Alumni Couple View Roanoke as Foundation for Life

"We are proud of Roanoke College and of its reputation as one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the United States," says Dick Wilson '52. It is that warm feeling for Roanoke College as it has evolved over the years, coupled with fond memories of campus life and friendships with faculty, staff and other alumni that have inspired Dick and his wife, Anne (Montgomery) Wilson '55 to consistently support the College. The Wilsons are proud to be members of the Roanoke College Associates for the last 27 years and also members of the Society of 1842. But their financial support of Roanoke College is only one aspect of their deep involvement with their alma mater.

The Wilsons met at Roanoke College and married several years later and now, celebrating 55 years of marriage, they have six children and 11 grandchildren. Dick Wilson calls falling in love with a sophomore from Franklin County his fondest memory of Roanoke College. But that was not the only important association that impacted their lives; then President Sherman Oberly had a conversation with Dick that led to his enrollment in graduate school and eventually earning an MBA. It was his post-graduate degree and a commission in the Marine Corps that opened the door to a 34-year-long career with IBM. In the late 1970s when Dick served as president of the Roanoke College Alumni Association the Wilsons developed a strong friendship with Don Sutton who was then director of Alumni Affairs.

Certainly, these relationships helped to shape the lives of the Wilsons and formed the basis for their dedication to supporting the College-a dedication that includes visiting the campus each year for Alumni Weekend and for the annual Associates Evening. Frequent communications from the College also keep the Wilsons updated on events, encouraging them to make such visits. According to the Wilsons, these are the first dates entered on the calendars each year!

Between visits to their alma mater, the Wilsons stay very active at their home in Arlington, Virginia. Anne Wilson spent nearly two decades as an instructor and board member of The Institute for the Advancement of Service in Old Town, Alexandria and is now a much sought-after babysitter for their younger grandchildren. Since his retirement in 1991 Dick has kept himself occupied with outdoor activities, service as a Marshall for various PGA tour events, as program chair for a group of retired IBM employees, and as a docent for the National American History Museum. This past January he conducted tours for the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Committee members during Inauguration Week in Washington, D.C.

Dick Wilson summed up the role that Roanoke has played in their professional, family, and social lives, stating that "Roanoke College provided us a foundation on which to build our lives. We would hope that others would have the same deep affection for the College that has been so dear to us. We are most grateful and feel honored for this gift."