The special bond between classmates William Rudd Jr. ’50 and James Robertson ’50 inspired Rudd’s son to make a $100,000 gift to the university.
William Rudd Jr. ’50 and James Robertson ’50 understood the value of friendship better than most people. After all, theirs lasted close to 80 years.
To honor his father and that friendship, Rudd’s son, Bill Rudd III, made a $100,000 gift to Elon’s HealthEU Center. In recognition of the gift, a plaque will be installed on the landing between the second and third floors of Dalton L. McMichael Sr. Science Center with the following inscription: “In honor of William G. Rudd Jr., and James E. Robertson, distinguished members of the Class of 1950, for their nearly 80 years as classmates, fellow WWII veterans, business partners and lifelong friends.”
The named space features a comfortable sitting area and plenty of natural light that Bill hopes will inspire students to gather and begin their own lifelong friendships. Rudd and Robertson studied the sciences at Elon, with Rudd majoring in pre-med and Robertson biology.
“I thought there needs to be a way to honor my father’s life, especially knowing that he and James had such a long friendship,” Bill said. “Nowadays, things are so transitory, including interactions between people, but you can’t put a value on 80 years of friendship.”
Bill Rudd Sr. grew up in the small rural community of Monticello in Guilford County, North Carolina, where he spent many hours working the family’s 75-acre tobacco farm. Robertson was raised about 30 miles north in Leaksville, North Carolina, near the town of Eden in Rockingham County. Both men grew up during the Depression, which made them resilient and appreciate what little money they had.
“I think that’s one of the things that bound them together, the modest circumstances in which they were born and lived,” Bill said.
The two met on Elon’s campus following their military service in World War II. Drafted in 1944, Rudd served in the Army’s 87th Infantry Division and fought in France during the Battle of the Bulge. Robertson enlisted in the Army Air Corp as a high school senior and served stateside as a radio operator. Both enrolled at Elon through the GI Bill and bonded over their shared military service, small-town roots and interest in science. When they weren’t studying, they passed the time playing cards and hanging out on campus. If they wanted to go anywhere, they had to hitchhike since neither had a car.
Following graduation, the two men returned to their hometowns, with Rudd working at Sears in Greensboro, while Robertson went to work at Duke Energy at the Dan River Station in Eden. Before long, Rudd joined his best friend at the utility company, where they worked together for nearly four decades.
“It was his first step in getting away from home and was a chance for him to see the world,” Bill recalled. “He did not want to live on a tobacco farm.”
In 1952, while still working at Duke Energy, Robertson opened his own business, Rockingham Insurance Agency, in an 800-square-foot brick building in Eden. His father had a successful career in insurance and Robertson wanted to continue that legacy. Rudd agreed to join Robertson as co-owner, proving that best friends can be successful business partners. They quickly developed a reputation for honesty among their clients and regularly drew on each other’s strengths to grow their business, including Robertson’s mastery of numbers.
“They both worked hard and treated people with dignity,” Bill said. “They never abused the responsibility they had for selling and serving insurance.”
“They were able to communicate with each other in a way that they respected each other and were there for each other in the good and the bad times,” added James’ son, George Robertson. “Life is tough and you have to be there for each other and they were.”
Both men were also loyal donors to Elon and visited campus as often as they could. Together they amassed nearly 60 years of annual giving to their university, primarily for scholarships, as a way of thanking Elon for their education.
Rudd and Robertson remained close, even after Rudd entered assisted living. Though his memory was fading, Rudd never forgot his best friend when he came to visit. Rudd passed away on October 3, 2023, and Robertson died four months later.
During a recent visit to campus, Bill Rudd reflected on how happy he was to continue his father’s legacy and that of his best friend.
“I feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that carries on beyond their deaths,” he said. “In some ways, Elon has helped me to become who I am today, and I am forever grateful for that.”
About the HealthEU Center
The new HealthEU Center will integrate academics, wellness, campus recreation and fitness programs to ensure students gain the skills they need to thrive on campus and beyond.
The center is a key component of the Boldly Elon strategic plan and Elon’s broader HealthEU initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.
Currently under construction, the center is located within Elon’s Innovation Quad, home to the university’s engineering and other STEM programs, and scheduled to open in Fall 2026.
Many naming opportunities remain in the HealthEU Center, beginning at $50,000. Gift commitments may be made in full or with a pledge over five years. To find out how you can make an impact with your gift, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president for university advancement, at 336.278.7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.