Five to join the ranks of W&M honorary alumni

Honorary alumni These five friends have a distinguished record of service and support for the College: Jay Mitchell Brown of Williamsburg, Louise Lambert Kale of Williamsburg, Betsy Nagelsen McCormack of Bradenton, Fla., and Arthur R. Seder Jr. and Marion Seder of Williamsburg. Photo courtesy of the Alumni Association

by Eric Pesola, Alumni Association | May 4, 2009

Each year, the William and Mary Alumni Association recognizes a select few friends who have demonstrated a lasting commitment to and genuine affinity for the College, even though they are not graduates. On Friday, May 15, 2009, during a ceremony at the Alumni House, five dedicated individuals will be welcomed into the Alumni Association as honorary alumni.

These five friends have a distinguished record of service and support for the College: Jay Mitchell Brown of Williamsburg, Louise Lambert Kale of Williamsburg, Betsy Nagelsen McCormack of Bradenton, Fla., and Arthur R. Seder Jr. and Marion Seder of Williamsburg.

Jay Mitchell Brown has been involved with the Alumni Association since the 1950s, when his wife Marguerite Huff Brown '54, became a class reporter for the Alumni Gazette. He has attended every Class of 1954 Reunion since 1959. Over the years his involvement increased steadily. He is a charter member of the Sir Robert Boyle Society, is a member of the Green and Gold Society, the President's Council, the Chancellor's Council and is active with the Christopher Wren Association and William and Mary Elder Hostel as a volunteer for many years.

Louise Lambert Kale serves as William and Mary's Executive Director of the Historic Campus, and has helped make the Wren Building truly the "heart" of William and Mary. Louise has been honored a number of times by the College, including by the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership society, she earned the Sullivan Award and in 1998, she received the Alumni Association's Faculty/Staff Service Award.

Betsy Nagelsen McCormack has excelled in a number of fields, and her influence has been felt in the realm of sports, and corporate and public service. Her outstanding career in tennis, her love for the game and her adopted family - William and Mary's tennis teams - were among the reasons why she and her late husband, Mark McCormack '51, donated the funds to create the McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center. In addition to William and Mary, she has been involved with other worthy causes including the House of Hope, a place for troubled teenagers. Betsy has received the House of Hope's highest honor for her unflagging dedication and service.

Art Seder served on the Swem Library Board, where his perspective both from his career experiences and being a Williamsburg resident provided valuable insights for our development and marketing programs. Marion Seder provided strong support for the special collections by gifting us a valuable collection of rare books that belonged to her father. The office of the Director of Special Collections was named to honor that donation. Through the multitude of support and gifts over the years, the Seders have been named to the Sir Robert Boyle Legacy Society.

For more information about the event, contact the William and Mary Alumni Association at 757.221.7855.

Founded in 1842, the William and Mary Alumni Association is a separately incorporated nonprofit organization that encourages alumni of the College of William and Mary to remain active partners in the life of the university. The Alumni Association's programs nurture friendships, inspire pride and build an appreciation among alumni for William and Mary's long tradition of achievement. For more information about the Alumni Association, visit www.wmalumni.com.