Purdue News
Purdue News
|
|
April 16, 2003 Beverley Stone, Purdue’s first dean of students, dies at 86WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Marguerite Beverley "Bev" Stone, 86, former dean of women and dean of students at Purdue University, died after a long illness today (4/16) in George Davis Manor where she lived for the past four years.
She was born June 10, 1916, in Norfolk, Va. Her early childhood was spent in Crewe, Va. President Martin C. Jischke said, "Today, we have lost in Dean Stone a treasured member of the Purdue family. She cared deeply about Purdue students and worked hard to expand opportunities for women, both here at Purdue and in the wider world. Bev Stone was also an active member of the community who will be missed in Greater Lafayette." In 1968, Stone succeeded Helen Schleman as dean of women with the academic rank of professor. With the consolidation of the Offices of the Dean of Men and Dean of Women in 1974, Stone was named Purdue's first dean of students – the only woman dean of students in the Big Ten at that time. She retired from Purdue in 1980. "Dean Stone was a role model to all students,"said Thomas Robinson, vice president for student services. "She worked tirelessly and cared deeply. She set the highest standard of excellence." Stone received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in 1936. She earned a master’s degree in student personnel administration in 1940 and a professional diploma from Columbia University in 1956. Stone served as a WAVE Officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1943-46 and in the Korean War from 1950-52. She retired from the Navy with the rank of lieutenant commander. Her educational career began as a high school chemistry teacher at Norfolk High School from 1936-41. She was an assistant professor at Tusculum College in Greenville, Tenn., from 1941-43, where she taught chemistry and served as a counselor to students. She was a member of the dean of women's staff for seven years at the University of Arkansas and served as dean of women from 1954-55. In 1956, Stone began her 24-year career at Purdue. She served in a number of capacities in the Office of the Dean of Women, where she advised numerous student organizations, including Student Government, Panhellenic Association, Mortar Board and Old Masters Central Committee. In 1974, she co-authored with Barbara Cook a monograph, Counseling Women. Purdue’s current Dean of Students L. Tony Hawkins, who was hired by Dean Stone in 1975, said, "I had the privilege of working with her until her retirement in 1980. She was the consummate professional, with equal balance of poise, grace and resolute strength. Having been hired by Dean Helen Schleman, Bev Stone followed and maintained a great tradition of leadership. Bev was not only a campus leader; she was loved and held in highest esteem by state and national colleagues and peers. Her memory will be revered for her strong advocacy for students, and particularly for the equal rights and privileges for women." In 1971, she was appointed chair of a university committee by John Hicks, executive assistant to President Arthur Hansen, to study equal employment opportunities for women at Purdue. The committee report highlighted inequities in numbers, promotional opportunities and salaries for women. The findings of this report were an important milestone for the advancement of opportunities for women at Purdue. During her professional career, Stone was active in a number of educational associations. She served as treasurer and as a trustee of the Kathryn S. Phillips Trust of the National Association of Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors, and was a member of the Indiana Deans Association. She was a member of the American Association of University Women and past president of the Arkansas branch. She served as vice-president and district adviser of the national Alpha Lambda Delta scholastic honorary organization. She held memberships in the Purdue Women's Caucus, the Purdue Women's Club, Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Lambda Theta, Omicron Delta Kappa, Zeta Tau Alpha and Mortar Board. She was the first woman initiated into Iron Key at Purdue. Stone was also active in her community and state. She served at term on the West Lafayette City Council from 1984-88 and was a member of the Tippecanoe County Board of Zoning Appeals. In 1984, she served as a member of the Governor's Committee on Indiana's Utility Future. She also served on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, the Lay Advisory Board of St. Elizabeth Hospital, the Lafayette Art Museum, the Lafayette Crisis Center and the Advisory Committee of the Purdue School of Nursing. Listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Women, her honors include an honorary doctor of humane letters from Purdue in 1986 and an alumnae achievement award from Randolph-Macon Women's College in 1996. She was the recipient of two Sagamore of the Wabash Awards, in 1980 from Gov. Otis Bowen, and in 1985 from Gov. Robert Orr. She was selected as the Outstanding Woman in Education Award in 1978 by a coalition of women's organizations in the Greater Lafayette area. In 1999, Stone received a Special Carolyn Shoemaker Achievement Award from the Community House Board of Duncan Hall. She also received recognition from Purdue and Purdue student organizations: First Distinguished Woman's Award by the Alumni Association in 1980, Distinguished Old Master Award in 1979, the Dean Stone Award, established by Omicron Delta Kappa and presented annually to the outstanding academic counselor at Purdue; and the Helen Schleman Gold Medallion Award. Her work and dedication to campus sororities was acknowledged by the Panhellenic Association through its raising funds and dedicating in her honor a Purdue landmark on the corner of Grant and State streets on the Purdue campus. Stone was a member of the Parlor Club, the Purdue Alumni Association, the Purdue President's Council and the John Purdue Club. She was a member of the West Lafayette First United Methodist Church and served as a member of its administrative board and foundation board. She is survived by a sister, Mary Stone Strieby of Virginia Beach, Va.; two nephews, Robert Garrison (wife Cynthia) and Jim Garrison (wife Ginger); and three great-nephews, Michael Garrison, Loren Garrison (wife Heather) and Evan Garrison. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clara and James Stone. Visitation will be 5-7 Saturday (4/19) at Hippensteel Funeral Home, Lafayette. Funeral and burial will be in Norfolk, Va. Plans for a Greater Lafayette memorial service are pending. The family suggests that memorials be sent to Clara Davidson Scholarship at Randolph Macon Woman’s College; First United Methodist Church, West Lafayette; Purdue Dean of Students Contingency Fund; or a charity of choice. Writer: Jeanne Norberg, (765) 494-2084, jnorberg@purdue.edu Sources: Betty Nelson, dean of students emerita, (765) 463-3144 Barbara Cook, dean of students emerita, (765) 463-5642 Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
|
