B.S. West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1960 (Chemistry; Cum Laude)
University of Michigan
Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh, 1968
Honorary Doctor of Laws, WVWC October 11, 1973
Taught:
Instructor in Chemistry 1963-64 (Filled in while John Wright was on Sabatical at Oxford)
Trustee from 1988-2018
Notes:
During WVWC student days, was active in Choir, Glee Club, Track
Top Chemistry student each year
President Community Council 1959
Also member of Sigma Xi, Phi Lambda Epsilon, Omicron Delta Kappa, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Methodist Student Movement
Selected to appear in Outstanding Young Men of America in 1970.
One of three professors at University of Pittsburgh honored with the first “College Alumni Distinguished Teaching Award”, 1971
Named Dean of Students at University of Pittsburgh, 1971
WVWC Founders Day Speaker, 1973
Named Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs at University of Pittsburgh, 1973
National Educational Sales, Manager and Director, Atari Institute for Education Research
Vice President of Academic Affairs, Roosevelt University
1984-2000 Director, University Affairs at Hewlett Packard National Educational Sales, Manager and Director, Atari Institute for Education Research
1984-2000 Director, University Affairs at Hewlett Packard
One of seven to receive the first Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Chemistry, September, 2000.
If you walk up the front steps to Wesley Chapel, you cross some.
At first glance, you might assume that you are seeing the footprints of John Wesley. But, if you look past the statue and focus in on the steps which lead to the door of the chapel, you will see another name……..
In Memorium
Edward L. Boetticher
Let us unite the two so long divided, knowledge and vital piety. John Wesley
We may know that John Wesley was the founder of Methodism. He, and the beautiful statue of him on the WVWC campus, will be the topic of another blog another day. But who in the world is Edward L. Boetticher?
Edward L. Boetticher the Student
Edward L. Boetticher, Class of 1926
Edward was very active on campus. He also graduated in only three years!
Edward’s campus activities included:
As a member and First Vice President of Alpha Gamma Phi Fraternity (forerunner of Kappa Alpha Fraternity), Edward lived in the house at 49 South Florida. Faculty advisers and hosts were Nicholas Hyma and Edgar Sorton. Housemother was Mrs. Maude Mick.
Edward was a member of the Chrestomathaean Literary Society, and the Vice President of the Cutshall Literary Society in 1926. (This organization was reorganized into an Honorary Fraternity for students with high academic achievement and Boetticher was the President during the second semester 1926-27.)
Lyceum Course Manager 1925, 1926
Men’s Glee Club, Treasurer 1925; President 1924; Vice President 1925-26
Ministerial Association member. This group prepared for the task of ministry and aided each other in deepening their own spiritual lives.
Murmurmontis Business Manager, 1925
Pharos Reporter, 1924
Student Council
Wesleyan Players, Treasurer 1926
Y.M.C.A.
His education did not stop at that time.
1926 West Virginia Wesleyan College, A.B.
1929 Boston University, S.T.B.
1930 University of Pittsburgh, M.A.
1942 West Virginia Wesleyan College, Hon. DD
Edward L Boetticher the Methodist Minister
Edward met his future wife, Gayzelle Rusk (College Class of 1925), while at Wesleyan. She was a member of many of the same organizations. She also served as a school teacher after graduating with her degree from the Normal School in 1922.
Together they shared a life of ministry. Edward’s ministerial footprints included:
Licensed to Preach 1924
1925-26 Conway/Glenfield
1926-27 In School
1926 Admitted on Trial Methodist Episcopal Pittsburgh Conference
1928 Full Member of Methodist Episcopal Pittsburgh Conference
1928 Ordained Deacon
1928-31 Pittsburgh: McCandless Avenue
1929 Ordained Elder
1931-35 Pittsburgh: Beechview
1935-40 Monessen: First
1940-56 New Kensington: First
1956-62 Superintendent: Blairsville District
1962 Member Methodist Western Pennsylvania Conference at Merger
1962-December 15, 1963 Executive Secretary: Conference Board of Missions/Church Extension
Edward L. Boetticher the Trustee
From 1949-1965, Edward served as a Trustee at West Virginia Wesleyan College. His love for the school and the church combined to make him a very active trustee. Earlier catalogs listed the committees on which the Trustees served. Edward’s list included:
Alumni Relations 1954-1959
Executive 1959-1960
History, Archives and Fine Arts 1956-1959
Instruction 1949-1952
Policy and Planning 1955-1956; 1957-1959
Religion 1955-1957
Edward L. Boetticher in Memoriam
Edward died on December 15, 1963 just as the campus was experiencing great growth. His widow, Gayzelle, honored him by providing memorials in a few different areas.
This plaque, just inside the door of the Meditation Chapel, indicates that Gayzelle Rusk Boetticher established the marble altar in Edward’s memory. There was considerable work and reinforcement of the floors needed for that project.
As mentioned above, Edward’s name is carved into the very steps leading to the front door of Wesley Chapel, and includes a quote from John Wesley about the importance of linking education and spiritual matters — both of which were extremely important to Edward as well as to John Wesley.
Edward the Family Member
Curiosity about his family background led Edward to Washington, D.C. in 1938 to meet with Lt. General Frederick Von Boetticher, the German military attache. This meeting led to wonderful conversations and a visit with long lost cousins in Germany after World War II was concluded.
At one such visit, in 1952, Edward was presented with the Von Boetticher Crucifix. This item, dating from about 1356, had been passed down through the generations of the family from that time forward. There had always been at least one in each generation to go into the ministry. To read more about this amazing artifact, click here.
Dr. Boetticher returned from his European travels with the crucifix. It remained in his home until his death in 1963 when his widow, Mrs. Gayzelle Rusk Boetticher, decided that it more appropriately should be placed in the new chapel of the couple’s beloved alma mater.
Edward L. Boetticher was a
follower of Christ
student of John Wesley
student and alumus and trustee of West Virginia Wesleyan College
Your bravery in coming across the Allegheny Mounains in the 1700s is hard for us to comprehend. We understand from reading our history that you were adventurous, social minded and religious. Many of you were immigrants. The religious among you included our Methodist Founders.
Dear Founders,
Thank you for having the vision, courage and determination to create a college. For having a dream which has turned into our present reality. You were determined and creative and generous. It was not an easy task!
Some of you fought or were chaplains in the Union Army, and one of you was a member of the Virginia Legislature and voted to secede from the Union – and fought with Stonewall Jackson’s troops throughout the war. And yet, in the aftermath of that war you were able to join together in this common cause.
You were business leaders, judges, lawyers, pastors, and legislators who helped to create the new state of West Virginia. In 1890, there were sixeen of you – half of you were Methodist Clergy and half Methodist Laymen, and you were all leaders in the Methodist Conference.
The Lay Members of the Board of Trustees in 1890 included:
John Cambridge Bardall
Trustee from 1887-1915
He lived in Moundsville, WV and was a manufacturer of leather goods and brooms.
He ran one of the largest broom companies in the country at the time.
John Adams Barnes
Trustee from 1885-1930, and Secretary of the Board from1894-1921
He lived in Weston, WV, and served on the site location committee
Mr. Barnes was the Director of Citizen’s Bank of Weston
Benjamin Franklin Martin
Trustee in 1890-1894, and Treasurer of the Board
Mr. Martin was one of the framers of the West Virginia Constitution
He was a delegate to the General Conference in 1876
And, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1877-1881
Samuel P. McCormick
Trustee from1887-1889 (he died before the school officially opened)
He had served in the Army of the Potomac
After the war, he was a lawyer and prosecuting attorney
In 1880, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Henry C. McWhorter
Trustee from 1885-1916, President of the Board from 1898-1913
He was a Judge, and lived in Charleston, WV
Alex M. Poundstone
Trustee from 1885-1919
He served as a Captain in the Federal Army
A lawyer in Buckhannon, WV
West Virginia Legislature 1872-1879
Prosecuting Attorney in Upshur County 1886-1900
William Alexander Wilson
Trustee 1890
Lived in Wheeling, WV
Manufacturing and Businessman
Samuel Woods
Trustee 1887-1897, Chairman of the Board 1887-1897
Was a member of the Virginia Legislature when they voted to secede from the Union
He voted for secession, and fought with Stonewall Jackson’s unit
However, after the war, he came back to Barbour County and resumed his Law Practice
He was a Framer of the West Virginia Constitution in 1871
The Clergy Members of the Board of Trustees in 1890 included:
Here is an account of the founding of the college in 1890 by one of those who was a participant and leader throughout that process. Captain A.M. Poundstone wrote this account for publication in the 1914 Murmurmontis, some 24 years later.
Ever since that time, there have been leaders carrying on the work of the school and helping the school to grow into what you had envisioned – or maybe even more than you could have possibly imagined. These Giants (Trustees, Administrators, Faculty, Staff, Students) have lived and worked and taught and studied here in this place thanks to you. You have changed and enriched lives.
We will salute you in Wesley Chapel during the Founders Day Convocation.
Because of you we exist and learn….
Because of what we learn, we grow stronger and smarter…..
Because we are stronger and smarter, we are able to make an impact for good in the world.
