The Moore-Stone Award winner for 2016 is a man forever tied to Florida State University and Seminole Boosters, Inc., the fundraising arm of Florida State Athletics. Charlie Barnes was a popular
student leader on campus in the 1960s prior to joining the United States Army as an infantry officer and serving a year-long combat tour in Vietnam. Armed with the GI Bill, Barnes returned to his
beloved FSU to complete his education and to sharpen his considerable skills as a recruiter and organizer. Following graduation, he was hired by marketing giant, Proctor and Gamble. In the late
1970s, Barnes was recruited back to Tallahassee by his fraternity brother - Seminole Booster President, Andy Miller – becoming the Boosters’ second fundraiser. Arm-in-arm, this dynamic duo pursued a
long-term vision, developing and leading massive banks of fundraising volunteers and later crafting a series of Capital Campaigns to fund the new landscape of first class athletic facilities. They
built an organization that raised more than $1 billion over 35 years. Barnes retired in 2012, but remains active with the Boosters.
A compelling speaker and accomplished writer, Barnes
coordinated and served as host of Bobby Bowden’s famous spring Seminole Booster Tour which, at its’ zenith, included more than 30 stops and routinely attracted thousands of Seminole fans. For many
fans outside Tallahassee, Barnes was the ‘face’ of Seminole Boosters.
Barnes also emerged as one of the organizations most successful major gift fundraisers. In his final year, Barnes led a $15
million capital campaign to build the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility, which elevated Florida State’s athletic facilities to among the best in the country.
Barnes’ love of FSU, ability
to recruit and inspire fellow supporters along with his vision and creativity, helped grow the Seminole Boosters into the ultra-successful support organization it is today.
