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Story courtesy of Fall Festival Sponsor, The Evansville Courier and Press
by Sherrianne M. Standley is vice president emerita for Advancement at the University of Southern Indiana.
Jim Will Sr., who died suddenly the evening of May 25, had a vision for Evansville. It was pretty simple. Make this community the very best place possible for his family and for families like his. Before you get too comfortable with the simplicity, you have to understand how complex his vision became over the span of his lifetime.
He wanted educational opportunities for all people, regardless of their financial circumstances.
He wanted a vibrant business community, and he worked to provide the infrastructure to allow real progress.
He wanted the corporate boards he served to make ethical decisions.
He wanted all churches to thrive, and especially loved Resurrection Catholic Church.
He wanted little acorns to grow from the seeds sown by the West Side Nut Club.
He wanted all his insured clients to feel confident that their losses would be covered.
He wanted children in our community to have recreational opportunities after school, even if their working or absent parents could not provide them.
He wanted talented student-athletes and coaches to be recognized for their discipline.
He wanted families to have food when their resources dwindled.
He wanted all of his children and grandchildren to be happy.
He wanted to hit a "hole in one" every time he played golf, and he wanted his golfing partners to believe they actually had a chance to win.
Jim Will spent every day of his entire life thinking how things might be better and applying all his resources to assure that they could.
Last week, we said a tearful farewell to our friend, Old Man Will, as he called himself to distinguish from his son, Jim Will Jr. There was not a dry eye in the overflowing Resurrection Church. In May of 1955 Jim and Eileen were the first couple to marry at Resurrection, which was established just the year before. During Jim's funeral, each of us remembered Jim's selfless service to family, friends, and institutions he loved.
The list of organizations into which he breathed life is endless: University of Southern Indiana, USI Foundation, USI Varsity Club, Southern Indiana Higher Education Inc., West Side Nut Club, Evansville Boys and Girls Club, Resurrection Church and School, Catholic Foundation of Southwestern Indiana, the Catholic Diocese of Evansville, Mater Dei and Memorial High Schools, St. Meinrad Archabbey, Knights of Columbus, and the list goes on and on. And his efforts were directed not only to the West Side of Evansville, but always to any effort to help community progress.
His work on the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility Board, the Area Plan Commission, Evansville Airport Authority, and University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees all underscore his commitment to progress in the state, region, and community.
A USI alumnus reminded me this week that at the time USI became a separate state university, his class had a fundraising campaign to erect a new sign noting the name change, and Jim simply said, "How much y'all need?" and wrote the check. He did things like that all the time. No one needed to know. He never sought recognition.
When Jim and Eileen were singled out this spring for conferral of honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Southern Indiana, it was the surprise of their lives. Because, you see, Jim and Eileen never did any of this for themselves. All that they have done was for that simple vision: commit yourself to your community so that friends and family have a wonderful place to live, work, raise children, be educated, build businesses, and care for the less fortunate.
Aren't we lucky to have had a giant like Jim Will Sr. to set an example for all of us? And isn't it our responsibility to carry on the Will legacy? And isn't that a great name and slogan? Yes, we Will! |
A beautiful spring day greeted the more than 1000 participants in the West Side Nut Club's 66th Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Over 12,000 eggs were gathered up from kids ranging in age from pre-school through the third grade. Our photographers were out and you can see images from the event by clicking on the 
The 66th Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be March 30, 2013 at Mater Dei High School and features over 12,000 eggs filled with traditional prizes including stuffed animals and candy-filled Easter baskets.
