When leaving a career after several years, one can expect a retirement party. However, if you’re Dr. Quiester Craig, you can expect a little bit more than the average pot luck or modest luncheon.

When you’re Dr. Craig, professor and dean of the School of Business and Economics at North Carolina A&T State University for over 40 years, you get a week-long series of events that culminate with a scholarship banquet in your honor: an event featuring hundreds of distinguished guests vying for an opportunity to share a remarkable story about your unyielding dedication to excellence.

When you are Dean Craig, that retirement celebration raises $1.1 million in scholarship funding.

The April 19 retirement extravaganza, “Celebrating a Legacy of Excellence: A 40-year Journey in Education,” chronicled Craig’s many accomplishments over the past four decades. During his tenure, the business programs received unanimous vote for undergraduate accreditation by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. He propelled the department further as the accounting program became the first of its kind at any historically black college or university to receive accreditation.

Craig later became the first African American to serve the AASCB International as president of the organization in 1992, a first for the organization in its entire 93-year history.

There was a common thread of “praise by grand comparisons” that could be found in every speech during the ceremony. Speakers compared Craig to every historically great entity from the Moses to the Michael Jordan in the field of business education.

Among the presenters to honor Craig were A&T greats: the eighth chancellor and chancellor emeritus, Dr. Edward B. Fort; interim provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Winser Alexander; and chair of the board of trustees, Willie A. Deese.

“There is no finer dean nationally; he has set the mark,” Dr. Fort said in his remarks.

An outpouring of love came from students, faculty and staff. Business professionals who Craig built relationships with over the years also paid tribute. The ceremony would not have been complete without words from his family and friends. Each had something to say about Craig’s dignity in the face of adversity, the pride he had in his job and the humility that allowed him to carry the torch for so long.

“He promised nothing that he couldn’t deliver,” said Dr. Joseph Monroe, retired dean from the College of Engineering at A&T.

The story here is not who the speakers were or what their backgrounds and credentials entail. The significance of the event lies in the fabric of Craig’s character.

Craig revealed to the crowd the secret to his numerous years of success. To make a lasting impact the way the esteemed professional has done on A&T and the business world takes work. It takes hard work but most importantly, it takes team work.

“It’s the faculty and staff that really make things happen,” says a humble Craig who used most of his time for remarks during the ceremony to thank his staff and honor them in front of the entire audience with plaques. “I didn’t do this by myself,” he said.

The most important part of Craig’s career has been his students. His crowning glory, he says, is meeting new students and “getting them to come to A&T and getting them to see they are not a number.

“I grew up in an era where the opportunities available were a fantasy, they didn’t exist. Now we’ve transitioned to where preparation can be the foundation of getting something started,” Craig said.

Along with his legacy, Craig has left a lasting impression on the organizations he has served during his career. New member induction fees for Beta Gamma Sigma and Beta Alpha Psi are now covered on behalf of him.

The retiree was awarded the Longleaf Pine Award from the governor of North Carolina, the Distinguished Leadership Award from AACSB International and received a lifetime pass to all PhD Project Association events.

For the 40-plus years of service Craig says, “If you enjoy what you do, you won’t work too many more days in your life, and I’ve enjoyed it.”

For so many attendees Dean Craig represented a guiding force and a beacon of hope but the humble servant closed his speech thanking the room for granting him the opportunity to make a difference.

“For all these years, I thank all of you,” he said.