Valiant Cross Academy officially takes ownership of Troy University building downtown

Leaders of Troy University and Valiant Cross Academy gathered inside the Rosa Parks Library and Museum on Tuesday afternoon to finalize news that has been a long time coming.

Troy University transferred the deed to building 136 on its downtown Montgomery campus to the private Christian school.

Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. and Valiant Cross founders Anthony Brock and Fred Brock signed the necessary documents and made the sale official.

The Brock brothers started their school in 2015 with a class of 30 sixth graders, and as those students progressed, the founders added new grades every year, admitting new students behind them. When it came time for the original students to enter the ninth grade in 2018, Valiant Cross began leasing the Troy University building as its high school.

“This is just another step, and it's another sign directly from God that he cares about these boys, these young men,” Anthony Brock said. “God loves you, and God keeps making provisions for you. My brother and I, all we did was say ‘yes.’ God just needs vessels to do his work.”

The down payment on the building was $250,000, Troy University’s attorney said at the ceremony.

“Ideas are easy, but execution is everything,” Fred Brock said. “What an amazing neighbor to Valiant Cross, and more importantly, what an amazing God we serve. You don't put this kind of stuff on paper. You dream of it, but for it to actually happen, it's been really big for us.”

Chancellor Hawkins spoke about how proud he was of the work the Brocks have put into growing Valiant Cross. He said it reminded him of the parable of the three bricklayers, a story with many variations that emphasizes the importance of purpose.

Essentially, the story goes that three men were laying bricks to rebuild a church in London. When asked what they were doing, the first said, “I’m laying bricks.” The second said, “I’m building a wall.” The third smiled and said, “I’m building a cathedral.”

“We're building a great cathedral, a cathedral in which lives have changed,” Hawkins said. “The principles of VCA are, in our opinion, perfectly aligned with those that we value at Troy University: good citizenship, leadership values, those things that made this country great. That will make these young men great leaders. We need leadership today more than we've ever needed it.”

Tuesday’s ceremony took place in a conference room named for Lamar Higgins, who served two terms as the first Black president of Troy’s Student Government Association when he was a student. Higgins went on to become an involved alumnus, and he helped establish the Rosa Parks Museum and John Lewis Hall before his death in 2021.

Anthony Brock said the location was symbolic for him because Higgins was a good friend and played a role in Valiant Cross’ progress.

Following the signing ceremony, Hawkins presented four recent Valiant Cross graduates with scholarships to Troy University. Two of the scholarships were in honor of Higgins, and two were in honor of the Brock brothers.

The recipients were Reuben Harris, Terrence Brown, Bryant McMeans and JaQuincy Scott. Each young man will receive $2,000 toward his education at Troy for the next four years.

Hadley Hitson covers children's health, education and welfare for the Montgomery Advertiser. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to the Advertiser.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Troy University signs over deed to Valiant Cross high school building