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| LLOYD E. WORNER AWARD RECIPIENT
1992 |
Matilda Willis Weber '31
Every alumni class needs enthusiastic members to organize reunions and
then to motivate classmates to attend. This is particularly true when
the years begin to tally up. For The Colorado College Class of 1931, Matilda
"Tilly" Weber helped boost the 50th reunion (Chinese year of
the rooster) into an even that was "something to crow about."
For the 60th reunion in 1992, Tilly came up with the idea of combining
three contiguous years when most members were in their 80's. Like the
mover and shaker that she is, Tilly put together a gala luncheon part,
creating a wonderful time for friends in all three classes.
As a Fifty Year Club officer, she served as recording secretary in 1982-83.
She also acted as Class Agent from 1975-77. Since 1980 she has been a
member of the Board of the Women's Educational Society and served on the
Board of the Friends of the Library.
Tilly caught the Colorado College "bug" early from her parents
Willet Ranney Willis '06 and Annie Clough '06, her aunt Marie Clough Gillis
'18, and her uncle, Richard H. Clough '19. Tilly is the sister of Frances
Willis Fisher '32 and Willett R. Willis, Jr. '36. Following family tradition,
niece Katy Fisher Wallick and nephew Willett R. Willis III attended the
College in the 60's. Daughter Nancy Weber Wigington '74 and her husband
Robert F. Wigington '73 were early students under the Block Plan. In 1992,
Tilly's great-nephew, Willett R. Willis IV, graduated and this fall her
great-niece, Marilyn Annie Willis, entered the College.
Tilly established the Marie Clough Gillis Award in music at Colorado College
in honor of her aunt's great love for classical music, particularly singing.
The Award encourages young singers in the music department. One graduating
student wins the Award each year. Tilly meets with them and tries to follow
their careers.
Tilly's CC education prepared her for a successful career in social work.
She started as a local volunteer with the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. In
1935 she started a thirteen-year period as a professional in Girl Scouting,
first as a field director, then as executive director, and finally as
a member of the national staff. She then spent 15 years on the staffs
of the United Way of Louisville, KY, and Cincinnati. Tilly's last job
before retirement was as community organizer for the Cincinnati Center
for Developmental Disorders.
Since returning to Colorado Springs in 1979, Tilly has been involved with
the Pikes Peak Mental Health Center, from which she received two awards,
in 1982 and 1984.
If you ask Tilly Weber what Colorado College's best assets are, she will
tell you about the College's many exciting innovations and about its academic
excellence. If you ask the College about Tilly, you'll hear that she is
herself one of our greatest assets.
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