Hamilton Descendants Shares Memorabilia of D&E’s Third Founder

Hamilton Descendant Shares Memorabilia of D&E’s Third Founder

The great-granddaughter of the man whom historians have revealed as the third founder of Davis & Elkins College visited campus to present memorabilia. Dr. Mary Ann Stripling of Staunton, Virginia, shared the story of the Rev. Dr. Augustus Houston Hamilton. According to Dr. Thomas Richard Ross in his book “Davis & Elkins College: The Diamond Jubilee History,” Dr. A.H. Hamilton was one of the three founders of the College, along with H.G. Davis and S.B. Elkins. Born in 1846 in Monroe County, West Virginia, Hamilton was one of five children. He graduated from Washington College in 1870 and went on to Union Theological Seminary. An ordained Presbyterian minister, he served for 40 years and preached at Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church in Steeles Tavern, Virginia. His association with the yet-to-be founded Davis & Elkins College began at a meeting in Franklin, West Virginia, on Sept. 12, 1901. Lexington Presbytery adopted a resolution offered by Hamilton asking Senators Davis and Elkins to contribute “at least $30,000” and “to donate suitable grounds” for a college in Elkins. Having turned the senators down 12 years earlier, the Presbytery promised to contribute toward the $30,000 for its share of the “20th Century Million Dollar Fund” then being raised in the Southern Presbyterian Church for Christian Education and Church Expansion. After a year of soliciting, Hamilton reported that he had cash and pledges totaling $23,607. Upon receiving this report, the Lexington Presbytery elected a nine-man board of trustees for the college. On Dec. 4, 1902, Hamilton, the temporary president, announced that the purposes of the meeting were to adopt a name for the college, select a site for the campus, make plans for erecting the first building, and effect a permanent organization of the board. In 1902, the College’s Board of Trustees met for the first time. The first classes were held on Sept. 21, 1904, on the original campus in south Elkins on a plot donated by Senator Elkins. Davis & Elkins College awarded an honorary D.D. degree to Rev. Hamilton in 1916, the third such degree in its history. When Hamilton died in 1923, James Allen wrote, “the College has lost a man who, in the founding of the institution, rendered service that was wholly commensurate with the service of others at the time and indispensable.” Later, in memory of Hamilton, the faculty established the Hamilton Honor Society to give “special honor to students of marked scholastic ability.” Members of the junior class whose grade average at the end of the year was “not less than A” were eligible. An endowed scholarship has been established to honor Hamilton. Memorial gifts may be sent to Davis and Elkins College with Hamilton Scholarship on the memo line. Mail to Scott Goddard, Davis and Elkins College, 100 Campus Drive, Elkins, WV 26241 or go to www.dewv.edu/giveonline and select “Other” as the designation and type Hamilton Scholarship in the bolx provided.

Dr. Mary Ann Stripling, second from right, and the Rev. Sarah Hill present memorabilia of Davis & Elkins College’s third founder, the Rev. Dr. Augustus Houston Hamilton, to D&E President Chris A. Wood, right, and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Scott Goddard.

Together we make a difference in the lives of Together we make a difference in the lives of

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Together we make a difference in the lives of D&E students

The individuals listed below include members of the D&E family whose passing we have learned about within the last several months. We remember them here on behalf of all alumni and friends of Davis & Elkins College.

1949 John W. McBee, May 23, 2021 1949 Eleanor Spangler McNair, March 8, 2021 1950 Stanley J. Allen, May 14, 2021 1950 Barbara Ellen Weese Bennett, February 8, 2019 1950 George E. Piercy, June 28, 2021 1951 Chong S. Kim, May 7, 2021 1951 Donald L. Rice, July 3, 2021 1951 William B. Snyder, August 12, 2020 1952 Edward W. Applebee, March 31, 2020 1952 Charlene J. Gilmore Bennett, May 22, 2021 1952 Irma Crosier Curran, July 15, 2021 1952 Virginia “Ginny” Smith Holborow, May 28, 2021 1954 John A. “Jack” Habers, September 7, 2021 1954 Robert J. Juback, May 16, 2021 1954 John C. Little, March 8, 2021 1955 Patrick V. Castellano, May 27, 2021 1955 Frank P. Cooper, June 21, 2021 1955 Lucille Haddix, May 19, 2021 1955 William A. “Bill” Leist, September 13, 2021 1955 Walter J. “Buzz” Scheller, July 12, 2021 1956 Lois E. Irons Kessler, July 18, 2021 1956 Franklin L. Kittle, July 13, 2021 1957 Fay D. McGee Maynard, October 2, 2021 1959 Ava Jolene Stacy Callahan, August 5, 2021 1959 Arthur C. Heldman Jr., August 27, 2021 1959 Frederick W. Phelps, May 4, 2021 1960 Donald L. Bugay, May 9, 2021 1960 Jack D. Rogers, June 14, 2021 1962 Peter Abramov III, July 22, 2021 1962 Ann Lockridge Cain, September 15, 2021 1962 Edward F. Hart, August 14, 2021 1962 Dunton A. Wyatt, July 23, 2021 1963 Roger P. Hailes, May 22, 2021 1967 Milan “Smiley” Evans, July 16, 2021 1967 Leslie C. Tate Taylor Jarvis, February 2, 2021 1967 William S. “Bill” Weaving, August 22, 2021 1968 Joseph P. Kelly, June 15, 2021 1969 Rebecca F. Hipkins Guerrero, September 1, 2021 1969 Nicholas B. Morgan, August 27, 2021 1972 Margaret A. Curtis Adams, August 18, 2021 1974 Herman A. Conrad, October 3, 2021 1974 Patricia D. Hart Hyre, July 15, 2021 1975 Andrew P. “Andy” Zimmerman, August 27, 2021 1979 Anita K. Davis Higy, August 4, 2021 1979 Donna E. Forinash Somers, May 21, 2021 1987 James H. Koon, June 22, 2021 1988 Michael T. Cole, August 20, 2021 1991 Kimberley K. Yow, May 13, 2021 1999 Gail L. Cassiday, May 24, 2021

ALUMNI

FRIENDS & FAMILY

Lloyd T. Adams, August 22, 2021 Former student Joyce L. “Jackie” Wasmer Bennett, August 12, 2021 Former student William R. “Randy” Brown, July 5, 2021 Former student Frances “Frannie” Lightburn Cressman, September 16, 2021 Former student

Courtney Granger, September 18, 2021 Longtime friend of Augusta Brad A. Gum, August 29, 2021 Friend of the College Ralph E. Mann, July 11, 2021 Former student Peggy J. Ray, July 13, 2021 Former housekeeping employee To include the passing of alumni, friend of the College or former employee in the next edition of Forward, please call Director of Alumni Engagement and Support Wendy Morgan at 304-637-1314 or email her at morganw@dewv.edu

Bruce E. Balding

Former Trustee Bruce E. Balding, a former member of the Board of Trustees, died April 5, 2021, at age 90. Balding served on the Board from 1980 to 1990. He was the great-nephew of Davis & Elkins College founder Henry G. Davis. He held an MBA from Harvard Business School and later served in the U.S. Army in South Korea. He spent his career in financial advisory and management.

Peter H. Dougherty ‘75

Trustee Peter Hansen Dougherty, an alumnus, founding member of the Davis & Elkins College National Alumni Council and member of the Board of Trustees died at his home in Sarasota, Florida, Sept. 12, 2021, at age 68. Dougherty graduated D&E with a degree in history and political science. As a student he was class president and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He was president of Sigma Phi Epsilon Alumni Volunteer Corporation and served on the National Alumni Council from 1985 to 2007. He was named to the Board of Trustees in 2007 and was serving his second term at the time of his death. Dougherty began his career in Jefferson County where he worked in the parole and probation offices before becoming a magistrate from 1977 to 1983. He then worked in the service of former Congressman Harley Staggers and Senator Jay Rockefeller IV until his transition to the Department of Veterans Affairs where he was the first national director of Homelessness Programs, acting director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and acting deputy assistant secretary for Government Affairs. He was also a member of the Jefferson County School Board for 25 years, including 21 years as chairman. He then served as Jefferson County Sheriff from 2013 to 2020. He is survived by his wife, Jan, children Megen Boyle (husband David), Bryan Dougherty (wife Emily), and Elizabeth Dougherty, stepson Dan Stewart, four grandchildren, two sister and numerous nieces and nephews. The Pete Dougherty Scholarship has been created at Davis & Elkins College in Pete’s memory. Gifts may be made online at www.dewv.edu/give/ or mailed using the envelope inserted in this publication with gift designation for the Pete Dougherty Scholarship.

Dr. Joseph M. Gratto

Former Trustee Dr. Joseph Michael Gratto, a former member of the Board of Trustees, died April 8, 2021, at his home. He was 84. Gratto served on the Board from 1994 to 2003. As an athlete, he was a U.S. Olympic alternate in wrestling. A decorated U.S. Marine, Gratto served in Vietnam prior to his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel. Following his military career, he embarked on a second career in academia.

Terry R. Hayes

Faculty Emeritus Terry Richard Hayes, professor of theatre arts emeritus, died July 23, 2021, at Nella’s Nursing Home in Crystal Springs. He was 76. Hayes served as professor of theatre arts, technical director and division chair of the Theatre Department from 1977 to 2010, when he retired. In addition to teaching, he directed dozens of stage productions at D&E. Prior to his work at D&E, Hayes was a designer, technical director and professor at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. He was born Sunday, Oct. 22, 1944, in Des Moines, Iowa, a son of the late Forest Gayle and Edna Belle Squire Hayes. On Aug. 20, 1967, at Toledo, Ohio, he was married to the former Susan Starks, who survives. Also surviving are one son, David Hayes and wife, Emily, of Luckey, Ohio; one daughter, Rachel Hayes of Elkins; and six grandchildren, Alexander Mach, Heidi Mach, Noelle Hayes, Matthew Hayes, Isabelle Hayes and Savannah Gannon. Preceding him in death is one brother, Robert William Hayes. He received his bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University, master’s degree from Denver University and Master of Fine Arts degree from West Virginia University. He was an active member of Friends of Fort Liberte. He fulfilled his childhood dream of being a train engineer for the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad for 20 years.

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Senators Promoting Admission Recruitment & Knowledge

Senators Promoting Admission Recruitment & KnowEnrollment is key for the continued ledge success and stability of Davis & Elkins College. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 You can be the SPARK to help potential students learn about all 1. D&E has to offer. Help get D&E on the radar by referring students who are looking for a quality, residential liberal arts education.

Senators Enrollment is key for the continued Promoting Admission success and stability of Davis & Elkins College. Recruitment & You can be the Knowledge potential students learn about all D&E has to offer.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3

1. Help get D&E on the radar by referring students who are looking for a quality, residential liberal arts education. Enrollment is key for the continued success and stability of Davis & Elkins College. You can be the potential students learn about all D&E has to offer. Enrollment is key for the continued success and stability of Davis & Elkins College. You can be the SPARK to help potential students learn about all D&E has to offer.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 2.2. Complete the referral form online www.dewv.edu/spark or call Wendy Morgan Complete the referral form online www.dewv.edu/spark or call Wendy Morgan 1. Help get D&E on the radar by referring students who are looking for a quality, residential liberal arts education.(304) 637-1341 for assistance.(304) 637-1341 for assistance. 2. Complete the referral form online www.dewv.edu/spark or call Wendy Morgan 3. If the student enrolls, they will receive a $1,000 scholarship named in your honor 3. If the student enrolls, they will receive a $1,000 scholarship named in your honor (304) 637-1341 for assistance.(no financial obligation on your part). (no financial obligation on your part). 3. If the student enrolls, they will receive a $1,000 scholarship named in your honor (no financial obligation on your part).Thank you for being our SPARK to increase enrollment at D&E.Thank you for being our SPARK to increase enrollment at D&E.

Thank you for being our SPARK to increase enrollment at D&E.