A beloved teacher, former president, and longstanding member of the Florida College community received, along with his wife, the 2010 Friend to Youth Award. C.G. “Colly” and Lynda Caldwell ’63, ’65 were given the honor in front of the evening lectures crowd on Tuesday, February 2.

Caldwell retired as president last year, in exchange for returning to a full-time faculty position in the Bible department. He attended Florida (Christian) College in the 1960s, and has served the school as teacher, dean of students, academic dean, and vice president before becoming president in 1991.

In addition to the award, Caldwell was given a copy of the book “Blessed Be God” recently written in his honor. The festschrift—a German word for a collection of writings published in honor of a scholar—is composed of essays on the book of Ephesians, one of Caldwell’s favorite courses to teach.

“His first love has always been teaching the Bible,” remarked Bible Chairman Dan Petty ’72, who edited the festschrift project.

President H.E. “Buddy” Payne ’65 referred to Caldwell as a “living legend in the history of Florida College,” adding that his impact on the school “is impossible to measure.”