GRAMBLING GROOMED GALLOT FOR GSU PRESIDENCY

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GSU president, first lady feted at Ruston’s New Living Word for “kingdom assignment” responsibility

By JESSICA WRIGHT
GSU Media Bureau

GSU President, First Lady Celebrated at New Living WordKia Baldwin-Richardson was a young attorney, determined and excited to make a difference with her chosen career when she met Rick Gallot through her dad, New Living Word Ministries Pastor Jerry Baldwin about 10 years ago. Gallot became her mentor.

She often consulted him for advice, talked with him about the law and justice and soaked up his wisdom as much as she could.

“When I met President Gallot he was a state representative while running his private practice,” said Richardson. “Although he was busy, he was always accessible. He gave me his cell phone number and made himself available to assist me or he would point me in the direction of someone who could help.”

Richardson spoke about the special relationship during a recent (August 3) Kingdom Assignment celebration at the church in honor of Grambling State University President Richard “Rick” Gallot Jr. and GSU First Lady Christy Gallot. The prayer celebration and reception included a whos who of Grambling State alumni and supporters, including Grambling Mayor Edward Jones, State Rep. Patrick Jefferson, former GSU head baseball coach and hall of famer Wilbert Ellis and GSU head football coach Broderick Fobbs.

During the evening service in the church sanctuary Richardson, explained the occasion celebrating such an important, God-given assignment.  “A Kingdom Assignment is God-ordained,” she said, “a God-given responsibility.” She went on to put the appointment in context, adding “Though the Board may have elected you and appointed you, God called you.”

Richardsons father, Baldwin, shared with Gallot and those gathered in his honor a confession of divine assignment, including eight points of common characteristics shared by successful kingdom leaders: a consistent prayer life, commitment, confidence, consistency, courageousness, Christ-like, continuing in the word and critic-proof.

“Everybody in the kingdom of God that was given a kingdom assignment and anyone operating by kingdom principles (has been) successful,” said Baldwin.

Baldwin charged Gallot to be a kingdom leader by integrating all eight points into his leadership of GSU and his personal life. He said it is crucial to Gallots success, and the success of Grambling State.

“Grambling should be on top in every area. A price was paid for Grambling to be on top,” he told Gallot and the congregation. “God is well aware of that, and for Grambling to get where it needs to be Grambling needs qualified, effective leadership — and God appointed Rick Gallot Jr,” said Baldwin.

Christy Gallot was presented with a dozen red roses by New Living Words first lady, Juliet Baldwin, as she provided some advice and God-inspired words of encouragement from one first lady to another.

“Always encourage your husband and dont let anyone talk against your husband in your presence, no matter…the situation,” she told Christy Gallot. “Be independent and most of all be you and do not allow the presidents position to change who you are.”

Baldwin presented Gallot with a clock, saying “to be on time is to be late and to be early is to be on time.” He also presented Gallot with a plaque of the eight kingdom assignment leadership points.

The Gallots thanked everyone for coming. President Gallot was overcome with emotion as he began to speak. He said, “My father would always say that he kept our belly full and my mom kept our minds full.” He recalled familiar faces in the crowd but then held back as he did not want to leave anyone out. President Gallot expressed his extreme gratefulness for his parents, wife and grooming during his journey at New Living Word Ministries under Pastor Jerry Baldwin.

Jones recalled growing up with Gallot on the same block in the city. He gave the presidents parents, Mildred and Richard Gallot Sr., credit for raising a fine son by being great examples.

“The Gallots are community grounded and Rick was groomed as a child for this position,” the mayor said. “They may not have known it, but this was the role made for him. They have been an infinite part of Grambling, the university and the community.”

Mildred Gallot acknowledged that she and her husband certainly did not groom Rick Gallot to become GSUs president, but she said they are quite overjoyed and grateful that he is the universitys new leader. She said they put him in the right positions to be exposed to good people and good situations. She suggested that he study history as a major because she felt he needed to “learn to research, analyze, write and think like a judge” to be a good attorney. Mrs. Gallot, a retired Grambling State faculty member, said Gramblings second president, Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones, had a strong influence on young Gallot as he spent time visiting “Prez,” who lived next door.

President Gallot started attending New Living Word after visiting during campaign season in 2007. He said though he was looking for votes, he kept returning because he was being fed spiritually by Pastor Baldwin.

With so many well-wishers in the audience and getting lots of hugs and shaking lots of hands, at one point President Gallot welled up with tears, paused and said he was “grateful.”

GSU President, First Lady Celebrated at New Living Word

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