Supporting its long-standing relationship with Flagler College, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust made a commitment of $1 million to help launch Flagler’s 50th Anniversary Campaign. The gift, which is earmarked for endowment, must be matched equally by other donors. In 2018, the college will celebrate its first half century.

President William T. Abare Jr. expressed appreciation for this gift, noting that “the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust has demonstrated long-standing support for higher education
and for Flagler.

“This gift from the Kenan Trust will assist us greatly in our efforts to ensure that our students continue to receive a high-quality education at Flagler, that they receive needed financial aid to assist them in paying their college costs, and that they are afforded opportunities to enrich their educational experience,” he said.

The announcement, made at the fall meeting of the Board of Trustees, generated immediate and enthusiastic support from the trustees, several of whom pledged gifts toward the match.

A gift to the 50th Anniversary Campaign that is designated to the Annual Fund, to a capital project such as the restoration of the Solarium or renovation of the Flagler College Auditorium, or to establish a new endowed fund, will qualify as part of the College’s match. This challenge must be met by June 1, 2012.

William R. Kenan Jr. was a scientist, mathematician and inventor involved in the discovery of calcium carbide and its use in the production of acetylene gas. Shortly before his 30th birthday, his oldest sister Mary Lily Kenan married Henry M. Flagler, and Flagler tapped his new brother-in-law to help run the Flagler System of hotels, railroads, steamship lines and land development. Kenan, and many of his family members, lived at the Hotel Ponce de Leon for several months each year, a practice that spanned more than half a century.

Kenan served as president of the Flagler System until his death in 1965. In 1962, he appointed his great-nephew, Lawrence Lewis Jr., to serve as his assistant. Upon Kenan’s passing, Lewis became the president of the Flagler System. Lewis, with his sister Mary Lily Flagler “Molly” Lewis Wiley, helped found Flagler College, which opened in the fall of 1968. The former Hotel Ponce de Leon became the centerpiece of the Flagler campus.

The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust was established in 1966, primarily to support education and excellence in teaching. The Trust has supported Flagler College throughout the institution’s history with gifts for capital projects and endowed scholarships for students. Capital projects include the construction of Kenan Hall, Lewis House, the Proctor Library and the Molly Wiley Art Building.

For information on how to help meet the Kenan Trust Challenge Grant, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 904-819-6437 or visit www.flagler.edu/support.

In 2004, original architectural drawings, sketches and notes for the Hotel Ponce de Leon – now Ponce de Leon Hall – were rescued from a campus boiler room, saving them from high heat and the ravages of insects and rodents.

The blueprints, which include some of the earliest works of architects John Carrère and Thomas Hastings, were literally disintegrating on the shelf. Many of the rolled drawings could not be opened for fear of the historic artifacts crumbling to dust.

But now, thanks to a prestigious Save America’s Treasures Grant administered by the National Park Service and the National Endowment for the Humanities, a two-year effort to conserve and digitize the drawings is nearing completion.

The task has been undertaken by a team of conservationists working at The University of Florida in Special Collections, Conservation and the Digital Library Center.

The First Works of Architectural Giants

Carrère and Hastings rank as two of the most significant American architects of the
late-19th and early-20th centuries. Their firm designed more than 600 buildings, among them the famous New York Public Library and Washington, D.C.’s House and Senate office buildings. St. Augustine’s Hotel Ponce de Leon, Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church and Hotel Alcazar were among the firm’s earliest works. But tragically, most of the archives of Carrère and Hastings’ office in New York were destroyed in the 1920s.

Thus, the collection discovered on campus at Flagler College — some 267 original, fragile drawings on cloth, silk and paper, as well as blueprints and copies — is the largest known archive documenting the firm’s early work. The drawings date from 1896-1957.

After the drawings were discovered, Leslee Keys, director of corporate, foundation and government relations at Flagler, with John Nemmers and John Freund of the University of Florida, approached the National Endowment of Humanities and the National Park Service for support. Through their efforts, the NEH and NPS awarded the College nearly $50,000 to aid in the conservation of the collection. This grant was one of only five grants awarded nationally and the only one outside the northeastern United States.

Preservation and digitization efforts will stabilize the collection and make the materials available for study and use without further damage.

Partnership with UF Protects and Preserves

The drawings are housed at the UF Architecture Archives to ensure that they are protected and available for research. The team is in the process of cleaning, flattening, deacidifying and encapsulating the collection.

Once the conservation effort is complete, digital copies of the papers will be available online for viewing and downloading, thus making public the largest collection of early Carrère and Hastings drawings in the world. Some of the drawings will be featured at Flagler College as part of a special exhibit during the College’s celebration of the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Hotel Ponce de Leon in 2013.

To follow the progress of the conservation and digitization project, visit www.flaglerdrawings.wordpress.com.

“The Flagler College Auditorium is one of the most important and widely used facilities in St. Augustine,” said Flagler College President William T. Abare Jr. “Since its opening in 1991, the auditorium has played host to hundreds of events and thousands of patrons.”

The first phase of renovations is planned for the summer of 2012 and will include interior upgrades to seating, carpet and décor. Improvements will also be made to technical components like sound and lighting. The estimated cost of the first phase of renovations is $1 million.

“The auditorium is used by community organizations for concerts, music festivals, film festivals, recitals, other forms of entertainment, and public and governmental meetings,” Abare said. “The educational and cultural programs offered in the auditorium have enriched the lives of our residents and have made our community a better place in which to live and work.”

The second phase — estimated at $1.2 million — is scheduled to commence after funds are raised, and will consist of a structural addition to the facility. The addition will feature more classroom space, meeting rooms and offices for faculty and staff.

Along with Theatre Department productions and other student events, community groups including The EMMA Concert Association, The St. Augustine Community Ballet, The St. Johns County Cultural Council, The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival and The Tourist Development Council have used the auditorium.

The educational and cultural programs offered in the auditorium have enriched the lives of our residents and have made our community a better place. – Flagler President William T. Abare, Jr.

In addition, through Flagler College programs such as Writers-in-Residence and the Forum on Government and Public Policy, the auditorium has hosted community presentations by the likes of Pat Conroy, Dennis Lehane, Robert Novak, David Broder and Andrew Young.

Renovations funded by Setting the Stage will ensure the venue’s continued availability for upcoming keystone events including the 500th Anniversary of Juan Ponce de Leon’s landing, the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act and the 450th Anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine.

For more information about the fundraising campaign, contact F. Mark Whittaker, vice president for Institutional Advancement, at (904) 819-6437, or visit www.flagler.edu/settingthestage.

Thanks to the generosity of donors Frank and Joan Tepper, Flagler College has celebrated a notable first – a gift for the college’s first Two-Life Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA). Their decision to donate $127,000 — proceeds from the sale of an investment property — provided clear tax benefits to the Teppers.

A CGA is a contract, under which Flagler College, in return for a transfer of cash, marketable securities or other assets agrees to pay a fixed amount of money to one or two individuals for their lifetime. A CGA also helps donors protect appreciated assets and avoid paying high capital gains taxes.

“It’s a win-win situation,” Tepper said. “There are clear tax benefits to us, but also, we are able to help the College. It is definitely a two-way benefit.”

“Charitable Gift Annuities can provide a safe harbor for investors in an unstable market,” said Mark Whittaker, vice president for Institutional Advancement. “They are also a way to accomplish philanthropic goals and make a difference at Flagler College.”

The Teppers are St. Augustine residents who adopted the College as a cause several years ago. They are regular attendees at Flagler College Forums and donors to the Molly Wiley Art Building.

For more information about the Flagler College Planned Giving Program, or to inquire about the income and tax advantages of a Charitable Gift Annuity, contact Nicole Pece, director of development, at 904-819-6240 or NPece@flagler.edu.

Lawrence Lewis would be proud.

Back in 1971, Lewis, the founder of Flagler College, hand-picked two energetic community leaders, John D. Bailey Sr. and Frank Upchurch Jr., to take seats on the college’s fledgling Board of Trustees. Ten years later, the board welcomed the addition of Lewis’ daughter, Louise Foster. This year the three trustees, who have given a combined 107 years of service and leadership to Flagler, have retired from the board.

It’s a bittersweet transition for all three. Upchurch and Bailey feel the significance of the moment, having dedicated nearly 40 years each to the growth and direction of Flagler. Foster, with nearly 30 years of service and the emotion of strong ties to the college, sees the transition as another chapter in her family’s long marriage to Flagler.

“It’s a jewel of St. Augustine,” she said. “My father loved the college; he saw it as a way to give back to St. Augustine. It’s been very gratifying to continue his vision.”

Though Flagler was founded in 1968, the organization struggled in its first three years. In 1971 Lewis established the Board of Trustees and brought Bailey and Upchurch on to help establish a more viable direction for the school. Together, they recruited Dr. William Proctor, who served as the president for 30 years. Together, they established the direction, the vision, the organization and the trajectory that would propel Flagler on a path of steady growth and continued academic success.

Bailey was a World War II veteran and a seasoned insurance executive when Lewis approached him about taking a seat on the board.

“Lawrence wanted a local board, people who knew the city and would help earn the trust and the support of the community,” Bailey said. “We knew if we could convince the town of the value of the college, we would be able to save these beautiful buildings and create something that would last, something that would give back.

“I believe it’s our duty to do everything we can to improve the town we live in. Flagler College has been such a big part of my life and my personal vision,” he said. He paused a moment, his voice low with emotion. “It’s a little tough, taking a step back.”

Upchurch can relate. Now retired, the attorney, judge and World War II combat veteran’s eyes light up when the conversation turns to one of three topics: his family, his life as an aviator and Flagler College. He, too, finds it hard to let go of his professional tie to the college as a member of the board.

“Lawrence [Lewis] was a great friend. Basically, anything he wanted me to do, I’d do it,” he remembers, laughing. “When he came to me with the proposal for the college, I was immediately on board.”

The growth of the college has been almost miraculous, Upchurch said. “To remember where it was that first day, when the offices and classrooms were just dusty old buildings, when we had so much work ahead of us, and to see where it is today, it’s nothing short of a miracle.

I have known all three of these trustees since I first joined the staff of the college in 1971… I consider them to be outstanding trustees, great community leaders and terrific personal friends. All three will be greatly missed. – William T. Abare, Jr., Ed.D., President

“John [Bailey] and I argue about who’s been on the board the longest,” Upchurch said. “We’re definitely the two who were there in the first days, along with Lawrence and Judge Howell Melton. We’ve seen quite a bit, you could say.”

Foster joined Upchurch and Bailey on the board in 1980 until 1999, and was then reappointed to the board in 2004. The daughter of Lawrence Lewis and the niece of Lewis’ sister, Flagler benefactor Molly Wiley, Foster has fond memories of Flagler College — both before and during its life as a college.

“We used to come to the Ponce when it was still a hotel,” she said. “We spent so much time there — when I was a teenager we’d almost have the run of the place, as it would be nearly empty in the summer. It’s a special, special place. I’m proud that my family was a part of the college’s founding, and so pleased that I was able to serve on the board for as long as I did.”

And the best thing the board has ever achieved? Hands down, according to Upchurch, “The best work we ever did was in selecting two incredible presidents. Bill Proctor and [current president] Bill Abare have made the job of the board an easy thing,” he said.

The vision of the trustees will be maintained in coming years through the works of their children, also members of the Board of Trustees: John D. Bailey Jr.; Mark F. Bailey; Frank D. Upchurch III; and Horace A. “Bo” Gray IV, Foster’s son.

A relative newcomer to the Flagler College community, Babcock was inspired to help support the college after meeting and working with a number of Flagler students employed in the restaurants.

“I have been so impressed with the quality of the students who have become my friends and colleagues,” Babcock said. “They immediately caught my attention, and I started to think about how I could get involved with the college that’s helping to shape them.”

Babcock, a native of New York City, grew up in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, not far from Cleveland, and attended Ohio University. An expansive logistics career took him all over the country, including back to his native New York where he continued to grow his logistics expertise. He established his own distribution company and ultimately transitioned into industrial real estate development.

After a 1979 business transaction brought him south to Jacksonville, Babcock was taken with Northeast Florida and soon made plans to relocate to the area. He and his wife now live in Ponte Vedra’s Marsh Landing.

“I love what this area was back then, and I love what it is today,” he said. But after recently selling his logistics business to his employees and retiring from the industry, Babcock was ready for new initiatives, and his attention turned south to St. Augustine.

“I spend more and more of my time in St. Augustine these days,” he said. “I still love Jacksonville, but as my career has evolved and I have more time to look at new projects, St. Augustine is very appealing to me.”

Today, Babcock works with a few Flagler College students at Opus 39 and The Tasting Room. He says the restaurants offer good employment opportunities for students looking for upscale, local dining establishments where they can work while completing their degrees.

It didn’t take long before Babcock began noticing a trend in the students working in his restaurants: they were positive, smart, polished, professional and industrious, qualities Babcock values as an investor and an entrepreneur.

He connected the dots and quickly credited Flagler College with recruiting and retaining such a high level of student. Then, Babcock began looking into the history of the college and talking with Flagler representatives about getting involved. The plans for his gift fell into place quickly, and it wasn’t long before Babcock felt confident with his pledge of $250,000 in unrestricted funds.

“I like to see resources go to scholarship funds,” he said, “but I feel a great sense of trust with Flagler College, and I know they will use the funds toward whatever need is greatest. It’s up to the college; I’m happy to categorize my support as unrestricted giving.”

Babcock says however his gift is used, he’s convinced of one thing: it will be money well spent in transforming the lives of many, many young people at Flagler College.

“Getting to know the Flagler students I’ve had the pleasure to work with has made me less cynical about tomorrow,” he said. “These are hard-working students, people who have to work to support their educations. I see, in Flagler’s students, how good things are going to be in our future. And I’m proud to support their college in any small way I can.”

“I still get a rush every time it happens,” Thomas Graham said. “Every time I see a student out in the world, achieving something, and I realize that’s the same quiet girl who sits in the back of my class. These students are high achievers — they’re doers. I’m always pleasantly surprised by the capabilities of my students.”

His sentiment rings true for all three retirees, each of whom has seen tremendous changes in the size, technological capabilities and culture of Flagler College. When Graham started in 1973, the college enrolled just 300 students.

“In those days, we all knew each other,” he said. “Today I see new faces all the time, but I think the culture of the College has prevailed, and we are still at our core a group of supportive and creative people.”

When Lou Preysz joined the faculty in 1982, Kenan Hall was still a vacant building.

“We had classes in Ponce Hall, in Markland House, in the Billiard Room,” Preysz said. “There was an old Coast Guard building where the gazebo is today. There was no Proctor Library, no Student Center. It was a different place.”

Graham realized the importance of being involved in the early growth of the college.

“Flagler gave us a chance to invent something,” he said. “We were a part of something. We were creative. We made it happen.”

Graham, a native of Miami, was debating several job offers when he threw his hat into the ring with the 5-year-old college in St. Augustine. “I saw this as an opportunity to get in on the ground floor — literally — and write the future,” he said.

When Preysz took a pleasure trip to St. Augustine in 1982, he was feeling burned out from a long career in banking. The former Florida Army National Guard Captain had been teaching part-time and looking for a full-time position. As he drove down Cordova Street he saw a faded sign: “Flagler College.”

“I have to admit, my first reaction was, ‘My gosh, there’s a college here?’” he remembers. “I pulled in and started wandering the campus. I ran into Dean [Robert] Carberry and pitched him right there on the spot. The rest, I guess you would say, is history.”

In addition to his role as associate professor of business administration, Preysz is known for his service as adviser to Flagler’s Society for Advancement of Management. Preysz recently led the Flagler SAM team to an unprecedented eighth national championship.

By the time Tom Pace signed on in 1996, the college was celebrating the grand opening of Proctor Library. He served as an education professor throughout his tenure and as Chair of the Education Department until 2004. A key force in securing Florida Department of Education accreditation and the state-mandated ESOL endorsement for Flagler, Pace remains unassuming about his professional achievements.

“When I came, all the faculty had been here a long time,” he said. “Now we see much
of the old guard handing over the reins to a younger generation of faculty. I think that’s a good thing. I like progress. It’s very exciting to think about where Flagler is going to be in the next 40 years.”

On July 16, 1944, 25-year-old Edward “Cos” Cosgrove wasn’t sure he’d make it to 26. The Air Force lieutenant, a bombardier with the 825th Bomb Squadron, had just completed his 34th aerial combat mission, with one more to go. The target was the Tarascon railroad bridge in southern France. The reward — if he could make it — would be a year of non-combat service and an honorable discharge, with all the promise of a full life and career ahead.

He made it.

And that’s a good thing for present and future Flagler College English and business students, not to mention the hundreds of admiring friends, family and colleagues Cosgrove left behind when he died last May at the age of 88. The long-time St. Augustine resident and business leader bequeathed more than $1.1 million to the college for use as scholarships. And though the heft of the gift is striking, it comes as no great surprise to those who knew and loved “Cos,” a man of generous spirit and long-term vision.

Edward John (Kosikowski) Cosgrove was born in Connecticut in 1918. Following his distinguished military career as a bombardier, he came to St. Augustine, where he met his wife, Margery Renton, a high-energy professional who served for a time as a personal secretary to author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. He served as bank president and chairman of Barnett Bank of St. Augustine, and he also became a very active and generous supporter of Flagler College since its inception in 1968.

“Ed was well-respected as a fine banker who served as president of Barnett Bank in St. Augustine for many years,” said Allen Lastinger, former president and chief operating officer of Barnett Bank Jacksonville. “He and his wife, Margery, were world travelers, and they were very cosmopolitan.”

The Margery Renton and Edward J. Cosgrove Endowed Scholarship awards will be made to Flagler College juniors or seniors from St. Johns County, Fla., majoring in business administration or English. Shrewd businessman to the end, Cosgrove was careful to protect the gift’s potential by stipulating that no funds be drawn against it for the first five years in order to ensure the endowment’s continued growth.

Dashing, fun-loving and adventurous, with a sophisticated outlook born of extensive world travel, the Cosgroves were the toast of St. Augustine for many years. Following Margery’s death in 1989, Edward retreated from public life and spent his final years quietly supporting the college and the organizations in which he believed.

His final bequest to Flagler College — one which will help shape the futures of academically-minded students for many years to come — is a testament to the high-flying success of a brave, adventurous and heroic local leader.