Name bestowed through generous gift given by Mike & Linda Curb in honor of Mike Curb’s grandfather
Long-time Belmont supporter and music business leader Mike Curb and his wife Linda recently made possible a $2 million endowment to rename Belmont’s Institute for Innovative Faith-Based Leadership as the Reverend Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership in honor of Mike Curb’s grandfather, Charlie McCloud Curb. Begun in June 2016, the Center was established to provide continuing education opportunities for pastors and leaders of faith-based organizations. The Center is focused on creating stronger leadership for local congregations and ministries.
Mike Curb said, “My grandfather, Rev. Charlie M. Curb, would be very proud of the Center for Faith Leadership at Belmont. He devoted his entire life and love for all people by ministering in a positive and inspirational way throughout his 50-year career. I have known Dr. Jon Roebuck, the Center’s executive director, as a member of his congregation for over 20 years and admire his amazing ability to communicate with everyone. I’m also excited to continue working with President Dr. Bob Fisher on this Center in addition to the successes we’ve achieved with our Curb Event Center and our Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.”
Born on October 29, 1876 in Bell County, Texas, Rev. Charlie Curb went on to become one of the leading evangelists of his generation. For a number of years, Rev. Curb served as the State Evangelist for the Oklahoma Baptist Convention and was later named to the Oklahoma Baptist Hall of Fame. His leadership in evangelism resulted in a large number of converts to the Christian faith. Those who once worked alongside Rev. Curb described him as, “the greatest personal soul winner they had ever known.”
Roebuck said, “I have been grateful for Mike and Linda Curb’s generous support of our Center since its inception. Mike has told me, on many occasions, about the respect and admiration he holds for his grandfather and the work to which he gave his life’s energy. It seems most appropriate to honor his extraordinary life of ministry by naming our program in his honor as it seeks to strengthen the work of faith leaders in Middle Tennessee.”
As announced with the university’s We Believe Campaign unveiling, Belmont is partnering with its supporters to leverage their investments in the institution’s future. The University will match endowment contributions to institutional priorities between $25,000 and $1.5 million ‘dollar for dollar,’ doubling the impact of each donor’s commitment.
