Drannan and Bev Hamby

Drannan Hamby '55 and his wife, Bev (Reinhart) '54, have been affiliated with Linfield for more than 60 years as students, athletes, alumni, parents and faculty. Drannan taught physics, chemistry and Outdoor Environmental Studies in the Cascades during his 40 years of teaching at Linfield. Their children, Mark '76 and Marcy Hamby-Towns '85, are also loyal alumni. Recently, Drannan reflected on their decision to include a gift to Linfield in their estate plan.

"I became interested in Linfield College in 1949, because my wife-to-be, Bev, was a student there. Linfield and its people played a positive part in my life and the lives of my wife and children, all graduates.

"I was lucky to enroll at an opportune time. There were outstanding people teaching, administering, coaching and studying at Linfield. In 1955, the Fulbright Program had just begun. After graduating, I received a Fulbright grant to study for a year at Christian Albrects University in Kiel, Germany. During that time, Linfield Research Institute was initiated, under the leadership of Professor Walter Dyke, to study surface physics. Professor Dyke invited me to return to a job as a chemical technician at the institute. By 1964, I had earned a master's degree and had started teaching in the physics department at Linfield.

"One of the best opportunities came in 1974 when I began teaching in an outdoor experiential education program. The program allowed me to combine my love of the outdoors with my love of the physical sciences. I found students receptive to learning about a variety of disciplines, including my favorite, physical chemistry, in the 'need to know' winter environment. The scene was full of 'teachable moments.'

"Both Bev and I give back to the college because of what it did for our family, what it does for the larger community and because we want others to have the kinds of opportunities we had to learn how to live better. I want others to be able to go to a college where one can be a football player, chemistry major and a Fulbright scholar. I want Linfield to continue to be a place where faculty are scholars but are also encouraged to be involved in their broader community. I want it to be a place where there are lots of people who think an education is about much more than making money. And, finally, I want to support a college where loyalty to purpose and community is important.

"This is why we made the decision to include a gift to Linfield in our wills when we recently revised our estate plans," Drannan concludes.

To learn about making a difference in Linfield's future, contact Craig L. Haisch '95 at 503-883-2675 or chaisch@linfield.edu.