WESLEY SPRING 2011 - Wesley Magazine - Wesley College

FEATURE | profileLewis Wells TributeWesley College is celebrating the life and career of Professor LewisWells (1911-1994) this year, which would have marked his 100thbirthday. Beyond the individuals interviewed for this article, we knowthat many others in the Wesley community have fond memories ofProfessor Wells, and we want to hear from you! We invite all his formerstudents, colleagues and friends to help us continue to tell thestory of Uncle Lewi and take part in the tribute activities, which willculminate with a program and display at this year's Homecoming—October 7-9.Leading up to the special events this fall, we are kicking off aspecial fund drive in support of the Lewis Wells MemorialScholarship and collecting information and memorabilia associatedwith Wells and the Wesley Players. These will be part of the presentationat Homecoming, and donated items will be integrated intoWesley’s permanent archives, so that Wells’ impact will long beremembered at Wesley College. Alumni Association Vice PresidentLynn Schmid Knable ’67 is coordinating a scripted program which,along with the memorabilia display, will take place at theHomecoming All Class Reunion Dinner on the evening of Saturday,October 8. She and several classmates are looking for others thatwish to be involved in this project.The Lewis Wells Memorial Scholarship is an ongoing tribute to thebeloved professor, carried out through the many deserving studentsover the years that have been able to continue their education atWesley because of the generosity of alumni and friends. In order toensure that the legacy of Uncle Lewi will endure on Wesley’s campus,we are seeking gifts to financially strengthen and further the reach ofthe scholarship in his memory. Our goal is to boost the endowedscholarship to the $50,000 mark (currently close to $25,000) byHomecoming.Please consider this opportunity to demonstrate your admiration forWells by joining us for this special tribute and supporting these efforts.• Share items or personal memoirs. Send electronically(digitally stored photos, audio or video clips gladly accepted)to alumni@wesley.edu or mail hard copies to:Office of Institutional AdvancementWesley College120 N. State StreetDover, DE 19901(Please indicate if you are donating or lending items. We will gladlyscan and send back materials or return items after Homecoming.)• Take part in the tribute program. If you have memories oranecdotes to contribute or would like to assist in some way,please contact Lynn Schmid Knable '67 at 302-697-9256 orprofessormom2@hotmail.com• Donate to the Lewis Wells Memorial Scholarship.To show your support, make a gift online atwww.weare.wesley.edu/onlinegiving or send donations (please noteWells scholarship on check) in the enclosed envelope in this issue.• For more information, please visit weare.wesley.edu/wellstributeor contact the Office of InstitutionalAdvancement at 302-736-2467 or alumni@wesley.eduThank you in advance for your support and participation. We hopeto see you in October!“Uncle Lewi was our ‘Mr. Chips.’His dedication to his belovedstudents was unexcelled.”Webster-Ward expressed, “I never forgot that and realizedthat the saying could be applied to many, many areas of life,not just theater. He was a lovely, lovely man.”Under Wells’ direction, the artistic scene on campus, andthe Wesley Players in particular, reached new heights.Wells’ reputation for theatrical productions drew in audiencemembers from the tri-state area and attracted theattention of theater critics from nearby cities. At the sametime, Wells helped establish a reputable presence forWesley Junior College among peers in the artistic and theacademic world. Former colleague and current Professor ofArt Lon Fluman explained, “Part of the reason I wasbrought to Wesley College was because of Professor Wells.Professor Wells and Professor Hughes were two of thepeople who made Wesley College the number one two-yearcollege in the U.S.”Wells became a trusted advisor and mentor to manyWesley students over the years. He was the type of professorwho not only wanted his students to learn, but had a genuineinterest in seeing them succeed in every aspect of life. AlStallone ’53 had his first meeting with Uncle Lewi at his highschool’s college night. Although Stallone originally plannedon going to a different college, unforeseen obstacles preventedhim from taking that path and Wells opened another doorfor him at Wesley, where he could work his way throughschool with a job serving tables in the dining hall.Years later, Wells was instrumental in another pivotalmoment in his life. After graduating and finally decidingwhat he wanted to do in his future, Stallone was interviewed20 WESLEY COLLEGE :: Spring 2011