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Rev. Elmer A. Thompson, D.D. ’42 Receives Yellow Jacket Salute Award
Rev. Elmer A. Thompson received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Randolph-Macon College in 1942 and his Master of Divinity degree from Boston University School of Theology in 1948. Elmer was recognized with an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Randolph-Macon College in 1972. While a student at Randolph-Macon, Elmer was a member of Clericus, the campus organization for pre-ministerial students, and the Washington Literary Society.
Elmer is a retired ordained Methodist minister, having served as a pastor to several local churches. In addition, Elmer also served as dean of Ferrum Junior College, a staff member of the Methodist General Board of Education, and a staff member of the Virginia United Methodist Conference Council on Ministries. Elmer has devoted himself to God – first, his wife – second, and the United Methodist Church with R-MC – in a close tie for third.
Randolph-Macon is grateful to Elmer for his support of the College through the Heritage Society and the President’s Society. In his intent to provide a supplemental retirement plan, Elmer currently holds the record for investments at Randolph-Macon via charitable gift annuities with a total of 14.
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John M. McCardell III '04 Receives Young Alumnus Service Award
John M. McCardell was the recipient of the Young Alumnus Service Award on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at the Charlotte Regional event at the Peninsula Club in Cornelius, North Carolina. John received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Randolph-Macon College in Economics and Business with a minor in Political Science in 2004. While a student at Randolph-Macon, he was a member and the President of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and a member of the Interfraternity Council.
After graduation, John joined Ellison Kibler & Associates at Merrill Lynch. He is currently the assistant vice president of investments and a partner with the firm.
John is currently a member of the College’s Board of Associates, the Presidents Society Executive Committee, and was the Class of 2004 5th Reunion Gift Committee Chair. Under John’s leadership the Class of 2004 broke every record for reunion giving this year raising $33,556 from more than 47% of his classmates.
In addition to his volunteer work at Randolph-Macon, he is active in fundraising and development at The Taft School in Conneticut. Randolph-Macon is grateful to John for establishing the John McCardell Scholarship in 2007 to benefit students with academic promise and financial need.
John lives in Columbia, South Carolina with his new wife, Margaret.
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Everett G. Allen, Jr. ’62 Receives Alumni Distinguished Service Award
Everett G. “Buddy” Allen, Jr. was the recipient of the Society of Alumni’s Alumni Distinguished Service Award on Friday, October 16, 2009 at the Homecoming Alumni Awards Luncheon on Randolph-Macon’s campus.
The Society of Alumni created the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1957 which is the oldest official form of recognition for members of Randolph-Macon College’s alumni body. The award is given to individuals who have given outstanding service to Randolph-Macon College, have made particular contributions to the alumni programs in their communities and for the College generally.
Allen received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Randolph-Macon in Philosophy in 1962 and earned his law degree from the University of Virginia. While a student at Randolph-Macon, he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa. He played football, baseball and was a star player on the basketball team.
Allen’s fame as a lawyer is well known. In fact, the 2009 edition of Virginia Super Lawyers just listed the top 50 lawyers in the Commonwealth and named him as the Top Point Getter.
Allen has served as a member of the Alumni Board, the Board of Associates, the Board of Trustees and was inducted into the R-MC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. He was a leader in the effort to raise funds to renovate Crenshaw Gymnasium and over the years has provided major support for the Annual Fund, the Yellow Jacket Club, and scholarships for local students.
Randolph-Macon is grateful to Allen and his wife, Ann, for having established The Randolph-Macon College Athletic Endowment in 2007 which is greatly enhancing and supplementing the College’s athletic program and facilities. This fund has also been created as a challenge to encourage other donors to give to the Endowment.
The Allens live in Richmond and have three children: Everette III, James '99 and Wendy Schmitt.
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Philip G. Emerson ’81 Receives the Distinguished Alumnus Award
Philip G. Emerson ’81 was the recipient of the Society of Alumni’s Distinguished Alumnus Award on Friday, October 16, 2009 at the Homecoming Awards Luncheon on Randolph-Macon’s campus where he was also the guest speaker.
Emerson received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Randolph-Macon in Sociology in 1981 and received the Young Alumnus Achievement Award from the Society of Alumni in 1993.
Emerson joined the staff of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation in 1986 as director of public affairs and marketing. Following a national search, he was appointed executive director of the Foundation in 1991, a state agency that administers Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center.
Emerson has guided more than $89 million in capital improvements for the museums. Exhibition galleries, living-history exhibits and educational programs have been dramatically improved during the last decade. He also played a key role in the development of statewide programs commemorating America’s 400th Anniversary in 2007. Through his leadership, he brought the Commonwealth of Virginia to the attention of the world which included a visit by Queen Elizabeth II to the Jamestown Settlement.
Under Emerson’s direction, paid visitation to the museums has climbed by over 100% and the Foundation’s recent campaign raised nearly $25 million. With a strong focus on education, both at its museums and through outreach programs across the state, the Foundation has become the largest provider of structured museum educational programs in the Commonwealth.
A native of Luray, Virginia, Emerson has served on numerous national, state and local boards and committees.
Emerson and his wife, Beth, live in Williamsburg with their daughter, Katherine.
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Robert B. Lambeth, Jr. ’71 Receives the Distinguished Alumnus Award
Robert B. Lambeth, Jr. was the recipient of the Society of Alumni’s Distinguished Alumnus Award on Friday, October 16, 2009 at the Homecoming Alumni Awards Luncheon on Randolph-Macon’s campus.
Lambeth received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Randolph-Macon in Political Science in 1971 and earned his law degree from the University of Richmond in 1975.
While a student at Randolph-Macon, Lambeth was a member of Phi Delta Theta and recognized for his leadership abilities by being elected into Omicron Delta Kappa. He served as editor of the Yellow Jacket newspaper and was a member of Phi Gamma Mu, Pi Delta Epsilon and the R-MC Debate Team.
Since graduation, Lambeth has provided service to the College in many ways, including in his present role as chair of the Awards Committee of the Board of Directors of the Society of Alumni.
Lambeth is currently the President of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia with which he has been involved for the past 20 years. In this position, he works tirelessly to promote the interests of non-profit, independent higher education in Virginia.
Lambeth has served in many volunteer roles, including as Chair of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and the Campaign Chair for the Bedford Chapter of the American Red Cross. In addition, he has had a long and distinguished relationship with the Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest for which he has been primarily responsible for its magnificent architectural restoration. He was instrumental in forming the Corporation in 1983 to save the historical retreat of former United States President Thomas Jefferson.
Lambeth and his wife, Lynn, live in Forrest, Virginia.
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Donald R. Holsinger ’51 Receives Yellow Jacket Salute
Donald R. Holsinger was the recipient of the Society of Alumni’s “Yellow Jacket Salute” on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at the Martinsville Club’s reception at Chatmoss Country Club.
As a student, Holsinger was involved in a wide variety of activities. He was a member of the Washington Literary Society, Kappa Alpha fraternity, Beta Beta Beta, Chi Beta Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa and Pi Gamma Mu. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1952 and his M.D. at VCU School of Medicine in 1955. From 1957 to 1959 he served as Captain in the Army Medical Corps. Holsinger completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic in 1961 and received his M.S. degree in Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1961.
In his professional life, Holsinger was a physician at Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County where he served as chief of staff and chief of medicine until his retirement in 1996.
Holsinger has been extremely active in the Martinsville area where he has served as a director of the Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County Foundation, First United Methodist Church, the Kiwanis Club of Martinsville and Chatmoss Country Club.
Holsinger’s work on behalf of Randolph-Macon includes his having been a member of the Board of Trustees for 16 years and serving on five of its committees. He was elected president of the Society of Alumni in 1970; chaired the Estes Dining Hall fund-raising campaign in 1979; chaired the Piedmont region Capital Campaign in 1984 and served on the National Honor Committee for the Science Building campaign in 1969. Holsinger received the Distinguished Service Award from the Society of Alumni in 1986 and is a member of the Presidents Society and the Heritage Society.
Holsinger and his wife, Betty, live in Martinsville and are the parents of three daughters, Betsy, Nancy and Laura.
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Yvonne W. Brandon ’76 Receives Yellow Jacket Salute
Dr. Yvonne Brandon, Superintendent for the Richmond Public Schools, was the recipient of the Society of Alumni’s Yellow Jacket Salute on Friday, September 11, 2009 at the Richmond “Macon Connections” event held in the Grand Ballroom of The Jefferson Hotel.
Brandon received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 1976, her master’s degree from Virginia State University in 1987 and her doctoral degree in 1995 from Nova University. She is also a 2006 graduate of the Broad Urban Superintendent’s Academy.
Brandon joined the faculty of Richmond Public Schools in August of 1977. Her professional experiences as a teacher of youth, mentor, guidance counselor, principal, director and deputy superintendent have allowed her to provide quality leadership and service to students, parents, teachers, administrators and staff of Richmond.
Brandon has made presentations to local, state and national audiences. Most notably, she provided insight to The Joint House Staff Committee on the Reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, 2006; provided testimony to The United States Senate Committee on Health Education, Labor and Pension, 2007; and has made several presentations at Harvard University.
Equally important to Brandon is her community outreach displayed in her membership on the Boards of the Commonwealth of Virginia Adult Basic Education; CIS of Virginia Board of Directors; Executive Committee for Center Stage; K12 Council; Bridging Richmond Executive Committee; Partners in the Arts; Virginia Mentoring; Virginia’s Promise; Richmond Workforce Investment; CAPER; J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Advisory; City of Richmond Human Services Cabinet; Virginia State Family Literacy Task Force and the Bull and Bear Club. In addition, she is a member of Fifth Baptist Church, Delta Sigma Theta sorority and The Commonwealth Chapter of Links, Inc.
Brandon resides in Richmond, Virginia.