Lynn W. Willsey '54 and Beverly Hayne Willsey '55 (center) with President Hansen (left) and Barbara Raths '96, president of the Alumni Association. Photo by Lincoln Benedict '09.

Citation delivered by Sally J. Ehrenfried ’89, vice president of the Alumni Association.

Beverly Hayne Willsey, a math major and a dean's list student at Bates, was first a teacher and then a homemaker after marring Lynn in 1956. She developed a passion that she calls her "second" career — working with the U.S. Pony Clubs until 2001, blending her love for children and horses with the teaching skills she learned at Bates. Lynn, also a math major, graduated from Bates summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He had a long and successful career with The Travelers Corporation in Hartford, and retired in 1992 as senior vice president of investor relations. Together they raised four sons, three of whom are also Bates alumni.

Always active, today they are enjoying their retirement operating their own Christmas tree in farm in Glastonbury, Connecticut and helping their son with maple sugaring during "mud season" at the family's farm in Vermont.

Although busy with careers and children over the last 50 years, they always found time to serve the College that they are so passionate about.

Beverly has been and continues to be a very active volunteer in many different capacities: as an officer of the Hartford Bates Club, a class officer, a member of her class's Reunion committees several times, a volunteer for the Alumni-in-Admission program, chair of her class's 50th Reunion in 2005, hosting mini-reunions and Bates dinners, and currently as a volunteer with the Office of Career Services as a career advisor and as a member of the Bates College Key, to which she was elected in 1973.

Lynn, always an active volunteer from very early on in his alumni years, was elected to the Board of Overseers from the alumni ballot in 1972, and elevated to the Board of Fellows in 1996. His care, compassion and enthusiasm for Bates and its students were reflected throughout his years of service on many of the board's key committees, including Admissions and Financial Aid, Co-curricular Life, Student Affairs, Investment, and Executive committees, as well as serving as secretary of the corporation. In 2003, when he reached the mandatory retirement age for trustees, he was named a trustee emeritus.

Lynn has also served as co-chair for his class's Reunion Gift Committees four times, is currently serving as a class agent, plays a vital role the College's fund raising efforts, and has served in a leadership capacity on all four of the Bates' fundraising campaigns. He is a member of the College Key, and served as its president in 1974.

Those of you who know Lynn well also know that he is one of the College's most avid fans of the men's and women's basketball teams and travels to many games on and off campus. He can also be seen frequently in the stands at Garcelon Field cheering on the Bates football team.

Lynn and Beverly, for your decades of profound and passionate service to Bates, for your efforts to encourage authentic connections, and for your service to shape a sound financial future for the College, it is my honor to present you with the Helen A. Papaioanou Distinguished Alumni Service Award.