A Message
from the Chairman
Editor's Note: The following is an excerpt from a letter from Building Greatness Campaign Chairman Raymond J. Lane
In this final stretch of the Building Greatness Campaign, which concludes on December 31, we are inviting all graduates to participate. Simultaneously, we are striving to establish a mutually beneficial relationship, which will extend far beyond the life of the Campaign.
In light of today's economic climate, we, as alumni, must look for creative and alternative means of supporting West Virginia University in the Building Greatness Campaign and beyond. Bequests, gifts of real estate, paid-up life insurance, trusts, and gifts-in-kind are a few of the alternative ways to support our University. Also, Campaign commitments can take the form of pledges spread over as many as five years, which will reduce the current market impact on one's immediate ability to give.
I encourage you, if you have not already done so, to please give serious consideration to participating to the fullest extent possible in the Building Greatness Campaign before its conclusion in December. In the midst of global financial uncertainty and fiscal pressures, one reality remains crystal clear—private support from our alumni is critical to West Virginia University's future.
Raymond J. Lane
National Campaign Chair
Ways of Giving
Contributions to the West Virginia University Foundation's Building
Greatness Campaign can be made in a number of ways.
Outright Gifts
Donations may include cash, marketable securities, real estate,
mutual funds, or personal property. Donors receive a tax deduction
based on the value of the gift and can avoid capital gains tax
when an appreciated asset is donated.
Pledges
A pledge can be made over a five-year period with a written commitment
to give. Donors receive a tax deduction when the gift is made.
Planned Gifts
Options include life insurance, provisions in a will or revocable
trust, retirement assets, and life income gifts. Donors or their
heirs receive a partial tax deduction based on the present value
of the amount the WVU Foundation is expected to receive. The
donor can possibly avoid or reduce capital gains taxes when an
appreciated asset is donated to establish a planned gift.
Securities
Stocks or mutual funds may be electronically transferred to the
WVU Foundation. Stocks that have appreciated in value provide
the most tax benefits. Donors receive a charitable deduction
for market value if stocks have been owned for more than one
year. A donor receives a charitable deduction for cost basis
if stocks have been owned for less than one year.
Matching Gifts
Many companies match employees' donations to educational institutions.
Company human resources offices generally have information on
matching gifts programs. Both the original donor and the company
receive a tax deduction for their respective parts of the gift.
Donors are encouraged to contact the WVU Foundation to determine which gift is most appropriate (800-847-3856 or www.wvuf.org).
Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. Chair
Judge Copenhaver exemplifies the qualities
sought in chair candidates. His career is the embodiment of excellence,
both in the classroom and in the courtroom," said John Fisher
III, dean of the College of Law.
Judge John T. Copenhaver
Jr. was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of West Virginia by President Gerald R. Ford in 1976.
He had previously served as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern
District from 1958 to 1976. The West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
selected him as the 1983 West Virginia Outstanding Trial Judge.
"In 1958 my father chose Judge Copenhaver to serve on our
family's foundation board of directors," said Ed Maier,
president of the Maier Foundation. "We consider him a stalwart
of our organization. None of our family members could ever repay
the judge for all that he has done for us over the years. So,
we feel this honor is a fitting tribute and ask your professors
and students to attempt to emulate the character of this outstanding
West Virginian."
A native of Charleston, West Virginia, Judge Copenhaver is a
1950 graduate of the WVU College of Law. He also holds an AB
from WVU's Department of Political Science and is a 1942 graduate
of the Kentucky Military Institute. He has been recognized as
a Political Science Distinguished Alumnus and was awarded the
1971 Gavel Award for outstanding teaching and the 2002 Justitia
Officium Award, the Law School's highest honor. He is a former
adjunct professor in WVU's College of Law and is a past member
and chair of the Law Visiting Committee.
The Sarah and Pauline Maier Foundation was established in 1958
by Charleston lawyer, businessman, and former Rhodes Scholar
William J. Maier Jr. and was named in honor of his mother and
wife.
The Maier Foundation has endowed three chairs at West Virginia
University. The Copenhaver Chair is the second in the College
of Law. The first was the William J. Maier Jr. Chair of Law,
which also was WVU's first endowed chair. The Warren Point Chair
of Internal Medicine is housed at the WVU School of Medicine's
Charleston Division.
Special Gifts Phase
Getting Exceptional Participation
The Special Gifts phase of the Building Greatness Campaign is
experiencing unprecedented participation. Since it was launched
in January, 40 percent of all alumni contacted have made Campaign
gifts.
To date, direct mail and telemarketing efforts for this phase
alone have raised more than $550,000 in gifts and pledges for
WVU's colleges and schools.
The Special Gifts phase, which continues through December 31,
provides an opportunity for all alumni and friends to show their
support for WVU by making a financial commitment to the Campaign
through either an outright gift or a one to three-year pledge.
A series of Building Greatness Campaign recognition clubs honor
alumni and friends who provide WVU with private financial support
during the Special Gifts phase.
Each club offers special recognition to donors at different gift
levels. Recognition Clubs include: Gold, $2,000 or more; Blue,
$1,000-$1,999; Mountaineer, $500-$999; University, $250-$499;
and Campus, $100-$249. Alumni graduating between 1996 and 2003
who make gifts or pledges at 50 percent of the required amount
of a particular club are eligible to receive that club's recognition.
For example, with a gift or pledge of $125, a 2002 graduate will
become a member of the Building Greatness Campaign's University
Club.
Memorial Scholarship Established for Professor Bagby
By Ben LaPoe
The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
and its Department of History have memorialized the achievements
and outstanding service of longtime History Professor Wesley
Bagby by establishing the Dr. Wesley M. Bagby III History Scholarship
Fund to support scholarships for graduate students majoring in
history. The scholarship was made possible through gifts from
Bagby's family members and colleagues. After 45 years of service
to WVU, Bagby passed away on June 7, 2002.
"We believe that this endowment is a proper way to pay tribute
to Dr. Bagby's memory and to aid fellow scholars in their pursuit
of intellectual exploration in history," said M. Duane Nellis,
dean of the Eberly College.
Bagby's distinguished service to the Department of History had
been recognized on several occasions with honors and awards.
He was selected by three alumni classes as one of WVU's most
effective professors and was selected by the WVU faculty as one
of 12 outstanding faculty members who were recognized in an honors
convocation.
He authored seven books and wrote numerous scholarly articles
and book reviews. Bagby received two Fulbright Lectureships to
China and was awarded the Benedum Distinguished Scholar Award
in 1992. The goal of the Bagby Scholarship is to encourage students
to develop the same professional dedication to history as Professor
Bagby exhibited.
CEMR Receives Kodak
Stock Valued at More Than $400,000
A WVU graduate who went on to play a key role in the development
of color film at the Eastman Kodak Company has bequeathed more
than $400,000 in company stock to WVU's College of Engineering
and Mineral Resources.
The late Victor Pantalone of Rochester, New York, and formerly
of Brookline, Massachusetts, made the gift through the WVU Foundation.
The gift will create fellowships in the Department of Chemical
Engineering, providing competitive stipends to recruit and retain
qualified graduate students in the department. The recipients
will be known as the Pantalone Fellows.
"I was privileged to meet Victor Pantalone and his family
several times. He was indeed a far-sighted individual, and one
with a great zest for life," said Dady Dadyburjor, chair
of the Department of Chemical Engineering. "Through his
careful planning and his generosity, he has paved the way for
generations of graduate students to benefit."
Pantalone, a 1940 chemical engineering graduate, was a retired
senior production development engineer with Eastman Kodak and
was instrumental in the invention of the emulsion process to
develop color film.
$1.25 Million Pledged
for WVU College of Law
The WVU Foundation has received $1.25 million in gifts to create
a chair and a professorship in the WVU College of Law. It is
the College's first chair and the eighth professorship created
during the Building Greatness Campaign.
The Sarah and Pauline Maier Foundation made a $1 million commitment
to establish the Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. Chair of Law. The
Daywood Foundation, Inc., has made a $250,000 commitment to endow
the Arthur S. Dayton Professorship of Law.
"A cornerstone in quality legal education is the ability
to attract and retain high-quality instructors. Chairs and professorships
bring recognition and prestige to the College and the University
at large and aid in building a stronger program and enhancing
the education we can offer," said John Fisher III, dean
of the College of Law.
Arthur S. Dayton Professorship
of Law
The Daywood Foundation has established the Arthur S. Dayton Professorship
of Law. Arthur Spencer Dayton, a native of Philippi, was a 1907
graduate of West Virginia University and a 1908 graduate of the
WVU College of Law. After receiving a master's degree from Yale
University, Dayton returned to Philippi to practice law until
1923. He then moved to Charleston to become a member of the law
firm of Blue, Dayton, and Campbell. In 1945, the firm was reorganized
as Dayton, Campbell, and Love. At the time of his death in 1948
at the age of 61, Dayton was still in practice with Harry V.
Campbell and Charles M. Love Jr.
Dayton also was an ardent collector of rare paintings and books.
"He numbers among his many books an extensive first-edition
collection of Mark Twain's works and scores of early printings
of Shakespeare, and his private library rates among the finest
in the state," according to West Virginia Today in
a 1941 edition. Dayton donated his rare book collection to West
Virginia University Libraries.
"We are grateful that the Daywood Foundation wants to honor
Mr. Dayton's memory with this professorship," said John
W. Fisher II, dean of the WVU College of Law. "He was a
graduate of the College of Law and a prominent Charleston lawyer,
and was known throughout the state as an outstanding member of
the legal profession, and as a patron of the arts."
Columbus Entrepreneur
Honors Wife; Creates Chair in Speech Communication
John McConnell, founder and chairman emeritus of Worthington
Industries, Inc., and majority owner of the Columbus Blue Jackets,
has made a $1 million gift to the West Virginia University Foundation
to endow the Peggy Rardin McConnell Chair in Speech Communication.
He is establishing the chair in honor of his wife, a WVU alumna.
The McConnells are natives of Pughtown, now called New Manchester,
West Virginia, and currently reside in Columbus, Ohio.
The McConnell Chair, housed in the Eberly College of Arts and
Sciences, will support a distinguished faculty position, with
an emphasis in speech communication and performance, in the Department
of Communication Studies. It will provide resources to assist
the department in maintaining a faculty position focused on enhancing
the speech communication abilities of WVU students.
"The establishment of the Peggy Rardin McConnell Chair in
Speech Communication will ensure—especially in this period
of more limited state support for higher education—that
WVU will have new resources available to expand these high standards
to the area of public communication," said M. Duane Nellis,
dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.
Peggy McConnell earned a degree in speech from WVU in 1946. As
a high school and University student, she acted in several plays
and went on to direct drama productions as a teacher in Michigan.
John McConnell served three years with the U.S. Navy during WWII
before earning a degree in business administration from Michigan
State University in 1949. Through his leadership, Worthington
Industries has grown to become the nation's leading intermediate
steel processor and manufacturer of metal-related products, and
has 59 facilities in ten countries.
McConnell, who also serves as chairman and governor of the National
Hockey League franchise, founded the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation
and the McConnell Heart Health Center at Riverside Hospital in
Columbus. He is immediate past chairman of the board of the Ohio
Health Corporation, chairman emeritus of the Law Enforcement
Foundation of Ohio, and a director of GMI Engineering and Management
Institute of Flint, Michigan. He is a recipient of the Horatio
Alger Award and the National Football Foundation Gold Medal Award,
the foundation's highest honor.
WVU ROTC Scholarship
Honors Retired Army Colonel
The son of a late retired army colonel has made a $26,000 gift
to establish an endowed scholarship in his father's honor in
West Virginia University's Army ROTC program.
The William J. McDonnell Jr. Memorial Scholarship was created
by James McDonnell of Reno, Nevada. It will be awarded annually
to a WVU senior in the Army ROTC program. First preference will
be given to West Virginia residents from Boone, Fayette, Greenbrier,
Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas,
Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, and Wood counties.
William McDonnell earned a master's degree in teaching from WVU
in 1936 and taught in Warton and Van, West Virginia. He served
his country in the military for 30 years and was a veteran of
World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War. Among
his numerous medals was the Bronze Star, which he received in
WWII. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he resided in Reno
for 27 years until his death in 1999. He is buried in Arlington
National Cemetery.
Brothers Memorialize
Father with WVU Scholarship
As part of the Building Greatness Campaign, two brothers, who
grew up in Wheeling, West Virginia, have established a scholarship
in memory of their father. The William R. Totterdale Scholarship
Fund has been endowed through gifts from Gregory Totterdale,
of Irving, Texas, and his brother, Robert, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Both are WVU alumni.
This merit-based scholarship is reserved for students majoring
in mathematics, statistics, or the interdisciplinary program
in industrial mathematics and statistics. Preference will be
given to students from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia,
the areas where William Totterdale traveled in his work.
"My brother and I believe that this scholarship is a fitting
tribute to our father, since we hope to help the children of
parents whose occupation is in the building trades," says
Robert Totterdale.
Robert, a 1974 graduate WVU's statistics program, recently retired
from his position as a partner in Accenture (formally Andersen
Consulting), where his area of responsibility was information
technology consulting. Totterdale has served on the Eberly College
Advisory Board since 1996.
Greg earned two degrees from WVU's Eberly College of Arts and
Sciences, a BA in mathematics in 1972 and a master's degree in
statistics in 1974. He is currently president and managing partner
of the Totterdale Group, a marketing analysis and consulting
firm. His work involves applying mathematical and statistical
modeling to marketing issues and business decisions.
"Our father was a strong role model for my brother and me,"
recalls Greg, "The way he lived his life, the values he
instilled in us set the course for our lives."
To further help the Eberly College financially in flexible ways,
the Totterdale brothers also have established an opportunities
fund to support the programming of the college, with special
attention to opportunities in statistics.
Morgantown
Couple Support WVU's Creative Writing Program
West Virginia University alumni Christine and Richard Vaglienti,
of Morgantown, have established the Vaglienti Visiting Writer
Endowment in the WVU Department of English.
The endowment will support and encourage the study and appreciation
of creative writing and provide funds for annual programming
connected with the creative writing program in the Eberly College
of Arts and Sciences. The fund will cover the costs of honoraria,
travel, and other associated expenses for the annual visit of
one published writer who will be invited to campus for a public
reading.
The Vaglientis are longtime supporters of the Department of English.
A published writer herself, Christine earned a bachelor's degree
in English in 1985.
"My husband and I are lifelong residents of West Virginia
and met while attending WVU," Christine Vaglienti says.
"We know that our success is based, in a large part, on
the foundation built at WVU and wanted to do something to acknowledge
the importance of the University and the relationships we've
built because of the University."
Christine followed her undergraduate education with a 1988 doctor
of jurisprudence degree from the WVU College of Law. She currently
is a managing member of the Morgantown law firm Flaherty, Sensabaugh,
and Bonasso.
Richard earned a bachelor's degree in 1978 from WVU and a medical
degree in 1986 from the WVU School of Medicine. He completed
a residency in anesthesia and a fellowship in chronic pain management
at the University as well. He now is co-medical director of the
West Virginia Pain Treatment Center and a clinical assistant
professor at the WVU School of Medicine.
The gift was made in conjunction with the Building Greatness
Campaign, which is being conducted by the WVU Foundation on behalf
of the University.
Rothrock Supports Athletics
David Rothrock '50 has had a love of sports since his days as
a student at Weir High School in Weirton, West Virginia.
"I have always been an athletics nut," admits Rothrock.
"I wanted to be an athlete myself, but didn't have those
talents. I do enjoy watching people win."
With that in mind, he and his wife, Evelyn, have made a gift
to the WVU Foundation that provides lifetime income to them and
will later provide support for WVU's Department of Intercollegiate
Athletics.
"Sometimes you have assets that are worth a lot of money
but that don't return much. This is a good way to get some income.
Everything you buy is always going up in price, so this gift
helps us too," she says.
Gifts that pay income have become significantly more attractive
to donors. Cash, stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and real estate
can be donated to the WVU Foundation. The donor may choose a
fixed or variable income. One type also yields some tax-free
income. A tax deduction is earned from making such a gift. All
gifts that pay income count in the Building Greatness Campaign.
"During my WVU days, I remember that my economics classes
with Dr. Dadisman gave me a solid background in the subject,
and the English literature classes I had with Dr. Patrick Gainer
where he played southern West Virginia folk music that he had
recorded were very memorable," recalls Rothrock, who adds
that a number of Weir High standouts played on WVU teams, providing
him a personal link to the athletic program.
After graduating from WVU, Rothrock's degree in business led
to field sales with Kaiser Aluminum and Essex Group International.
He retired as director of sales in the Engineered Products Division
at Essex, then headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The Rothrocks have three children and four grandchildren. In
retirement, they live in Morgantown, where they can be close
to Mountaineer sports.
New Foundation
Scholars Named
One has aspirations to be a pro bono civil rights attorney and
another wants to become an orthopedic surgeon. The other three
also have dreams of careers in law, medicine, and government
service, and all have a keen desire to give back to the state
through community involvement and leadership.
They are five of
West Virginia's outstanding high school seniors-named as WVU
Foundation Scholars.
Winners of WVU's top academic award, valued at more than $48,000
over a four-year period, receive all educational and living expenses,
plus a stipend for study abroad, internships, or other enriching
educational experiences.
The members of the 2003-04 Class of WVU Foundation Scholars are:
Ingrid Bohme of Williamson, Eric Lawrence of Keyser, Robert (Bobby)
Moore IV of Barrackville, Matthew (Matt) Schessler of Charleston
and Rose Simis of Fairmont.
The Foundation Scholar award, the keystone of the WVU Scholars
Program, is restricted to West Virginia resident high school
seniors who have attended West Virginia high schools and who
have demonstrated outstanding academic performance and exhibited
unique leadership skills.
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Barbara C. Bean '63, '66 Ralph J. Bean Jr. '63, '66 Donald E. Carmichael Katherine Hutton Carmichael Edith Yates Corbell Jessie Williams Curry '37 Dorothy J. Dotson '66 |
Betty May Ferrell-Kelley '64 Larry J. Gibson '64 Raymond E. Gilhart '50 Sue Carroll Hines '53 Richard C. Howells '68, '73 Mary Beth Hughes '63, '65 Patricia Crow Lindgren '51 |
A. Duer Pierce Jr. Edna Bennett Pierce Beverly Nefflen Randolph '67, '74 Kenneth V. Randolph Jr. '71 James Milton Smith '36 Franklin G. Wade, MD '43 In Memoriam |