Tommy Goldsby Leaves the World a Better Place than He Found It

Albert Einstein, generally considered one of the greatest scientists of all time, once offered this bit of advice about making a positive impact on the world: “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” I can think of many people who have attained the former but far fewer who have accomplished the latter.

I don’t know if the late Thomas B. Goldsby Jr. had heard or read Einstein’s quote, but he certainly epitomized it. Mr. Goldsby could easily be described as successful by any applicable measures, but, more importantly, he lived a life of great value to others. While he passed from this life on March 15, Tommy’s amazing legacy of philanthropy and his desire to make a difference will be felt for generations to come.

I can safely say that Tommy was one of Mid-South Community College’s most passionate supporters, not only financially, but also in the way he valued the education and opportunities offered at our institution. Tommy’s vision was that higher education could and would spark economic development in our region, but his amazing philanthropy went well beyond classroom education and extended into a genuine love of Mid-South Community College – a love that he demonstrated on countless occasions in support of every major initiative we’ve pursued.

As many are aware, either by personal experience or general knowledge, Tommy established an innovative concurrent-enrollment scholarship program in 2001 designed to inspire students to pursue higher education while still in high school.

In establishing the scholarship, he said, “The key to the future of the Delta is clearly education. I am excited about the prospect of building an educational bridge and creating a more seamless transition between high school and college for young people in the Delta. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to…create higher levels of education in the Delta.”

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee attended the program announcement and lauded Tommy’s efforts. “Tommy is investing in the future generations of Crittenden County. Not everyone could make as generous a contribution as Tommy, but the true reality is that a lot of people who could never will. Tommy has chosen to invest not just in a place but in the people who will come to this place for education. Generations of students to come will benefit….”

History tells us and statistics show us that eastern Arkansas has long trailed other more prosperous areas of our state in the number of college graduates. But the Goldsby Scholarship is helping us affect a dramatically positive shift in those numbers. To date, because of Tommy’s belief in the power of education beyond high school, students from our region have earned more than 500 college degrees from almost 200 prestigious colleges and universities throughout the U.S. In the process, the innovative program has saved parents of those young people an estimated $12 million in tuition.

I believe it would be impossible for us to fully assess or understand the impact that the Goldsby Scholarship is having on our community. Obviously, we can put a dollar value on what it has saved our parents and students, but there is truly no way to adequately appreciate the value, the importance, or the significance of the lives that have been touched, the careers that have been shaped, and the futures that have been so positively impacted.

To say Tommy Goldsby will be sorely missed does not even begin to cover the loss that we feel. I encourage you to join me in prayers for Sandy, the Goldsby family, and their many friends in this time of sorrow. I also hope you will join me in thanking God graciously for Thomas B. Goldsby Jr. and the profound impact he has made on the people of our region.