In memory o f father
Pond establishes
scholarship fund
to help students
Dr. Whitaker and
Charles Pond, III,
review literature
concerning the
scholarship
program of
the college.
m
A scholarship has been estabhshed at Chowan with an
initial $10,000 gift from Charles B. Pond, HI, an
alumnus from Suffolk, Va. He has pledged to increase
the scholarship to $50,000.
President Bruce E. Whitaker said the C. B. Pond, Jr.,
and C. B. Pond, III, Scholarship will benefit many
needy and worthy students over the years.
He said the scholarship is named in memory of C. B.
Pond, Jr., and also bears the name of the donor, Charles
B. Pond, in.
Dr. Whitaker expressed appreciation to Pond for
establishing the scholarship. He noted, “It is a most
fitting and appropriate memorial to C. B. Pond, Jr., and
it will be a lasting and living tribute helping young
people at this beloved institution from generation to
generation.”
Whitaker said he is hopeful other alumni will follow
the example of Charles B. Pond, III, by making
scholarship gifts and other donations to Chowan.
Whitaker declared, “I look forward to seeing this
award being granted to students in future years at the
college.”
Received Associate Degree
Pond, a Suffolk native, attended Chowan from 1960-
62. He was active in the Baptist Student Union and
played on the basketball team. After graduating with an
associate degree in accounting, he transferred to Mars
Hill College where he was also an active member of the
BSU. He graduated with a B.S. in business education
from Mars Hill.
Pond returned to Suffolk to work with his father, C.
B. Pond, Jr., who died in 1984, in the family-owned
Nansemond Cold Storage Company.
Pond said he enjoyed working with his father in the
storage business very much. He recalls his father’s
emphasis that “you reap what you sow” and “you get
out of something what you put into it.” His father was a
charter member of West End Baptist Church.
Successful Businessman
Pond has served 24 years with Nansemond Cold
Storage Company, of which he is president and owner.
The company presently has 18 storage warehouses for
its dry and cold storage division. It stores mostly
peanuts, cashews and other nuts as a service with
manufacturers or millers. Through a related business.
Tidewater Blanching Corporation, it also buys and sells
peanuts which are shelled or bleached for a number of
companies where they end up as peanut butter, candy,
cocktail peanuts and other nut products.
Nansemond Cold Storage Company is located across
the street from Planters Peanuts. Pond is also involved in
real estate in Suffolk.
Concerning his student days. Pond commented:
“Chowan meant a lot to me. The college gave me a
perspective in life and helped me to decide which way to
8°-
“I studied accounting and engineering and found out
that I liked accounting as my major field of study. In
general, I like the study and practice of economics. For
example, I enjoy the buying and selling of peanuts and
my work in real estate. It’s all interesting to me.”
Gives Credit for Success
He credits Dr. Whitaker, his Chowan president, and
several professors who continue to serve in the
Department of Business, Thomas Ruffin and L. M.
Wallace, with giving him ideas and suggestions that
influenced his life.
He said that as he looks back from his present per
spective and position, he values even more the direction
he gained from Dr. Whitaker, Ruffin and Wallace and
other professors.
Whitaker said that Pond has expressed his ap
preciation to his alma mater by serving on the Alumni
Board of Directors for 12 years, including service as
vice president. He said coupled with his scholarship gift
and other financial support. Pond has made a vital
contribution to Chowan College.
Pond is active in church and community service. At
West End Baptist Church, he serves as a deacon, head of
the youth Sunday School program, Sunday School
teacher, a member of the Sunday School Council and
finance committee.
Active in Community
He is a scoutmaster for 14 boys, ages 11-16, and a
member and finance chairman of the Old Dominion
Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He says his
association with the scouting program is very satisfying
personally. He said he enjoys helping to provide the
scouts with opportunities for camping, fishing, rafting
and tubing, and other activities. He said it is rewarding
to see the boys grow as they accept leadership
responsibilities.
Pond also serves as vice president and finance
chairman of the International Seamans Friends House in
Newport News, Va. He called this a “good Christian
ministry” to people from all walks of life and from
many countries.
He said the ministry sponsors dinners throughout the
year and Thanksgiving and Christmas banquets for the
seaman. He said the Friends House receives letters of
gratitude from seamen, who may write a thank-you letter
some three months after their lives have been touched by
the ministry.
The Pond family has roots in North Carolina. His
wife, Anita, is from Wilson. His father was a native of
Woodland.
The Ponds have two sons, Paul, 12, and Chuck, a high
school senior who plans to attend Chowan in the fall of
1989.
When he’s not involved in church or scouting ac
tivities, Pond enjoys fishing, camping, boating, and
travel for recreation.
The Chowanian, December, 1988—PAGE THREE