WVU Chemistry Department Named in Honor of C. Eugene Bennett
By Barbara L. Foster
and Pam Fronko
As
a tribute to a truly extraordinary graduate, WVU's chemistry
department has been designated as the C. Eugene Bennett Department
of Chemistry. This gesture honors the significant generosity
of Dr. Bennett and the continuing philanthropy of his widow,
Edna Bennett Pierce. Their gifts in support of the chemistry
department total more than $6.6 million.
"Naming the department of chemistry in Gene Bennett's honor will ensure that future generations of students are aware of the incredible generosity he and his widow, Edna Bennett Pierce, have shown to that department," President David C. Hardesty Jr. said. He added "Their contributions have richly enhanced the education that WVU chemistry students receive. It is a privilege to honor the memory of an alumnus who was committed to helping students achieve success, as he did in his own career."
C. Eugene Bennett was born in Rutherford, West Virginia, and graduated from Cairo High School in 1945 at the age of 16. He obtained two degrees from WVU: a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1949, and then a master's degree in organic chemistry in 1951. While attending the University, he served as the president of the Tau Chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon, the national honorary chemical society, and presided at the inaugural presentation of the Friend E. Clark Lecture Series in 1950. In 1954, he received his PhD in analytical chemistry from the University of Michigan.
Bennett then entered the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant and was assigned to the Wright Air Development Center in Dayton, Ohio, serving as a research chemist at the Aeronautical Research Laboratories. After completing his air force requirements in 1956, Dr. Bennett became a research chemist with E.I. duPont de Nemours & Co., Inc., in Wilmington, Delaware, where his area of study involved gas chromatography. Dr. Bennett and two colleagues formed F & Scientific Corporation to produce gas chromatographs and other analytical instruments in 1959. The company grew rapidly and employed 400 people after only six years. F & merged with and became a division of the Hewlett-Packard Company in 1965. Dr. Bennett left Hewlett-Packard in 1968 to pursue other business ventures, obtain an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and operate a manufacturing plant producing CDs for the music industry. He shared his professional wisdom by serving on the Advisory Board of WVU's Eberly College of Arts and Sciences from 1990 until his untimely death in 1996 at the age of 67.
While at Penn State, Bennett met Edna Peterson, a member of the "Famous 500," the first class of women admitted to Penn State after World War II. Born in Rochester, Pennsylvania, in 1932, she graduated with a degree in child development in 1953. Gene and Edna married on June 12, 1953, and raised six children: Karl, David, Linda, Susan, Carol, and Alice.
"The legacy of Gene Bennett and the continued generosity of Edna Bennett Pierce to our department of chemistry is truly extraordinary," remarked Eberly College Dean M. Duane Nellis. "The Bennett philanthropy has gone directly to initiatives that have supported WVU students and faculty. It is fitting that the department carry the name of one of our most successful alums."
The Bennett family contributions have been directed to a variety of vital areas. The Eberly College has benefited from the Bennett Academic Enrichment Fund for Science Students, and the Bennett Library Endowment for Chemistry enhances the chemistry publications collection in the new Downtown Library. The department of chemistry, however, has been the principal recipient of the family's philanthropy.
In 1994, a $1.6 million endowment created the C. Eugene Bennett Distinguished Chair in Chemistry, which is currently occupied by Dr. Kenneth Showalter, an internationally recognized researcher in nonlinear chemical dynamics. The C. Eugene and Edna P. Bennett Careers for Chemists Program acquaints high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students in chemistry with available career opportunities. The program brings professionals from throughout the country to campus to interact with students and discuss the usefulness of an education in chemistry.
In 1999, Edna Bennett Pierce donated $1 million to establish the C. Eugene Bennett Graduate Fellowship Fund and the C. Eugene Bennett Chemistry Program Enhancement Fund. The most recent gifts, totaling $2 million, will create a teaching professorship, an undergraduate scholarship program, and an additional student academic enrichment fund, along with providing further monies for the Bennett Program Enhancement Fund.
Flight Nurse Honored with Scholarship Fund
By Shelly Stump
The
life of Margaret Fae Perry would make a terrific Hollywood movie
script. It was a life filled with drama, romance, strong family
ties, war, and the untimely death of a woman who loved helping
others. Although never chronicled in a Hollywood feature film,
Margaret Perry's story has been documented in a master's thesis
by her niece, Sarah Jane Perry Godwin.
The Perry family will honor the memory of Margaret by establishing
a WVU School of Nursing scholarship.
"While in nursing school at WVU, I began to realize what
a special person my aunt was," said Godwin, who now works
as director of nursing at HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation
Center in State College, Pennsylvania.
"Physicians would share their memories of aunt Margaret
with me, and as I learned how she touched the lives of so many
people, I became interested in finding out more about her nursing
career. There isn't much documented information about military
flight nurses, so I was encouraged to research that aspect of
her work for my master's thesis at Penn State."
That's when Godwin's sister, Suzy Warman, contacted the WVU School
of Nursing to inquire about establishing a scholarship in honor
of her aunt. The family chose a $10,000 book scholarship, which
provides financial assistance for a graduate nursing student
to purchase books. Along with family donations, Warman and her
husband, J.C., owners of Slight Indulgence, a gourmet food and
wine shop in Morgantown, began a fundraising effort. Throughout
the year, a portion of wine sales will be used to help fund the
scholarship.
"Each year, we donate a portion of wine sales to a local
charity," said Warman. "This year, we opted to help
raise funds for this scholarship. We have a big display in the
store with photos of Aunt Margaret in her nurse's uniform. It's
a wonderful way to tell my aunt's story."
Margaret Fae Perry was born in Morgantown in 1923. Upon high
school graduation, Margaret briefly attended medical school at
WVU, staying only one week after deciding that the cost and length
of medical school was too much. That's when she decided to try
nursing school. WVU did not offer nursing courses at the time,
so she enrolled in the St. Mary's School of Nursing in Clarksburg.
She received her diploma in 1944.
Her nursing career included work at Monongalia General Hospital,
as well as a position as an industrial nurse at Heyden Chemical
Corporation in Morgantown. Her love of learning was evident as
she continued to take classes at WVU and Fairmont State, and
then completed postgraduate coursework at the University of Chicago.
In February 1950, Margaret joined the Air Force Nurse Corps with
hopes of traveling abroad and continuing her education. The U.S.
became involved in the Korean War shortly before Margaret's arrival
at Fort Sam Houston Army Base in San Antonio, Texas.
With the country at war, Margaret's family feared for her safety.
As a means of reassurance, she continuously wrote letters home.
Many of these letters, dated from August 2, 1950, through December
12, 1952, have been preserved.
In November 1950, Margaret received acceptance
to military flight school and headed to Montgomery, Alabama,
for training. The six-week course was designed to train nurses
for air evacuations of the wounded in Korea. She then traveled
to Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii to become a member of the
1453 Squadron. While serving with the squadron, Margaret traveled
to Japan, Guam, and various military bases throughout the U.S.
Margaret took her last flight on December 22, 1952. She was nearing
the end of her military commitment and was scheduled to ship
back to the U.S. after completing her last mission. Sadly, those
plans were never fulfilled.
Confusion regarding takeoff instructions caused the C-47 plane
she was aboard to collide with an F-80C that also was cleared
for takeoff. There was an explosion on contact, and passengers
on both planes were killed.
Margaret was awarded the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze
Service Stars for participation in the Korean Summer-Fall (1952)
and Third Korean Winter Campaigns, the United Nations Service
Medal, the Aviation Badge, "Flight Nurse," the National
Defense Service Medal, and the Air Medal.
$2+ Million Unitrust to Fund Medical Scholarships
By Pam Fronko
Retired surgeon Franklin Wade has established
a $2.14 million charitable remainder unitrust with the West Virginia
University Foundation to fund scholarships for WVU medical students
upon its termination.
Payments from a unitrust provide income to the donor or other
beneficiaries for life, or for a term of years up to 20, leaving
the remainder to benefit any college, school, or unit at WVU
the donor chooses.
The gift's charitable remainder will create the Franklin G. Wade
and Joyce G. Wade Scholarship Fund and benefit talented students
in the WVU School of Medicine and premedical students in the
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.
Wade, who earned a bachelor of science degree from WVU in 1943,
attributes his success in life to the affordability of his education.
"I wanted to repay the University," Wade said. "I
believe when someone does something nice for you, you owe some
debt of gratitude. I show my gratitude best by creating the scholarships."
Wade went on to graduate from the Temple University Medical School
in 1944.
He survives his late wife, Joyce, who passed away in October
2001. In the same house since 1959, the longtime Williamsport,
Pennsylvania residents raised three children, Glen, Sydney, and
Jean.
Before his wife's passing, the Wades entered a contest to locate
the oldest Frigidaire refrigerator in existence. Looking no farther
than their own kitchen, the couple submitted their 1927 model
and was awarded third prize-a new refrigerator. Humbly, the Wades
declined the offer saying theirs worked just fine.
Being humble is not uncommon for Wade.
"If it hadn't been for WVU, I wouldn't be where I am today,"
Wade explained. "I like to repay in some kind those who
have helped me."
The gift has been made in conjunction with the Building Greatness
Campaign, a University-wide initiative being conducted by the
WVU Foundation, which has received more than $300 million in
private support.
Bob Evans Visits after Making Generous Donation
The founder of one of the nation's largest
family restaurant chains visited the proposed site of an equine
stall barn that marks the beginning of a new academic program
in equine sciences.
Bob and Jewell Evans
and the Bob and Jewell Evans Foundation recently made a donation
of 20 horses and $75,000 to WVU's Davis College of Agriculture,
Forestry, and Consumer Sciences to promote the creation of an
undergraduate degree minor in equine management. The funds will
be used to build the barn at the Davis College's Animal Sciences
Farm in Morgantown.
Mr. Evans, founder of Bob Evans Farms Inc., was shown the barn
site on October 7, and discussed progress on the proposed academic
minor with WVU President David Hardesty, Provost Gerald Lang,
and Davis College Dean Cameron Hackney.
"This gift from the Evans family is an outstanding beginning
in our progress toward offering this minor in equine management,"
said Hackney. "Students have been asking us for years to
offer a program in this field, but the expense involved has been
a hindrance in its development. Now, thanks to the Evanses, future
WVU students will have new opportunities."
The horses—15 mares, two stallions, and three geldings—are
currently being boarded at Potomac State College of WVU in Keyser.
According to Sandy Smith, agriculture and forestry coordinator
at Potomac State, the quality of the bloodlines runs deep, representing
such outstanding sires as Peppy San Badger, Mr. Gun Smoke, Organ
Grinder, Doc Bar, and Freckles Playboy, all premiere cutting
and reining horses in the quarter horse business.
Smith states that in addition to the new curriculum, the horses
will be used for breeding purposes. The breeding program for
the stallions and mares will be at the lower farm along the Potomac
River at Black Oak Bottom. An indoor arena will be constructed
on the College's upper farm in Keyser's West End, where other
horses will eventually reside. Additionally, 20 new stalls will
be built to give students the option of bringing their own horses
to college.
While equine management is an in-demand academic program, the
horse industry is an increasingly powerful economic engine in
West Virginia. Federal money has been obtained for the creation
of a horse park and multiuse facility at Mylan Park in Morgantown.
A $6-million facility, the Peace Point Equestrian Center, is
under construction in Brooke County, and will employ approximately
25 full- and 100 part-time employees.
The American Horse Council conducted a study placing the total
impact of the equine industry on the US gross domestic product
at $112.1 billion, generating $4.9 billion in tax revenue. The
nation's horse industry involves over 7 million people as owners,
employees, service providers, and in other roles.
WVU Extension and Davis College faculty recently initiated a
study to determine the industry's economic impact on the state.
The study will analyze the direct and indirect economic impact
the industry has throughout West Virginia in terms of employment,
taxes, sales, tourism, and quality of life of horse owners and
enthusiasts.
Bob Evans Farms Inc., owns and operates full-service family restaurants
in 22 states. The company is also a leading producer of pork
sausage and other convenience food items under the Bob Evans
and Owens brand names.
This gift to WVU is not the couple's first philanthropic effort
in the Mountain State. The Bob and Jewell Evans Foundation has
contributed $150,000 to the West Virginia Access Center for Higher
Education, which focuses its efforts on increasing the college-going
rate of West Virginia school districts. Bob and Jewell Evans
also have donated $25,000 to the West Virginia FFA Foundation.
Bob Evans's father, Stanley Evans, began his career as a teacher
in a one-room schoolhouse in Bud, West Virginia.
Beyond his philanthropic efforts, Bob Evans is a staunch proponent
of preserving family farms through innovative production methods,
including intensive grazing. The method requires rotation of
livestock through a series of fenced forage pastures, reducing
equipment and feed costs by making best use of renewable resources.
The Davis College, in collaboration with WVU Extension, Virginia
Tech, and the USDA, is involved in a multidisciplinary research
project on pasture-finished beef. The goal is to develop innovative
beef-cattle production systems appropriate to Appalachian resources.
Prior Planning Allows Help for Medical Students and Faculty
By Deborah Miller
At NASA's Ames Research Center in California,
Dr. Emily Morey-Holton '58, '61, '64, focuses on travel to the
stars. She also knows the value of more down-to-earth considerations
in life, such as personal planning for the future. That awareness
led her to complete her estate planning, something that many
procrastinate about.
While providing for
her daughter Karen's future, she also decided to support WVU's
School of Medicine through a gift in her will. "I've worked
hard for what I have and would prefer to see it go to something
that will be of lasting benefit. This was the best way to accomplish
that. Education will always be important," she says enthusiastically.
A Parkersburg native, Morey-Holton conducts research on the effect
of gravity on bones. As a NASA employee, she has been involved
with projects as diverse as exobiology/the origin of life, global
biology, space biology/biomedicine, and planning for lunar/Mars
laboratories.
She has participated as principal investigator or coinvestigator
in experiments on five Russian unmanned biological satellites,
as well as three on U.S. shuttle space labs and four shuttle
middeck lockers. Morey-Holton has been involved in the development
of housing units for animals on the space shuttle, space station,
and unmanned satellites for biological research.
In 1999, at the invitation of the Linnean Society of London,
she gave a presentation entitled "The Impact of Gravity
on Life" in the same room in which Charles Darwin gave his
original talk on the evolution of the species.
"My gift will provide support for faculty and for graduate
students who are studying bones," says this 1990 member
of WVU's Academy of Distinguished Alumni. "I think that
WVU does such a good job of giving students a strong life foundation.
Once you have the foundation, you can do anything you want to."
Including a gift provision in a will or revocable trust is as
easy as using the wording of "to the West Virginia University
Foundation, Inc., for the benefit of __ (college, department,
or other program or purpose)." Adding language about the
specific use of your gift is also appropriate.