code: public static char toChar(String str, char defaultValue) {
          if (StringUtils.isEmpty(str)) {
              return defaultValue;
          }
          return str.charAt(0);
      }
docs: <p>Converts the String to a char using the first character, defaulting
  the value on empty Strings.</p>
  
  <pre>
  CharUtils.toChar(null, 'X') = 'X'
  CharUtils.toChar("", 'X')   = 'X'
  CharUtils.toChar("A", 'X')  = 'A'
  CharUtils.toChar("BA", 'X') = 'B'
  </pre>
  
  @param str  the character to convert
  @param defaultValue  the value to use if the  Character is null
  @return the char value of the first letter of the String or the default if null