Pascal Brock '69 and Judy Brock

Pascal Brock '69 and his wife, Judy Brock, have closely examined just how important it is for them to help and invest in the next generation.

Both Pascal and Judy enjoyed a rich and rewarding Clemson Journey. Pascal received a B.S. in textiles and industrial management, while Judy, a Winthrop graduate, worked as a Clemson Extension agent for more than 30 years. Their Clemson Experience significantly shaped their lives, and developed a deep-seeded passion to create a clear pathway that would help others.

Their journey together began in the first grade at Watkins Elementary School in Honea Path, South Carolina. They shared many classes throughout their formative years and began dating in high school. Upon graduation, Judy enrolled at Winthrop and earned a degree in home economics, with plans to teach "home economics or family consumer science, as it is called today," she said. Pascal joined the ROTC program at Clemson and married Judy during his senior year. They lived in the university "pre-fabs," which were used for married housing at the time. Judy taught seventh grade in Anderson for one year while Pascal completed his degree.

After graduation, Pascal accepted a position with DuPont in Lugoff, South Carolina, where Judy taught fifth grade. A short six months later, the Army called Pascal to duty, and he was sent to California. He says he was very fortunate that companies were required to hold service members' jobs until their military service was complete. After a few months in California, Pascal was stationed at Fort Gordon near Augusta, Georgia for the remainder of his commitment. Judy searched for home economics teaching positions in the area; however, none were available at that time. One school administrator recommended that she reach out to the local Extension Service Department to see if they could utilize her educational training and background.

Judy was hired immediately by the University of Georgia's Extension program to teach nutrition classes in the community. She reflected with a smile that this position "charted her career path forward". "I found my passion for sharing research-based health information to limited resource families and help them learn to make better informed health decisions," Judy said.

After 14 months at Fort Gordon, Pascal was discharged from the Army, and he and Judy were excited to return to their life in Lugoff, where he resumed his role at DuPont and Judy began working as an associate home economist for Sumter and Kershaw Extension offices through Clemson University. Their individual careers flourished, with Pascal moving after 10 years from his start in nylon manufacturing at DuPont to computer programming for the company.

"DuPont recognized that we were short on IT people and sent me back to school for training in programming," Pascal recalls. He began specializing in hardware projects, project management software and operations. In Pascal's role as a computer analyst, he was tasked to create training manuals, which he admits was a challenge. "I had to explain to average users how to do very technical things, and sometimes it was really hard to do," he said.

Pascal retired after more than 39 years with DuPont de Nemours, Inc. an American multinational company that has remained on the forefront of technology and advancement materials since 1802. Judy retired in 2002, after 30 years in the County Extension program. "We were extremely fortunate to have lived in South Carolina throughout my career with DuPont," Pascal explains.

Judy is quick to add that she was very fortunate to have worked with "the best extension agents and administrators at Clemson," many of whom she has remained in touch with today. Her work with the Extension program eventually involved supervision of other Extension agents with whom she built strong relationships as they served their local communities. When she retired, she was Extension Cluster Director for Kershaw, Sumter, Lee and Fairfield counties.

"It was the best job that anyone could ever have, and the memories are just unbelievable," said Brock. "When I started this journey over 54 years ago, I had no idea where it would lead me."

Judy was inducted into the A. Frank Lever Extension Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 1, for her dedication to educational programming in the areas of agriculture, health and nutrition, and youth development to South Carolina citizens during her career. The ceremony was held at Clemson and attended by many of her former co-workers and friends. Cooperative Extension is a vital part of Clemson's College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, the core of the University's land-grant heritage.

The Brocks' retirement years have been full of service and travel. They are deeply engaged with their church, St. John United Methodist in Lugoff, and taught adult education classes focused on financial management at the Wateree River Correctional Institute for five years. Their worldwide travel adventures have included visits to China, Australia, New Zealand, much of Europe and the United States. Judy visited Russia and Hungary with the People-to-People program and noted that she wished our Extension programs could be worldwide so that valuable resources and information could be shared with all people, regardless of their location. Next on their list: The couple is looking forward to an upcoming trip to Ireland and the United Kingdom.

"We were richly blessed that I received a financial scholarship during my time at Clemson," Pascal said. "Both of us came from parents who had a strong work ethic, and they worked very hard to provide for their families. Receiving the Ben and Kitty Gossett Scholarship made all the difference, and it allowed me to complete my education."

"Our goal in leaving a significant estate gift to the University is to pay it forward and to perpetuate the opportunity that we were given to the next generation - it is a rewarding way to give back," Pascal said. "Clemson gave Pascal financial assistance when he needed it to complete his degree, and also allowed me to help so many families through the Clemson Extension program through which I had a wonderfully fulfilling career" Judy added. "We have been richly blessed with great jobs and careers and now enjoying retirement and travel enriched our desire to help others achieve the same dream," she said.

"We know that our gift to Clemson will be well taken care of and distributed to the appropriate areas," Pascal shared. "We have been very impressed with the system in place, which will allow the Foundation to manage the assets and disburse a portion of the income to the areas that are dear to our hearts. We know where our money will go and how it will be used to support those who need it most," Judy added.

Pascal and Judy will establish the Pascal and Judy Brock Distinguished Professorship in Advanced Materials to acknowledge Pascal's career achievements, as well as the Pascal and Judy Brock Scholarship Endowment. This scholarship will invest in the students who have demonstrated financial need from Kershaw County, in honor of Judy's 30 years in the Kershaw Extension office. They also intend to establish the Pascal and Judy Brock Endowment for Libraries, to secure digital licenses and access for advanced material students and faculty within the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences.

Thank you, Pascal and Judy, for your unwavering life-long commitment to Clemson University. You have taken Maya's words to heart as you leave behind a diverse and meaningful legacy. You are making an impact on the world that can never be erased.

The Brocks have chosen to support areas that have significant meaning to them, and we sincerely hope you will consider how you can leave your personal "paw" print on the next generation of Clemson Tigers. Please reach out to our planned giving team to help you explore how you too can make a difference in the lives of future Clemson students, faculty, extension and other vital programs through a strategic and planned gift arrangement. Knowing the good that your estate can do and the legacy you can leave behind is a tremendous way to etch your mark on the hearts and minds of those who will follow us, to manifest their impact on the world.

Our website features useful online resources to guide your thought process. For information about general estate planning, please download our free Wills Guide which should help you make plans before visiting with your attorney and financial advisors. We always enjoy hearing from you, and we hope you will contact us directly at [email protected].