phi Delta Theta, it is with great pleasure and appreciation that the Fraternity honors Brother Dr. Charles L. Pride with the Legion of Honor.
