Each Homecoming we bestow alumni awards to alumni and other PC faithful for their contributions to the College. William D. Loeble, Jr. ‘65 is the 2018 Dum Vivimus Servimus Award recipient. The award recognizes an alumna or alumnus who exemplifies the meaning of the College motto, “While we live, we serve.”

Loeble has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America for nearly 65 years. He joined the Boy Scouts when he was 11 years old and has been an adult leader for the past 55 years.

The Dum Vivimus Servimus Award is the second award this year that Loeble has received for his service efforts. The Boy Scouts of America presented Loeble with its highest honor, the Silver Buffalo Award, earlier this year. The award is presented to those who are doing good for the youth of America.

Loeble finds himself on the same list with Walt Disney, Hank Aaron, Bill Gates and 15 US presidents.

“There are two different ways to receive the award,” Loeble said, “Being a celebrity and doing good like the presidents on the list and Walt Disney.

“The other is for long-time national service to scouting. Being in that company is pretty special. I’m more honored to get it among my peers in scouting.”

As a youth, Loeble enjoyed the fun and adventure that Scouting offers: outdoor skills, hiking and high-adventure activities, he said. After becoming an Eagle Scout, he became an adult leader and continued getting more involved when his son joined the Boy Scouts. Loeble’s son rose to the ranks of Eagle Scout, too.

“As an adult, I saw how it developed character in youth,” Loeble said. “It was a program that I set aside from other youth programs. I don’t think there’s a more effective character-building program in the country today.”

Loeble has lived the College motto outside the world of Scouting too. He has been active in his church, First Presbyterian Church in Covington, Ga., including serving as an elder and as clerk of session. Loeble has also served in a number of roles with the Greater Atlanta Presbytery.

Loeble has served in various other roles in the community too, including:

• Covington Kiwanis Club president
• Covington Kiwanis Club board member
• Covington-Newton Chamber of Commerce chairman of the board in 2002 and 2016
• Arts Association of Newton County president

In 2013, Loeble received the R. O. Arnold Award, the most prestigious award in Newton County for business leadership and community service. Covington-Newton Chamber of Commerce named Loeble an honorary life member last year.

Loeble’s career in industrial textiles spanned 46 years. He served as the chief operating officer of Beaver Manufacturing in Mansfield, Ga., for the 21 of those years. Loeble currently serves on Beaver Manufacturing’s board of directors.

Loeble earned a bachelor of science in chemistry from PC in 1965 and a master’s of science in chemistry in 1967 from the University of South Carolina. He has served on PC’s board of trustees since 2010. Loeble has given to library renovations, the Neville Hall renovation and other campus projects. The history wing in Neville Hall is named in honor of Loeble and his wife, Diane. Next April, the Loebles will be inducted into the Society of 1880 in the William Plumer Jacobs Society.

Loeble says he gives back to PC for the same reason he gives back to the Boy Scouts of America.

“I got so much out of it, with not only my career but life experiences, I decided I needed to give back,” he said. “I got involved, and one thing led to another.”

Bill and Diane Loeble have been married for 52 years. They live in Covington, Ga., and have one son, one daughter and four grandchildren.

For a list of all of this year’s award recipients, visit the Alumni Awards Recipients page.