Student Affairs Hall of Fame Banquet Feb. 23

The dedication of former employees to the lives of students will be honored during the fourth annual Fairmont State Student Affairs Hall of Fame Awards Banquet set for Friday, Feb. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at Westchester Village, 1825 Locust Ave., Fairmont.

This year's inductees will be Hunter J. Conrad, Director of Student Personnel from 1961-1973; Peter Pell, Assistant Director of Student Personnel from 1967-1974; and Jonnie L. Erdie Friend, Student Personnel Secretary from 1962-1973. The 2007 Distinguished Citizen Award recipients will be Frank and Jane Gabor, who recently made a major donation to the renovation of the future home of the West Virginia Folklife Center at Fairmont State. This year's banquet will also honor all past student body presidents.

"The Student Affairs Office provides valuable services for students throughout their college years," said Michael Belmear, Vice President for Student Affairs. "These services include orientation, counseling, crisis intervention, housing, multicultural affairs, career planning and placement, health services, mentoring, Student Government and other student activities. The Hall of Fame event has been designed to recognize the efforts of past employees and to encourage present employees to carry on the tradition of excellence."

Those wishing to attend the banquet should RSVP by Feb. 13 by calling (304) 367-4643. Tickets for the buffet dinner are $20 per person.

Hunter J. Conrad

Hunter J. Conrad was the Director of Student Personnel from 1961-1973. He graduated from Glenville High School in 1941 and from Glenville State College in 1951 with a degree in secondary education. In 1953, he earned a master's degree in guidance from West Virginia University. Working with worthy, needy students through financial aid and scholarships was one of his biggest rewards, he said.

From 1943-1945, he was a member of the U.S. Army and served in the 79th Division in France. He was twice wounded and medically discharged with a Purple Heart and Cluster. From 1945-1948, he worked at a family business in Glenville. From 1951-1961 while still a student at WVU, he began teaching at Morgantown High School and later became Assistant Principal. From 1977-1985, he was employed at Potomac State College of West Virginia University doing administrative research and later serving as Registrar and Director of Admissions. In 1985, he retired with Emeritus status from Potomac State and from WVU. He took over management of the Conrad Motel in Glenville.

Peter Pell

Peter Pell worked as Assistant Director of Student Personnel with Conrad from 1967-1974. Graduating from FSC in 1963 with a business degree, he received his master's degree in education administration from West Virginia University in 1967. Extremely involved in Freshman Week and Freshman Counseling, Pell worked closely with Financial Aid, Institutional Affairs and College Career Days.

His other employment includes teaching and coaching at Follansbee High School from 1963-1965; serving as Assistant Principal at Ravenswood High School from 1965-1967; working in sales for Jostens Scholastic Products from 1974-1994; training and becoming a W.Va. State Supreme Court Mediator in 2000; and working for Secretary of Education and the Arts by visiting schools and talking to parents about financial aid, college and careers from 2003-2005. Since 2005, he has been Principal of Rowlesburg School in Preston County.

Pell has one daughter, Belinda Murray, and one grandson.

Jonnie L. Erdie Friend

Jonnie L. Erdie Friend was employed by FSC from 1962-1973 as the Student Personnel Secretary working with Conrad and Pell. Student Affairs covered almost all aspects of a student's life, from Housing and Financial Aid to Registration and Admissions. She served as Executive Secretary for the Office of Administration and Finance at FSC from 1981-2001.

Her career also includes part-time work as an office clerk at Hauge's Florist in 1978 and employment as secretary for Erdie's Insurance Agency from 1956-1962.

Her husband, James G. Friend, is a retired school administrator and artist. They have one daughter, Samantha Shaver, and two grandchildren. She is a member of Levels United Methodist Church and has had a music ministry since 1973. She is also a member of Crossroads CEOS, an organization associated with the West Virginia University Extension Office.

Frank and Jane Gabor

Frank and Jane Gabor of Baltimore, Md., made a $500,000 gift to the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc., which will be used to renovate and restore the historic Kennedy Barn, the new home of the West Virginia Folklife Center. The Gabors' gift will be matched by $250,000 from FSU, as part of a capital building challenge that was initiated last spring. The center will be renamed in their honor as The Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center.

Frank "Pooch" Gabor, formerly from Grant Town, is the son of Frank and Theresa Gabor. He graduated from Fairview High School in 1953 and served in the United States Air Force from 1954-57. Upon discharge from the Air Force, he earned a B.S. degree in business administration from Fairmont State in 1961. While a student at Fairmont State, he was a member of Tau Beta Iota Fraternity and Who's Who Among Students In American Universities and Colleges. He lettered for three years in baseball and one year in soccer. He earned his master's degree in health care administration at George Washington University in 1964.

Gabor's career in health care administration spans 28 years and includes senior leadership positions at the Hospital for Women of Maryland and the Greater Baltimore Medical Center. In 1977, he became president and chief executive officer of MGH Health Services, Inc., a multi health care system comprised of a hospital and four other subsidiaries. He retired in December of 1990. Gabor serves on the Fairmont State Foundation Board of Directors and the Fairmont State Alumni Association Board. He is a past recipient of both the Fairmont State University Letterman of Distinction and Outstanding Alumni awards.

Jane Gabor, the daughter of Hiriam "Baz" and Mary Clellan White, is a 1960 graduate of Fairmont State. A native of Mannington, she grew up in Nutter Fort, graduating from Roosevelt Wilson High School. While a student at Fairmont State, she studied secondary education and was active in several organizations, including Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, Splashers, Alpha Psi Omega and the Masquers. She was the 1955 Homecoming Queen at Fairmont State and was later named Miss Central West Virginia. She is a past recipient of the Alumni of the Year award.

Following graduation, Jane Gabor taught secondary school in Lorain County, Ohio. For a brief time, she also taught at East Fairmont High School. Upon moving to Maryland, she taught in Montgomery County, Md. She remained active in the theatre, and in 1964 she left teaching to devote her time to volunteerism in health care and children's theatre. She served for a time as President of the Board of Directors for the Children's Theatre Association in Baltimore, Md.

Twenty-eight years ago, the Gabors became co-owners of the full-service day spa About Faces Day Spa, in Towson, Md. Currently, the Gabors co-own five About Faces Day Spas. The spas are located in Baltimore, Towson, Tinonium, Pikesville and Salisbury, Md. The Gabors currently reside in Baltimore, Md., and are the parents of two adult children.

The Gabors hosted the first meeting of the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the Fairmont State University Alumni Foundation and for many years continued to host the annual alumni chapter meetings. In past years, they have been active volunteers with the American Heart Association of Maryland, the Burn Center at Francis Scott Key Medical Center and the Shock Trauma Unit for the University of Baltimore's Emergency Medical System.