Published: May 16, 2008 09:35 pm         

Community bids Beasleys farewell

ATHENS, W.Va. — This night, Jerry and Jean Beasley could not escape the spotlight.

The soon-to-retire president of Concord University and his wife Jean, who have consistently sought to keep from being the centers of public attention, were honored at a banquet attended by approximately 200 friends and co-workers in the Student Center on campus.

“A legacy is a gift, a bequest, and Jerry and Jean have given us a great deal,” said retired president emeritus Joseph F. Marsh Jr. “They as a team have given us a legacy of long, devoted and effective service and leadership.”

Marsh told the Beasleys, “Jerry and Jean, you have always been quick to praise others. This evening, however, just relax. Enjoy the festivities, and realizing you are giving your many friends the opportunity to pay tribute to you.”

Family friend J. Douglas Machesney, who retired as Vice President for Development at Concord, spoke to Jerry Beasley from the podium. “During hard times, and it seems like there were lots of them, you always insisted that no faculty position be cut, and that the academic integrity of the institution remained intact.”

Dr. Wayne Meisel, president of The Bonner Foundation, which fosters service learning on college campuses, said his old friend Jerry Beasley “has spoken with a clear voice for the rebirth of social engagement in higher education in America.”

In remarks chronicled in The Congressional Record, Nick J. Rahall II (D-W.Va.) wrote, “Jerry has left his mark on virtually every aspect of the university and touched countless lives around him.”

The evening included 18 presentations from various on- and off-campus groups, including a video tribute by the Beasleys’ three daughters. Sarah Beasley said of her father and mother, “He and Mom have always managed to be here for us.”

Jerry Beasley is winding up his 23rd year as president at Concord. During his tenure, the institution achieved university status, set enrollment records, built a multi-million-dollar endowment and was recognized by The Wall Street Journal for having one of the best graduate-school placement rates in the nation.

The institution was also a pioneer in linking service and learning, becoming the first public institution to join the Bonner Scholars Program. Meisel presented Jerry Beasley with the foundation’s presidents award during the banquet.

The Nick Rahall Technology Building was dedicated earlier this year, the first major building project since 1972, though renovations have taken place in several campus buildings. Construction is underway on a combined interfaith chapel and alumni center.

Beasley’s last official day on the job is June 30.