May 08, 2008

Contact:   Bill Giduz

The Davidson College Alumni Association honored eight people during Reunion Weekend on April 26. The citations of their achievements and photos can be accessed below.

Patricia Perkins ’98 – Young Alumni Service Award
Gary Maynard ’58 – Alumni Service Award
Cecil Clifton ’68 – Alumni Service Award
Mike Deese ’73 – Alumni Service Award
Eric Whytsell ’88 – Alumni Service Award
John ’83 and Carolyn Scott Cain ’83 – John W. Kuykendall Award for Community Service
Elizabeth Kiss ’83 – Distinguished Alumni Award

Young Alumni Service Award honoring Patricia C. Perkins ’98:
Nathan Hale wrote: “I am not influenced by the expectation of promotion or pecuniary reward. I wish to be useful, and every kind of service necessary for the public good becomes honorable by being necessary.” Those words could have well been written to describe Patricia Carole Perkins and her commitment to alma mater. While there are those who are asked to serve Davidson and willingly do so, there are also those rare individuals who seek out service to this institution. Patricia is among the latter.

Patricia came to Davidson in 1994 from Green Bay, Wisconsin, having spent most of her youth in California. She entered college with a desire to become an attorney, and her passion for the law never diminished during her four years at Davidson. After graduating magna cum laude with a degree in history, this Phi Beta Kappa member of the Class of 1998 earned her juris doctorate from Vanderbilt. Following graduation from law school, Patricia opted to take the bar in North Carolina and joined, with numerous other Davidson alumni in practice, what is now Smith Moore LLP in Greensboro. Before she had actually found a place to live or had a working telephone, Patricia contacted Davidson, gave administrators a way to be in touch, and volunteered her time.

Since that initial contact, Patricia has served tirelessly to aid current Davidson students in their pursuit of the law, including volunteering with the Office of Career Services as a counselor and mentor to students interested in her profession, as well as conducting mock interviews for those preparing to apply to law school. Patricia has also volunteered her time to the Annual Fund for the past eight years, served on the planning committee for both her 5th and 10th reunions, and is a member of the Fideles and Ne Ultra societies.

For her personal and professional achievements, for her unwavering efforts to promote Davidson among other alumni, friends, and the community, for her contagious laugh and constant good nature, for her intelligence and for her diligence, and for the example of service which she sets for others to follow, the Davidson College Alumni Association honors Patricia Carole Perkins with the Young Alumni Service Award on the occasion of her 10th reunion, this 26th day of April, 2008.

Alumni Service Award honoring J. Gary Maynard, Jr. ’58
John Gary Maynard of Cheraw, South Carolina, arrived on the Davidson campus in 1954. During his time at Davidson and since, Gary has served Davidson well with his time, gifts, and resources that have consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty.

While at Davidson, Gary took advantage of the many opportunities and leadership positions available to him as a student. Gary became president of the Business-Economics Association, and as a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity he served terms as treasurer and president. Gary was a Regimental Operations Officer in Davidson’s ROTC, as well as being tapped into Scabbard and Blade, a national honorary military fraternity. And before receiving a bachelor’s degree in Economics, Gary was inducted into the honorary societies of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the Honorary Fraternity Council, and Omicron Delta Kappa.

Soon after Davidson, Gary married the lovely Sally Mason. The two would go on to have four children: Sara, Catherine, John Gary III ’90, and Mason.

Gary received his dental degree from the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry and worked as an Army Dental Intern at Walter Reed General Hospital before he assumed dental duties at the Fort Monroe Army Hospital. Soon after, Gary received a postdoctoral education at the University of Kentucky and then established his dental practice in Richmond, Virginia in 1967.

Beyond his career, Gary served his community and his profession in multiple ways. He has served as Clinical Professor of Periodontics at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. His professional life crossed over into academia in other ways as he co-authored several chapters in textbooks and published a multitude of essays in acknowledged journals.

Gary served on the Virginia State Dental Association and served as President of the Richmond Dental Society. On July 7, 1987, Dr. Maynard performed the first Branemark titanium implants at the Richmond Eye and Ear Hospital. In 1989 he assumed the position of President of the American Academy of Periodontology.

As an alumnus, Gary has graciously served Davidson as the vice president and president of the Richmond alumni chapter; has been an Annual Fund class chair for four years, and has assisted in the planning of his class’ 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, and 50th reunions as a committee member and as a chair.

For answering the call of his alma mater with zeal; for entrusting a son to Davidson; for living a life of service; and for ensuring that Davidson is a better place because it claims him as an alumnus, the Alumni Association honors John Gary Maynard, Jr., Davidson Class of 1958, with the Alumni Service Award on April 26, 2008, on the occasion of his 50th reunion.

Alumni Service Award honoring Cecil L. Clifton, Jr. ’68
Cecil L. Clifton, Jr. arrived at Davidson in the fall of 1964 from Avondale, Georgia, with an interest in medicine, a passion for sports, and the record for the longest basket ever scored in the Georgia Tech Coliseum.

Cecil showed his skill and passion for sports as a Davidson basketball player during Davidson basketball’s “Glory Years,” but he did not limit his Davidson life solely to sports. Cecil also participated in the male chorus, was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega national fraternity, a member of the Scabbard and Blade, director of freshman camp, was a YMCA volunteer, a hall counselor, and a member of the Honor Court. He capped his outstanding academic career with induction into Omicron Delta Kappa and recognition on the Dean’s List.

From 1969 to 1971, Cecil served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In 1972 he and his wife Jennie were married. The two went on to have two children: David Charles ’99 and Michael Scott ’02. Cecil earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence at the University of Georgia in 1975, leading him to general law practice with Alton M. Adams. This was just the beginning of his law practice, though, as he would later become President of Clifton, Sander & Smith, P.C. In 2003, Cecil was named Vice President of UHS-Pruitt Corporation.

As an alumnus, Cecil has heeded Davidson’s call, serving alma mater in numerous roles both big and small. He has volunteered for more than fifteen years as an Annual Fund class agent, provided leadership on Davidson’s previous fundraising campaigns, and been generous to Davidson through his advice, actions, and gifts. Cecil has provided tremendous leadership to Davidson through his work with the Davidson Athletic Foundation, as a volunteer on Davidson’s Regional Committee Campaign, and through his help organizing both the thirtieth and fortieth reunions for the Class of 1968.

Cecil’s life of leadership and service exemplifies the Davidson spirit. For his contagious enthusiasm for all things Davidson, for his willingness to eagerly respond to Davidson’s call, for demonstrating loyalty to Davidson through his words and deeds, for entrusting his two sons to Davidson, for offering honest advice and constructive criticism, for living a life of service, and for ensuring that Davidson is a better place because it claims him as an alumnus, the Alumni Association honors Cecil L. Clifton, Jr., Davidson Class of 1968, with the Alumni Service Award on April 26, 2008, on the occasion of his fortieth reunion.

Alumni Service Award honoring Charles Michael Deese ’73
Charles Michael Deese came to Davidson all the way from Thomas Jefferson High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — but the distance between the two was seemingly negligible. Mike’s grandparents lived only 20 miles from the Davidson campus, and his father was a graduate of a North Carolina university a few hours away. So perhaps his arrival in North Carolina was inevitable. On his application to Davidson, he noted that when he toured campus, he was favorably impressed by the fine faculty and educational facilities, as well as Davidson’s ties to the church.

While at Davidson, Mike epitomized the “man about campus.” He was a member of ROTC and the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He was on the Wildcat Handbook staff, a member of the Davidson Christian Fellowship, and a member of the campus Young Republicans, an ironic precursor to his current membership in the Democratic Party. He belonged to the Phi Eta Sigma honorary society and was a McConnell Scholar. Mike also studied abroad in Davidson’s famed Marburg, Germany program. Somehow he found time to participate in club football and soccer… and played flickerball, barefoot, on the Chambers lawn. And in this special year of Davidson basketball, we remember that Mike also played freshman ball.

After graduating with a degree in political science, Mike received his master’s degree in international relations as well as his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. His law career has taken him to Washington, D.C., where he is a partner with Howe & Hutton, representing national and international nonprofit trade associations and professional societies.

Mike may have moved halfway back to the town of his youth, but he has never truly left Davidson. He has been an active and enthusiastic Davidson alumnus, chairing his 20th, 25th, and today’s 35th reunions, working with the Annual Fund as a class agent, and serving on the Dean Rusk International Studies Program Advisory Council. Mike served as president of the Alumni Association and, as such, served on the Davidson College Board of Trustees. He has hosted many events for prospective students through his work with the Davidson Alumni Recruitment Team, and has helped Davidson graduates start their careers in the Washington, D.C., area.

Mike’s commitment to Davidson extends beyond his time and energy. His generous gifts resulted in a physical presence as well, as Mike honored two Davidson mentors with named offices in the renovated Chambers and in the new home of the Dean Rusk Program.

Mike, you are a man of many facets: husband to Pamela… father to Spencer, Chad and Kendall… an elder in your church… youth soccer and tee-ball coach… avid golfer and Davidson basketball fan… and forever a Wildcat.

Because your enthusiastic support of Davidson inspires others to follow your lead, because your warmth and humor make all who know you call you a friend, because you are dedicated to using your talents in support of alma mater, and because you always respond graciously to Davidson’s call, we honor you, Charles Michael Deese, with the Alumni Service Award on the occasion of your 35th reunion with the Class of 1973, this 26th day of April, 2008.

Alumni Service Award honoring J. Eric Whytsell ’88
Eric Whytsell arrived at Davidson College in the fall of 1984. As a student, Eric was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha and Omicron Delta Kappa, and a hall counselor, all the while fulfilling his commitment to the English major that was the focus of his academic career. A natural leader, Eric held various offices in the College Union, ultimately becoming its president in his senior year. While serving as the president of the Union, Eric and his classmate Virginia “Ginger” Broaddus first had fireworks. Eric and Ginger, who was then president of the Patterson Court Council, would later marry.

In the spring of 1988, Eric became the first person in his family to graduate from college and he stayed on at alma mater to work as the night manager of the College Union. His passion for the College Union and the role it plays in campus life more recently encouraged Eric to become involved in the fundraising effort for Union Board offices in today’s Alvarez College Union.

After a year of working as the Union night manager, Eric left for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence. Upon graduation from law school, Eric moved to Martinsburg, West Virginia.

While in West Virginia, Eric was active in the United Way in Martinsburg, Fairmont, and Garrett County, serving as a member of the boards of directors in Fairmont and Garrett County and as vice president and president in Fairmont. Eric was also a member of the Fairmont Police Civil Service Commission, the board of directors of the North Central Opportunities Industrialization Council in West Virginia, and the Affiliate Advisory Council of the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation. In addition to holding these public service positions, Eric was the administrative manager of Jackson and Kelly’s Fairmont office from 2000 through 2004.

Today, Eric is a managing partner at Jackson and Kelly PLLC in Washington, D.C., and lives with his family in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He and Ginger are the proud parents of a beautiful daughter, Mary Blair, now two and a half years old.

Despite his distance from Davidson, Eric’s service to alma mater remains steadfast, and he is a faithful member of the Class of 1988. Davidson is grateful for his leadership as an Annual Fund class chair, for the energy he brought to his role as Reunion Planning Chair for his 15th Reunion, and for his work as a member of the planning committee for his 10th Reunion. Eric has also diligently reported news of his classmates as the Class Secretary for the Class of 1988 for 12 years.

For your personal and professional accomplishments these past 20 years, and for your remarkable example of service to Davidson College, to which you have given generously of your time, your energy, and your leadership, the Davidson College Alumni Association honors you, J. Eric Whytsell, with the Alumni Service Award on the occasion of your 20th Reunion, this 26th day of April, 2008.

John W. Kuykendall Award for Community Service honoring John ’83 and Carolyn Scott Cain ’83
The John W. Kuykendall Award for Community Service is presented to alumni in recognition of extraordinary service to his or her community and demonstrated leadership through servanthood in the spirit of Davidson’s fifteenth president. The ongoing and dedicated work of John and Carolyn Cain in serving and ministering to children in poverty-stricken Haiti exemplifies the highest ideals represented by this award.

Thirty years ago, Carolyn wrote in her application to Davidson that she had a “deep concern for people and a longing to be a friend to others in any way she can.” She told Davidson that she was inspired by her belief that serving others was the best way to serve the Lord. As a young man, John, too, saw service in his future, volunteering his time and energy to help others during high school and at Davidson. Each recognized at an early age that a lifetime of serving their fellow man awaited them.

After serving as an officer in both Davidson’s pre-medical honorary society and at Sigma Alpha Epsilon, John graduated from Davidson with a degree in physics and attended Duke Medical School and specialized in radiology. Carolyn was active at Davidson with the Davidson Christian Fellowship and with the Y Service Corps and left Davidson with a degree in German. She attended the University of South Carolina Medical School and now is a pediatrician in Ocala, Florida.

John and Carolyn, joined by their two daughters, have been on nearly a dozen mission trips to Haiti on campaigns to fight malaria, provide free medical services, and to raise funds to allow children to return to the United States for extensive medical treatment. Guided by their faith and their commitment to their fellow man, they have transformed countless lives and provided opportunities to hundreds of impoverished children. They have served indigent citizens around the world through their leadership on the Board of Directors of Harvest International. Their actions exemplify what it means to devote one’s life to serving others.

Because you have been called to minister to some of the world’s neediest children and adults; because you are living a life of merciful and compassionate service to others; because you are providing your own children with an example of selfless commitment to humankind; and because you are living out the humane instincts that brought you to Davidson, the Davidson College Alumni Association is proud to present you, John Maloney Cain and Carolyn Scott Cain, members of the Class of 1983, with the John W. Kuykendall Award for Community Service on this 26th day of April, 2008.

Distinguished Alumni Award honoring Elizabeth E. Kiss ’83
Elizabeth Esther Kiss came to Davidson in 1979 from Alexandria, Virginia. In her application for admission, she said, “The world is a magnificent place, and life is an extraordinary gift.” We recognize Elizabeth today because her extraordinary gifts and talents have added significantly to the magnificence of our world.

At Davidson, Elizabeth was a Stuart Scholar, editor of the Davidsonian, founding member of Davidson’s chapter of Amnesty International, inductee into Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa, and a member of ATO eating house. A philosophy major, Elizabeth graduated magna cum laude and was the first Davidson woman to be named a Rhodes Scholar.

Elizabeth earned her Bachelor of Philosophy from Oxford University in 1985 and a Doctorate in Philosophy from Oxford in 1990. In 1989 she married Jeff Holzgrefe, a native Australian who also studied at Oxford, and a professor and academic administrator who shares her passion for teaching and the study of ethics.

After receiving her doctorate, Elizabeth taught at Randolph-Macon College and Deep Springs College, before joining the faculty at Princeton University for eight years. In 1996, Elizabeth became the founding director of the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University, where she was also associate professor of the Practice of Political Science and Philosophy and an affiliate faculty member in the Women’s Studies Program. Elizabeth became the eighth president of Agnes Scott College on August 1, 2006, and serves in that capacity today.

 Specializing in moral and political philosophy, Elizabeth has published on moral judgment and education, human rights, ethnic conflict and nationalism, and feminist theory and justice in the aftermath of human rights violations. She has spoken about ethics, moral education, and academic integrity to audiences around the country and has developed and led interactive ethics workshops for an array of groups, including middle-school students, undergraduates, university staff, community leaders, business people, and elected officials.

Somehow, Elizabeth has still found time to serve alma mater in a variety of ways. She was vice chair of the Davidson Board of Trustees, chair of its Academic and Educational Policy Committee, and a member of its Nominating Committee. Elizabeth has also served as Annual Fund class agent, member of the Terry Scholarship Board of Advisers, member of the selection committees for the Rhodes, Truman, and Stuart Scholarships, and a contributor to the Davidson book, Circling the Fountain. She has spoken at Davidson and on behalf of Davidson on numerous occasions, always displaying a sparkling intellect, wit, charisma, and keen understanding of the importance of a liberal arts education in a changing world.

For your remarkable academic and administrative career; for your devoted service to Davidson College; for your integration of ethical practices into your life as a teacher and a leader; for your graceful enrichment of institutions and individuals fortunate to claim you as their own; and for your remarkable articulation of all we hold most dear in alma mater, we honor you, Elizabeth Esther Kiss, Class of 1983, with the Distinguished Alumni Award on the occasion of your 25th Reunion, this 26th day of April, 2008.