Ann Blalock Lee (1978)I feel fortunate that I had the opportunity to take a class from Dr. Ramsey. It was a Western Civilization course the first semester of my freshman year. I thought it would be a repeat of my high school senior year, a yawn, an easy "A," so I arrived late on the first day, and slipped in a seat in the back of the auditorium of Ten Hoor. That first day I realized how wrong I was. Dr. Ramsey walked about the front of the auditorium talking to his students extemporaneously. It was fascinating to listen and easy to forget to take notes. I later learned that though Dr. Ramsey’s presentation style did not rely on notes, he reviewed them each and every night before he taught. I could tell this class would be the highlight of my first semester and not the easy "A" I had imagined. I moved closer to the front of the auditorium. I had no further contact with Dr. Ramsey until I received a letter from the President of the University, Dr. David Mathews, informing me that I had been selected as the first recipient of the John Fraser Ramsey Award. I was notified in advance due to security reasons - President Gerald Ford would be visiting the campus that Honors Day and would present several awards, including the John Fraser Ramsey Award. Surprises were not to be part of the President’s day. A festive luncheon for other award recipients and me, plus our families, was held at the Ferguson Center. The presentation took place in the Coliseum. Gerald Ford shook my hand, called me "Ann Lewis" repeatedly, and gave me the award. Perhaps several members of the Ramsey Board were surprised that the first recipient was a female, but all welcomed me warmly, and Dr. Ramsey was delighted. I remember that each one stressed that the award was not a scholarship, that it had no strings attached - news I took to heart. In Dr. Ramsey, I felt like I had an instant grandfather and a very enthusiastic cheerleader. I invited him to dinner at the Kappa Delta Sorority House (I selected the House Mother’s table in hopes that the other diners’ manners would be acceptable). He escorted me to the University Club for lunch (he was NOT happy about the low calorie salad dressing his doctor had prescribed). Dr. Ramsey was very interested in my academic career and delighted to learn about my summer plans to tour Europe. As the trip was already arranged (Thanks, Mom and Daddy), I decided to spend my award money in London on something big, something special, something I would enjoy for the rest of my life, and something of which Dr. Ramsey heartedly approved - fourteen place settings of Wedgewood china (Pattern: Dark Blue Runnymede). My family uses the china regularly, and it sparks fond memories and stories that I tell my children. After receiving the Ramsey Award, I felt doubly honored to get to know Dr. Ramsey personally. However, every recipient will come to know the best part of the Award which was not evident to me at the time. Now, fifteen years later, it is quite clear - the Ramsey Award is my closest tie to the University. I have an interesting, diverse, ever-increasing group of friends that I look forward to being with every spring in Tuscaloosa. At the banquet we honor the new recipient, but most importantly we honor Dr. Ramsey by adding yet another student to his circle of friends. He would like that! After graduating from Alabama, I got back to Europe one more time, worked as an admissions counselor for the University on the road in Florida, and then settled into a job at EBSCO Industries in Birmingham as the editor of the company magazine. Soon after, I met Parks Lee, an Auburn graduate, and we married in 1981.
In my spare time (ha!), I edit two monthly newsletters and have a Christmas Card business on the internet www.pizazzcards.com - sorry for the promo. I also help run a community tennis league for children and tutor a first grader at McIlwain Elementary School. Besides spectating at our children's games, swimming is my main sport. Parks is an agent for Metlife and enjoys golf, fly fishing, bridge - and fortunately for me - carpooling. He has faithfully attended the Ramsey Dinner with me every year, and we look forward to seeing many friends at the 25th Anniversary. Elizabeth Pringle Johnson (1979)After graduating with a degree in American Studies, I attended law school at the University of Alabama. Upon graduation, I moved to Houston to practice law. I became a partner at the firm of Winstead, Sechrest and Minick. In 1992, I left there to become General Counsel of Camden Property Trust, a real estate investment trust. I retired from the practice of law in 1999. I married Robert Johnson (BS-1979, JD-1982) in 1983 and we have two beautiful daughters. Margaret is 10 and Caroline is 8. We live in West University Place in Houston where our girls attend elementary school. We love to boat, snow ski and travel. Best wishes to all the award winners. Have a great time at the dinner! Laughter. Laughter is the first thought that the Ramsey Award brings to me. Certainly other images come to mind with the Ramsey Award - honor, selflessness, culture, intellect. For me, however, laughter comes first and stays longest. I remember entering the Anderson Room on Honors Day in 1980. feeling momentarily numb with surprise when I learned I had won the Ramsey Award, then laughing. Laughing partly with joy. but mostly to keep from crying in front of all those people. I remember spotting my parents across the room - my father was 66’ tall, easy to find in any room, no matter how crowded. Dad was a charming, convivial man with an infectious grin, and, at that moment, he could have lit up the entire state. Mom looked more like I felt: smiling and teary-eyed. They made their way over to me. and we hugged and laughed together. During the President’s Luncheon, we were seated next to Dr. Ramsey and near President Mathews: needless to say, the high good humor continued. Laughter resumed at the University Club for the Ramsey Dinner, though I freely confess it was the last thing I expected at a banquet. I was a bit startled, but vastly amused, to see eminent protéssors like Morris Mayer and David McElroy. as well as respectable men of affairs like Warren Herlong and Harry Lee, mercilessly ribbing each other and the other esteemed guests. The McElroys. in particular. underwent multiple barrages relating to the lovely spring flowers that adorned each table - all apparently stolen from various yards in Audubon Place! The image of these respectable, preppy "floral liberation guerrillas" denuding their neighborhood was repeatedly conjured and embellished amid general hilarity. Even Dr. Ramsey was not immune, though the comments were a bit more circumspect. as would befit the teasing of a legend. I sup-pose. By the end of the evening, I felt that the people in that room had been, and would he. friends for life. The gaiety and camaraderie has only strengthened as the Ramsey Family has grown. Beneath the jokes and tales, however, it was impossible to miss the high regard and genuine devotion that everyone in the room felt for John Ramsey. I marveled then. and I do today. how one man could have brought so many people together and - with them and through them - done so much good. It is a privilege to be a part of the Ramsey Family, but it is also a call, a call to nurture the spirit of John Ramsey with generosity of thought and action. The Ramsey Award has always been my strongest tie to the University, and it is the highest honor of my life. Mary Katherine Kelton, mezzo-soprano, Associate Professor of Voice at Butler University, received the Master of Music and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Applied Voice from The University of Texas at Austin. She also holds a B. M. in Applied Voice and a B. S. in Education, both summa cum laude, from The University of Alabama, where she was awarded that institution's highest student accolade, the John F. Ramsey Award, for "outstanding scholarship, leadership, and broad humanistic interests." She received a grant from the Deustche Akademische Austauch Dienst for study in Germany in 1989, and received the Zertifikat Deutsch a Fremdsprache from the Goethe-Institut Berlin. She has completed additional German studies in Munich. In 1991 she was one of the first recipients of a P. E. 0. Scholar Award for dissertation research. She was selected to participate in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Intern Program for young NAT teachers in 1993. She has received many awards for her singing, including being a two-time state winner of the NATS Artist Award auditions, and a two-time second place winner of the NATSAA regional auditions. In 1999 she won the Bel Canto Chorus (Milwaukee) Regional Artist Competition. She was named a national semi-finalist in the 1995 National Federation of Music Clubs Young Artist Award Competition, and in 1998 was the alternate for the voice finalist in the Mu Phi Epsilon International Artist Competition. She was Young Artist Winner at the Salado (Texas) Festival in 1985.
I will always remember two things about my selection - being the first male recipient, and being the last recipient to be able to share the award evening with Dr. Ramsey. To me, the Ramsey Award is special because it is a celebration of the University itself, and Dr. Ramsey’s unique impact on it. For proof, consider the annual Ramsey Dinner, which is not your typically dry, stuffy occasion. Instead, it is full of joy, laughter, and caring. It is a true display of Dr. Ramsey’s zest for life. I know of no other single event that so effectively captures the spirit of the University and its people.
On the professional side, Richard is with Colonial Bank in Huntsville, where he is executive vice president and regional chief credit officer. His background is primarily in commercial lending, both in the northern Alabama and several years in the Birmingham market. He has also been involved in managing commercial loan training for entry-level and experienced lenders, including development of a comprehensive curriculum for experienced lenders. Richard has been active with RMA, a banking trade association, including serving in the officer “ladders” at the local and regional chapter levels. He currently serves on the editorial advisory board of The RMA Journal, previously served on the national Professional Development Council and was co-moderator of RMA's 1996 national Lender Training Roundtable. He has taught and developed many banking courses, and has served on the faculty of five banking schools. The RMA Journal (of Lending & Credit Risk Management) has published 13 articles written by Richard: Richard has both a B.S. in Commerce and Business Administration and M.B.A. from The University. Of the Ramsey Award, Richard often reminds the “Ramsey Family” of his two “firsts” and one “last. “ The two “firsts” are being the first C&BA (business school) recipient and the first male recipient. He jokes (or is he serious?) that the University Awards Committee must have decided in advance to find a male business school applicant to offset the four previous female winners, and to keep Dr. Mayer (marketing professor) happy. Was Richard the only applicant to meet the criteria? Is he truly an “equal opportunity” recipient? On the serious side, his “last” was being the last recipient to meet Dr. Ramsey and to be able to enjoy his company at the Award Dinner. Despite his declining health, but primarily due to the loving and watchful care of the Cadenheads in Florence, “Doc” was the centerpiece of the dinner. Richard will never forget the love and admiration that filled the room that night. I was the first Ramsey Award recipient who did not meet Dr. Ramsey, and for that reason, it was not until I was introduced to the "Ramsey Family" at the award banquet that I began to understand the meaning of the Award. There are a multitude of distinguished University awards, but there is no award as special as the Ramsey Award, for you immediately become part of a warm, caring group of people, all gathered to honor a man who gave all he had to his profession, his students, and his University. As each person who knew and loved Dr. Ramsey has related their special story about him, I have appreciated more and more the honor that has been bestowed upon me and all of the other recipients, as well as the example that he provided me. As I think back to that night in April of 1984, I recall how honored I was to be welcomed into such a special family of people. With my grandparents in attendance and Dr. Mayer as the Master of Ceremonies, the night was truly magical as we laughed and celebrated Dr. Ramsey’s enduring spirit. That night began my understanding into what made Dr. Ramsey such a special teacher and individual. Through this award, Dr. Ramsey’s personality continues to touch countless lives in so many positive ways - what could be a more fitting legacy. As the years have passed, this Ramsey Award has given me a true link to the University. It is a reminder of a wonderful college experience, and continues to serve as an inspiration to live up to the ideals of the Award and of the man that bears its name.
The day I won the John Fraser Ramsey Award was one of the most memorable days of my life. I could not have been more excited or more humbled. I knew that Dr. Ramsey was one of the kindest and most revered human beings ever to grace The University of Alabama's teaching staff. To win an award named after him and to join a list of previous winners as distinguished as those that came before me was truly one of the biggest honors of my life. I will always cherish the award and the people who make up the Ramsey Family.
Receiving the Ramsey Award was undoubtedly the most memorable event of my time at the University. While I was honored to have been selected, I had no idea that the award would travel with me after I left the University. The prestige of being a Ramsey recipient has helped me in my academic career and pursuits. I have been amazed at how many people outside the University are familiar with Dr. Ramsey and the award - but this, of course, is a tribute to Dr. Ramsey. What I have treasured most is my place in the "Ramsey Family" - a group of diverse people who love life and learning.
Much of my time is spent "volunteering". I enjoy working at Caroline's school and helping with Children's Hospital's Festival of Trees. I play the piano at EPIC school to classes of disabled students and also accompany both children's choirs at our church. Also, I spend a good bit of time transporting Caroline to her many activities and lessons! My other interests are sewing, flower arranging, and reading. My husband, Ashley, is SVP and Senior Lender at Covenant Bank in Birmingham. Our daughter, Carloine, enjoys participating in local theatrical productions. I am a resident of the State of New Jersey. I moved to New Jersey in August 1988 immediately after receiving my Bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama. I was the very fortunate 1987 recipient of the John Fraser Ramsey Award. The award certificate hangs in my office along with the framed newspaper clipping of the day that I accepted the award from Dr. Joab Thomas, who was then President of The University of Alabama. These memorabilia serve as a daily reminder of the generosity of Dr. Ramsey. It is with pride and sincere appreciation that I share with many people my Ramsey Award experience. While at the University of Alabama, I was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Eta Sigma, and Phi Alpha. I also was on the National Dean's List from 1985-1988. I am a native of Mississippi who by way of Alabama traveled to New York and New Jersey in "culture shock" to complete my Master's of Science degree from Columbia University. I graduated as an advanced standing student from Columbia University in 1989 with a 3.95 GPA. I am licensed for private practice by the State Board of Examiners of New Jersey. I have been in private practice since 1992 and have served over two thousand clients. During the past seven years, I have narrowed my focus to specialize in consulting with family-owned businesses. Occasionally, I leave my full-time practice to join a family-owned business on an intense, interim basis. Statistics show that only a small percentage of family businesses ever become a legacy. Most family businesses are started by an entrepreneur with a great product or service, but he or she has very little knowledge of what it takes to run a business or manage people, especially family members. Hard work, determination and passion keep the business going for many years. However, there is much more to preserving a family business so that it can be handed down generation after generation.
I have traveled a long way from a farm in Brooklyn, Mississippi where I picked cotton and stood in the barnyard gate helping my father keep the cattle in line. Regrettably, my father died in December 2003 at the age of 84. My 85-year-old mother who has Alzheimer’s dementia came to live with me in December 2004. I am blessed to have a full-time, live-in caregiver to help me take care of my sweet mom who is like an angel from heaven. I have two wonderful sons and five beautiful grandchildren who live in Alabama. My husband, Hakem, is the "best." He is a Senior IT Architect with IBM. Alhough I am around people most of the time, I am a solitary person with a serious philosophical approach to life. My interests are writing, gardening, playing the piano, collecting Abraham Lincoln memorabilia and decorating my Victorian home with antiques, but most of all, I love to spend time with my family whenever possible. I believe that I have developed a distinguished philosophy governed by genuine principles that works for me and my clients. I write my own educational materials for distribution. I am avid reader of business strategies; war strategies; biographies and autobiographies; philosophy; history, particularly the Civil War and Lincoln; literature, particularly Ralph Waldo Emerson; the Bible and other spiritual teachings. I hope to write books some day when time allows. In 2005, my husband and I purchased 15 acres of farmland, which is located on the Maury River two miles from historical Lexington, Virginia. Cold Run Creek runs along side of our property and flows into the river. We have a 360 degree view of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. We look forward to watching beautiful sunsets go down behind House Mountain. We will begin construction on our new home this spring. Although, we will be moving out of the northeast, I will continue to consult with family-owned businesses wherever possible, and I may open a private practice in Lexington. I have learned that we only are limited by ourselves. We do not have to choose one thing or another. There are many choices in between. Since the world is small and our outreach is global, we are easily accessible with the Internet, air travel and the “Blackberry.”
Receiving the Ramsey Award was the highlight of my collegiate career and I realize that acutely each year that I return to campus for the Ramsey Award banquet. It is the only award I am aware of that comes with an instant "family" and an annual "family reunion". I never knew Dr. Ramsey but through this award have come to appreciate his ideals and philosophies.
From my Ramsey dinner, I remember the sense of "birth" into the Ramsey family and the sense of discovery as to who Dr. Ramsey was and the realm of those he touched. I heard many colorful anecdotes about Dr. Ramsey, and I learned of how his generosity, compassion, and genius made the world a better place. I remember being told of how happy Dr. Ramsey would have been at my selection - hearing this was such an honor! With the award money, I bought a large table, around which we’ve hosted numerous gatherings for family, friends, charitable causes, and church committees. Dr. Ramsey is a role model whose spirit lives on in me, inspiring me to laugh, to share, to care, to enjoy life and to help those in need. The Ramsey Award adds to the University of Alabama by exemplifying how one man could change the lives of so many people. He gave friendship, money, support, and love to all who needed them, never expecting anything in return. Dr. Ramsey lives on in the spirit of caring for anyone in need.
Anne is a Sustaining Member of the Junior League of Tuscaloosa, member of Order of the Mask, Tuscaloosa County Medical Alliance, former Board Member of the Capstone Nursing Society, West Alabama AIDS Outreach, and Tombigbee Girl Scouts, USA, and is currently involved in volunteer efforts around her children's school activities. She is an avid collector of French antiques and Majolica. The Brandons enjoy European travel, snow skiing, and cheering on the Crimson Tide in football, basketball, and gymnastics. They attend First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa.
From my Ramsey Dinner, I primarily remember being in awe of the event because before that night I had no real understanding of the true spirit of the honor. The fact that many people had traveled from all over the world to honor Dr. Ramsey and share their memories was amazing by itself; however, the truly special part of the evening was to feel like I was getting to know Dr. Ramsey as a friend and really becoming part of the “Ramsey family.” It was quite an emotional event and certainly one I will never forget. The stories told that evening brought Dr. Ramsey to life. I learned about his love of a good drink and a good conversation and his willingness to give virtually all he had to other people, as he mentored countless students and professors who came to Alabama. Probably the two most memorable comments from the evening were stories about Dr. Ramsey. One story was about him floating in the pool sipping a drink, and the other was about him loaning his car to a newly married couple. Every story painted a picture of a giving man, who enjoyed life and shared his enjoyment with others. The money I received from the reward was put in the bank my junior year and saved until after my graduation, at which time I used it to fund a month of touring Europe (back before we had the official Ramsey sponsored touring event). It is certainly an understatement to say that my European tour was a worthwhile and eye-opening experience. I had spent the summer at Oxford, but that only exposed me to the UK and Paris. My travels with the Ramsey Award money took me across eight countries, truly an unforgettable experience. The biggest impact of the Ramsey Dinner for me was to emphasize the importance of helping others and giving my time and money to help other people reach their potential. Dr. Ramsey is not honored with the award and dinner because he was an individual success; rather, he is honored because of all the success he created for others.
When I attended the Ramsey banquet, I was immediately struck by the very personal aspect of the Award. It was quite evident by the many testaments given that Dr. Ramsey had touched countless lives in a special way. In a very real sense, through receiving the Award and having listened to those in attendance reminiscing, I felt as if he had truly touched mine as well. To this day, I cannot imagine a more loving tribute to such a great man than an award which both encourages and rewards the broad humanistic interests which he espoused in both his professional and private life, for in this way, his unique vision became a dynamic force which continues through others even after he is gone. To me, the most important aspect of the Award rests in the re-sponsibility of recipients to maintain and reflect the legacy of Dr. Ramsey in the future. I undertake this challenge with much vigor, for although I have been very fortunate to receive many awards before and since the Ramsey, few have been as significant and none have been more personal.
Stan McGee lives in Boston, Massachusetts, where he works as a corporate and securities law attorney at Hale and Dorr LLP, a law firm which is nationally known for its expertise for advising and guiding companies and investors in high technology industries. Stan’s partner, John H. Finley, IV, is the founder and head of Epiphany School, an independent, tuition-free, middle school for children of low-income families in Boston. On the night of my Ramsey dinner, I remember opening the door to the University Club for a magical evening. As soon as my family and I arrived, we were introduced to new friends, whom we would later know as the "Ramsey family." I met outstanding former recipients, whose names I recognized from their involvement in Crimson Girls and Capstone Men, the Student Government Association, Triangle, and other prominent student groups. I saw many of my friends and professors from the History Department who had worked with Dr. Ramsey. One of those professors, Dr. Russell Bryant, gave me a book that he had received from Dr. Ramsey. I met many of Dr. Ramsey’s friends who told me of their relationships with him and showed me the display of pictures and memorabilia that told their stories. After we were led into the banquet room, I remember sitting at the head of the table, with my family seated around me and Dr. Mayer at the other end. Dr. Mayer was a marvelous toastmaster, who kept the speeches rolling with a touch of humor. (I have since learned that my dinner was one of the longest!) We heard from people who came from all directions to tell their stories about Dr. John F. Ramsey: former UA football players, Phi Kappa Psi fraternity members, history professors, University administrators, friends, and former Ramsey recipients (some who had received the award when Dr. Ramsey was still alive). I was touched by the number of times people directed their comments to me. These friends of Dr. Ramsey wanted me to know the stories of the man whom they were remembering. By the time the dinner ended, I felt that I knew Dr. Ramsey. He touched many lives by honoring friendship, committing himself to others, and sharing his sense of humor. I was thrilled to be a member of this family, and somewhat overwhelmed by the manner in which I was received! I believe that the Ramsey Award is a standard for which students can strive. It honors a complete person who seeks challenges - intellectually, socially, and in service to others. The Award insures that Dr. Ramsey’s memory will be preserved and will continue to challenge generations of students and professors to offer their best within the University community. For those who are members of the "Ramsey Family," the Award is also an important connection to the University that has provided us with academic and leadership opportunities and the education to excel. Receiving the invitation to the Ramsey Dinner each year, with the updates of past recipients, is a constant challenge to me, as I am always amazed by the pursuits of the other recipients. I believe that the Ramsey Award is a challenge for life.
Serving as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has allowed me opportunities to pursue "scholarship, leadership, and broad humanistic interests" -- the criteria of the Ramsey Award. This is what I enjoy doing, this is what I am about in my ministry. A calling in the ministry requires many areas of expertise: writing, speaking, teaching, and an interest in the subjects of theology, languages, history, psychology, just to name a few. It was due in part to John Ramsey and the Ramsey Award that I understood that a life devoted to finding meaning -- and helping others do the same -- was worthwhile. I guess I have embarked on a life long "Great Ideas Tour"!
The intimacy of the group gathered the night of the Ramsey Award dinner struck me immediately. It was a group of friends who relished the yearly homecoming and the relationships that led them there. Everyone expressed genuine warmth for each other and the man who had inspired them all. This was not an awards banquet; I was not even the focal point of the evening. However, I was invited to join something very special and to celebrate the legacy of John Ramsey. The stories offered that evening and my continued ties with the Ramsey Family have given me a deep appreciation of the award and his ideals. Each year the award winner is greeted by the surprise that the Ramsey Award is much more than they expected and the realization that it is much greater honor than they could have ever anticipated.
Receiving the Ramsey award was a pivotal point in my college career. Not only did it reconfirm for me that being on a liberal arts track could indeed be appreciated and even reward by an entire group of people, but the very prestige of the award contributed to my success in competing for other awards in the next few years. The Ramsey dinner was amazing and for me, a complete surprise. No one had told me about the Ramsey family tradition of sharing personal memories of Dr. Ramsey and giving speeches about his generous life’s work. To think I almost missed one of the most impressive tributes to an individual I have ever seen when I told my parents three times I couldn’t go to whatever “meeting” they were dragging me to that night because I had a prior commitment! Though I never knew Dr. Ramsey, after that night I felt as though I had. Winning the award came at a an important time for me. I was feeling very jaded about academic study and the liberal arts as more and more of my friends went into business or engineering. Hearing about Dr. Ramsey’s appreciation of the traditional curriculum restored my spirit and desire to pursue truth through the liberal arts. I will always appreciate it.
From my Ramsey Dinner, I remember lots of smiles, lots of jokes, and tears of fondness as people remembered Dr. Ramsey and what he stood for. Even though I never had the chance to meet him, I was made to feel that he was there in the room with us as we each laughed and cried. The fact that so many people come together to say thank you to Dr. Ramsey each year and reward some grateful student is amazing and should never be taken for granted. If you go to the dinner, you know Dr. Ramsey. Period. The stories and feelings expressed during that dinner communicated to me a man of love and expression, who gave of himself always to a few, fortunate people. Besides the inside jokes and the multitude of humorous stories and anecdotes, I remember people sharing personal stories of how Dr. Ramsey gave so much of himself to assist students in need. He would do without to allow students to have an easier and more worthwhile college experience. The Ramsey Award sets the University apart from the majority of schools. I do not think it would be possible to find a closer group of people, who are more dedicated to helping students and carrying on the vision and desires of a past hero. While I did not know Dr. Ramsey, this group of people and this opportunity allowed me to travel the world and meet some amazing people across the Atlantic and in the little city of Tuscaloosa. I am so fortunate to be a member of the John Ramsey family. That is an honor that means more to the recipients than the award itself. There are many awards, but not one can compete with the magnitude of emotion and true worth in the John Fraser Ramsey Award. Darren was born and raised just north of Atlanta, Georgia in a city called Marietta. He went to the University in 1992 as a Vocal Performance major in the School of Music. After his freshman year, Darren made the decision to change his academic focus and study Public Relations within the College of Communications - from which he gained his degree in 1996. While at the University, Darren was President of the Student Alumni Association (SAA), President of the Capstone Men and Women, and Director of the University's Community Service Center. In addition to receiving the John Fraser Ramsey Award, Darren was fortunate to receive the Algernon Syndey Sullivan Award as well as the Outstanding Junior and Outstanding Senior awards. Darren was tapped into Mortar Board as well as the Jasons in 1995.
Darren spends his free time as Chairman of Washington DC's largest professional organization focused on up and coming leaders in business and philanthropy, NextSource, as well as biking, tennis, and golf. In 1999, Darren married a truly wonderful lady, Karen Mowry. Karen is from the Boston, Massachusetts area and is currently a consultant and technology specialist with Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting). Karen and Darren live in Northern Virginia and have two great "children" - Max and Caesar - chocolate Labradors.
The Ramsey Dinner was the greatest moment of my undergraduate career. I remember opening the door of the University Club to a sea of smiles, handshakes, and hugs of congratulations. I met friends of Dr. Ramsey, former Ramsey recipients, and members of the University administration. Jay Masingill and Dr. McElroy guided me around the room, making sure I saw all of the "Ramsey memorabilia" and met all of the Ramsey Board members. Dr. Mayer smiled approvingly from across the room, while Mr. and Mrs. Cadenhead welcomed me to the "Ramsey Family." As my family and I moved about the room, we learned that everyone had a favorite Dr. Ramsey story, and everyone was more than willing to get us drinks. After the cocktail reception, my family and I were led into the banquet room. I was placed at the head of the table, with my family to my right and the Cadenheads to my left. During the dinner, many of the former recipients came to my seat and congratulated me. The meal was great, and my family and I eagerly devoured the stories offered by our new friends the Cadenheads. When the dessert arrived, Dr. Mayer stood and congratulated me, told me a story about Dr. Ramsey, and opened the floor to anyone who wished to speak. Everyone seemed to have something to say. My family and I heard from Dr. Ramsey’s colleagues, friends, and students. We were presented with a man who had devoted himself to his peers. We learned that Dr. Ramsey was much more than a professor; he was a friend, a "father," a "respected uncle," and a mentor. Dr. Mayer, the consummate toastmaster, and Dr. McElroy kept the evening flowing with their wit and humor. Smiles, laughter, and tears filled the room as the "Ramsey Family" remembered their close friend. My parents, sister, and I were so touched. I held my mother’s hand for almost the entire evening, and I remember how she tightened her grip each time she heard of Dr. Ramsey’s munificence. When the time came for me to speak, I rose and said a few words. My heart raced and my throat tightened. I do not recall exactly what I said, but as I sat down, I noticed tears were running down my face. My father, mother, and sister looked so proud. It had been an emotional evening, one that I will never forget. "The Ramsey Family" has done a wonderful job preserving the legacy of John Fraser Ramsey. Dr. Ramsey’s dignity, integrity, humor, and personal devotion are examples everyone should strive to follow, and the Ramsey Award and Dinner ensures that Dr. Ramsey will continue to challenge future generations of students and professors to follow his rigorous standards of excellence. I consider myself fortunate to be part of the "John Fraser Ramsey Family," and I am excited at the connection to the University that the Award has provided me. I look forward to watching the "Family" grow in the future. I never met Dr. Ramsey, but accepting the award in the University Club in the presence of so many of my teachers and administrators, I understood and appreciated Dr. Ramsey's contributions. I strive daily to be as generous and compassionate as Dr. Ramsey was to others.
Scott skipped his graduation ceremony and married Angela in May of 1999 at the Gorgas House. They celebrated their reception at the University Club. Though prolific in many pursuits and pasttimes, even Scott was surprised at his own fecundity when Avery Davis was born on November 11, 2000. Scott now balances his time between a demanding job at IBM, playing traditional Irish Music, and chasing a charming baby. Scott, Angela, and Avery live in a 2-bedroom bungalow in a quiet older neighborhood of Austin, Texas. The Ramsey Award is something altogether different and unique from anything which I have ever been a part, and is so special to all who become involved. The award honors the giving spirit of Dr. John Ramsey and serves as a reminder and inspiration to each recipient of the powerful way that we as individuals can positively impact the lives of those around us. The Ramsey family gathers annually for a dinner to honor a new recipient for their achievements as a UA student, and in the process, continues to spread the inspiring message and meaning of Doc Ramsey.
Ethan Tidmore, the 1998 Ramsey Award recipient, is the son of Jerry and Suzanne Tidmore of Coker, Alabama. Ethan graduated summa cum laude from UA in May 1999 with a bachelor's degree in English. While a student at UA, Ethan served as President of the Capstone Men and Women and The Anderson Society, and was also named as a recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award during his senior year. He is currently a law student at the University of Virginia School of Law and expects to receive his J.D. in May 2003. Being awarded the Ramsey was easily one of the top moments of my collegiate caree. My name will forever be linked to one of the most amazing people in UA history, and I am now part of a family in the Ramsey board. The two Ramsey dinners that I have been fortunate enough to attend have been two of the most memorable nights of my life, for I can never tire of hearing about how many people were touched by Dr. Ramsey. On top of all of that, the Great Ideas Tour is one of the most unique benefits/rewards/whatever-you-want-to-call-it offered at any University, and, as I will discuss below, it was very important to my scholastic and intellectual growth. I've never heard anyone say anything remotely bad about their overall experiences on the trip, and I think it's the best kept secret in the South. The tour couldn't have come at a better time in my life. I was getting pretty jaded at school, and the tour helped me to put a lot of things in perspective and realize what's really important in the whole scheme of things. Seeing everything I saw while being away from English contact had a soothing, calming effect on me, and, without that trip, I don't think I would be where I am right now today. (And on top of it all, I saw so many wondrous things and met some incredible people.) I'm currently 23 years old, and I live in Brooklyn, NY, with my sister. I work in Manhattan at Barclays Capital, an investment bank, and I am an investment-grade bond salesman. I've been at my job since the beginning of September, and I spent the first month of my employment training in London. That was especially nice, for I got to spend two weekends with my parents. They live in England now: my dad works on a military base and my mother is a guidance counselor at the American school on said base. My brother currently works in Mobile, and my sister goes to school at Fordham University in preparation for an eventual career in ballet. I enjoy sports, watching and playing, especially Atlanta Braves baseball. I also enjoy listening to music and attending shows (musicals and concerts). Lastly, I enjoy watching movies...exciting, eh? |
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Webmaster: John Tryon Hubbard, Jr. For information about the Award, contact Jay Masingill ©2001, The University of Alabama. All rights reserved. Official Disclaimer This page was last updated on 03/19/06, 07:50 PM CST |
We have four children, Mary Margaret, Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Baker, who
keep us hopping. Mary Margaret is a sophomore at Furman University and loves
golf. Elizabeth is a senior at Mountain Brook High School and plays on the
tennis team. Rebecca, an 8th grader, is on the junior high volleyball,
basketball and softball teams. Baker is in 6th grade and enjoys football,
basketball, and most of all, baseball.
Dr. Kelton maintains an active and varied singing career, appearing frequently as a soloist, recitalist, and professional choral singer in an eclectic range of music, including chant, opera, jazz, and new composition Her solo work with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale has received critical acclaim. She has also served as section leader and language coach of that group. She has taught on the faculty of the Berkshire Choral Festival, Santa Fe, and has been a member of several other professional choirs, including the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, the Aspen Chamber Choir, the New Texas Festival Conspirare Choir, and the Victoria Bach Festival Chamber Choir. Dr. Kelton has performed as soloist at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, the Banff Festival of the Arts, the Victoria Bach Festival, and the Lake Placid International Vocal Seminar. She has appeared with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, the Nashville (Tennessee) Symphony, the Santa Fe Symphony, the Springfield (Missouri) Symphony, Ensemble Ouabache, the Reno Symphony (Hutchinson, Kansas), the Kansas Early Music Consort, the Southeast Kansas Symphony, the Texas Early Music Project, the Durango Symphony, the Austin Choral Society, and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, among others. She has presented many recitals throughout the United States of the songs of American composer Amy Beach and has published several articles about Mrs. Beach’s contribution to American song literature. She was the recipient of a 1999 Butler University Faculty Grant to record a compact disc of songs by Mrs. Beach. Dr. Kelton is an active member of the National Association Teachers of Singing, the American Choral Directors Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Mu Phi Epsilon. She has appeared on recordings for promotional materials and textbooks published by Hal Leonard and Lorenz, featured on an CD that accompanies Dr. James Briscoe's Contemporary Anthology of Music by Women published by Indiana University Press. She is represented by Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates, 505 East Huron, Suite 302, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104-1567, (734) 665-4029.
Richard Hamm lives in his hometown of Huntsville, along with his wife Carole and two children: Ellyn and Andy. Carole accompanied Richard to the 1982 Ramsey Award Dinner as his date, and they were married in 1983. They attend First United Methodist Church and are both active in children’s activities and local civic groups.
Brad Lapidus is a resident of Huntsville, Alabama and is President of Richards Lighting Distributors. He will be married July 27 to Marion Levy, a fellow graduate of the University of Alabama. Since returning to Huntsville, Brad has been active in a number of civic/religious organizations. These organizations include Big Brothers/Big Sisters of North Alabama, The Arts Council of North Alabama, Partnership for A Drug-Free Community and The United Way of Madison County. He has served two terms on the Board of Directors of Temple B’nai Sholom.
Caroline S. Katz graduated from The University of Alabama in 1986. She
then went to law school at The University of California at Los Angeles
(UCLA), where she graduated in 1989. Caroline practiced law in Los Angeles
at the law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker and the law firm of
Adams, Duque & Hazeltine. Caroline moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1994, and
practiced law at the law firm of Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy.
Caroline left private practice in 1996 and became Trademark Counsel for The
Coca-Cola Company, where she remains today. As part of Caroline's duties,
she handles The Coca-Cola Company's trademarks for Western Europe and the
United States. She also handles The Coca-Cola Company's Internet trademark
work, and drafted Coke's policies with respect to the Internet. Caroline has
travelled throughout Latin America and Europe for Coke, and loves her job.
Caroline just got engaged (March, 2002) and will be married to Dr. Jonathan Pearlstein on September 22.
After graduating in '87, I worked for AmSouth Bank for a year. I met my husband, Ashley, there. We married and moved to Atlanta for two years while I completed my MBA at Emory University. After graduating, I returned to Birmingham and worked for First Alabama Bank for a couple of years until our daughter, Caroline, was born. I've been a stay-at-home mom ever since, loving every minute of it!
Winston H. Gillum, Jr., originally from Sylacauga, Alabama, received the
John Fraser Ramsey Award in 1988. A 1989 graduate in accounting from the
University of Alabama, Winston worked as a CPA for Ernst & Young in New York
and Birmingham before returning to get his MBA at Harvard University in
1992. Following graduation from Harvard in 1994, Winston worked at the
international consulting firm of McKinsey & Company in Atlanta until 1998.
In 1998, Winston returned to Birmingham as Director of Investments - Private
Equity at Harbert Management Corporation. In that capacity Winston oversees
Harbert's investments in middle markets companies in the Southeast. He
currently serves on the Board of Directors of Visador Holding Corporation
and Heckethorn Manufacturing Company. Winston and his wife, Mary Jane, live
in Birmingham and enjoy tennis and travelling. Winston is a member of the
Ramsey Award's Board of Directors, the HERO Foundation Grant Committee, and
Chairman of the HERO Foundation's Christmas Outreach Program.
Anne Wainwright Brandon resides in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and is employed as a Senior Professional Representative for Merck and Co., Human Health Division. She is married to John Earl Brandon, MD, and they have four children: Natileigh, Brooke, Walker, and Hannah.
Bill, Stacey, Ansley, and Will Bolen live in Kennesaw, GA, outside
Atlanta. After working for Dow Chemical for a few years and graduating with
honors from Harvard Business School, Bill joined the strategy consulting
firm McKinsey & Company. After a few years with McKinsey, Bill left the
firm to join another ex-McKinseyite and start The DaVinci Group. DaVinci is
a locally-focused strategy consulting firm that allows Bill to continue to
work on interesting business problems while avoiding the hectic travel
schedule consultants often endure. In addition to church activities, Bill
has tried to carry on the Ramsey spirit by donating a substantial amount of
pro bono time to working with the management of local nonprofit
organizations to help them achieve their goals. We are fortunate that
Stacey is able to stay home with our children, who are 5 and 2 (as of early
2002). When not spending time with the family, Bill sneaks in a few rounds
of golf and of course continues to be a vocal Crimson Tide football fan!
Stan graduated from the University of Alabama, magna cum laude, and Phi Beta Kappa, in 1992 with a special honors B.A. in history and French. While at Alabama, in addition to receiving the John F. Ramsey Award, he was named a Harry S. Truman Scholar and was selected by USA Today as one of the top twenty undergraduates in the nation. He attended l’Universite’ d’Aix-Marseille in Aix-en-Provence, France as a Rotary Foundation Scholar, and he received a second B.A. in modern history in 1994 from the University of Oxford, which he attended as a Rhodes Scholar. Stan graduated from Harvard Law School in 1998.
My name is Deanie Walburn Strength and I received the Ramsey Award in 1992. I am married to Joey Strength, also a graduate of the University of Alabama, and we live in St. Simons Island, Georgia where I am the Associate Pastor of St. Simons Presbyterian Church.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Will is married to Vanessa. They have two lovable but misguided mutts.
After a year at Oxford studying history and a year
in Cambridge while my husband finished his masters degree, we moved to
Rochester, Minnesota where we still remain. My husband, Scott, was in
medical school at The Mayo Clinic and is now in his first year of residency.
During the past few years, I taught theology at a Catholic school , Latin
in a summer program, and did some substitute teaching while I was pregnant.
Currently I stay at home with my 20-month-old daughter, Fiachra, who is
slowly becoming bilingual in English and Latin. In what spare time I can
find, I translate children’s books into Latin and am creating a website
about teaching Latin to the very young. We have three years in Minnesota
before we can look at moving away from the cold!
After leaving the University, Darren moved to Fairfax, Virginia where he
joined American Management Systems, Inc. (AMS) as a Business and Systems
Analyst within the telecommunications industry. While there, Darren
returned to school at Georgetown University where he received an advanced
degree in Organizational Strategy and Change Management. Darren departed
AMS and joined Andersen Consulting's Organizational Change and Human
Performance management consulting practice. After 3 years, Darren followed
an Andersen Consulting colleague to Plural, Inc., a national technology
strategy and development company. Darren is currently a Managing Associate
in the firm and directs the selling and delivery of large-scale commerce and
system implementation efforts focused specifically within the
telecommunications and pharmaceuticals/bio-science industries.
Scott was involved in politics at the University of Alabama, attempting to unite students of diverse backgrounds to elect representative student governments. Unfortunately, he failed without winning a single SGA election. So in his 5th year at the University, he refocused his efforts on finishing his Computer Engineering degree and taking a wife. Fortunately before leaving the political sphere and returning to the celibate halls of engineering he met Angela Davis. Being impressed by his rapier wit and overflowing vitality, Angela quickly succumbed to his wiles.