Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote “Great men exist that there may be greater men” is the opening line in a biography of George C. Marshall, Solider Statesman Peacemaker, written by Jack Uldrich. This is an excellent book on servant leadership recommended to me by personal friend and friend of UAB, Charles Collat. I bring this to your attention not as a book critic, but as the opening line of my note about Professor Ollie Powers, an exceptional UAB servant leader, and his recently announced retirement.
In his 36+ years at UAB, Ollie has made numerous contributions in teaching, service, and publications to the profession. In other ways and in other places, we will provide long lists of his many professional accomplishments—items that give Ollie a very long and valued professional CV. Today, we want to celebrate Ollie as that exceptional and kind man who has always focused on others. His gift of compassion is matched with a willingness to ask faculty and students to stretch beyond their comfort levels of performance and find that extra gear needed to overcome a challenge or frustration.
Ollie lives a caring life and exceptional career focused on asking students to go to work, inviting them in ways that stimulate a passion for excellence. When Ollie asks students to come join “the work”, there is no doubt that he will be there to aid, nurture, and challenge them. The work he asks of his students leads them not just to success in accounting, but to success as caring folks who know how to help others. They, along with many of us, learn by watching Ollie!
We will celebrate Ollie’s career at UAB in many ways in the coming months. More news will follow. We encourage you to celebrate his positive influence on thousands of lives by continuing his example of asking others to go to work as a competent professional and servant leader, and by matching that with Ollie’s example of compassionate help and encouragement. There is no doubt he is living a life of helping others to be great, and in ways they never dreamed possible.
