Société d’Honneur Welcomes Members

The ranks of Lafayette’s most honored benefactors grew with the induction of Philip D. ’60 and Bernice Bollman, Judson C. ’79 and Cynthia Oaks Linville ’80, and H. Lee Messner ’49 into the Société d’Honneur in March.

The Plaza de Societe d’Honneur

The Société was formed in 1986 to recognize exceptional lifetime generosity on the part of alumni, parents, and friends. The financial support of the 29 inaugural members spanned the first 160 years of the College’s history. Since their induction, the Société has grown to 119 members, including 22 inducted during the Live Connected, Lead Change campaign.

Phil and Bernice Bollman have expressed their gratitude for the assistance they received as students and their commitment to help current students by supporting financial aid, athletics, and engineering. The Bollman Team Room for baseball at Kamine Varsity House is named in their honor. They recently established the Philip D. Bollman Jr. ’60 and Bernice Bollman Scholarship to provide financial aid to students who are both student-athletes and engineering majors and who demonstrate significant need. The Bollmans are the parents of a 1981 graduate and the grandparents of three recent or upcoming Lafayette graduates.

Jud and Cindy Linville share a lifelong passion for the College, an equally strong commitment to its students and student-athletes, and an exceptional legacy of leadership as volunteers and donors. These interests are reflected in their 2011 pledge to honor Cindy’s father by creating the Dr. Wilbur W. Oaks ’51 Leadership Development Fund, which supports the Oaks Leadership Academy and other initiatives that help student-athletes become effective leaders in academics, athletics, and life. A more recent gift is significantly enhancing the women’s lacrosse program.

From the left, Cynthia Oaks Linville ’80, Lucy Linville ’18,
and Bill Oaks ’51.

Cindy, who is currently president of the Maroon Club, is the recipient of the College’s Joseph E. Bell ’28 Alumni Distinguished Service Award, and Jud is the recipient of the Alumni Association’s George Washington Kidd, Class of 1836, Award in recognition of his professional accomplishments. The Linville-Oaks Lafayette legacy spans three generations and involves nine family members, including Jud and Cindy’s daughters Cammie ’13 and Lucy ’18.

Lee Messner, who transferred to Lafayette after three years of service in World War II, has arranged for the College to benefit from a gift through his estate, with the proceeds ultimately used to establish the H. Lee Messner ’49 Scholarship in the permanent endowment. Grants from the fund will be awarded to students with financial need who are “making the most of their Lafayette education.”