Sadly, three members of our college community passed away recently. Many of you will remember Bill Marshall, Judy Olson, and Dallas Shafer.

W. S. “Bill” Marshall

Bill Marshall was born on December 25, 1910 in Dekalb, Illinois and died on August 26, 2008 at age 97, after an extraordinary life of service.

Marshall graduated from Northern Illinois State Teachers’ College in 1932 and received a Masters Degree from Northwestern University. He worked in Illinois as a junior high school teacher and school principal, and served a year a Superintendent of Schools for Schiller Park, Illinois. Marshall married Margaret Bartlett in 1935, and in 1937 began a long and successful career as an agent for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, retiring in 1976. He was a member of the Million Dollar Round Table and a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU).

Marshall was the founding Chair of the El Paso Community College (later to become Pikes Peak Community College) Advisory Council, and was the founding president of the Pikes Peak Community College Foundation. Under his leadership, the initial Foundation endowment of  less than $500,000 grew to more than $2 million.  The Foundation’s annual scholarship awards total nearly $200,000.  The Foundation is also seeding innovations in classroom teaching and in supportive services that help students to succeed.  All are a part of Bill Marshall’s vision for PPCC. In championing the PPCC Foundation’s cause – expanding private philanthropy to support students of PPCC – he created a mantra that lives on today: “An investment in education is an investment forever.” Those words still grace the Foundation’s letterhead and publications.

Marshall was vitally involved in the Colorado Springs community. In addition to his contributions to Pikes Peak Community College, he served on the Community Chest Campaign, the Mental Health Board, the Civic Players Association, the YMCA Board of Directors, the Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, and for 12 years on the District 11 School Board.

Marshall was a devoted husband and family man. He was a lover of nature and an avid sportsman. He cherished time spent with family and friends at his cabin near Fairplay, Colorado. Marshall was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Marge Marshall, and is survived by his second wife, Betty Marshall, his four children, Jeanie Marshall, Bart Marshall, Dave Marshall, Kathy McCandless, as well as four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Judith Olson

Judith Olson was a long-time faculty member in the Journalism department at PPCC. She was founder of the PPCC Journalism program and the student newspaper, the Pikes Peak News. Under her leadership, the PPCC student newspaper won over 60 regional and national awards in competitions for typography, design, photography, editorial content and advertising. Olson was a member of the Faculty Association, Shared Governance Association and the Professional Rights and Responsibilities Committee at PPCC. She received the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Press Association’s President’s Award for her journalistic talents.

Olson passed away on August 18.  She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Olson, son Edward Johnson, four siblings and a wealth of friends and extended family.

Dallas Shafer

Dallas Shafer was a beloved member of the Psychology Faculty at PPCC for 27 years and he was a pastor at Woodmen Valley Chapel after his retirement. He served as chair of the Psychology Department for many years and he was a founding leader in developing curriculum and local programs on gerontology and death and dying. He also served for many years as President of the PPCC Faculty Association.

In the community, Shafer was instrumental in establishing the Pikes Peak Hospice and the local chapter of Compassionate Friends in Colorado Springs. He was a pastor for more than 50 years, serving at Sunnyside Christian Church, Security Christian Church and Woodmen Valley Chapel.
 
Shafer was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2007 and he passed away on August 15, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Opal; and three daughters, Kim Curry, Jana Schmidt and Amy Storm.