Dear Classmates, Last year, the global pandemic wrought disruption on every facet of our lives. Tragically, some lost loved ones, and everyone has missed traditional familial and social gatherings in one form or another. Not least among these missed gatherings was our 60th reunion at Washington and Lee.
Lucas Morel, John K. Boardman Professor of Politics, delivering the 2014 Founders’ Day address.
On March 4 & 5, we will join other Five-Star alumni to participate in a first virtual gathering to mark several milestones, including our 60th reunion. While it seems a strange phenomenon, virtual sessions allow more participation for alumni who have foregone travel even in a non-COVID environment. Similarly, a virtual gathering gives access to esteemed speakers that may have otherwise been unavailable to make a trip to Lexington — a silver lining. On Friday afternoon, the Five-Star Festival will feature the Institute for Honor Symposium beginning at 2:15 p.m. EST. We look forward to David Blight, Sterling Professor of History, Yale University, presenting “Frederick Douglass and the Ethics of Historical Memory.” Our class is justifiably proud of the Institute for Honor, and the Class of 1960 Professorship in Ethics established on our 40th and 50th reunions. Our shared financial commitment toward the total endowment is $2.25 million. The Lenfest Challenge provided matching funds for the professorship endowment. Our extraordinary contribution to our alma mater will prove relevant not only in 2021 but for the future.
Retired journalism professor Brian Richardson ’73 addresses the 2006 Institute for Honor.
In March 2020, Dennis Cross shared an update on the endowed funds’ finances with the class projects’ advisory board. Our class members have given $936,300, including planned gifts of $169,500, to the Institute for Honor, and $1,058,300, including deferred contributions of $330,000, to the Professorship in Ethics fund — a total of $1,994,600 — we have almost reached our total goal for the combined endowment with roughly $250,000 to raise. I write to you to ask you to make a direct contribution or consider a planned gift to our class project. If you have included Washington and Lee in your plans, please let the university know so that we can count your gift.
Carl Bernstein, the former Washington Post reporter and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, at the 2016 Institute for Honor.
With Stacy Eastland ’71, W&L presents a few ideas for charitable giving in the attached booklet. Some of these options may be beneficial to you and your family. In addition to the materials included and the advice of your tax advisors, you may wish to use W&L resources to design your gift. Jamie Killorin, director of gift planning, is available to help tailor your giving to fit your specific situation. Visit plannedgiving.wlu.edu to learn more. Thank you for all that you give to Washington and Lee and for your commitment to the future. Stay safe and be well!
The Class of 1960 Professor of Ethics and History, Barton Myers
David K. Weaver