Bill and Legacy

The Trip:

Ted Smith and I recently made a trip to Potsdam. We had a great time reliving memories and catching up with what's new on campus (btw, campus looks great!). We had dinner with Jim Petercsak - still going strong and leading the everlasting percussion discussion, and we met the undergraduate percussionists. We visited the new, and remarkable, Performing Arts Center adjacent to Crane. We met Crane School Dean Michael Sitton, and we visited with Emily Hutchison from the Advancement Office where we began a discussion.

We told Emily about our dear friend and roommate, Bill Lucas. We talked about how Bill had such a powerful musical gift, about the great friendship he shared with us and with so many of his peers, about his humor, and his kindness.

And we spoke about the extraordinary courage and strength he demonstrated as he moved forward in life following his tragic and life changing injury. If you don't remember, Bill returned to Potsdam, with 24 hour nursing care, completed his degree, became an advocate for the rights of the disabled, married, and led a productive and happily independent life until his death in 1995, twenty years ago. You might remember that Bill drove a specially built van and carried on with a happy and active social life for 23 more years. We shared many great times together.

I think of Bill often, very often, and I have many fond memories. Like many of you, I miss him.

We would like to honor Bill's memory and legacy by establishing an endowed scholarship in his name at Potsdam College. An endowment is forever and we think Bill's contributions to Crane should be remembered through the ages. An endowed scholarship requires a minimum $20,000 contribution and will provide approximately $1,000-1,200/year to a deserving student. Wouldn't it be great to help sponsor the education of an undergraduate student in the name of our friend?

An Idea:

We're proposing a plan that will allow friends to help preserve Bill's legacy, and we're committed to raising the $20,000 in order to endow a scholarship in Bill's name within 3 years. In fact, we have a target date: 8/8/18! Sound familiar? Imagine the celebration we will have on that day if we accomplish this for our friend!

We've set up individual payment plans to the Bill Lucas Memorial Scholarship Fund that will put us at more than half of the total funding needed within 3 years. Won't you join us?

Any amount will be meaningful, but consider making a 3 year pledge. A small monthly donation can make a huge difference! Six people donating $50/month for 3 years will put us well over the top. Three people donating $100/month does the same thing. You may already be making regular contributions to Potsdam College; consider directing those contributions, or a portion thereof, to Bill's scholarship fund for the next 3 years.

Together we can do this, and we invite you to play a part. We all loved Bill and it will be meaningful to accomplish this together! And btw, I'm not kidding about celebrating this accomplishment. Let's do it!

Here's another point: 

In my talks with folks at Potsdam I have learned that Potsdam College, and the Crane School in particular, struggle to compete for the best and brightest students due to a lack of scholarships offered. Scholarships attract great students and allow Crane to compete with other fine schools. And, in case you don't know, Crane still has an outstanding music education program and it's as popular as it's ever been. The students want to be there and we can help Crane attract the strongest and most capable candidates.

We're both thankful for the great education we received during our years in Potsdam and we're proud of our college. They need our support to continue to be a great institution of higher learning. What better way to celebrate our great memories at Potsdam than to honor one of our best friends? Together. Please consider joining us in establishing the Bill Lucas Memorial Scholarship.

To make a donation to the Bill Lucas Memorial Scholarship, click this link or type potsdam.edu into your browser. Click the red "Take The Lead Campaign" banner, then click the red "Give Now" banner on the right side. You can make a one time donation or set up a recurring gift. One thing, it's important to write Bill Lucas Memorial Scholarship in the "other" or "comments" box!

We look forward to seeing you and celebrating with you on August 8, 2018!