Spring 2012 Edition - Randolph-Macon College

R-MC 

Homecoming Highlights 

CARROLL LAHAYE WINS #500 

R-MC Hosts Special Olympics Virginia Event 

The Magazine 

For Alumni, Parents and Friends 

of Randolph-Macon College 

Spring 2012

President’s Message 

Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends: 

In the midst of spring semester, the Randolph-Macon campus is bustling with activity and construction is in 

full swing as part of our Building Extraordinary campaign. 

As you’ll read in this issue, our new John B. Werner Pavilion at McGraw-Page Library is slated to open this 

summer. Work has also commenced on our new student center, Brock Commons, which is scheduled for 

completion in March 2013. Additionally, Day Field is currently being re-positioned, north and south. I 

encourage you to visit R-MC on the Move, a new feature on our website at www.rmc.edu, which will provide 

updates on these projects as well as others in the coming months. You can also view our live webcams and 

keep up with the steady progress on Brock Commons and Day Field. 

I am also pleased to share that Dr. Bryan Giemza, Assistant Professor of English, received the 2012 Outstanding 

Faculty Award given by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and Dominion Resources, the 

Commonwealth’s highest honor for faculty at Virginia’s public and private colleges and universities. Professor 

Giemza was one of only 12 recipients in the state to receive this recognition and one of two selected as a 

“Rising Star.” He was lauded by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell at a recent ceremony at the Jefferson Hotel 

in Richmond. 

You should also know that this year’s January Term was more successful than ever with outstanding student 

engagement in several areas. Nearly 150 students chose to travel and study in 15 countries. In fact, one of our 

alumni, William Krupp ’67, joined students for one of the trips featured in this issue, the Archeology of Israel, 

taught by John Camp II, the Stavros Niarchos Professor of Classics, and Classics Professor Elizabeth Fisher. We 

also had tremendous participation in our J-term internships with 76 students immersing themselves in local 

and national academic internships ranging from United Airlines in Chicago and the Department of Homeland 

Security in Washington, D.C. to the ESPN X-Games in Boulder, Colorado. A large number of students chose to 

remain on campus and enrolled in courses in their areas of interest. 

Our Yellow Jacket pride continues to soar as our athletic teams represent us with honor and distinction. Carroll 

LaHaye, in her 30th season, recently achieved her 500th win. She has won a remarkable 63% of her games and 

is now one of only 49 coaches in women’s basketball history to join the “500 Club.” Our men’s basketball 

team, under the leadership of Coach Nathan Davis ’96, finished second in the ODAC and competed in the NCAA 

tournament for the third year in a row (only the second time in our program’s history that the team has been 

to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments). Additionally, our women’s swimming team also placed second in the 

ODAC, led by Sarah Almond ’12 who won the ninth conference championship of her celebrated career. The 

men’s swimming team also broke eight school records in their “re-inaugural” season. 

Finally, we have received over $77 Million in commitments toward the $100 Million goal of our campaign! 

Our current success is being made possible through the amazing commitment and generosity of you. This 

academic year has been transformational—and we’ve only begun. I am confident that with your ongoing 

support, we will keep building an extraordinary future for Randolph-Macon. 

Best regards, 

Robert R. Lindgren 

President

R-MC 

Homecoming Highlights 

On Our cOver 

Illustration of The Brock Commons, a new 

student center. 

THe MISSIOn OF THe R-MC 

MAGAZINE IS TO enGAGe 

And cOnnecT alumni, parents 

and friends to Randolph-Macon 

College by sharing information 

about college and alumni activities 

and providing opportunities for 

involvement and support. 

Editor: 

Jacqueline P. Swain 

Alumni Editors: 

Susan H. Donavant, Claire Stevens 

Class Notes: 

Katie Borr 

Sports Editor: 

Chris Kilcoyne 

CARROLL LAHAYE WINS #500 

R-MC Hosts Special Olympics Virginia Event 

The Magazine 

For Alumni, Parents and Friends 

of Randolph-Macon College 

Spring Spring 20 2012 

Contributing Writers: 

Pam Cox, Kathryn DiPasqua, 

Laura Doherty, Anne Marie Lauranzon, 

Diane Lowder, Kate Stottlemyer ’99 

Photographers: 

Duane Berger, Doug Buerlein, John Irby, 

Joe Mahoney 

Art Direction and Graphic Design: 

Lesha Berkel 

To contact editor: jswain@rmc.edu 

R-MC Alumni Office: 804-752-7218 

www.rmc.edu 

©2012. All rights reserved. R-MC Magazine is 

published four times a year by Randolph-Macon 

College, P.O. Box 5005, Ashland, Virginia 23005-5505. 

The college magazine is advised and produced in 

cooperation with the Alumni Magazine committee 

members, an ad hoc leadership committee that 

oversees the magazine content. 

Diverse views are presented and do not necessarily 

reflect the opinions of the editor, committee members 

or official policies of the college. 

Randolph-Macon College does not discriminate on the 

basis of ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation 

or age in its admissions, financial aid, athletic, 

employment or educational programs. The Provost 

coordinates the college’s non-discrimination policy. 

7 r-Mc On the Move 

Major Transformations on 

Campus 

10 courting Success 

Carroll LaHaye Wins #500 

departments 

InsIde R-MC 

2 Homecoming 2011 

4 notable Speakers at r-Mc 

5 Japan Foundation Grant 

6 new Trustees 

13 Society of Alumni and 

Boydton Society news 

17 Faculty Spotlight 

19 Serve: community 

connections 

R-MC spoRts 

20 day Field construction 

update 

R-MC ALUMNI MAgAzINe • SPRINg 2012 • VoL. 84 No. 1 

Contents 

AluMnI 

22 Luke Fannin ’94 

23 candice cabe ’03 

24 Tucker Martin ’00 

14 Going Places 

J-term 2012 

18 net results 

R-MC Teams Up with Special 

Olympics-VA 

25 A Message from Kate 

Stottlemyer ’99, President, 

Society of Alumni 

25 Alumni calendar of events 

ClAss notes 

26 Alumni class notes and 

Passages 

cOrrecTIOn: This 

photo was incorrectly 

identified in the Fall- 

Winter 2011 alumni 

magazine. The photo is 

Ann Stukhart ’77. 

1

INSIDE r-Mc 

clockwise: Haywood “HAP” Payne Jr. ’68 n Mac Alfriend ’66, 

carole Alfriend and John vaughan ‘66 n Wes nichols ’86 n 

Biology Professor emeritus Arthur “Art” conway; alumni panel 

discussion members robert Lambeth ’71 and robert rankin ’71 

Homecoming 2011 

Yellow Jacket alumni returned to 

the hive for Homecoming and 

Reunion Weekend 

The annual Alumni Awards Luncheon featured Board of 

Trustees member Haywood “HAP” Payne Jr. ’68, who 

presented “Rising to the Extraordinary.” The Society of Alumni 

presented the Distinguished Service Award to Payne and to 

Pat Hanback ’75, a member of the inaugural class of women 

who entered in 1971, and the first female president of the 

Society of Alumni. 

The Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to Wesley 

Nichols ’86, and the Yellow Jacket Salute was awarded to the 

90s Decade Committee. Biology Professor Emeritus Arthur “Art” 

Conway was the recipient of the Noë-Kilgore Award. 

Several presentations took place, including “Digitally 

Speaking,” offered by Duane Berger of Duane Berger 

Photography. Attendees, their cameras in tow, learned about 

editing, formatting and printing. 

The Political Science Department hosted a panel discussion, 

“40 Years of Politics in Virginia and the U.S.” Panel members 

Robert Lambeth ’71, president, Council of Independent 

2 R-MC ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Colleges in Virginia, and Robert Rankin ’71, politics and 

economics editor, McClatchy News, are co-chairs of the Class of 

1971 40th Reunion Committee. 

A professorship dedication ceremony appointed Professor 

Thomas Peyser The A.G. Ingram Professor in English. This 

professorship was established in 1998 by A.G. Ingram ’61, who 

was present at Peyser’s installation. 

At Friday night’s Gala guests viewed renderings of 

completed campus projects, including Hugh Stephens Field at 

Estes Park and Andrews Hall. They also viewed preliminary 

plans of The Brock Commons, a new student center, which 

SPRING 2012 • VOL. 84 NO. 1 

clockwise: r-Mc’s Homecoming King regis rollins ’12 is crowned during halftime n Women 

of r-Mc tailgate event n ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Bruce unger office dedication n 

dan Applewhite ’83 and Julie Applewhite n Anita Allen and Jim Allen ’57 enjoy a spin on the 

dance floor 

began construction in February 2012. This project is made 

possible through a generous lead gift from Macon Brock Jr. ’64 

and his wife Joan. 

A ceremony was held on October 15 to honor the late 

Professor Bruce Unger and to dedicate his former office in Fox 

Hall. Unger taught political science from 1968 to 2008. The Dr. 

Bruce M. Unger Fund was created by Professors Lauren Bell, 

James Doering, Adrian Rice and Deonna Woolard and 

supported by many others. 

Tours of Andrews Hall, tailgating, and the Homecoming 

game rounded out a fun and festive weekend. n 

3

INSIDE r-Mc 

On October 13, 2011, Pulitzer prize-winning 

commentator Charles Krauthammer presented 

“Miracle Cures, Favored Diseases, Government 

Control and Tort Reform: The Politics of Healthcare.” 

Krauthammer discussed the U.S. healthcare inefficiencies, 

irrationalities and ideological distortions — 

and what should be done about them. 

Krauthammer has written a syndicated column 

for The Washington Post since 1985. His weekly 

column is published in more than 250 newspapers 

worldwide. He is also a contributor to FOX News; 

a contributing editor to The Weekly Standard and 

The New Republic; and a weekly panelist on Inside 

Washington. His New Republic writings won the 

1984 National Magazine Award for Essays and 

Criticism. 

For three decades, his influential writings have 

helped frame the shape of American foreign policy. 

He coined and developed The Reagan Doctrine, 

defined the structure of the post-Cold War world in 

The Unipolar Moment, and outlined the principles of 

post-9/11 American foreign policy in his muchdebated 

Irving Kristol Lecture, Democratic Realism. 

notable Speakers 

Raymond Berry 

An Evening with Charles Krauthammer 

On November 16, 2011, R-MC welcomed Pro Football Hall of Famer Raymond 

Berry. More than 900 people filled Crenshaw Gymnasium to hear Berry’s talk, 

“Preparing for Life: Ethics for the Greatest Game Ever!” His visit was sponsored by the 

BB&T Moral Foundations of Capitalism Program. 

Berry encouraged audience members to remember the value of little things: “In the 

right circumstances, little things become very big.” After the lecture, he signed 

autographs and took pictures with fans. 

Berry was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 1954 NFL Draft. He played 13 

years as a wide receiver. He was a member of the Johnny Unitas-led 1958 Baltimore 

Colts team that won the NFL Championship, known as “The Greatest Game Ever 

Played.” During what was called the Colts’ life-or-death, last minute drive, Berry caught 

three consecutive passes for 62 yards to set up the Colts’ tying field goal at the end of 

regulation. The historic game, against the New York Giants, marked the first time that a 

NFL playoff game went into overtime. 

Berry ended his playing career in 1967 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall 

of Fame in 1973. He returned to the NFL as a receivers’ coach for the New England 

Patriots from 1978-1981 and was rehired in 1984 as head coach of the struggling team. 

They went on to become the first team in NFL history to advance to the Super Bowl 

by winning three playoff games on the road. His overall coaching record is 48 wins 

and 39 losses, and 3-2 in the playoffs. 

R-MC received a $500,000 grant from the BB&T Charitable Foundation to expand 

the study of ethics, economics and capitalism through a broadened curriculum, faculty 

and student research, internships and one-on-one interaction with business leaders. n 

(l. to r.) dr. Arthur McKinley “Mack” reynolds Jr. ’47, charles Krauthammer and Jan reynolds 

Krauthammer earned his B.A. from McGill University, was a Commonwealth 

Scholar in Politics at Oxford University, and earned a M.D. from Harvard. In 1978, he 

quit medical practice and moved to Washington, D.C. to help direct planning in 

psychiatric research in the Carter administration. In 1980, he served as a speechwriter 

to Vice President Walter Mondale. 

Krauthammer’s sold-out lecture was sponsored by the Arthur McKinley Reynolds 

Lecture Series. n 

4 r-Mc ALuMnI MAGAZIne


Japan Foundation Grant 

Honors Taylor Anderson ’08 

A Japan 

INSIDE r-Mc 

Foundation grant, titled “Honoring the Life, Work, and Good Spirit of Taylor 

Anderson – Enhancing Japanese Studies at Randolph-Macon College,” will help 

Randolph-Macon reach its goal of increasing course offerings in Japanese language and 

culture. The college received $100,000 for the 2011-2012 academic year with the 

anticipation of receiving additional funds during the five-year duration of the grant, 

which will allow faculty to develop course offerings and establish travel courses to Japan. 

The Asian Studies Program will also develop and offer a spring workshop and curriculum Web site for 

Virginia elementary, middle, and high school teachers of history, geography, world language, and literature. This seminar workshop will be led 

by Asian Studies Professor Todd Munson and will provide teachers the opportunity to engage in the study, analysis and discussion of topics 

related to Japanese history, geography and culture. It will provide 10 hours of instruction and will convene on campus in spring 2012. 

The grant will also support the following initiatives in the current academic year: 

• The Taylor Anderson/Japan Foundation 

Scholarship program for students who develop exceptional 

Japanese language skills. One or more students will be given financial 

support to participate in an intensive, accredited summer language 

immersion program in either the United States or Japan. 


Japanese Scholar-In-Residence will allow R-MC to hire a 

Japanese Studies scholar. The Scholar-In-Residence will teach Japanese 

language courses. In future years the scholar will teach classes in 

Japanese literature, film, and/or culture and also offer co-curricular 

programs. 

• The Taylor Anderson/Japan Foundation Lecture 

supported the college in its effort to share this grant beyond the R-MC 

community by hosting a program and reception on March 11, 2012 to 

commemorate the Great East Japan Earthquake. 


Memorial Collection of Japanese Literature and 

Film will provide additional volumes to the McGraw-Page Library’s 

strong collection of Japanese classics. This is a special tribute to Taylor 

Anderson who was an avid reader. 

Taylor Anderson, who had a lifelong love of Japan, graduated in 2008 

with a bachelor’s degree in international studies and minors in Asian 

Studies and political science. She joined The Japan Exchange and Teaching 

(JET) program and was assigned to teach in Ishinomaki, Japan where she 

perished in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The JET 

program is one of the world’s largest exchange programs and is aimed at 

developing strong relationships between Japan and other nations. 

“This grant will help to continue strengthening relationships between a 

country Taylor loved and Randolph-Macon College,” says Anderson’s 

father, Andy. “We are grateful to the college and the Japan Foundation for 

generously supporting this project in her memory and honor.” n 

Keynote Speaker Yuki noguchi answers questions from the audience 

(l. to r.) His excellency Ichiro Fujisaki Ambassador of Japan to the 

united States, President Lindgren and Kazuaki Kubo, executive 

director of the center for Global Partnership 

5

INSIDE r-Mc 

New Trustees Elected 

R-MC has elected five new members to serve on its Board of Trustees. Bruce J. Adkins ’70, Cynthia H. “Cindy” Lee ’81, 

Susan “Sue” Schick ’84, Lee B. Spencer and William Carne began their terms in October 2011. 

Bruce J. Adkins ’70 is the director 

of sales for White River Hardwoods, 

which manufactures decorative 

wood products. The company is 

based in Fayetteville, Arkansas and 

also has a plant in China. 

Adkins earned a B.S. in political 

science from R-MC in 1970. At 

graduation, he was commissioned 

as an infantry officer in the United 

States Marine Corps. During his 

10-year military career, he served 

in Vietnam, Okinawa, Japan and 

Quantico, Virginia. He also earned 

a Master of Science Administration 

degree from George Washington 

University. 

Adkins has been involved for 

many years with R-MC, serving as 

chair of the Board of Associates and 

of the Presidents Society. He is also 

a member of the Heritage Society. 

Adkins is active at Trinity Episcopal 

Church and recently served as the 

chair of its capital campaign, which 

raised $1.6 million. He is also a 

Master Mason and former Rotarian. 

Cynthia Homa “Cindy” Lee ’81 

has devoted many years to helping 

others by volunteering at her church 

and for various school organizations 

and activities. She is currently active 

at San Damiano, a Catholic retreat 

center located in the Arlington 

Virginia Diocese. 

Lee earned a B.A. in English 

from R-MC in 1981. Shortly after 

graduation, she married John C. 

Lee IV ’79. She helped her husband 

build a successful data-center 

products and services business 

in Northern Virginia, Lee 

Technologies, Inc. 

Lee is an active supporter of 

R-MC. She and her husband have 

worked to help increase alumni 

annual giving. 

Susan Draney “Sue” Schick 

’84 is chief executive officer 

of UnitedHealthcare Employer 

& Individual of Pennsylvania 

and Delaware. She joined 

UnitedHealthcare in 2003 and has 

more than 25 years of leadership 

experience in the health and 

employee benefits industry. 

Schick graduated summa cum 

laude with a B.S. in economics/ 

business from R-MC in 1984. She 

was valedictorian of her class and 

elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She 

is an active volunteer and is a 

former president of the Society of 

Alumni and former president of the 

Richmond Alumni Club. 

Schick is a regular speaker and 

blogger on the topics of health 

care reform, business leadership 

and philanthropy. In 2011, she was 

awarded the Circle of Excellence 

Award by SmartCEO Magazine, 

which honors Philadelphia business 

leaders for their philanthropic 

efforts. She was also awarded 

a Brava! Business Women 

Achievement Award. She is married 

to Will Schick ’84. Their son Andy is 

a member of the Class of 2013. 

Lee B. Spencer is president of 

West Hill Properties, LLC. Prior 

to his retirement in 2000, he 

was executive vice president and 

general counsel for Prudential 

Securities Group, Inc. He was a 

member of the firm’s operating 

committee and the Prudential 

Securities Group’s Board of 

Directors and Operating Council. 

Spencer earned his A.B. from 

Princeton University in 1965 and 

his J.D. from Yale University Law 

School in 1969. He is a member of 

the American Bar Association and 

the New York Bar. 

Spencer and wife Alice are 

members of the Presidents 

Society and have volunteered to 

help with Annual Fund campaigns 

and recruiting efforts. Spencer 

previously served on the board 

from 1998-2010. 

William Carne holds dual 

appointments as an assistant 

professor in the Department 

of Physical Medicine and 

Rehabilitation in the VCU-MCV 

University Health System and as 

an assistant professor in the 

VCU Department of Psychology. 

He has also maintained a private 

practice in clinical psychology in 

Richmond, Virginia for the past 

30 years. 

Carne earned his B.S. degree 

in biology from Virginia Tech and 

his Ph.D. in psychology from VCU. 

His current professional interests 

are in health psychology, including 

chronic neurological diseases 

(Parkinson’s disease and other 

movement disorders) and traumatic 

brain injury. He is the co-author of a 

graduate-level textbook on writing 

psychological reports and has 

authored or co-authored more than 

a dozen papers for peer-reviewed 

professional journals. 

Carne and his wife Linda serve 

on the R-MC Parents Board of 

Directors. Their daughter Cara is a 

member of the R-MC Class of 

2012. n 


CheCk out the sCenery: The R-MC campus is 

undergoing a major transformation. Buildings are being upgraded, new facilities are 

popping up, and everywhere there’s the buzz of Yellow Jacket pride. The capital 

campaign, Building Extraordinary, is in full swing. Follow along as we chart the 

extraordinary changes taking place. “Look around and one message is clear. 

Randolph-Macon is on the move: new majors, new co-curricular programs, new 

sports, record enrollment and now, new facilities—all signaling a renaissance for 

this proud and historic college,” says President Lindgren. 

The Brock Commons, a New Student Center 

Where can students grab a cup of joe, check their mail and take in a movie? At 

The Brock Commons, which is slated for completion in February 2013. The Brock 

Commons will feature a movie theater, bookstore, café, balcony, portico, mailroom, 

several multi-purpose rooms, and an abundance of student “hang-out” space. 

The systematic removal of the current building will facilitate the salvaging of all 

recyclable materials. This cost-cutting measure will help with the pursuit of LEED 

•Rendering is subject to change based on future architechtural plans. 


Scan this QR code 

with your smartphone 

QR Reader 

App to take the 

Brock Commons 

virtual tour. 

7

change (verb) 1. to make the form, nature, 

content, future course, etc., of (something) different 

from what it is or from what it would be if left alone: 

to change one’s surroundings; to change one’s view; 

to change the course of history. 2. to transform or 

convert (usually followed by into ): The campus has 

been changed into a thing of beauty. 

(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, the recognized 

standard for measuring building sustainability. Metals will be reused, and brick, 

concrete and slate will be crushed and reused. 

“The Brock Commons is an exciting venture,” says President Lindgren. “One 

of the most important aspects of college life is having a comfortable place to 

gather, get a bite to eat, and relax. The Brock Commons will offer students all of 

this and much more—in a unique, modern setting. We are extremely grateful to 

Joan and Macon Brock, whose generosity enables us to enrich the lives of our 

students in such a significant way.” 

The new facility is made possible in part through a lead $5 million gift from Joan and 

Macon F. Brock Jr. ’64 and a $1.4 million gift from Tom Birdsong ’49 and The Birdsong 

Corporation. 

New Science Building Underway 

The design work for Phase 1 of the new science building and the renovation 

of Copley Science Center is underway. Phase 1 is a new 27,000 square-foot, 

three-story building attached to the northwest side of the current Copley Science 

Center. The new building will include state-of-the-art teaching laboratories, plus 

classrooms, faculty offices, and the Office of Pre-Med/Pre-Health Advising. 

We have received a generous $5 million gift from Macon Brock ’64 and his wife Joan for 

this project. They are using their gift as a challenge to other alumni and friends of the 

college to join them in this important endeavor. 


The John B. Werner Pavilion at McGraw-Page Library 

The construction of the Werner Pavilion, which began in summer 2011, is 

another example of R-MC’s commitment to excellence. 

The first floor of the Pavilion will house a reading room with 24-hour access, 

and the second floor will house a high-tech classroom. The entire Pavilion, 

which has a projected completion date of July 2012, can be cordoned off from 

the main library and accessed through an outside entrance with a key tag and 

limited timer access. 

Dr. John B. Werner served for 20 years as a member of the Board of Trustees. 

Each year, the John B. and Anita S. Werner Phi Beta Kappa Award is given to a 

senior or to seniors, newly elected to Phi Beta Kappa, for exemplary service to the 

college community and outstanding contributions to campus life. 

Construction of the Pavilion is made possible by a lead gift from the Cabell Foundation. 

A Blueprint for Success 

Of course, bricks and mortar are only part of the story. The real foundation of 

Randolph-Macon College is its community: alumni, family and friends whose 

generosity makes it possible for the college to grow and flourish. 

Ready. Set. Build! n 

n n n 

Visit www.rmc.edu for updates and to view our virtual tour. 

And don’t forget to follow our Webcam, which provides an 

up-to-the-minute view of construction. 


ex·traor·di·nar·y (adjective) 

1. beyond what is usual, ordinary, regular, or 

established: extraordinary creativity. 2. exceptional 

in character, amount, extent, degree, etc.; 

noteworthy; remarkable: extraordinary alumni; 

extraordinary community. 

9

Courting Success 

withCarroll 

LaHaye 



INSIDE r-Mc 

Carroll LaHaye’s definition of “social networking” has nothing to 

do with Facebook or Twitter. The women’s basketball coach, who 

recently celebrated her 500th win, prefers real-time connections. 

“My relationships with players, parents and families are more important than any win or 

milestone,” says LaHaye who has coached hundreds of athletes during her R-MC tenure. Yellow 

Jacket alumnae such as Megan Senske ’06 praise her skills as a coach and mentor. 

“Coach LaHaye is committed to women’s athletics,” says Senske. “Players look up to her and 

don’t want to let her down. The respect that she has for her players she also has for opponents, fans 

and the R-MC community. She taught me how to be respectful yet tough.” 

LaHaye’s love of athletics was fostered at the University of Maine-Machias, where she excelled in 

basketball and volleyball. She earned her B.A. in business management-recreation and went on to 

coach the women’s basketball team at Machias Memorial High School. 

“That stint was my first taste of coaching, and I was hooked,” she says. In 1980, LaHaye stepped 

onto the R-MC campus for the first time and met with Linda Lerch, the women’s basketball coach. 

Although she worked full-time at Hanover 

County Parks and Recreation, LaHaye 

volunteered her services as an assistant CoaCHing HonorS 

coach. In 1981, Lerch took a job elsewhere, 1995-96 OdAc coach of the Year 

and Rachel Anderson, who directed women’s 

WBcA/converse district v 

athletics, asked LaHaye if she was interested 

coach of the Year 

in a job. 

vaSId Small college coach of 

“Billy Wood was hired as the head coach 

the Year for divisions II-III 

because he had begun the program in 1976, 1997-98 IKOn/Women’s Basketball 

and I was hired full-time to coach the new 

coaches Association district v 

varsity women’s soccer and lacrosse teams, 


and to be Billy’s assistant,” explains LaHaye. 1998-99 OdAc coach of the Year 

“I’ve been here ever since.” 

vaSId Small college coach of 

LaHaye’s eyes light up as she rattles off 

the Year for divisions II-III 

the names of coaches who have inspired her: 

Pat Summitt, Bob Knight, Fran Plunkett, Hal 

2002-03 Richmond Times-Dispatch state 


Nunnally, Yonnie Kauffmann, Tara VanDeveer, 

Susan Dunagan, Rachel Anderson, 

Marilyn Gibbs. “The list goes on and I 

continue to learn and study,” she says. 

2004-05 OdAc coach of the Year 

vaSId college division State 


The net result of her determination? On 

2005-06 vaSId college division State 

January 13, 2012, the Jackets toppled ODAC 


rival Roanoke College 82-70, and LaHaye 

2006-07 vaSId college division State 

notched her 500th win. Cheering from the 

stands were her sister, Diane, and her 

brother, Jim, as well as most of the congrega- 


tion of Ashland Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). LaHaye is proud of the historical win but is 

quick to point out that it was a team effort. 

“None of this would be possible without the dedication of the assistant coaches I have worked 

with and the athletes who are willing to commit four years of their lives to basketball and to my 

coaching philosophy,” she says. “I thank every single person who has helped me build this program 

into a national contender.” 

For LaHaye, every game is significant, but the 2011 ODAC Championship was especially 

meaningful. 

–continued 

11

Team Notes 

Allison Beightol McGuire ’99: Coach LaHaye is a 

passionate basketball coach who truly cares about her 

players and their families. Although winning is important, 

ensuring that respectful, hardworking, strong women will 

be entering the workforce after their four years at R-MC is 

her overall goal! 

Emily Crider Burner ’05: She is an inspiration to all the 

players who have had the opportunity to call her “Coach.” 

Coming to R-MC to play basketball was one of the 

best decisions I ever made; as a result, I made lifelong 

friends—relationships that were fostered by the love and 

dedication Coach LaHaye showed us. I am thankful to 

have her in my life. 

Sarah Crider ’05: The fact that players become great 

friends off the court, while challenging each other on the 

court, speaks volumes about Coach LaHaye’s talent in 

developing a team and an athletic program. 

Michelle Orton ’06: From her daily quotes to her talks 

during time-outs, she connected with us and encouraged 

carroll LaHaye is presented the game ball from her 500th win. 

Carroll LaHaye, continued 

“When Jennifer O’Briant ’11 hit that last- 

second shot, I was so happy for her because 

she hadn’t played much through her career, 

due to health problems,” says LaHaye. 

“To have her hit that shot and send us 

into overtime and ultimately the Championship 

and NCAA play was more than 

memorable.” 

In 2010, the Carroll LaHaye Endowment 

was established to honor the 15th winningest 

coach in Division III women’s basketball 

history. “At first, I was not in favor of it,” says 

LaHaye, who worried that the endowment 

might reduce the annual monetary support 

that the team receives. “Director of 

Athletics Jeff Burns ’87 convinced me that 

us to be both better players and better people. There is a 

value in this program that is hard to calculate. 

Megan Silva Schultz ’06: I am thankful to have had her 

as my coach and mentor for four years. As an alumna, I 

am even more appreciative of her continued support and 

friendship. I am blessed beyond belief to have been part 

of the program that she built. 

Salem Shaffer ’07: She is an incredible woman who 

has done so much for R-MC and the game of basketball. 

She deserves credit not only for her success as a coach 

but for her compassion. She gave me confidence on and 

off the court, a place at R-MC to call home and the best 

memories I could ask for. 

Amanda Hiltunen ’09: Coach LaHaye is one of the most 

extraordinary women I have ever known. She teaches 

life lessons that go far beyond the basketball court. As 

much as she cares about winning, she cares more about 

her players becoming confident and successful young 

women. I will be forever grateful to her. 

it would help with the perpetuity of the 

program. It is extremely important to me 

that this program continues to move forward.” 

LaHaye, who spends her free time 

watching college basketball and doing yard 

work, isn’t one to rest on her laurels. 

“I’m looking forward to another year of great 

basketball,” she says. n 


Society of Alumni Awards 

Jim and Marilyn Pollard were presented the Society of Alumni’s 

distinguished Friend Award on September 13, 2011. 


50th, 55th, 60th 


May 24–26, 2012 

INSIDE r-Mc 

Society of Alumni awards were presented to 

the following alumni. 

• John W. Pearsall ’35 Alumni Distinguished Service 

Award 

• Michael Breed ’85 Distinguished Alumnus Award 

• Patricia G. Hanback ’75 Alumni Distinguished Service 

Award 

• Haywood A. “HAP” Payne Jr. ’68 Alumni Distinguished 

Service Award 

• 90s Initiative Steering Committee Yellow Jacket Salute 

Award 

• Wesley A. Nichols ’86 Distinguished Alumnus Award 

• Andrew Price ’04 Young Alumnus Achievement Award 

• Jim and Marilyn Pollard Distinguished Friend Award 

• James E. Dalton Jr ’64 Distinguished Alumnus Award 

Nominate an Alumnus/a or Friend of the 

College for a Society of Alumni Award 

The Awards Committee of the Society of Alumni seeks 

your help in identifying alumni and friends of Randolph- 

Macon College who are deserving of recognition for their 

professional achievement and contributions to the life of the 

college. Nominations are reviewed during the spring and fall 

meetings of the Alumni Board for the following awards: 

Alumni Distinguished Service, Distinguished Alumnus/a, 

Young Alumnus/a Service, Young Alumnus/a Achievement, 

Distinguished Friend, Honorary Alumnus/a, and Yellow 

Jacket Salute. 

To submit a nomination, please visit 

https://secure.rmc.edu/alumnni/soa-award/ 

Please watch for reunion mailings and visit the following Web site for more information! 

http://www.rmc.edu/Alumni/reunions/Boydton_Society.aspx 

13

A trip to El Salvador to build houses. A French language course that explores Surrealism. An 

internship that offers real-world training. During January Term, the possibilities are endless. 

This year, students traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, 

Italy, France, Israel, the Galápagos Islands, China, Germany, Costa 

Rica, Ghana, England and El Salvador. Those who stayed closer to 

home could choose from on-campus courses such as Sports and 

Literature, The Psychology of Illusion, and Black Feminist Thought. 

Student-interns shadowed physicians, navigated the world of 

finance, and got hands-on training in the field of law. 

Students in Sociology Professor Beth Gill’s course, Human Rights 

in the Global Village, spent two weeks in El Salvador constructing 

housing for those in need. 

Going 

Places 


Devon Maust ’12 was deeply affected by the experience. 

“I expected to help build a house, but I never imagined that I 

would build relationships,” wrote Maust in a blog entry posted on 

R-MC’s Web site. “The community shared with us parts of the 

Salvadoran culture that tourists don’t get to see. In two weeks we 

built a ‘family’ from two cultures that have many differences, but 

Above (l. to r.): Professor Beth Gill, elizabeth Luminoso ’13, cara decesare ’13, 

devon Maust ’12 and Mark Josey ’12 in el Salvador 


charles Moncure Jr. ’82 and Matthew Webster ’12 

Matt, smart, energetic and highly capable. They can tackle 

important assignments for us while we do our best to 

provide an interesting and dynamic work environment for 

them. We have had several interns who chose to pursue a 

career in investment banking afterwards, and we’ve been 

able to help open a few doors leading to employment. 

J-term internships are a true win-win situation.” 

Students in Professor Amy deGraff’s French Literature of 

the First Half of the 20th Century course studied the works 

of Magritte, Man Ray, Dali and other artists famous for their 

contributions to Surrealism. They read works by French 

philosophers, studied the Theater of the Absurd, and created 

their own Surrealist objects, a project deGraff described as 

an “exercise in creativity that forced students to make 

unusual and poetic associations.” 

Internships, on-campus classes, travel courses: R-MC 

students are going places. 


also many similarities. Together we created a 

story that will always be a part of me.” 

Matthew Webster ’12 spent J-term interning 

at Dominion Partners, an investment banking 

firm in Richmond, Virginia. Under the guidance 

of co-founder Charles Moncure Jr. ’82, Webster 

updated databases, provided analysis and 

helped write business summaries for Dominion 

Partners and its clients. 

“It was great working with an alumnus,” 

says Webster. “It made me feel at home and it 

was nice to be able to talk about campus life, 

classes, and sports with a fellow Yellow Jacket.” 

“Working with R-MC interns is a unique 

opportunity,” says Moncure. 

“We always enjoy hosting Randolph-Macon 

interns,” he says. “We find them to be, like 

January Term is a four-week session between fall and spring semesters that provides 

students with a world of opportunities. 

Front row (l. to r.): Murphy Protzman ‘13, Louisa Meyer ‘12, vanessa Amato ‘12, 

Aliya Headley ‘12. Back row: Professor Amy deGraff and charlotte cathey ‘12 

To read the 2012 J-term blogs, visit http://news.rmc.edu/jterm/2012/ 

15

Going 

Places 


(l. to r.): davy Knutson ’15, Kelli Stevenson ’14, Sarah Fetzer ’14 , William Krupp ’67, Kelly Moss ’13, and Kelly conner ’13 

Students enrolled in The Archaeology of Israel, taught by John Camp 

II, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Professor of Classics, and Classics 

Professor Elizabeth Fisher, spent two weeks visiting archaeological 

sites, museums, monuments, synagogues and churches in Jerusalem and 

throughout Israel. Board of Trustee member Samuel “Skip” Vichness ’69 

generously provided financial support for participating students. In their 

post-travel essays, students reflected on the beauty and rich culture of Israel. 

Kelly Moss ’13 wrote, “At Masada we got to see another example of 

Roman presence in Israel, the Roman army. From the top of Masada, looking 

down on the surrounding area, multiple Roman camps can be seen in their 

A Time for Discovery 

Skip vichness ’69 (second from left) joins the students enrolled in 

The Archaeology of Israel for a luncheon upon their return. 

traditional playing-card shape; we also got to see the siege 

ramp going up the side of Masada.” 

A high point for many travelers was the opportunity to 

participate in the archaeological excavation at Tel Maresha, 

which houses the remains of an ancient Hellenistic cistern. 

David Knutson ’15 noted, “It was a lot of fun. Everyone dug 

up at least one artifact during the short time we were at the 

site.” 

Religious Studies major Kelly Connor ’12, who plans to 

attend seminary, has a keen interest in Abrahamic religions. 

“The on-campus classes gave me all the tools I needed 

to be an informed traveler,” she wrote. “I was new to 

archaeology and found it helpful that we were given an 

overview of the important historical events in Israel and a 

chronology of when each archaeological period occurred. 

This enabled me to better understand the age of an artifact 

when listening to on-site lectures.” 

William Krupp ’67 was also among the travelers, and he 

chronicled the trip in his travel journal. 

“There were times I had to catch my breath when 

confronted by places and artifacts that I had only seen in 

pictures,” he wrote. “I am grateful that I was allowed to 

participate and I encourage other alumni to take part in 

R-MC’s exciting J-term trips.” n 


Thomas Badey 

Bryan Giemza 

Thomas Peyser 


Tom Badey Editor of Anthology 

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT 

Political Science Professor Thomas Badey is editor of the 13th edition of Annual Editions: 

Violence and Terrorism (McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, 2011). This anthology is designed to provide 

convenient, inexpensive access to a wide range of current articles from some of the most respected 

magazines, newspapers and journals published today. 

Annual Editions are updated on a regular basis through a continuous monitoring of more than 

300 periodical sources. The articles selected are authored by prominent scholars, researchers and 

commentators writing for a general audience. Each includes a general introduction, annotated table 

of contents, topic guide, annotated listing of selected Web sites and a brief overview for each 

section. 

This is the 10th edition of Annual Editions produced at R-MC. Several alumni and current 

students worked as research assistants on this project and were instrumental in its success. 

Nicholas Buccola ’12, Elyse Cooper ’11, David Huber ’11, Brandy Washington ’11, Erica Waters ’13 

and Claire McKernan ’12 helped review the numerous articles that were submitted for consideration. 

Badey, the director of the International Studies Program, joined the faculty in 1998. He earned 

his B.S. from the University of Maryland, University College, his M.A. from the University of South 

Florida and his Ph.D. from the Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg. 

Bryan Giemza Receives Rising Star Award 

English Professor Bryan Giemza is one of 12 recipients of the 2012 SCHEV/Dominion 

Resources Outstanding Faculty Award, the Commonwealth’s highest honor for faculty at Virginia’s 

public and private colleges and universities. Giemza received the Rising Star Award for his 

scholarship and dedication to teaching and service. 

The awards program honors faculty members for excellence in teaching, research, knowledge 

integration and public service. The recipients were selected from a pool of 125 applicants. 

Giemza, who joined the faculty in 2008, earned his B.A. at the University of Notre Dame. He 

earned his J.D., M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2011, he 

received a Smith-Reynolds Founders Fellowship, which supported his research in the Ernest 

Hemingway collection at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Giemza’s Lost Colonies: Irish Catholic Writers and the Invention of the American South is 

forthcoming from LSU Press. The co-author of Poet of the Lost Cause: A Life of Father Ryan, he is an 

award-winning writer in both the academic and creative spheres. He is currently writing a book 

about the importance of debts, valuation and morality in Ernest Hemingway’s short fiction. 

Thomas Peyser Named Ingram Professor of English 

English Professor Thomas G. Peyser is the new A.G. Ingram Professor of English. Peyser was 

invested in the Ingram Endowed Professorship at a ceremony on October 14, 2011 in the McGraw- 

Page Library. 

The A. G. Ingram Professorship in English, established in 1998 by Alexis Gordon Ingram ’61, 

recognizes a senior member of the English department for exemplary teaching and scholarship. 

Ingram retired in 1998 after 30 years with Wheat First Union and is the co-owner of Ingram 

Construction Company in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He is a member of the Presidents Society 

and the Heritage Society and a former member of the Board of Associates. 

Peyser joined the faculty in 1994. He earned his A.B. from Harvard University, where he was 

inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. 

Peyser’s research interests include economics and literature, the novel, and American Literature. 

He has published two books, W.W. (Xlibris, 2000) and Utopia and Cosmopolis: Globalization in the 

Era of American Literary Realism (Duke University Press, 1998). n 

17

Net 

Results 

R-MC TEAMS UP WITH 

SPECIAL OLYMPICS 


Athletic director Jeff Burns ’87 welcomes participants and volunteers. 

The Athletic Department, in conjunction with Special Olympics Virginia, 

hosted the James River Regional Basketball Tournament on February 12, 

2012. More than 30 teams competed, with the goal of advancing to the 

Special Olympics Virginia Basketball Championship. 

Nearly 200 students, coaches and Athletic Department administrators 

showed their Yellow Jacket pride by cheering on athletes who competed in 

full- and half-court games in the Brock Center and Crenshaw Gym. Studentathletes 

also sold t-shirts, worked the clocks, helped park cars and ushered. 

Chartwells Catering provided free meals to more than 800 Olympians and 

their families. 

Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Caitlin Moore helped organize the event. 

“This was a great learning experience for the Special Olympians as well as 

our student volunteers,” says Moore. 

Members of the women’s basketball team volunteered at the tournament. 


INSIDE r-Mc 

elizabeth Luminoso ’13 and Mark Josey ’12 

SERVE: Community 

Connections 

Now there’s even more reason to 

celebrate R-MC’s tradition of service to 

others. 

In 2011, Sociology Professor Reber 

Dunkel was named coordinator of 

Students Engaged in Responsible Volunteer 

Experiences (SERVE). 

Dunkel, working in conjunction with 

the Office of Student Life, coordinates 

service opportunities. The SERVE program 

is an integral part of R-MC’s Leadership 

Development and Service Initiative. 

During the past several months, 

students have cleaned up Ashland’s 

Mechumps Creek, delivered Christmas 

gifts to families in need, and tidied up 

Hanover roads in conjunction with 

Adopt-a-Highway. Plans are underway for 

many more service activities, including 

Relay for Life, which takes place on 

campus on April 28, 2012. 

“Community service has become 

an integral part of our campus culture,” 

says Dunkel. “We hope to facilitate and 

strengthen this vital educational experience.” 

19

Football/Lacrosse Field Construction Underway 

New Football/Lacrosse Field 

Scan this QR code with your smartphone 

QR Reader App for construction updates 

on the football/lacrosse field and other 

construction projects. 

On January 9, 2012, R-MC broke ground on the new football/ 

lacrosse field. The new facility will move the current field to a north/ 

south orientation, change the surface of the playing field to turf, and add 

brick walkways, visitor stands, and a scoreboard. Day Field will be 

surrounded on the north side by Andrews Residence Hall and on the 

south side by the future Birdsong Residence Hall. 

President Lindgren announced that the Board of Trustees selected 

Kjellstrom + Lee, a Richmond firm, to manage the construction project. 

“Having recently completed the new Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park 

last spring, Kjellstrom + Lee is very familiar with the Randolph-Macon 

campus,” says Lindgren. “The Randolph-Macon community is excited to 

have this project underway and is grateful to the alumni and fans whose 

generosity made it possible.” 

Construction crews have demolished the old site and started the 

groundwork for the turf playing surface. Construction is expected to be 

complete by the middle of July 2012. n 

The college is still accepting contributions for the new facility estimated 

to cost $3.7 million. Pledges of $10,000 or more, payable over a 

five-year period, will be recognized on a permanent plaque at the new 

field. To make a commitment or for more information about this 

project, contact Laura Doherty, executive director of development for 

athletics at (804) 752-7229 or by email at LauraDoherty@rmc.edu. 


A Homecoming family affair. (l. to r.): cindy Meyer ’79, elliot Meyer ’15, Louisa Meyer ’12 and david Meyer ’74 

PeOPLe 

Luke Fannin ’94 

Candice Cabe ’03 

Tucker Martin ’00 

cLASS nOTeS 

Message from SOA President 

Passages 

Calendar of Events 

SPRING 2012 • VOL. 84 NO. 1 21

Luke Fannin is a self-described nerd with a penchant for 

graphic novels, English Bull Terriers, and “The Goonies,” 

which he has seen more than a hundred times. 

The Roanoke, Virginia native, who majored in drama 

and psychology, says he was always interested in the arts. His R-MC 

professors inspired him in more ways than one. 

“In addition to being a great drama teacher, Joe Mattys was the 

first adult I ever met who was doing exactly what he loved,” says 

Fannin. “The drama program was the perfect launchpad for me. I 

directed a couple of one-act plays at R-MC, and that experience was 

the catalyst for my career path.” 

The late William McIlwaine (English) was also instrumental in 

Fannin’s life. “He was the only professor at the time who offered film 

classes,” says Fannin. “I consumed every one of them; my favorite 

was his Romantic Comedy course. I still have the textbook from that 

class on my shelf.” 

Fannin earned his master’s degree from The Ohio University 

School of Film and then worked in film and video production in 

Richmond. One of his short films, “Puberty: Benji’s Special Time,” 

garnered several awards, including the Best of the Festival award, 

which was presented by Director John Waters at the Philadelphia 

Reject Film Festival. 

In 2003 Fannin joined the Discovery Channel, where he 

Luke Fannin 

creative Spirit 

currently serves as a senior editor. Working for the world’s largest 

non-fiction media company is thrilling. 

“My job is different every day,” says Fannin, who in 2011 was 

presented a Discovery Arts and Sciences Award for Post Production. 

“I am one of the editors for the Discovery/BBC co-production ‘Frozen 

Planet,’ which premiered on March 18, 2012. It’s the same team that 

produced ‘Life,’ another series I co-edited. ‘Frozen Planet’ has some 

truly amazing photography—animal behavior so rare that viewers 

may wonder if there was a director telling the penguins to perform.” 

When he’s not at work, Fannin enjoys a wide range of hobbies. 

“Film, travel, cooking, reading, photography … and the proper 

game of football,” says the Liverpool Football Club fan. His musical 

taste is “all over the place. As a product of the ’80s my ‘hair metal’ 

collection is larger than it should be. I’m dragging my wife to see 

Van Halen soon.” He is also a patron of the Kennedy Center and 

attends three or four jazz shows a year, including the Django 

Reinhardt Festival. 

Fannin and his wife, Rebecca Smith Fannin ’95, share their Falls Church, 

Virginia home with Otis, an English Bull Terrier. “His nickname is the K-9 

Cannonball,” Fannin says. “And the drywall in my house proves it.” 

Fannin’s advice to R-MC students reflects his zest for creativity. 

“Don’t be afraid to change your major. The path you intended 

may not always be the best path to follow. Try the buffet.” n 


Candice Cabe ’03 is putting her best foot 

forward. 

The Wareham, Massachusetts native is 

the inventor, founder and CEO of Day2Night 

Convertible Heels—shoes that convert from high 

heels to lower heels. The economics and 

psychology major says that R-MC was a perfect 

fit for her. 

“I wanted a school with a small-town 

atmosphere—and warmer weather than New 

England,” she says. “I also wanted a college 

where a significant number of students play 

Division III sports and are involved in extracurricular 

activities.” Cabe, who was recruited to 

play field hockey, was impressed by the 

diversity on campus, and by the fact that 

students stayed on campus on weekends. “R-MC 

isn’t a ‘suitcase school,’ and that really appealed 

to me,” she says. 

After graduating from R-MC, she worked for 

several high-tech software companies, and then 

started her own Web site design and marketing 

company before enrolling in graduate school. 

She recently earned her MBA, with a 

concentration in entrepreneurship, from Babson 

College in Massachusetts. 

These days, Cabe, whose Day2Night heels 

are patent-pending, spends much of her time 

working on new products and ideas. In her 

spare time, she often trades her high heels for 

running shoes. An avid runner who competes in 

marathons and triathlons, her most recent 

half-marathon took place in Marblehead, 

Massachusetts, where she mistakenly wore the 

wrong pair of sneakers, resulting in painful 

blisters at mile three. 

“It was a lesson learned, but I persevered,” 

she says. “A long-distance run is more of a 

mental sport.” Besides being physically active, 

Cabe enjoys learning about nutrition and 

helping others achieve a healthy lifestyle. 

“One of the books I’m currently reading is 

Sugar Shock, a book about the massive amounts 

of sugar Americans consume and the detrimental 

effect this has on our physical and mental 

states,” says Cabe, who has struggled with 

severe non-diabetic hypoglycemia. Although she 


Candice Cabe 

Heart and Sole 

has her feet firmly planted on the ground, 

she also dreams of taking to the skies. 

“My dad is a pilot and I’ve always had a 

secret desire to get my pilot’s license,” she 

explains. “I was accepted into Embry 

-Riddle Aeronautical School at the same 

time I got into the MBA program. I decided 

to get my MBA instead. I have all my 

required hours; I just have to take my 

check-ride and I’ll have my private pilot’s 

license to fly small Cessna planes.” 

The savvy entrepreneur offers advice to 

students who want to make the most of 

their college experience. 

“Take advantage of as many travel 

experiences as possible,” says Cabe, who 

has fond memories of touring castles in 

England when she studied abroad during 

her senior year. “Get involved in extracurricular 

activities. Prepare for grad school 

or the workforce. And have fun.” 

Sounds like a shoe-in for success. n 

23

(l. to r.) virginia Governor Bob Mcdonnell and Tucker Martin ’00 

When Tucker Martin ’00 was 

five years old, his dad, Milton 

Martin ’67, took him to his 

first Randolph-Macon football 

game. A future Yellow Jacket was born. 

“I went to a lot of games, so I got to 

know the campus well,” says Martin. “When 

it came time for college, R-MC was a natural 

choice.” The Hopewell, Virginia native 

majored in history. 

“I love history, and Professors Mark 

Malvasi and James Scanlon really made an 

impression on me,” he says. “Professor 

Malvasi is remarkably skilled at the subtle art 

of pulling on one string in a historical 

narrative and seeing what that can do to the 

entire ball of yarn. That’s a gift. In addition, I 

was always impressed with English Professor 

Ritchie Watson’s teaching style and his 

interest in literature.” 

catching up With 

Tucker Martin 

Some of Martin’s fondest—and 

funniest—memories involve his R-MC 

friends. 

“I still laugh when I think about those 

four years—although most of my stories are 

not fit to print!” he says. “I spend a lot of 

time banking on the timely expiration of 

certain statutes of limitations.” Martin finds it 

easy to stay connected to his alma mater. 

“When you are related to my father, and to 

Pepper Laughon (Class of 1959), you hear a 

lot about R-MC just through osmosis,” he 

says. “And I’ve stayed close with a great 

group of guys, which helps me stay in the 

loop.” 

Martin earned his master’s degree in 

politics from The George Washington 

University and worked for several years for a 

small political communication firm. In 2004 

he moved to Richmond to handle press for 

Virginia House Majority Leader (now 

Congressman) H. Morgan Griffith; he later 

served as deputy director of communications 

and deputy press secretary for Attorney 

General Jerry Kilgore. 

In 2006, he became the director of 

communications for Governor Bob 

McDonnell, who was the Attorney Generalelect 

at that time. “I’ve been with him ever 

since,” says Martin. “For a Virginian, there is 

no higher honor than to serve the Governor 

of the Commonwealth. I’m still not sure 

what I did to deserve this opportunity.” 

Martin says he can’t live without 

music—“I need it in order to function”—and 

he makes sure his iPod is always charged. 

His musical taste is eclectic: Phish, the Trey 

Anastasio Band, The Grateful Dead, classical, 

bluegrass and jazz. And even at the end of 

the busiest day, he tries to make time to 

read. 

“The greatest book of all time, in my 

opinion, is John Kennedy Toole’s A 

Confederacy of Dunces, he says. “And I 

devour anything and everything by Hunter S. 

Thompson, Tom Wolfe and P.J. O’Rourke.” 

Although social media plays a big role in his 

job, Martin doesn’t use Twitter or Facebook 

in his personal life. 

“It’s a job hazard,” he explains. “But we 

use it extensively in the Governor’s office. 

We place the same importance on effective 

utilization of social media as we do on 

traditional media. Anything we push will go 

through every available platform for 

dissemination. What did Jesse James 

supposedly say about robbing banks? 

‘Because that’s where the money is.’ Well, 

today social media is where the people are, 

and for that reason our message better 

always be there, with our framing and 

branding in place.” 

Asked to share a tidbit about himself that 

most people do not know, Martin laughs. 

“I tend to talk a lot,” he says. “I doubt there 

is much I haven’t inadvertently shared 

throughout the years.” n 


Kate Stottlemeyer ’99 


From the President of the Society of Alumni, Kate Stottlemeyer ’99 

I 

remember my first trip to Randolph-Macon during my senior year of high school. The campus was beautiful, the people were 

welcoming, and I felt an instant connection. I wanted to be a Yellow Jacket. Four years passed in the blink of an eye and graduation 

felt like leaving home. I re-joined the college community six months later with an opportunity to work in the Development Office. 

During the two years that I worked at Randolph-Macon, I met hundreds of alumni volunteers who shared personal experiences from 

their days at our college. The emotional stories, which spanned five decades, had a common theme of life-long relationships built during 

college years in Ashland. Those stories taught me the importance of remaining connected and impacted my later decision to get 

involved as a volunteer. 

The Building Extraordinary campaign is well underway, and there is new construction almost everywhere you look. The facility 

transformations are incredible, and the growing population of students is inspiring. Although the campus looks different today than it 

did on my first visit 18 years ago, the feeling remains the same, and it’s still home. 

Today is an exciting time to be involved in the life of the college and you can engage in a variety of ways. The Society of Alumni 

exists to foster the highest level of connection with the college community through leadership, service, fellowship and financial support. 

Your loyalty and involvement are greatly appreciated. I hope you have time this year to rekindle your R-MC relationships from the past 

and help to get them connected with the life of the college today. Please go to http://www.rmc.edu/Alumni/Get_Involved.aspx to 

increase your engagement opportunities with R-MC! 

For even more ways to connect with Randolph-Macon, visit http://www.rmc.edu/alumni/Re-connecting.aspx. 

STAY CONNECTED! 2012 Alumni Calendar of Events 

March 31 

n Fall Sports Alumni Day, R-MC 

Campus 

April 5 

n Charlotte Reception, Hosted by 

Chris Withers ’95 

April 13 

n Presidents Society Reception, 

Home of President Lindgren 

April 14 

n Dugout Club Day, Hugh 

Stephens Field at Estes Park 

April 17 

n Atlanta Reception, 

Hosted by Liz Soza Stewart ’96 

and Mark Stewart ’96 

April 21 

n Lacrosse Alumni Day, R-MC Campus 

May 6 

n The Boydton Society Dinner Party 

with President Lindgren following the 

Richmond Symphony Concert 

May 12 

n Alumni Spring Fling, 

Old Campus Lawn 

n Champions Dinner, R-MC Campus 

May 18 

n Yellow Jacket Club Golf 

Tournament, Hunting Hawk Golf Course 

May 24–26 

n The Boydton Society’s Annual 


n The Class of 1962 50th Reunion 

Celebration 

July 26 

n Baltimore Orioles Game 

For additional details, please visit www.rmc. 

edu/eventrsvp or call 1-866-694-4574 

The 2011-2012 cultural Arts and 

entertainment Series calendar is online at 

www.rmc.edu 

All events are open to the public and are free, except where noted. 

For additional information contact Pam cox at 

pamelacox@rmc.edu, (804) 752-3712. 

25

ClassNotes 

1954 

Arthur “Kenny” Mitterer worked for 16 

years as a project administrator with 

Environmental Engineering Company, 

working on projects in Hawaii, South Pacific 

Islands, Alaska and several states before 

retiring in 2009. His employment history is 

diverse: He was a chemist, lab administrator, 

budget manager and construction manager. 

Mitterer currently enjoys retirement in Palm 

Springs and San Diego, California. 

1955 

James “Bud” Robertson Jr. recently 

donated an extensive book collection to the 

college. The James I. Robertson Jr. Class of 

1955 Civil War Collection is a tremendous 

addition to the McGraw-Page Library. 

1961 

T. Grayson Redford retired in 2006 from 

teaching high-school math. 

1962 

Alumni, parents and friends gathered at the 

Country Club of Virginia December 8, 2011 to 

celebrate the college’s capital campaign and 

to honor Everett G. “Buddy” Allen Jr. 

who will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws 

Degree at the 2012 Commencement. 

John Ihlenfeld and his wife Connie of 

Colonial Beach, Virginia celebrated their 50th 

wedding anniversary December 1, 2011. They 

have two daughters and three grandchildren. 

1964 

Charles Stitzer and Joyce Carol Puster were 

married October 1, 2011. They met in high 

school, dated, and went their separate ways. 

Charles married, but lost his wife in 2010. At 

his 50th high-school class reunion, he and 

Joyce were reunited. 

1965 

Bryan Bowers, autoharp master and 

singer-storyteller, performed during 

Homecoming Weekend 2011. 

George Bergdoll continues to develop 

apartments for senior citizens throughout 

Virginia and North Carolina. He is also active 

in providing Single Room Occupancy 

Housing, through his membership in The 

American Legion, for returning veterans of 

Iraq and Afghanistan. 

1967 

The Class of 1967 will celebrate its 45th 

Reunion October 19-21, 2012. 

Frank Gasque Dunn and Joseph A. 

Casazza were married in the District of 

Columbia May 20, 2011. The marriage was 

blessed by the Bishop of Washington in St. 

Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal 

Church, where Dunn has been Senior Priest 

since 2004. 

James “Jim” Gray and his wife Lyn live 

and work in Liberia where they first served as 

Peace Corps volunteers in the mid-1970s. The 

Grays say it is “interesting and rewarding 

working in a country that is trying to recover 

from the chaos and war that massively 

destroyed the country from 1989-2003,” and 

they welcome any visitors. 

1968 

Haywood A. “HAP” Payne Jr. was the 

recipient of the Society of Alumni’s 

Distinguished Service Award October 14, 2011. 

1969 

William D. Bayliss was named the Best 

Lawyers 2012 Richmond Litigation-Real 

Estate Lawyer of the Year. He earned his law 

degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law 

at the University of Richmond, where he was a 

member of the Law Review and the McNeill 

Law Society. Bayliss, who has handled 

numerous litigation matters from inception 

through trial and appeal in state and federal 

courts throughout Virginia, concentrates on 

civil litigation. 

1971 

Asher Wade, who manages a Men’s 

Swimming Team Facebook page, has a 

private practice in clinical psychology and is 

an instructor in the Department of Psychology 

at Touro College in Jerusalem, Israel. He is 

happily married for 33 years and has five sons 

and a daughter. He recently celebrated the 

birth of his first grandchild, Tamar Meirah, as 

well as the marriage of his second son. He 

welcomes any R-MC study-abroad students 

visiting Israel to contact him. In addition, he 


is happy to see that R-MC has reinstituted a 

men’s swimming team. 

Walter “Eddie” 

DuPriest is the proud 

grandfather of Edwin 

Douglas DuPriest, whose 

Aunt Barclay DuPriest 

sent him the jacket he is 

wearing in this photo. 

1972 



1975 

Patricia Gradwohl Hanback was the 

recipient of the Society of Alumni’s 

Distinguished Service Award October 14, 2011. 

1977 



1978 

Mark M. Person was a member of a panel 

sponsored by the University of Richmond 

Departments of American Studies and Theater 

& Dance, which presented a docutheater and 

discussion on massive resistance and school 

integration in Richmond. 


Michael Pumphrey (left) recently 

completed 18 years as a navy chaplain on 

active duty and was promoted to commander. 

In January 2012, he and his wife, Elizabeth 

Biddle, moved to Naples, Italy, where Michael 

will serve as director, CREDO Europe/Africa/ 

SW Asia. CREDO is the Navy’s retreat ministry 

program. In 2010, Chaplain Pumphrey 

deployed to the NATO Role 3 Multinational 

Medical Unit, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. 

He worked there briefly with Captain (Dr.) 

Sharon Troxel ’85. 

1982 



Diane Hall Bodenhamer and Todd 

Bodenhamer, Colonel, USAF Ret., were 

married September 30, 2011. Diane recently 

retired from Sodexo Health Care Services after 

31 years. Todd is a defense contractor for the 

Department of Homeland Security. The couple 

resides in Ashburn, Virginia. 

1984 

Melanie Pierce McClaskie has received 

certification for pregnancy massage through 

the Nurturing the Mother program. She is a 

Certified Massage Therapist. 

Barbara Hopkins was elected secretary of 

the Maryland chapter of the American Society 

of Landscape Architects. 

Sue Draney Schick was elected to the 

board of the Great Philadelphia Chamber of 

Commerce and initiated on October 14, 2011. 

27

ClassNotes 

1985 

Michael Breed and his family have created a 

golf fund at R-MC in memory of Ted Keller ’53. 

He was presented the Society of Alumni’s 

Distinguished Alumnus Award on November 11, 

2011, at the Richmond Macon Connections 

event. 

1986 

Nancy Arthur is an office coordinator at the 

Titan Group. 

Wes A. Nichols was presented the Society of 

Alumni’s Distinguished Alumnus award on 

October 14, 2011. 

Lt. Col. Stephanie Redford Willenbrock 

returned home to her family in 

Pennsylvania in September 2010 after a 

one-year deployment in Iraq. She earned the 

Bronze Star and has completed 23 years in the 

U.S. Army Reserve. 

1987 



Wade Lemon returned to campus November 

21, 2011 to make a presentation to students 

about his business ventures and lessons learned 

thorough his career. Lemon, the CEO of Teton 

Tactical in Jackson, Wyoming, also serves as a 

principal at Old Faithful Capital Partners, LLC. 

1989 

Jonathan Hughes is principal/owner of 

MidSouth Assurance, a full-service insurance 

brokerage firm in Richmond, Virginia. 

Stacey Redford McKenna earned her 

Ed.Dir. in May 2011 from Teachers College 

Columbia University. Her dissertation was 

titled Art School Consequential: Teaching and 

Learning in the First Year of Art School. She is 

a faculty member at the Maryland Institute 

College of Art in Baltimore. 

1992 



1993 

Trey McCallie and Deeanna Robinson were 

married at Estes Chapel at Asbury University 

in Wilmore, Kentucky May 28, 2011. A 

reception was held at the Marriott Griffin Gate 

Resort in Lexington. Bates Chapman ’91 

and Mike Newby ’93 served as 

groomsmen. McCallie is a productivity coach 

and associate broker for Keller Williams 

Bluegrass Realty in Lexington. He mentors, 

coaches and trains associates and sells 

residential real estate in central Kentucky. 

1994 

Mark Stroh began a one-year tour as the 

press spokesman at the U.S Embassy in 

Islamabad, Pakistan in September 2011. 

1995 

Juli Dunn Smith and Tim Smith were 

married July 23, 2011 in Duck, North 

Carolina. They live in Mechanicsville, Virginia 

The Society of Alumni 

honored the 90s 

Initiative Steering 

committee, led by 

Graham rashkind ’96, 

chair, and Ainslie rose 

’96, vice chair, with a 

Yellow Jacket Salute 

October 14, 2011. 

with their children Jack, Marly and Hayes. 

They own River City Press, a print shop in 

Richmond. 

1996 

Karen McKittrick 

Bolton and her 

husband John 

announce the birth 

of their daughter, 

Audrey Pearl Bolton, 

born September 22, 

2011. 

1997 




Jean Heather Sample-Wilson and 

Patrick Wilson were married July 2, 2011 in 

Alexandria, Virginia. The reception was held 

at the Key Bridge Marriott overlooking 

Georgetown and the D.C. skyline. Heather 

works for a Department of Defense contractor 

in the Pentagon in support of a NATO defense 

reform program. Pat works for Booze Allen 

Hamilton as a senior consultant in Ft. Meade, 

Maryland. They live in Alexandria, Virginia. 

Jessie Howe Briarton, former drug 

lobbyist, has joined the boutique lobbying 

shop Thorn Run Partners as a senior vice 

president. Briarton worked as a staff member 

to House Judiciary Committee Chairman 

Lamar Smith and was a former director of 

federal government affairs for Eli Lilly and 


worked on health care reform and Medicare 

and Medicaid issues. She has also worked at 

NFIB as a senior legislative assistant to Smith. 

Julie Dreisch Saxenmeyer and Jim 

Saxenmeyer were married November 6, 2010, 

at the Basilica of the Assumption Cathedral in 

Baltimore, Maryland. The reception was held 

at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Jill 

Dreisch Tamberino ’97 was the matron 

of honor. After a honeymoon in Maui, the 

couple resides in Cockeysville, Maryland. 

1998 

Kate Parker Jonas and her husband Ritter 

announce the birth of their daughter, Austin 

Elizabeth Jonas, born October 9, 2010. 

Heather 

McTavish Doucet 

and her husband 

Shane announce the 

birth of their 

daughter, Massey Elizabeth Doucet, born July 

15, 2011. Massey joined big sister Reese. 

Andrea “Ande” Redford Flagg and Tim 

Flagg ’99 moved to Missouri with their sons, 

Hunter and Jon, in August 2011. Tim, who 

was commissioned a Second Lt. in the U.S. 

Army in July 2011, is stationed at Ft. Leonard 

Wood. 

Sara Stevenson 

Morton and Scott 

Morton announce 

the birth of their son, 

Charles Soule 

“Charlie” Morton, born June 22, 2011. 

1999 

Danielle 

Egan-O’Dell 

Davis announces 

the birth of Ainsley 

Grace Davis, born 

February 27, 2011. 

She was welcomed home by her siblings, 

Reed, Amanda and Peyton. 

Samuel Britton 

Gupton is the newest 

addition to the 

family of Carl 

Gupton ’99 and 

his wife Lissa. 

2000 

Trish Feltz Gill 


Tom announce the 

birth of their 

daughter, Darby Nicole Gill, born March 4, 2011. 

Craig Wesley Reed 

and his wife Kelly 

announce the birth of 

their daughter, Finley 

Belle Reed, born 

September 1, 2011. 

2001 

Hugh and Christine 

Purvis announce the 

birth of their daughter, 

Bryce Elizabeth Purvis, 

born August 13, 2011. 

Heather Sheridan earned her master’s 

degree in urban policy analysis and 

management from the New School in New 

York City in May 2009. One month after 

graduating, she started working for Common 

Ground, in the area of supportive housing for 

formerly homeless and low-income tenants. In 

October 2009, she was promoted to director of 

the second-largest supportive-housing site in 

the country, the Prince George, which houses 

more than 400 tenants. 

29

ClassNotes 

2001 

Robert Ragland is director of finance at 

Mondial Assistance. He earned his master’s 

degree from the Mason School of Business at the 

College of William & Mary. 

Nicole Pugar joined Williams Mullen as 

director of government affairs. She was formerly 

director of government relations for Virginia 

Commonwealth University and Health System. 

2002 



Angela Bisland and 

her wife Liz are proud to 

announce the birth of 

their son, McKay Joseph 

Bisland. He was born on 

November 18, 2011 at 11:02 a.m. weighing 7 

lbs. 7 oz. 

Christy Hammond and Drew Hammond 

were married October 4, 2008. The ceremony 

and reception took place on the Rappahannock 

River in Water View, Virginia. The couple 

honeymooned in Charleston, South Carolina 

and reside in King William. Christy is a school 

counselor and Drew is a civil engineer. 

2003 

Kristen Norton Sisaithong and Mel 

Sisaithong were married June 11, 2011 in Cape 

Cod, Massachusetts. Emily Davis Malewitz 

’03 served as maid of honor. Brandon Brown 

’04 served as best man. The wedding party also 

included Julia Kelly Pearson ’03 and 

Hunter Pearson ’04. The couple 

honeymooned in Punta Cana; they currently 

reside in Richmond, Virginia. Kristen works at 

the Department of Social Services and Mel is 

co-founder and CEO of STV Wine Purveyors. 

Grant Baker was appointed assistant 

principal of Kempsville Elementary in Virginia 

Beach, Virginia. He’s pictured with his wife 

Erin and his sons, Jack and Lane. 

2004 

Jacqueline Bailey and Parke Sterling 

’05 (pictured right) were married in Hot 

Springs, Virginia May 21, 2011. Alumni 

members of the wedding party included Katia 

Watson ’05, Katie Dewberry Dixon 

’04, Lauren Biegler Chandler ’05, 

Amanda Baker ’04, Carrie Sterling 

Douglas ’01, Chris Douglas ’01, Billy 

Walters ’05, Jon Godwin ’05, John 

Chandler ’03, Alex Ragland ’05, Sean 

Francis ’05 and Brian Wilson ’05. The 

couple resides in Richmond, Virginia with their 

dog Piper. 

Sara Brinkley Kramer and Adam Kramer 

were married July 30, 2011 in Virginia Beach, 

Virginia. They reside in Chesapeake, Virginia. 

Andrew W. Price received the Society of 

Alumni’s Young Alumnus Achievement Award 

September 16, 2011. 

Ryan Terry Stein and Kimberly Danielle 

Mullins were married October 1, 2011 at the 

Wyndam Virginia Crossings in Glen Allen, 

Virginia. Stein was recently named one of the 

top five educators in the nation, earning him 

a trip to New York City, a $2,500 shopping 

spree, $1,000 in school supplies for his 

fourth-grade classroom in Richmond and an 

appearance on the Rachael Ray show. He was 

recently named one of Virginia’s Elite Eight 


Teachers by the Virginia State Lottery, and was 

selected as one of the Top 20 Teachers in 

Henrico County by the Henrico Citizen. 

Jamie Lyn Zeiters and Andrew H. Placito 

III were married August 27, 2011 at Cathedral 

of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, Virginia. 

Michael Meade taught English at a high 

school in Iwate-prefecture Japan for two years, 

then moved to Tokyo and studied Japanese at 

the Keio University Japanese Language 

Program. While living in Keio, he was on a 

2008 episode of a Japanese TV show. He is now 

studying at the University of Oklahoma, where 

he’ll graduate in May 2012 with a joint JD/ 

MBA degree. In May, Meade will begin 

working for Murphy Oil Corporation in 

Houston, Texas as an offshore landman. He 

plans to take the Texas Bar in July. 

—continued on page 32 


31

ClassNotes 

2005 

Kendall Tyree and Joshua Covington 

’03 were married May 14, 2011, at Skipwith 

Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. The 

bridal party included Jonathan Perkins 

’03. The couple resides in Richmond. 

Lauryn Ricketts is a meteorologist at WTTG 

Fox 5 in Washington, D.C. 

Brandon Scott wrote and produced the hit 

single “Dedicated” and wrote and produced the 

accompanying video for his brother, Bryan 

Scott of the Buffalo Bills. The song and video 

support the Bryan Scott “Pick Your Passion” 

Foundation for the Arts. 

2006 

Dana Fitzwater Cornell and Brent Cornell 

were married August 28, 2010 in an outdoor 

ceremony at the Golden Horseshoe Inn in 

Stanardsville, Virginia. The couple honeymooned 

in Bali, Indonesia. 

Emily Halata is the U.S. Project Specialist for 

Children, Incorporated, a nonprofit organization 

that provides resources for children in need in 

the United States and abroad. 

Perry Kennedy graduated from the University 

of Virginia in August 2011 with a Ph.D. in 

pharmacology. He plans to pursue drug 

development research in the pharmaceutical 

industry. He thanks R-MC for providing both 

support and a sound academic foundation. 

Heather Fleming and Nick Warner were 

married September 24, 2011 in Lancaster, 

Photo Submission guidelines 

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300 dpi (dots per inch). Submit all images in JPEG files (preferred) or TIFF files (less 

than 5 MB). If you are unsure of your camera’s resolution options, take the photo(s) 

at the largest size or quality possible. E-mail photos with identifying information to 

alumniasst@rmc.edu. 

Photo prints must be originals, not printed digital copies. Identify the photo 

(preferably typed) on a separate sheet of paper and fold the sheet around the photo. 

Photo submissions will not be published without captions. Send to alumni office, 

randolph-Macon College, P.o. Box 5005, ashland, Va 23005. Hard copy photos 

will be returned upon request. 

Please feel free to continue to share these pictures with your classmates, faculty and 

staff via www.rmc.edu/alumni. 

Pennsylvania. They currently live outside of 

Baltimore, Maryland. 

2007 



John Shilan earned his Doctor of Pharmacy 

degree May 21, 2011 from Virginia 

Commonwealth University/Medical College of 

Virginia School of Pharmacy. He is a practicing 

pharmacist in the Charlottesville, Virginia area 

with CVS/Pharmacy. 

Jonathan and Krystle 

Fagan Yarbrough of 

Mechanicsville,Virginia 

announce the arrival of 

Connor Yarbrough, born 

March 10, 2011. 

2008 

Tyler Ball and Nicole Childress will be 

married in June 2013. Nicole serves as a Young 

Get connected to r-MC 

Adult Volunteer in Kerala, India. She earned 

her Master’s of Divinity degree from Union 

Presbyterian Seminary in May 2011. Tyler 

will earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree 

from the Medical College of Virginia in May 

2013. 

Amy Fears Crisp 


Andrew announce 

the birth of their son, 

Zachary Thomas 

Crisp, born August 

12, 2011. 

Marta Merkel is an account operations 

specialist with Snagajob. She was formerly 

with Wells Fargo Bank. 

Kyndall 

Drumheller 

recently earned 

her master’s 

degree in history 

from Liberty 

University and is 

now the 

education assistant at the Virginia War 

Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. 

2009 

James Stuart May is a second-year medical 

student at VCU School of Medicine. His 

Your participation and opinions help the 

college create programs and sponsor 

events that are fun, interesting and 

educational. We are excited to hear from 

you and hope you will take advantage of 

the easy ways we have to keep the 

connection! 

visit our Web site… www.rmc.edu 

Send e-Mail… Alumni_Office@rmc.edu 

call us… 804-752-7218; fax 804-752-4700 

Write to us… Alumni Office, Randolph- 

Macon College, P.O. Box 5005, Ashland, 

VA 23005-5505 

For more ways to connect with 

Randolph-Macon, visit http://www.rmc. 

edu/alumni/regional_events.aspx 


expected graduation date is May 2014. He 

proposed to Allison Koste ’10 on March 

18, 2011, and the wedding is set for July 7, 

2012. 

Lauren Soles passed the CPA exam in 

March 2011 and became licensed in the state 

of Virginia. 

2010 

Haile Lytton and Stefanie Crawford were 

married October 1, 2011 in Hanover, Virginia. 

The bridal party included Kurt Breitmeyer 

’10, Bryan Hannum ’10, Ashlyn 

McKeel ’10, Lindsey Reid ’10 and 

Matthew Tiller ’10. The couple took a 

Honor Roll of Donors (omission/correction) 

Bruce A. Pflugradt ’77 

Passages 

1930 

Robert E. Jordan died August 24, 2011. 

Jordan graduated from Chester High School 

and entered Virginia Tech, but his college 

career was interrupted by U.S. Naval service 

in the Pacific during World War II. After the 

war, he returned to Tech and graduated with 

a B.S. in metallurgical engineering. He had a 

successful industrial career for 10 years, after 

which he earned a M.A. degree in 

anthropology from the University of Chicago. 

He taught for more than 25 years, primarily 

at liberal arts colleges, including R-MC. He is 

survived by his wife of 51 years, Patricia; three 

children; six grandchildren and several nieces 

and nephews. 

1934 

J. Denny Compton died November 21, 

2011. Compton graduated from R-MC with a 

B.S. in chemistry, having played varsity 

football, baseball and basketball all four 

years. After college he taught chemistry and 

algebra in Fairfax County, Virginia. In 1937, 

he moved to Wilmington to begin a 41-year 


honeymoon cruise to Key West, the Grand 

Cayman Island and Jamaica. They currently 

reside in Mechanicsville, Virginia. 

career with the DuPont Company. While at 

DuPont, he participated in the Manhattan 

District Project. Following his retirement in 

1977 he focused on his lifelong passion for 

golf and gardening. In 1944, Denny married 

Francis Rice; they were married 52 years 

before her death in 1996. Compton is survived 

by daughters Carol Compton Whiteley and 

Diane Compton John. 

1935 

Reverend Horwood Prettyman 

Myers Jr. died June 19, 2011. Myers earned 

his Master of Divinity degree from Duke 

University Divinity School in 1937. He served 

as a minister in the Virginia and Western 

North Carolina conferences of the United 

Methodist Church, including pastorates in 

numerous locations. Myers fought fiercely for 

racial equality during the Civil Rights era. 

Myers was also active in conference-related 

activities and served on numerous boards and 

committees. He also served on the Western 

North Carolina Conference for 69 years. He 

was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, 

Megan Fitzgerald and Effie Cassar were 

married September 11, 2011. The ceremony 

took place at Holding Out Hope Church in 

Middle Island, Long Island, New York. The 

reception was held at Windows on the Lake in 

Lake Ronkonkoma, Long Island, New York. 

The couple resides in Selden, New York. 

Franchelle Smith Myers. He is survived by his 

wife June Wren Myers; sons Horwood P. Myers 

III and wife Garland; Thomas S. Myers and 

wife Barbara; James B. Myers and wife 

Cynthia; five grandchildren and nine 

great-grandchildren. 

1941 

Tucker Murray Scott Jr. died June 17, 

2011. Scott attended the University of 

Virginia Medical School in 1941 and left in 

1942 to join the Navy and fight in World War 

II. He began his career in advertising and 

broadcasting at the Compton Agency and was 

a member of the Broadcast Pioneers. He ran 

the broadcast portion of General Eisenhower’s 

Presidential Campaign in 1952. He was 

predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Melissa 

Mason Scott. He is survived by three children: 

Tucker Scott III and his wife Elaine; Sandra 

Dapprich, her husband Doug and son Jay; 

and Martha Robbins, her husband Todd and 

their children Mary, Rebecca and William. 

2011 

Megan Bosher and Ryan Middleton 

’10 were married July 2, 2011. Courtney 

Hiltunen ’10 was in the wedding party. 

Megan works at IKON Office Solutions as an 

account executive and Ryan is pursuing his 

master of divinity degree at Union 

Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. 

Josh Orndorff is pursuing a master of 

divinity degree at Duke University to become a 

United Methodist pastor in the Virginia 

Conference. 

1943 

Dr. Walter Copley McLean died 

November 11, 2011. He earned his M.D. from 

the University of Virginia Medical School in 

1946. After medical school he interned at the 

United States Navy Medical Corp. McLean 

was appointed Fellow in the Department of 

Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia 

before completing a residency in 

otolaryngology. For nearly a decade he was 

chairman of the Charlottesville School Board. 

He was a longtime board member and officer 

of the Foxfield Racing Association, a board 

member of St. Anne’s-Belfield School, a 

longtime member of the University of 

Virginia Medical School Admissions 

Committee, president of the Medical Society 

of Virginia, and president and member of 

numerous other organizations. He is survived 

by his wife Peggy; his children, Dr. W. Copley 

McLean Jr. and wife Merri; Stephen McLean 

and wife Caroline; Mark McLean and wife 

Ann; Peter McLean and wife Carol Anne; 

Martha Elizabeth Rodgers and husband Dr. 

33

Passages 

Bradley Rodgers; Christopher McLean; 17 

grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his daughter, 

Patricia Ann McLean. 

1948 

Roland Henry Bodtke died September 

19, 2011. Bodtke served in the U.S. Navy in 

World War II as a pilot. He retired from 

Exxon after 35 years of service. He loved the 

game of golf, having played many courses. 

He is survived by his wife, Isabell “Ikie” 

Roeder Bodtke, his children, Steve Bodtke and 

his wife, Martha, and Diane Bodtke Ray and 

her husband, Greg; and three grandchildren. 

1950 

Ernest Dewey Parker died July 15, 2011. 

In 1948 he married the love of his life, Edna 

Daniels. Parker was a successful 

entrepreneur, founding and operating West 

Jersey Biological Supply, which serviced 

teaching hospitals, colleges, universities and 

research institutes throughout the Northeast. 

He is survived by his daughter Susan and her 

three sons. 

1951 

Peter Holmes Hopkins died August 7, 

2011. He served in the U.S. Army from 1946 

to 1947. Hopkins taught chemistry and 

coached track and field at various schools. He 

founded the Virginia Scholastic Chess 

Association and coached youth teams across 

the state. He is survived by two daughters, 

Emily Hopkins and Elizabeth Walsh; and four 

grandchildren. 

John Blain Kent died June 29, 2011. He 

was a veteran of World War II, serving in the 

United States Navy. He is survived by two 

daughters, Debbie Kent and Heather Owens 

and her husband Mike. 

Frederick Brandt Smith died October 2, 

2011. He was a U.S. Marine during World 

War II. When he returned home he earned 

his B.A. from R-MC. He earned his M.A. from 

the University of Richmond and became a 

school administrator after many years of 

teaching in Richmond Public Schools. He is 

survived by his wife Grace; a son and 

daughter-in-law; two grandchildren; and two 


1952 

Martin Andrews died September 12, 

2011. He served four years in WWII in the 

European theater, surviving five major 

invasions, including Normandy, and was 

discharged in l946. He remained in the Naval 

Reserve and was recalled for the Korean 

conflict, seeing four more invasions there. 

After graduating from R-MC, he attended 

medical school at Duke University, then 

earned his master’s in education at the 

University of Virginia. He is survived by his 

wife June, four children and three 


Kenneth Matthews died October 15, 2011. 

Matthews earned his master’s degree from the 

University of Virginia. He served as a military 

intelligence specialist during the Korean War. 

His teaching career included four years in 

Virginia Beach, Virginia and nine years at 

Delmar High School in Delaware. He also 

taught political science at the University of 

Virginia at Wallops Island. His educational 

career concluded in 1991; at that time he was 

assistant superintendent of the Delmar school 

district. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, 

Shirley Downes Matthews; daughter Kimberly 

Miller and her husband Chris; son Kendall 

Matthews and his wife Maxine; and five 


Joseph Reynolds died October 9, 2011. 

He was a graduate of Vanderbilt University. 

He served in the U.S. Navy and was employed 

for 35 years by the Dewey & Almy chemical 

division of W.R. Grace. He is survived by his 

sons, Jason Reynolds and his wife Patricia, 

and Brian Reynolds; and two granddaughters. 

Julian White Jr. died April 19, 2011. He 

earned his master’s degree from the 

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

and was a Fulbright Fellow during his studies 

in Paris in 1955 and 1956. He earned his 

Ph.D. from University of North Carolina 

Chapel Hill in 1962 after serving four years in 

the U.S. Navy. He became an assistant 

professor at Mary Baldwin College and 

then joined the faculty at University of New 

Mexico and served in several capacities: 

assistant professor, associate dean of the 

College of Arts and Sciences, and director of 

the advisement center. He is survived by his 

wife Elizabeth, two daughters, a son and 

three granddaughters. 

1953 

David MacLauchlan died September 10, 

2011. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, 

Marcille MacLauchlan; daughter Janie 

Pearson and husband Hill; son Andrew 

MacLauchlan; and three grandchildren. 

Lawrence M. “Sweeney” Shiflett died 

November 5, 2011. At R-MC, he was a 

member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity 

and lettered in football and baseball. He was 

All-State in the Virginia Little Six Conference 

for three years in football and three years in 

baseball and All-Conference in the 

Mason-Dixon Conference for two years in 

football. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII 

and retired after 28 years of service from the 

U.S. Air Force Reserve. He was an athletic 

trainer for the Interallied Confederation of 

Reserve Officers team for 15 years. Shiflett 

retired from the Warren County Public 

School System after 28 years of service. For 

his years of service, The Lawrence M. 

“Sweeney” Shiflett Hall of Fame was 

founded in 2002. He is survived by his wife, 

Helen Butler Shiflett; three daughters: Karen 

Paige Purdham and her husband Douglas, 

Terry Shiflett Ewell and her husband 

Douglas; and Patricia Ann Leonard and her 

husband Rick; eight grandchildren; and six 


1954 

Charles William “Bill” Cleaton died 

August 30, 2011. He was the retired owner 

and operator of Cleaton Pontiac-Buick and 

Cleaton Hardware in South Hill, Virginia. A 

Coast Guard Korean Conflict veteran, he is 

survived by two daughters and their 

husbands; and four grandchildren. 

Byron “Sonny” Graves died September 

20, 2011. He used the G.I. bill to graduate 

from R-MC, served in the U.S. Army and was 

past Master of Mann Page Masonic Lodge in 

Providence Forge, Virginia. He was the 

former owner and CEO of Yavner Bros. Co., 

Inc, a wholesale food distributor. He is 

survived by his wife Johnanna Short Graves; 

children, Ann Graves Forner ’76, B. 

Wesley Graves III ’80, John Lee Graves 

Sr., Elizabeth Short Sammons and Mary 

Short Neal; and six grandchildren. 

1956 

William McLemore “Bill” Birdsong 

Jr. died December 10, 2011. Following 

college he served two years active duty in the 

U.S. Army, and in 1957 he started his career 

at Birdsong Peanuts. He began working in 

the Franklin office and became the vice 

president of the company, a position he held 

for 28 years. He is survived by son William 

McLemore Birdsong III ’82 and his 

wife Betsy; son Everett Birdsong ’84 and 

his wife Miriam; daughter Chris Birdsong 

White and her husband Rob; and six 


William Copeland March, DDS died 

June 18, 2011. Dr. March was a Phi Beta 

Kappa graduate and earned his DDS from the 

Medical College of Virginia. He was a member 

of the American Dental Association, Virginia 

State Dental Association, Tidewater Dental 

Association and Suffolk-Portsmouth Dental 

Study Club. 

John C. Everly died October 10, 2011. He 

graduated from Eckels School of Mortuary 

Science in Philadelphia. He was the president 

of Everly Funeral Homes, Inc. Everly also 

served as administrator of the Presbyterian 

Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia, and as 

president of the Northern Virginia Funeral 

Directors Association. He is survived by his 

wife, Carol Lee Taylor Everly; two sons and 

their wives; one granddaughter; four 

grandsons; four step-granddaughters; and 

one great-granddaughter. 

1957 

Donald Hampton Traylor died 

September 2, 2011. He graduated from Wesley 

Theological Seminary in 1960. He began his 

ministerial career in the Virginia United 

Methodist Conference in 1960 and retired in 

2000 as the district superintendent of the 

Portsmouth District. He earned a Honorary 

Doctor of Divinity degree from R-MC in 1990. 


Traylor is survived by his wife of 51 years, 

Nancy; his son Robert Traylor and fiancé 

Cindy Hiles; and daughter Kelly Jackson and 

son-in-law Andrew Jackson. 

1958 

John Baker died August 30, 2009 after a 

short illness. He is survived by his wife 

Elizabeth; daughter Julie; son Eric and his 

wife Becky. 

Dr. Jay Walter Childress died July 8, 

2011. After service in the U.S. Marine Corps 

during the Korean War, he graduated from 

R-MC, where he played football and sang 

with the Glee Club and the 4 Jackets Quartet. 

Dr. Childress earned his master’s degree in 

social work from Virginia Commonwealth 

University and completed clinical internships 

at The Child and Family Counseling Center 

in Norfolk and The Lower Peninsular Child 

Guidance Center in Williamsburg, Virginia. 

He earned a Diploma of Advanced Study at 

Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts 

and did a clinical residency at 

Massachusetts Mental Health Center and 

Hospital in Boston, subsequently completing 

his doctorate in clinical social work. He was 

preceded in death by his son, Walter Jefferson 

Childress II. He is survived by his wife Beth; 

his son John Childress and wife Angela; his 

daughter Janelle Childress and spouse Claes; 

three stepdaughters; and nine grandchildren. 

Amos Spady died November 29, 2011. In 

1953, he joined the U.S. Army and served two 

years in Korea and then returned to R-MC. He 

began his career with NACA/NASA in 1957, 

where he distinguished himself during the 

Gemini and Apollo Space Programs as an 

aerospace technologist. During his 33-year 

career, he published more than 30 papers and 

reports. Spady chaired the design team for 

Langley’s Lunar Landing Research Facility 

and was one of the first test directors for that 

facility. He holds the co-patent for the 

anti-gravity simulator that helped the Apollo 

astronauts learn to walk on the moon. He 

was the assistant manager for Langley’s Wind 

Shear Program and served on the staff for 

President Reagan’s Aircraft Crew 

Complement Task Force. He is survived by his 


wife Sylvia Spady; her son Barry Spady and 

wife Jill; and daughter Cheryl Spady and 

husband Matt Busse. 

William E. Sudduth died August 4, 2011. 

In 1984, he earned his his M.A. in history 

from George Mason University and taught in 

Fauquier County Schools for several years. He 

was founder and owner of several businesses 

including Old Dominion Business Service 

and Sudduth Printing. In 1948 he became 

co-owner of Sudduth Memorials, which has 

been in continuous operation since 1909. 

Sudduth served as a Justice of the Peace 

(Centre district) and later Magistrate of the 

Commonwealth of Virginia. He is survived by 

his son William E. Sudduth III ’83, 

and daughters Julia Hearne and Nancy Gatti. 

He was the father-in-law of David G. 

Hearne ’84 and grandfather of Phillip G. 

Hearne ’15. 

1959 

Harrison Simons died August 31, 2011. At 

R-MC, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta 

fraternity. Simons attended Bexley Hall 

Divinity School in Gambier, Ohio and was an 

assistant priest at St. Thomas’ in Richmond, 

Virginia. He then became priest of St. John’s 

and three other churches in and around King 

George, Virginia. In 1970, he moved to 

Oxford, North Carolina as rector of St. 

Stephen’s and later priest-in-charge at St. 

Cyprian’s. In 1997 he received the Nancy 

Susan Reynolds Award for Race Relations and 

in 1999 he received the Society of Alumni’s 

Distinguished Alumnus Award. He was given 

a Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from 

Virginia Theological Seminary in 2007. 

Simons is survived by his wife, Eugenia 

Kathleen England; their children Deanna 

Simons Hollis ’87 and George Simons 

’85 and their spouses, Lane Hollis and 

Georgia McGaha Simons ’86; and nine 


1960 

Nelson Ellis died September 28, 2011. He 

attended R-MC in 1956-57 after being 

recruited by Basketball Coach Paul Webb. 

Ellis was the commissioner of basketball 

officials for Peninsula Board 125 for 30 years. 

He retired in March 2011 as commissioner of 

the Tidewater Basketball Officials Association, 

which he formed prior to the 2010-2011 

high-school season. 

Dr. Lewis Haymes of Pampa, Texas died 

June 29, 2011. 

Chaplain (Major) William R. 

Livermon Jr., U.S. Army (Retired) died 

October 15, 2011. Livermon pastored in 

United Methodist churches in South Boston, 

Martinsville and Danville, ministered on 

Army installations worldwide, and, following 

retirement, served in Teamwork Ministries, 

Martinsville, and Maritime Ministries, 

Richmond. He enjoyed learning French and 

traveling to France. He is survived by his wife 

of 51 years, Miriam; children Christy Rogers, 

Kathryn Zinn and Randy Livermon; his 

mother Thelma Livermon; brothers Robert 

and John Garrett Livermon; and nine 


1962 

Solon Wallace Parsons Jr. died June 16, 

2011. After graduating from R-MC, Parsons 

was a teacher and coach at Waverly High 

School and later entered the banking field. 

He is survived by his sons Jeffrey Wallace 

Parsons and his wife Denise; and Gregory 

Payne Parsons and his wife Susan; and six 


1963 

Richard “Dick” Walker died September 

16, 2011. He earned his MBA from Vanderbilt 

University. His proudest accomplishment was 

his involvement in the Peace Corps where he 

served as a volunteer in El Salvador and as a 

director in Brazil. He began his professional 

career with the State of Tennessee in the 

Office of Economic Development. He later 

served as assistant commissioner. He started 

a consulting business, Walker Associates, and 

was hired as director of the Four Lakes 

Regional Development Authority where he 

worked until his 2008 retirement. He is 

survived by his parents, two sons and 

granddaughter. 

1967 

William C. Gill died June 18, 2011. Gill 

was a graduate of Norfolk Academy and 

earned a B.A. from R-MC and M.B.A. from 

Florida State University. In 2011 he was 

awarded the Commonwealth Award by the 

Small Business Administration Foundation. 

He served the Jaycees and the Virginia Beach 

Forum and devoted himself to the causes 

supported by the UVB/Crestar LPGA 

Championship that he helped to run. In 

addition, he was a member of the 

Portsmouth Boat Club and enjoyed sailing. 

He is survived by his wife Eva S. Gill; two 

sons, Bill and his wife Tina; and Tom and his 

wife Trish; and four granddaughters. 

1970 

Eric Richard Alexie Jr. died October 6, 

2011. He was in the 82nd Airborne Division of 

the U.S. Army. He served during the Vietnam 

War, but remained in the United States where 

he worked on specialized lightweight tanks. 

His rank was sergeant and he was a 

noncommissioned Officer School graduate, 

Army instructor. He was honorably 

discharged. Alexie graduated from Ferrum 

College and R-MC and then worked for 

Lawrence Transfer for many years, with jobs 

ranging from branch manager to accounts 

payable. He also worked for the Virginia 

Museum of Transportation as curator and 

director of exhibits. He is survived by his wife 

of 17 years, Sharon Spradlin Alexie, and his 

stepdaughter Morgan Brooks. 

1972 

Otis L. Newton died July 8, 2011. He 

graduated with honors from R-MC, where he 

was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Newton 

made a career working for the federal 

government in various positions, eventually 

retiring in 2004 from the Drug Enforcement 

Administration. He is survived by his wife of 48 

years, Beverley; two sons, Justin Wade Newton 

and his wife Chelle; and Monte Duane Newton 

and his wife Tracy; daughter Lori Maree; and 

eight grandchildren. 

1974 

Robert B. Wood died October 6, 2011. He 

worked in the banking industry for 35 years. 

He is survived by his beloved wife of 30 years, 

35

Passages 

Marilyn, and children Elizabeth and 

Christopher. 

1975 

Mark R. Lassiter died June 20, 2011. At 

R-MC he was a member of Phi Delta Theta 

fraternity. Lassiter was employed by the 

Social Security Administration for 35 years. 

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Nancy 

Lassiter, and a son and daughter. 

1978 

The Reverend Rendell Rozier, minister 

with the United Methodist Church, died 

October 9, 2011. He began his service with 

the Virginia Conference in 1983 at Galloway. 

He served as a Navy chaplain from 1986 until 

he was placed on incapacity leave in 2007; he 

retired in July 2011. He is survived by his wife 

Annette; children Julia and Benjamin and 

parents John and Mildred Rozier. 

1982 

Shelagh Ann Callahan died September 1, 

2011 in Portland, Oregon. 

1993 

April Dawn Roberts died September 30, 

2011. She was attending Mountain State 

University in Martinsburg, West Virginia. She 

is survived by her parents and three children. 

1996 

Catherine Lewis Smith died June 3, 

2011. She was full of life and loved being with 

her daughter, family, friends and her Great 

Dane, Cane. At R-MC, Smith sang in the 

college choir, actively participated in her 

sorority and served as president of the 

Panhellenic Council. She was employed by 

the James River Insurance Company as 

senior underwriter. She is survived by her 

husband Rodney E. Williams Jr.; daughter 

Ella Claiborne Williams and parents Judge 

and Pauline Smith. 

Family and Friends 

Passages 

Gurdon S. Buck died August 11, 2011. He 

was a graduate of Lynchburg College. He was 

preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Mayes 

In Memory of Constance Birdsong 

Constance P. Birdsong, wife of Thomas H. Birdsong III ’49, died on August 17, 2011 

in Whitestone, Virginia. Over her active lifetime and career, Connie lived in both Whitestone 

and Stephenville, Texas, and among her many accomplishments, she was the recipient of 

the Stephenville Chamber’s Outstanding Merit Award for Cultural Affairs, the Chairman of 

the Texas Arts Council, and the recipient of The Mary Mildred Sullivan Award by Randolph- 

Macon College for her philanthropic work. In recognition of the extraordinary generosity 

of the Birdsong family, the future residence hall for seniors will bear the Birdsong name. Connie is survived by her 

husband of 45 years, Thomas H. Birdsong III ’49, her sister Emory Ann Peters; her sons Elmer A. Bradshaw (Tres) 

and his wife Brenda Ward Bradshaw; Richard H. Bradshaw; Thomas Henry Birdsong IV (Hank); Warren Lee 

Birdsong and his wife Penny Howell Birdsong; and their two children Japeth Saecker and Christi Saecker Johnson; 

her daughter Virginia Corinne Birdsong Winburn and her husband William A. Winburn IV and their son Thomas 

Mills Winburn. 

Buck. He is survived by his daughters, Ellen 

Buck ’90 and Debbi Eckstein; son-in-law 

Brian Eckstein and two grandchildren. 

Waddell Howard Sr. died January 16, 2011. 

He was the father of Waddell Howard Jr. 

’09. He was a gifted singer and performed 

with several groups, including The 

Townsmen, The Virginia Kings and the 

Howard Family. 

Helen Jump died November 7, 2011. She is 

survived by her son Jim Jump ’76 and his 

wife Shelley Jump ’81 and grandson 

J.D. Jump ’09. 

Lester Lewis died October 31, 2011. He was 

the father of Forrest Lewis ’89 and 

father-in-law of Stephanie Maxwell 

Lewis ’90. He was a longtime employee of 

William Byrd Press and a member of the 

Lakeside Moose Lodge. He is also survived by 

son Stuart; daughters Mary Kay Cantrell and 

Amy; eight grandchildren and two 


Jackie S. Marhalik died May 28, 2011 after a 

two-year battle with cancer. She is survived 

by her mother, Marie Scimeca; son Cory 

Marhalik ’08; son Robert Marhalik and 

his wife Joanna and their son, Liam. 

English Professor Edgar E. 

MacDonald, who taught at R-MC for more 

than three decades, died September 8, 2011. 

He was 94. MacDonald, a lifelong scholar of 

Virginia history and literature, joined the 

R-MC faculty in 1953. 

Kathryn Lea “Katie” Mausteller, daughter of 

Edith “Dee Dee” McMurran 

Mausteller ’77, died October 10, 2011 

after a skateboarding accident in 

Harrisonburg, Virginia. She is survived by 

her parents, Dee Dee and Mike Mausteller, her 

brothers Michael, John and William, and her 

grandmother, Eugenia Mausteller. Katie was 

a dean’s list student at James Madison 

University and she was also active in Sigma 

Alpha Lambda, a national leadership and 

honor society. 

William McIlwaine, R-MC Professor Emeritus 

of English, died October 14, 2011. McIlwaine 

introduced film studies to Randolph-Macon, 

and these courses eventually developed as a 

minor in film studies. He taught at R-MC 

from 1955-1994 and is survived by a sister, 

his beloved nieces and nephew and many 

great-nieces and great-nephews. 

Nancy Curtis Petty died July 16, 2011. She 

was a graduate of the College of William and 

Mary. Petty was instrumental in the planning 

of stained glass windows that currently grace 

North Raleigh United Methodist Church. She 

is survived by her husband, Joseph “Dick” 

Richard Petty ’60 and their four 

daughters. 

Jimmy M. Stargell died October 8, 2011. He is 

survived by his wife Janice Edwards Stargell; 

daughter Carlin Grey Stargell Camp; two 

sons, Kevin Matthew Stargell ’88 and 

his wife Jessica Ouellette Stargell; and James 

Bishop Stargell ’88 and his wife Lucretia 

Finlay Stargell; six grandchildren and many 

loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

Richard vonSeelen died January 30, 2011. 

He was the father of Karen vonSeelen 

Fernandez ’85. vonSeelen loved 

Randolph-Macon and his visits to Ashland. 

He will be deeply missed by his family and the 

large community that he supported through 

his volunteer activities and church service. 

Professor Emeritus Dal Wooten died 

August 18, 2011. Wooten joined the R-MC 

faculty in 1958. He is survived by his wife of 

38 years, Monnie; his sister, Joyce W. 

Witherington; his niece, Joyce W. Mattox; and 

nephews Cecil W. Wooten III, Andre Tennille 

Jr., George W. Tennille, and Dexter 

Witherington Jr. 

Leighton Ernest Harrell Jr., died June 14, 

2011. He earned his B.A. from the University 

of Maryland, College Park, his Master’s of 

Divinity from Duke University and his Ph.D. 

from Michigan State University. He was the 

son of Colonel Leighton E. Harrell ’24. 

Anne Bailey Page died August 11, 2011. She 

was the daughter of the late Ruth Hill Bailey 

and Rev. Dr. A. Purnell Bailey ’42. She 

earned her B.A. in French from North 

Carolina Wesleyan College and taught 

French, Spanish and Latin in the public 

school system for 30 years. Page is survived by 

her husband of 40 years, Peter Smith Page; 

sons Edgar Bailey Page and his wife Kristel 

Jenkins Page; and Emmett McBrannon Page 

and his wife Sarah Keener Page; and four 


Jeanne Pitts Tolley, widow of Thomas 

L. Tolley’41, died July 1, 2011. She is 

survived by her daughter Deborah Hoke and 

her husband Jerry; son T. Christian Tolley and 

his wife Linda; four granddaughters and a 

great-grandson. n 


Campaign to include 

Bequest Intentions 

Acknowledging the significant role that estate gifts have played at Randolph-Macon College, the college recently 

approved the inclusion of documented bequest provisions in the Building Extraordinary Campaign. Donors who are 

at least 60 years old can now count a portion of their bequest intentions toward their total campaign commitment. 

The generosity of individuals like Tom Bass ’54 has been demonstrated time and time again by including 

Randolph-Macon in their estate plans. This tradition was started in 1839 by the Reverend R.C. Jones who 

bequeathed $3,000 to the college; this gift, and hundreds of subsequent planned gifts, have ensured Randolph- 

Macon’s place among the top tier of national liberal arts colleges. These bequests secure a connection that is 

lasting, and which has defined us for generations. Thanks to the consideration of a new generation of donors, it 

will continue to define us in the future. 

For more information on how to include Randolph-Macon in your 

estate plans, please contact Nancy Denton at (804) 752-3039 or 

toll-free at (866) 694-4574 or at nancydenton@rmc.edu. 

Tom Bass ’54

P.O. Box 5005 

Ashland, VA 23005-5505 

www.rmc.edu 

Nonprofit Organization 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Richmond, Va. 

Permit No. 1560 

Address Service Requested

Spring 2012 Edition - Randolph-Macon College

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