The 2017 Statesboro Herald Humanitarian of the Year “moved our community to new heights of caring,” said Billy Hickman on Tuesday night during the 29th annual Deen Day Smith Service to Mankind Awards gala held at Georgia Southern University’s Nessmith-Lane Continuing Education building.

After sharing the Biblical story of the Good Samaritan, Hickman praised Dr. Karl Peace as “a true public health hero” who not only influenced and helped the community but also “the world.”

Peace spoke briefly as he accepted the award.

“This is quite a surprise,” he said. “I am very humbled and very appreciative.”

Peace “has given over $8 million to Georgia Southern University in various ways, developed numerous medications that have likely saved countless lives, and inspired and enabled hundreds to obtain degrees in various medicine-related fields,” Hickman said.

“He began college at GSU in 1959 with a loan of $532 that paid for two quarters of tuition. For his third quarter, he secured a Georgia State Teacher’s scholarship, and throughout the rest of his college career at GSU, he achieved a Bachelor of Science in chemistry while he worked seven part-time jobs to pay for his schooling. This was also how he supported his siblings and mother, who suffered from cancer,” he said.

Peace “obtained a master’s degree in mathematics at Clemson University, has taught at several colleges and later obtained a PhD in biostatistics from the Medical College of Virginia,” he said.

In 1989 he started his own business — Biopharmaceutical Research Consultants — where he played a key role in development and approval of several medications that treat diseases and conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, hypertension, arthritis, anxiety, depression and gastric ulcers.

“He is still an adjunct faculty member at several major universities and is active in public health education endeavors at Georgia Southern,” he said.

1998, Peace approached GSU with the idea of a biostatistics center, a grad- level study program, and development of a school of public health. “He gave up a $1.5 million annual salary with his own company to return to his alma mater in 2000 when GSU offered a study in biostatistics, which he helped develop,” he said. “He established the Jiann-Ping Hu College of Public Health at GSU, named for his late wife.” Peace has since then continuously recruited, promoted and established the school with his endowment. It is the only College of Public Health in the state of Georgia.

“We have done remarkably well … in the past 10 years,” Peace said. Since 2007 we have had 50 students and awarded over 500 degrees” to students who have “sustained very rewarding careers in many fields.”

The Board of Regents named the university’s biostatistics center after him - the Karl E Peace Center for Biostatistics, “honoring him for his endless contributions of time, finances and support,” Hickman said. “He has established 21 endowments at five different institutions – 14 of those at Georgia Southern University.

Peace also supports the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County where he volunteers, tutors, mentors and supports financially.

He helped raise a total of $265,000 after the club lost a critical grant, matching at least $90,000 in donations personally.  He helps members with math, and has funded six grad assistants to help fund data collection and management of statistical analysis, thus helping in their grant writing applications.

He chaired the club’s capital campaign in 2009 and in 2011, the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County named its academic achievement center for him Hickman said.

“Dr. Karl Peace has donated to, supported and volunteered for several entities including Goodwill Industries, the Salvation Army, American Cancer Society, Memorial Health University Medical, Mayo Clinic, the Alzheimer’s Association, United Way, Disabled Veterans, American Red Cross and Easter Seals.

“He gave a donation to the local Hearts and Hands Clinic for $5,000 and has donated millions to education and health related activities, enabling hundreds to obtain degrees. He also supports Komen for the Cure, the Georgia Cancer Coalition and the Southeast Cancer Alliance,” he said.

Peace has published 10 books and more than 150 articles on biostatistics and other medical issues.

His accolades include being named the 1998 Distinguished Alumni of the Year at Georgia Southern; the 2003 Alumni of the Year; received the first ever GSU President’s Medal in 2005; and in 2009 won the GSU Annual Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarly Activity.

He was named the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s Cancer Scholar at GSU from 2002 to 2007. He was the first GSU grant recipient for the Georgia Research Alliance.

 Peace served as the first Eminent Scholar Chair at Georgia Southern and endowed the Karl E. Peace/ JP Hsu Eminent Scholarship in Public Health at the university. He has endowed 13 scholarships at GSU.

Peace is the benefactor of the GSU Library Center for Disabled Students, as well as for the music and art departments. 

“The 2009 recipient of the Deen Day Smith Service to Mankind Awards received a standing ovation from the Georgia House of Representatives in 2008 for his biostatistics contributions, passing a resolution in his honor. In 2009 the Georgia House of representatives cited him for his contributions to drug research,” Hickman said.

Peace has received numerous honors and recognitions for his work, his dedication and generosity, including the 2008 Tito Mijaries Lifetime Achievement Award from the Phillipines Statistics Association.

“Dr. Karl Peace’s humanitarian efforts are endless and priceless not only to our community, but to the world,” he said.

“This is very special,” Peace said as he accepted the award. “Thank you very much.”

Herald reporter Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.