(St. George, UT) – Dixie State College of Utah President Dr. Stephen D. Nadauld is inviting all DSC students, faculty and staff, and the community to attend the Fifth-Annual College Convocation on Sunday, August 26, at 7 p.m., in the Cox Auditorium on the DSC campus. The convocation is free to attend and refreshments will be served at a reception following the event.

The convocation, a non-denominational event, will feature an inspirational address from Mr. William H. “Bill” Child, who currently serves as Chairman of the Board for RC Willey. Joining DSC students, administrators, faculty and staff in attendance will be a number of St. George-area clergy representatives, along with local government leaders and the school’s Board of Trustees, among other dignitaries. The program will also include inspirational songs and performances by students and faculty from DSC’s Fine Arts department.

In 1954, Child took over a small 600-square foot appliance store from his father-in-law, RC Willey. The store, which had a cement floor and cinderblock walls, had no bathroom facility and the electric power and nine-party telephone line was run from the Willey home next door, with one employee and $250,000 in annual sales.

Using his management philosophies, “Grow the company with integrity, constantly improving,” and “Never be satisfied with the status quo,” Child transformed that one store into a regionally successful home furnishings franchise, which employs more than 2,500 people, with stores in Utah, Idaho, Nevada and California. Forty years after Child turned RC Willey into a successful franchise, he sold the franchise to billionaire businessman Warren Buffett. In addition to the success of RC Willey, Child has been involved in a number of successful real estate projects.

“We welcome Bill Child to our campus for our convocation,” says Christina Schultz, DSC Vice President of Institutional Advancement. “As an accomplished entrepreneur, we are confident that Bill has much knowledge to impart to our students and community. We look forward to learning about the management and personal philosophies that have led to his success.”

President Nadauld introduced this new tradition in 2008, as a way to establish a four-year culture at Dixie and is pleased that the convocation has become a part of the opening week of classwork on the campus. He noted that these types of non-denominational gatherings go on at other college campuses throughout the country and have an inspirational flavor to them.

For more information on the convocation, please contact the DSC Public Relations office at 435-652-7544.