Donor Impact Spotlight: Woody Hathaway ’71 & ’93

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – For Woody Hathaway Jr (’71 & ’93), Campbell University is more than just his alma mater. It’s the foundation that shaped his career, his character and his lifelong values. With two degrees in business from Campbell, Woody looks back with gratitude for the people and experiences that prepared him for a 40+ year career in hospital administration.

Raised in Dallas, Tx and later Chicago, Woody came to Campbell at his father’s urging, seeking both discipline and a faith-based education. What he found was a community that invested deeply in its students. During his time in Buies Creek, Woody met campus leaders like former university president Dr. Norman Wiggins who knew nearly every student by name. He met mentors, such as food service director Ken Barber and Service Enterprises director Todd Scarborough, who instilled in him the importance of integrity, accountability and hard work. “They taught me that it’s really important to do what you say you’re going to do and to follow through. If you don’t, there are unpleasant consequences,” Woody reflected.

Campbell also gave him a passion that became his life’s work. “My accounting professor, Mrs. Hilliard, taught me to love accounting and that carried me through my career,” Woody said. After teaching for three years, he transitioned into healthcare and spent the next four decades leading hospitals across North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Colorado, and Florida.

Today, Woody and his wife Betty, a Harnett County native, give back to the place that gave him so much. Together, they established an endowed scholarship in the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business and contributed to the building’s auditorium seating in honor of Woody’s father . Woody also served nine years on the Campbell University Alumni Association Board of Directors and continues to share his Campbell pride with prospective students and his community.

“I hope students see that when alumni give back, both in time and in resources, it’s because Campbell positioned us to succeed. We want them to have the same opportunities we did,” Woody shared. His message to future Camels is simple but sincere: Campbell will give you a first-class education and prepare you for life. You’ll come away with not only knowledge, but also lifelong memories and values that will stay with you always.