Letter to the Editor

By David Keeling For 56 years this plaque was on the front of a lectern in DuPont Hall, which is being renovated as The Center for Global Learning at Washington and Lee University.  It honors Francis Thomas Glasgow II, W&L class of ’49, who was killed the following year while serving in the U.S armed forces in Korea.

“Wink” Glasgow was raised in a prominent legal family of Lexington, Virginia.  As a member of W&L’s rowing team, he was memorialized by his friends on the crew of 1947, 1948 and 1949, who donated the lectern and chairs.  They include Robert E.R. Huntley, beloved President of the University from 1968 until 1983, and Roger H. Mudd, the illustrious broadcast journalist and author.

Many experts in different subjects and all professors in the Art Department taught students and visitors from this lectern in the auditorium of Du Pont Hall.  In 2014 David A. Keeling, class of ’73, acquired the lectern and offered its return to W&L, but President Ruscio would not meet him.

This lectern should continue to honor Wink Glasgow and his W&L friends, whose generosity benefitted students, faculty, alumni and the public for such a long time. Suggestions for its use should be sent to DAKeeling@Hotmail.com.