ATHENS – The Curtis Coleman Center for Religious Studies and Ethics at Athens State University recently established a Visiting Lectureship in Character Education and Leadership with funding provided by a two-year grant from the Daniel Foundation of Alabama. The purpose of the lectureship is to support a series of topical speakers brought to the Athens State campus to serve the students and community.
The inaugural lecture is scheduled for Thursday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m. in McCandless Hall on the Athens State campus. Brodie Croyle of the Big Oak Ranch will be the featured speaker.
Croyle is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Kansas City
Brodie Croyle
Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005.
Croyle became Associate Executive Director of Big Oak Ranch after retiring from the NFL in 2012. The Ranch incorporates the Big Oak Boys’ Ranch in Gadsden, Alabama, the Big Oak Girls’ Ranch in Springville, Alabama, and the Westbrook Christian School in Rainbow City, Alabama.
The Big Oak Ranch and ministry grew out of Croyle father John’s desire to give hurting children a chance. 
John Croyle successfully played football at the University of Alabama under the legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Faced with one of the most important decisions of his life, whether to play professional football or to start a children’s home, John Croyle established Big Oak Boys’ Ranch in 1974. Big Oak Ranch, Inc. was incorporated in the State of Alabama as a 501(c)(3) Corporation in that same year.
Events sponsored by the Visiting Lectureship of the Curtis Coleman Center for Religious Studies and Ethics are free and open to the public. No reservations are required for this event. For more information call 256-233-8296.
MEDIA RELEASE/ATHENS STATE UNIVERSITY/GUY MCCLURE
