Page 16 - 2017 Annual Report
P. 16
SOCIETY REFLECTIONS
PAYING FORWARD
A LIFE OF LEARNING
I n the spring of 1954, a young woman at Oregon State University consistency, accuracy, and clarity,” said one.
was approaching graduation. Her father, the OSU librarian and “Sherrill was a mentor to me … one of the most precise people
an officer in the Phi Kappa Phi chapter on campus, was surely
proud to see her name on the list of those invited to join the I’ve ever met, and extraordinarily patient with a neophyte,”
Society. Membership held deep meaning for Sherrill Carlson when shared another. “I will always be grateful to Sherrill. Her early
she joined the ranks of other high-achieving students initiated into guidance and encouragement played a major role in shaping my
Phi Kappa Phi, but no one knew the impact she would have on her professional career.”
peers, the field of publishing and the Society itself.
Her support for others extended to Phi Kappa Phi. She became
Born in North Dakota in 1932, Sherrill grew up in a world filled the WSU chapter president in 1977 and a life member in 2007.
with words. Her father, William Carlson, a librarian and writer,
published historical research and a collection of essays. Sherrill Her passions were evident in the organizations she supported.
would follow in his footsteps as a writer. While teen Sherrill loved to sing, adult Sherrill supported the
Seattle Opera Foundation. The girl who loved gardening grew into
Sherrill attended high school in Oregon joining the National a woman who supported Seattle’s Kubota Garden Foundation. The
Honor Society and graduating near the top of her class. She enjoyed high schooler who won an Elks’ essay contest became the editor who
art, gardening and writing and planned to incorporate those interests donated to the OSU Libraries and Press. And the student who once
into a career. accepted an invitation to join the Society with a lifetime of learning
ahead of her left behind a gift for others to continue that love of
Sherrill joined her father at OSU to earn her B.S. in home learning for many years to come. Upon her death in November
economics. The duo shared more than a campus—they shared the 2016, her gift of more than $800,000 became the second largest
pride of being a part of Phi Kappa Phi. William became OSU’s bequest made to the organization.
chapter president the year following Sherrill’s initiation.
The Foundation Board of Trustees, at its March 2018 meeting,
After earning an M.A. in journalism at the University of discussed possibilities for direction of the Carlson funds, wishing to
Minnesota, Sherrill returned to the northwest and spent more than honor the commitment to excellence Sherrill exemplified throughout
30 years at Washington State University working as an editor and her life. The trustees’ recommendations have been forwarded to the
publications coordinator. During her time there, she edited more Society Board of Directors for its consideration.
than 5,000 documents.
“I wish I’d had the opportunity to know Sherrill Carlson and
She also created The Northwest Coast Indians ABC Book, a picture to learn more about what Phi Kappa Phi meant to her. Since her
book for Native American children. It won the Writers Award at initiation as a student, she remained an active member and a faithful
the Washington State Governor’s Festival of the Arts in 1973. She supporter of our mission of excellence,” said Society Executive
later launched Washington’s Land and People, a magazine for WSU’s Director Dr. Mary Todd. “We were surprised and delighted to learn
College of Agriculture. last summer that her careful stewardship of her personal resources
would be reflected in this generous gift. We intend to use it well to
Colleagues recall Sherrill as witty, organized and quick to help honor her memory.”
others. “She was a skilled editor and an eagle-eyed reader for
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