Colby College
Office of Alumni Relations
4310 Mayflower Hill
Waterville, ME 04901-8843
P: 207-859-4310
F: 207-859-4316
alumni@colby.edu
 

Winter 2005-06

Wilson Receives C Club's Top Honor at 2005 Colby Night Dinner
 
AlexWilsonCClubPOY
Alex Wilson '73 accepts the C Club Person of the Year as Art Brennan '68 looks on.
The 102nd Colby Night Dinner was a rousing success as alumni, parents, and friends gathered to celebrate the athletic accomplishments of the Colby teams and athletes from last season as well as share in a heartfelt remembrance of James M. “Jimmy” Hayes ’76, special recognition of the Shiro brothers (Oren ’42, Burt ’44 and Ted ’51) and finally the presentation of the C Club Person of the Year Award to Alex Wilson ’73.
 
C Club President Bill Ralph ’88 emceed the event and invited President William D. Adams to make a few remarks. President Adams welcomed the crowd of 200 and spoke of the importance of the athletic experience and how it ties in with the educational mission of the College.

Athletic Director Marcella Zalot and the C Club recognized Jess Minty ’06 (indoor track), who placed second in the women’s 800-meter run at the NCAA Indoor Track Division III Championships; Kelly Norsworthy ’08 (women’s swimming), who earned six All-America honors by finishing third in the country in the 100-yeard breaststroke, fifth in the 200-yeard breaststroke, and being part of four relay teams that placed at the NCAA Division III meet; Abbi Lathrop ’06 (alpine skiing), who finished second in the women’s giant slalom at the NCAA Division I Skiing Championships and earned All-America honors; and Warner Nickerson ’05 (alpine skiing), who captured silver medals in the giant slalom and the combined at the FIS-Winter World University Games in Innsbruck, Austria. Nickerson earned first team All-America honors for finishing second in the giant slalom at the NCAA Division I Championships. In addition two teams were honored: the 2004 women’s cross country team, which made school history with its best finish ever – fifth place out of 24 teams – at the NCAA Division III Championships; and the women’s swimming and diving team, which placed eighth – the program’s best-ever finish – at the 2005 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships.

 
With the members of the Hayes family on hand, Wilson and Head Football Coach Ed Mestieri shared the story of Jimmy Hayes ’76, an outstanding two-sport athlete who passed away in 1993 after a 16-year battle with multiple sclerosis. Wilson shared how Jimmy, despite the challenges of being in a wheelchair, always cheered for Colby when the teams played near his Massachusetts home. In the 1992 Colby-Amherst football game, the Mules held on to defeat the Lord Jeffs. The team rallied around Jimmy and presented him the game-winning ball. In a moving gesture at the dinner, Jimmy’s parents, Gunner and Mary Hayes P’76, presented the football back to Mestieri so that it may be placed in the trophy room.
Farr McClay Shiros
Sid Farr '55, Ted Shiro '51, Paul McClay '55, and Burt Shiro '44 reunited at the dinner.
 
Following the tribute to Hayes, the C Club honored three of its own, Oren, Burt and Ted Shiro, for their outstanding athletic accomplishments. Burt and Ted accepted on behalf of Oren. Many family members and guests watched as Ed Fraktman ’53 made the special presentation on behalf of the C Club and the College.

The conclusion of the evening was the presentation of the C Club Person of the Year Award to Alex Wilson ’73. Art Brennan ’68 did the honors, reading the citation that noted Wilson’s dedication to Colby athletics and how the College has benefited from his leadership, as president of the C Club, chair of the Alumni Council Athletics Committee, and president of the Alumni Association.