ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 26, 1997 TAG: 9704280080
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: COURTNEY MILLER THE ROANOKE TIMES
Both women, Billye Jean Beamer and Frances Ramser, coached at the college for years.
John A. Mulheren's donation of $250,000 to Roanoke College came as a surprise at the President's Alumni Banquet last Saturday.
Mulheren, class of 1971, and his wife, Nancy, class of 1972, committed to the donation in honor of retired coaches Billye Jean Beamer and Frances Ramser.
"It was a spontaneous desire to share respect for the women," Judy Nelson, vice president of development, said later. She said Mulheren informed college President David Gring of the gift during the banquet.
Beamer, who worked for the college for 37 years, retired in January. She graduated from the college in 1952 and returned in 1959 as a part-time instructor in health and physical education. She coached volleyball, basketball and tennis. She became an umpire for national field hockey in 1968 and was inducted into the college's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972.
Ramser retired in 1982. She is best known for organizing and coaching the men's swimming team, which she led to four conference championships between 1958 and 1965. At the time, she was the only female coach of an all-male swimming team in Virginia. She also directed the women's intramural and varsity athletic programs and coached the field hockey team for 25 years.
"Alumni still ask about Fran," Nelson said, "They still talk about the wonderful influence she had on each of them."
It was announced at the banquet that the money will be used for an addition to the student center, to be named in honor of the two women. Nelson said the college does not have specific plans for the project.
With this latest donation, the Mulherens have donated nearly $3 million to the college. The largest contribution - $1.5 million - was given in honor of John Mulheren's former track coach, Homer C. Bast. It was used to complete the gymnasium now named after him.
Mulheren works in Manhattan as an investor. He was unavailable for comment.
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