History

On October 17, 1945, Duncan Gillis was doing business at Branch Banking and Trust Company on Hay Street in downtown Fayetteville. He returned to his parked car and discovered a money box on the running board of the vehicle. William Jones, Business Manager at Fayetteville State Teachers College had also been doing business at the bank that day on behalf of the college. He accidentally misplaced and left the money box on Gillis’s car. Gillis immediately returned the money box to the bank and a reward was offered. Humbly, Gillis declined the reward.

This single act of honor led Jones to write a simple, yet profound, thank you letter to Gillis. The interaction between the two men – Gillis and Jones – is a great example of what a Presbyterian minister called “simple kindness for difficult times.” Built on the principles of honor, respect, leadership, and ethics during this one encounter is the foundation and inspiration for the Gillis-Jones Institute for Ethics and Leadership at Fayetteville State University.

The son of Duncan Gillis treasured this letter that was passed down, and 75 years later worked with FSU administrators to establish the purpose and intent of The Gillis-Jones Institute for Ethics and Leadership.

A SINGLE ACT OF KINDNESS CAN INSPIRE GENERATIONS OF ETHICAL LEADERS