Great Lives Separator A slash icon used to separate content Support Great Lives Separator A slash icon used to separate content Series Sponsors Separator A slash icon used to separate content 2025-2026 Donors

The following supporters have given generously to keep the William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series free and open to the public. Donations received between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026 support the Spring 2026 series.

Founding Patron

Mr. John Chappell established a substantial operating endowment that enabled the creation of the Great Lives Lecture Series, and his subsequent gifts enhanced the program immeasurably.

Series Sustaining Sponsors

  • Chancellor’s Village
  • Coldwell Banker Elite
  • Davenport & Company
  • Janet Hedrick ’73 and Jack Bales
  • Jubilation by Silver Companies
  • Roxanne M. Kaufman ’08
  • Fred and Barbara Rankin
  • Walter Jervis Sheffield
  • Synergy Periodontics and Implants

Program Sponsors

  • John and Linda Coker
  • Jack and Marilyn Farrington
  • Stephen Gaske and Patricia Powers Gaske ’75
  • Irene and Curry Roberts
  • UMW Dining
  • UMW Museums
  • Yuh Prosthodontics

Presenters

  • Margaret Birch ’79
  • Porter and Linda Lemanski Blakemore ’84
  • Dr. Gary and Tooie Garber
  • The Gemini 3 Group, Incorporated
  • Nancy A. Kaiser ’82
  • Lila and Alex Mait
  • Kathleen Nagy Schabacker ’68
  • Joseph Nordsieck and Melanie Ringer
  • Joanna Reynolds
  • Paul and Debra Simpson
  • Verizon Foundation
  • William and Carol Wachter

Supporters

  • Ed and Joyce Allison
  • David and Lisa Durham
  • Val A. Folden
  • David and Judith Garland
  • Jo Hanlon
  • Martha Kimball Hearn ’58
  • Milton and Linda Kline
  • John and Rosemarie McKeown
  • Sammy and Betty Merrill
  • Martin and Elaine Miller
  • Lisa Rauch Walsh ’79
  • Archer C. Williams ’88
  • Hon. J. M. H. Willis, Jr.

Friends

  • B. Gen (Ret.) Jack A. Apperson
  • Jay and Bernadine Arnn Hayes ’66
  • Susan R. Barnes ’87
  • Hon. and Mrs. H. Harrison Braxton
  • James and Ann Byrnes
  • Mike and Sheila Carney
  • Kim Conway
  • John and Gaye Copley
  • Bill and Terrie Crawley
  • Elizabeth Daly
  • Marian and Stan Dawgert
  • Barry and Linda Dillon
  • Dorothy Downs
  • William H. Farr
  • Charles and Laura Fennemore
  • Victor A. Fingerhut
  • Darlene Flemer
  • Mike Fray
  • Mary Katherine Goodwin Greenlaw ’61
  • Juanita L. Gurubatham
  • Mike and Kelly Haden
  • Lucy Harman
  • Dana and Raymond Herlong
  • David and Jean Graham Hunt ’72
  • Ralph and Elizabeth Joseph
  • Marc Kelley
  • Terry and Kathleen Love
  • Peggy Lundry
  • Paul and Ann Lusher
  • Kathleen M. Mahoney
  • Wayland and Melissa Marks
  • Walter and Mary Mathews
  • Judy Wilson Mayfield
  • David and Nancy Montgomery
  • Carol Mullins ’80
  • Joseph and Janel O’Malley ’11
  • Sarah Pessagno
  • Martin and Ruth Poch
  • Al and Susan Roth
  • Sarah Lloyd and Kevin Rousseau
  • William and Marinda Sasser
  • Diane S. Shea ’81
  • Richard and Terry Shea
  • Lisa Simmermon
  • Marta A. Smith ’04
  • Rita Morgan Stone ’52
  • Marjorie Roszmann Tankersley ’69
  • Tom and Jessica Waltz
  • Roy and Lolly Weinstock
  • John and Laura Westermeier
  • Stuart and Sylvia McJilton Woodcock ’61
  • ”The Bad Girls Book Club”
  • “Mary Washington ElderStudy”

Great Lives

Help Great Lives Live On

This compelling lecture series offers insight into a wide and diverse range of figures of historical and cultural significance. These presentations are delivered by eminent authorities from throughout this country — and abroad. Thanks to a substantial initial endowment and continuing annual support from John Chappell, the program is open to the public free of charge and no admission tickets are required. Public support — via attendance, donations, and ideas about future lecture topics — is vital to the continuation of this program.

Give to Great Lives

Weather Cancellations

When the University of Mary Washington is closed due to inclement weather the Great Lives Lecture is cancelled for that evening. To check for cancellations due to inclement weather, visit the Campus Advisories page, or the UMW Information Line at 540-654-2424.