Hall of Fame

Gates worked numerous jobs in gas stations, department stores, restaurants, and tobacco farms provided spending money until he left in August of 1961 to join practice for the William Penn College football team.  While at Penn he ran the front and back end of Mahaska Bowl (currently owned by William Penn), and he was a bartender at Elmhurst Country Club.

Upon graduation, he entered the U. S. Navy aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Yorktown deployed to Vietnam. After a short stint as a signalman he joined Special Services where he was a nightly sports broadcaster to the fleet, taught high school classes to GED hopefuls, and wrote articles for the ships’ daily newspaper.  Gates job aboard the Yorktown was recreation and morale. He organized and scheduled all of the ships’ athletic teams to compete with other ships and countries, planned the band to perform at special occasions aboard and ashore, and would fly off the ship to develop tours and activities for the crew when it arrived in port.

After completing active duty with the Navy, Gates with the help of a former Penn student, joined Fairchild Semiconductor in Sunnyvale, California as their Director of Recreation. This matriculated into the Human Resources Department where he was responsible for employee relations for a large segment of the company.

He moved through several prominent companies in a Human Resources capacity until he arrived at Fortune 500 Company Raytheon in 1984, headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Human Resources at Raytheon included government security, compliance with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, community relations, union negotiations, health & welfare, employee relations, compensation, benefits, training and development, and employment.

Gates was responsible for some or all of these Human Resource components during his tenure at Raytheon.

He oversaw plants in England, Canada, and numerous facilities throughout the United States, with the most unique being White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.  When he retired from Raytheon in 2001, Gates had 200 people reporting to him and was responsible for 10,000 employees.

Outside of work he indulged in tennis, softball, and road races.  He was an active coach in Pop Warner football, little league, military football and softball, and adult softball leagues, and served on the town council in Westford , Massachusetts.

Gates also sat on the boards of The Big Brothers/Big Sisters of San Francisco, Hope for Retarded Children and Adults of San Jose, the Navy League, and the Tilghman Area Youth Association of Maryland.

Since retiring, Gates taught woodworking for an after school program for seven years, and has mentored two youth over the last nine years through Talbot Mentors of Easton, Maryland.  He currently mentors a William Penn University student, in the Online/Evening program, through the Alumni Mentoring Program.

Mike and his lovely bride Lynn, a 1967 graduate of Penn, live happily on the Chesapeake Bay in St Michaels, Maryland where in their spare time they enjoy gardening and sailing.  In recognition of his personal career success and volunteer time given to assist young people in their own career skill development, William Penn University is proud to present the 2017 Distinguished Career Award to Mike Gates, Class of 1965.

After his time as a student at William Penn College from 1956–1958, Jerry transferred to the University of Iowa, completing his BBA in 1960 and his MBA in 1962.  Although he may have transferred from one college to another, Jerry maintains that William Penn was the solid foundation of his higher education experience.

After his college education, Ellis joined the international accounting firm of Arthur Andersen in 1962 and spent 38 years with the firm in Dallas, Texas; Madrid, Spain; and Chicago, Illinois. His hard work and dedication paid off and he was admitted to the firm’s partnership in 1973. Over the years, he served as an audit partner on clients, ranging from large international public companies to smaller non-profit businesses. In the last few years, he was a project leader for the design and development of firm-wide audit training.

Jerry and his wife, Lucy moved their permanent home to Pella in 1998, and from 2000–2006 served as an adjunct professor, teaching advanced auditing at the University of Iowa. From 2001–2009, he served on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of two public pharmaceutical companies (Sciele Pharma and Akorn, Inc.).

Ellis joined the William Penn Board of Trustees in 2004 and became Chair in 2011.  In addition to his service to William Penn, Ellis has given his time coaching youth soccer in Pella for 12 years and continues to do so today.  Along with coaching, he also scouts future opponents and serves on the film editing team for the girls’ soccer coach at Pella Community High School.

Other service leadership positions he has held include: Dallas Chapter President of the National Association of Accountants; President of the Board of the North Texas Food Bank; President of the Board of the Special Care School for Developmentally Challenged Students; President of Lake Highlands Soccer Association; President of Pella Soccer Club; Chair of Pella’s Fall Festival; and Vice President of the Consistory of Pella’s First Reformed Church.

Family is important to Jerry and Lucy and they take numerous trips to spend quality time with their three sons: Brooks (Christie) Ellis of Dallas, Texas; Berry (Sheila) Ellis of Wilmette, Illinois; and Collin (Stephanie) Ellis of Houston, Texas, along with their eight grandchildren: Ford, Caroline, Lauren, Jack, Ryan, Keegan, Max, and Quinn.

For his willingness to serve in leadership roles throughout his community, in his profession, within youth programs and for William Penn University, William Penn is proud to present the 2017 Distinguished Service Award to Jerry Ellis, Class of 1960.

Mary enrolled at William Penn earning her degree in education in 1962.  She went on to teach for several more years at North Mahaska schools.  Following his mother, William (Bill) came to William Penn in 1963 and graduated in 1968 with an education degree in Industrial Arts.  After college, Bill went into the Army and served as a crypto-technician for the military.  After completing his military service, he came back to the area to raise a family.  A teaching position was open that was the right calling for Bill and he taught Industrial Arts at Sigourney for 31 years.  During that time he also earned his Master’s degree from Northern Missouri State University.

Bill and his wife, Linda, have two children: Richard and Stephanie.  Stephanie came to William Penn in the early 90s where she met her future husband, Rob Campbell.  Both Stephanie and Rob had their sights set on earning their degrees, however those degrees came at different moments in their lives.  Stephanie graduated from William Penn in 1996 and currently is a science teacher at Oskaloosa High School.  Rob graduated from Penn in 2003 and is teaching science at Oskaloosa Middle School.  Both have been adjunct instructors at Penn.  Rob and Stephanie have three children; William, Allison and Rees.  Future Statesmen, no doubt.

Jane Rees met and married Donald Groet.  She became a farm wife and worked as an Assistant Manager at Casey’s for over 20 years.  Don had a son and daughter, David and Maureen, and together Donald and Jane had a daughter, Dawn.  Jane’s stepson, David also came to William Penn earning his degree in business and applied computer science in 2003.

Dave is the Senior Microsoft Technical Analyst for Pella Corporation and also taught as an adjunct at William Penn.  The connections continue with David’s wife, Connie (Mitrisin) earning her secondary education degree in 1990.  She currently serves as a teacher’s aide for the Life Skill students at Oskaloosa High School along with coaching softball at OHS.

David and Connie have four daughters: Mackenzie, Caitlin, Rachel and Alexis.  Caitlin will graduate from William Penn in December 2017 with a degree in psychology and her fiancé, Ben Hilmer, a 2017 graduate, is currently teaching elementary physical education in Boone, IA.  Rachel will graduate with the class of 2019 after completing her student teaching in Physical Education K–12.

William Penn University is honored to present the 2017 Torch Award to the Harry and Mary Rees family.

I met Pat Hussey on Move-In Day in the Fall of 1969 as another incoming freshman. We gave her a new name, “Trish”, and that became her “Penn” name for four years. Pat was a William Penn Resident Assistant for a couple of years, and a charter/founding member of the Lambda Delta Phi Sorority at William Penn in the early 70’s.

After graduating in 1973, Patricia Hussey Fisher returned to her hometown of Storm Lake with a degree in Sociology. She was a relatively new bride to Dennis Fisher, a fellow William Penn student, who left school and joined the US Air Force to serve during the Vietnam era. After Dennis’ service was completed they started their family of three sons, Brian, Matt, Gregory (lost at birth), and daughter Melanie.

As the children grew, sports became a big part of the Fisher family’s life. As Pat was spending large amounts of time with her family attending various community sporting events, she decided accept the Recreation and Facilities Use Coordinator position with the Storm Lake School District. After 15 years she advanced to the very top level as Community Education Director. During that 20 year period, she organized, planned, created programs, ran programs, scheduled, raised funds, donated substantial time, mowed fields and contributed her own funds when needed for the success of the organization.

“Whatever it takes” was Pat’s motto. She did just that to create a welcoming enjoyable inclusive sports experience for thousands of Storm Lake youths and adults.

Many have heard of the Dyersville “Field of Dreams” but Storm Lake has their own “Field of Dreams” thanks to Pat Fisher’s vision, participation and hard work. The Storm Lake version is a sports venue that houses softball, baseball and soccer fields. Pat was a leader in planning, fundraising, building and managing this facility. Pat organized and managed the annual youth softball tournament at the sports complex. When she saw that special needs children deserved the opportunity to play softball, she organized the Challenger Games for them.

Looking for ways to get more youth involved in sports activities throughout her life and career, Pat worked as a member of the Storm Lake School District Foundation. This foundation allowed teachers and students to apply for special project funding through grant requests.

A program called Project ENGAGE was founded by a small group, including Pat, who recognized not all children and families can afford the participation fees or to purchase the necessary athletic equipment. Many times Pat observed this need and quietly paid personally for those who could not. Project ENGAGE accepts donations which are used as scholarships to see that children who want to participate don’t have to watch from the sidelines.

As it became apparent to the community of Storm Lake that Pat got things done, one year she was named Commodore of the annual 4th of July festivities, known as the Star Spangled Spectacular, where she planned and organized the summer holiday parade. In May 2013, the community named Pat as Grand Marshall “due to her dedication to the Storm Lake Community Education program and the children of Storm Lake.” She was also a member of Rotary and Kiwanis Club.

The quiet unassuming humble young lady I met nearly 47 years ago grew to be an accomplished family and community member who dedicated her adult life to helping youth and adults through sports and community activities. Sadly, Pat lost her 9-year battle with cancer March 15, 2016 and Storm Lake lost a community icon.

Patricia Hussey Fisher didn’t write this…but she lived it. “Time is not measured by the passing of years, but by what one does, what one feels, and what one achieves.”

Pat Fisher lived in a way that Ed Thomas would be proud— faith, family, community and sports.