In just one week, I have attended four events that have left me overwhelmed and grateful. Each of these events celebrated people who have spent over 30 years doing amazing acts of service and in each case they have inspired, challenged, supported, and loved students at West Virginia Wesleyan College.
- 1 concert (retirement celebration) for Dr. Melody Meadows (Sunday, April 19)
- 1 funeral for Marvin Wesley Culpepper (Wednesday, April 22)
- 1 retirement for Alisa Mauk Lively Suttle (Friday, April 24)
- 1 memorial dedication for Dr. David Allen Milburn (Saturday, April 25)
There were two events in celebration of Melody Meadows on the occasion of her retirement after 31 years. The first one included video greetings from former students and some great music. The second one was a beautiful concert featuring 56 current and former choir members and colleagues.
Melody (Mel) taught generations of students, many of whom are now professional singers and church musicians. She also played for countless campus convocations and events, served in administrative roles from 2013-2017, and shared her talents beyond the campus. She has served as the organist at Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church in Elkins. On many occasions she has accompanied musical groups on tours. I had the wonderful experience, for example, of traveling through Scotland in 2000 and enjoying her music and her support of a fantastic children’s choir (Chanticleer). There have been other tours as well!
- Assistant Professor of Music 1995-2000
- Associate Professor of Music 2000-2005
- Professor of Music 2005-2026
- Director of the School of Fine Arts and Humanities 2013-2014
- Associate Dean of the College 2014-2015
- Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning 2015-2017
Marvin Culpepper’s funeral celebrated his life. He was connected with WVWC for all of his 96 years. When his father, Ross Culpepper, graduated in the class of 1930, they could not find a babysitter and so Ross carried him in the procession. Ross was named the President of the Alumni Council in 1954, and received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1950.
His mother, Olive Culpepper, Class of 1933, was a Trustee from 1956-1983 and Trustee Emerita from 1938-1994. For decades she served as the Chairperson of the Dorothy Lee Scholarship Fund for International Students. She was Alumnae of the year in 1967 and was awarded an honorary doctor of law degree in 1972.
Ross and Olive were tireless advocates for students, and gave generously to the school, including scholarships and books to the library. Their dedication to West Virginia Wesleyan College passed directly to Marvin.
Marvin (Class of 1951) and his wife, Elaine Karnes Culpepper (Class of 1954), carried on the tradition of support for their alma mater. Their gifts have been generous and have supported all areas of the school – athletics, performing arts, scholarships, and the library. You will see the Culpepper name on athletic fields and courtside seating in Rockefeller, and you will see the name on the Culpepper Auditorium in the Performing Arts Center. What you may not see is the tens of thousands of books (mainly Civil War, World War II, and Holocaust) that are in our library. As library director I would get a phone call several times each year saying when he was coming, and then helping him to unload the trunk of his car before sitting with him over a cup of coffee to share WVWC stories. He and Elaine each received the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2006.
His support of the students in ways seen and unseen has changed countless lives.
For 39 years Alisa Mauk Lively has changed lives. Now her life will be changing! A year ago she got married, and is now Alisa Mauk Suttle. She will be retiring and enjoying a well-deserved change of pace.
Her title and responsibilities have changed through the years, but they were always the same in one important way: they (and she) are always Student Centered.
- Director of Housing and Conferences 1987-1990
- Director of Housing and Summer Conferences 1990-1992
- Director of Student Activities and Summer Conferences 1992-1996
- Director of Campus Activities and Summer Conferences 1996-2006
- Director of Campus Activities, Summer Conferences and Recreation 2006-2008
- Director of Campus Life 2008-2021
- Dean of Students and Director of Campus Life 2021-2026
- (2008-2018) Chairperson of College Staff Assembly
- (2010) Extra Mile Award
- (2016-2017) Chair of Staff Council
Her work has been behind the scenes for many, but right in the middle of everything for others. Since 1987, anyone who has ever lived in a dorm on campus, attended a concert, gone to Big Bingo or Late Night Breakfast, and other things way too many to list has been impacted by Alisa’s work. She inspired countless students, organized all manner of events and programs, and has been involved with student government and with any disciplinary actions that have had to be addressed. She has been a friend, a mentor, and a confidant for thousands of students. Many of those students came to celebrate on Friday evening and gave her a proper roasting.
She has also been impactful well beyond campus. Buckhannon and Upshur County have been high on her list of priorities. Things such as: Chamber of Commerce, Colonial Arts Center Board of Directors, Police Service Commission, Special Olympics of West Virginia, American Red Cross, Create Buckhannon, Habitat for Humanity, Strawberry Festival Board, Upshur County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mission Trip Volunteer.
- Last, but certainly not least, this week included a dedication. We gathered to remember and celebrate the contributions of a man who created opportunities, challenged and supported students, and who impacted WVWC in a major way. Click here to read the remarks of Don Olah, Class of 1978, organizer of the dedication event.
- Assistant Professor of Music 1966-1972
- Associate Professor of Music 1972-1982
- Professor of Music 1982-2004
- Professor of Music, Emeritus 2004-2013
From very early in his time at Wesleyan, he fought to get a Jazz program started. In those days, this was a controversial thing! At the time it was not something that was supported by the chair of the department, and he was ordered not to have such a thing. In fact, they had to practice in secret. If they had been discovered, he could have been fired.
The group did eventually gain acceptance on campus, but his courage did not stop there.
He led numerous Goodwill Ambassador trips to Europe playing jazz in Poland, Romania, Estonia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria, Latvia, Finland, and the Soviet Union at a time when jazz music was banned in those places. He is reported to have played a role in helping people to defect, and to bring books into the country that helped inspire the fall of the Iron Curtain. Click here to read more about that history.
My own family has a great connection with Dr. Milburn as my brother-in-law and my son both were encouraged, challenged, and supported by him. His students from those 38 years have gone on to do many amazing things.
The Jazz baton has been passed directly from Dr. Milburn to Dr. James Moore to Adam Loudin. Each day as he enters the office Adam can feel the legacy.
Any one of these events would have been powerful. All of them happening within one week was truly overwhelming. Four people with an impact on thousands. These four people are part of a long line of such people, and have inspired more to come in the future.
Very grateful.