Chowan
A newsmagazine for alumni, parents and friends
FALL 1997
Volume 42
Number 3
I
Largest gift in Chowan’s history
provides $1 million for scholarships
J. Guy Revelle, Jr., (right) presents
stocks, bonds and cash from the estate
of the late alumna Susan Parker Kerr to
President Lott.
Ernest R. Vadersen, Jr., ’64
In a special conferral of stocks, bonds and cash,
October 1, Chowan received $1,150,000 in scholar
ship monies from the estate of the late alumna,
Susan Parker Kerr. Longtime family friend and
attorney, J. Guy Revelle, Jr., presented the largest,
single gift in the 149-year history of the college to
President Stanley G. Lott.
Announcing the establishment of the Susan
Parker Kerr Memorial Scholarship, Revelle explain
ed, “The recipients shall be chosen by the Scholar
ship Committee of Chowan College with scholastic
ability and financial need the prime criteria for
selection. It was Susan’s desire that the scholarship
would be the largest and most sought-after scholar
ship presented each year.”
A native of Murfreesboro and resident of Indian
Receives Distinguished Alumni Award
Ernest R. Vadersen, Jr ‘64 was presented with
the Distinguished Alumni Award during Homecom
ing ceremonies October 18 Vadersen, a resident of
Ponte Vedra Beach, FI., was recognized for excep
tional achievements in the business world and
continuing loyalty to his alma mater.
A native of Norfolk, Va. and
graduate of Granby High School,
Vadersen graduated from Chowan
with an A.A. degree in pre-educa
tion. After continuing his education
at Guilford College, he served a two-
year tour in the U.S. Army.
His business career began with
Penn Mutual Life Insurance
Company, where in just two short
years, he became the youngest
general agent in the 123-year history
of the company. Following his brief
stint in insurance, Vadersen moved
into real estate. Within his first
three years, he was recognized by
the National Association of Home
Buyers as the 11 th leading real
estate agent in the U.S. with
personal sales of more than 200
units totaling in excess of 5 million dollars.
After seven years in the real estate market,
Vadersen turned his interests toward the golf
industry, operating his own consulting firm and
attracting such powerful clients as Spalding,
McGregor and Yamaha International. Serving as
design and marketing consultant and PGA and
LPGA tour repre-sentative for such companies, he
interfaced with such golf celebri-ties as Jack
Nicklaus and David Graham and established a signi
ficant presence on the touring
circuit.
In 1993 Vadersen established
Snake Eyes Golf Clubs and,
completing his own design work,
began producing and marketing
his own line of high-tech, tour-
quality clubs.
Charlie Aycock, director of
alumni affairs described the com
pany’s rapid growth, “Begirming
just four years ago as a small
privately-owned company. Snake
Eyes has rapidly become a well
recognized and respected name in
both the business world and golf
industry. With stock traded
publicly on the NASDAQ Small
Cap Exchange, Snake Eyes clubs
are both nationally and interna
tionally marketed, known and
played.”
“As founder, past CEO and current chairman
of the board of Snake Eyes Golf Clubs, Vadersen’s
achievements represent the highest standards of
See VADERSEN on Page 2
Ernest R. Vadersen, Jr.
On/ tAc' Insk/e/. .
Academics moves into strengthened position Page3
UP! and Away! Chowan wdcomes Class of 2001 Page 5
Honor Roll of Donors of 148th Year Pt^es 8-21
Campus prepared for 1,00(H- student Internet connections ....Page22
Communit} Serv ice Award presented to Pruettes Puge25
It’s Official! Chowan joins NCA.A Division in ranks Page 26
Lakes Estates, Florida for more than thirty years,
Kerr was the daughter of Murfreesboro residents,
EKvood W. Parker and Elizabeth Sewell Parker.
Revelle noted, “Although Susan spent more than
thirty years as a resident of Florida, her heart re
mained in Murfreesboro and with Chowan College.”
Kerr was preceded in death by her first hus
band, Richard Bennett, son, Richard D. Bennett and
second husband, Andrew Judson Kerr. She is
survived by her son, El wood Parker Bennett, of
Florida.
The Parker family heritage symbolizes a legacy
of strong ties to Chowan College. Kerr’s mother
graduated with the Class of 1929 and her maternal
grandmother served as a trustee. Her father, who
was instrumental in the reopening of Chowan fol
lowing World War II, supported the college over his
lifetime as a trustee and major benefactor. Cho
wan’s eight-story, Parker Hall residence building is
named in his honor.
Graduating from Murfreesboro High School in
1951, Susan Parker Kerr was among the first stu
dents to benefit from Chowan’s reopening in 1949
Dr. Bruce E. Whitaker, president of Chowan
from 1957 to 1989, developed a close relationship
with Kerr’s family during his tenure at Chowan.
On hand for the presentation, he recalled, “What a
great heritage Susan enjoyed, from a family which
believed in and supported good causes like Chowan
College . . Susan’s estate will establish her memory'
and influence at Chowan for many generations to
come.”
Receiving the exceptional gift. President Lott
stated, “For the second time in a little over a year,
Chowan College is the recipient of an estate whose
worth is in excess of one million dollars. I am
profoimdly grateful to those whose cultivated the
relationship with Susan Parker Kerr and convinced
her that Chowan was worth remembering in her
will. Among others, these would include Dr. Bruce
Whitaker and Mr. Guy Revelle.”
“This is the kind of gift that can truly make a
difference for the college,” Lott continued “It is
my deep hope that this gift will encourage others to
place Chowan in their estate and that it will
prompt generous support from those who can help
to secure the future of this fme institution.”
Parker family
heritage
symbolizjes a
legacy of strong
ties to Chowan
College
King Chris Scott '98
of Newport News,
Va., joined Queens
Laura Allgood '98 of
Danville, Va., (left)
and Chris Fields ’98
of Kill Devil Hills,
N. C., (right) during
Homecoming
activities in Garrison
Stadium.