BUIES CREEK, N.C. (ABP) — It was 1943 when Leslie Campbell plucked 18-year-old Diamond Johnson Matthews out of Mabel Powell's English class to be his secretary. The son of Campbell University founder James Archibald Campbell, he needed a bright presidential assistant who was “especially good in grammar.”
“You can imagine how I felt when Dr. Campbell called me out of class,” Matthews said, laughing. “I couldn't figure out what I had done.”
Three presidents later and still a complete professional, Matthews' brown eyes flash with the same vitality and wit she possessed more than 60 years ago. But despite her vigor, she's finally cutting back after all these years. Matthews became semi-retired Oct. 1 and will return to Campbell to work part-time compiling university archives in January.
Matthews, who played an integral role in the growth and development of Campbell University, said much has changed since her first days on campus.
“Everything was dirt,” she said. “There were no sidewalks. It was just like a virgin forest. There were no lights at night and no paved roads. We had no transportation except for a Trailways bus that you could take to Dunn for five cents or to Raleigh for 25 cents.”
In 1965, Campbell gained senior college status by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Matthews still remembers the night Campbell and his wife returned from Atlanta, Ga., with accreditation papers practically in hand.
“For several weeks we'd worked 24/7 compiling a self-study,” said Matthews. “I didn't go home except for a couple of hours each night. People brought my breakfast, lunch and dinner to the office.”
When Campbell arrived back in Dunn, N.C., at 2 a.m. after delivering the school's self-study to SACS, more than 200 staff, faculty and students had gathered on the train platform to greet him.
“That was a landmark in our history,” Matthews said. “It was a most important time because we could begin our professional schools — we could take off then.”
Campbell did take off. In 1967, when Norman Wiggins succeeded Campbell as president, a 36-year growth period began in Campbell history, including Campbell's accreditation as a university in 1979 and the establishment of five professional schools — law, pharmacy, divinity, business and education.
“Dr. Wiggins really helped build this university,” Matthews said. “He created a wonderful, wonderful treasure for the Baptist community and the world to enjoy.”
Wiggins began by creating master of business and master of education programs simultaneously with a school of law.
“SACS said you couldn't get all of the programs accredited at the same time,” said Matthews, “But tell Dr. Wiggins he can't do something, and that's when he really goes to work.”
After just three years of work, all three programs were accredited by SACS, with the school of law receiving provisional accreditation in two years — a remarkable accomplishment. In 1976, the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law was founded, followed by the school of pharmacy in 1986 and the divinity school in 1995.
“You can imagine how hard we worked,” Matthews said. “Dr. Wiggins had the vision, and I helped make it a reality.”
In 2006, Matthews received the Lifetime Service Award from the Campbell University Alumni Association, where she served as secretary to the Alumni Board of Directors for 46 years.
“Campbell is my baby,” she said. “I've been allowed to see it grow, prosper and mature, and I have been truly blessed in working with three outstanding presidents — Dr. Campbell, Dr. Wiggins and Dr. Jerry Wallace, each one a great leader for his era.”
The daughter of the late Ethel Tart and Mellie Johnson, of Smithfield, N.C., Matthews graduated from Smithfield High School in 1942. She graduated summa cum laude from Campbell University in 1965. Matthews has a son, Brooks; a daughter-in-law, Rosa Maria; and three granddaughters: Maria, Jennifer and Heather.
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