Benjamin L. Chapman
[address redacted]
Lexington, Virginia 24450

December 11



Dear President Wilson,

Yesterday I received a communication from Jack Warner
which has prompted me to write you a note of encouragement.

In spite of nostalgic claims to the contrary, when I was
a student in the early 1960's Washington & Lee was asleep at
the switch. Compared to colleges of the front rank our
facilities were badly dated, our endowment negligible and our
faculty riddled with doddering ancients. As an academic
institution our chief claims were the various traditions and
the memory of Robert E. Lee. We loved the place anyway.

However, since those days much has changed within and
without. Because we now have the potential to be one of
America's outstanding colleges, we no longer can be satisfied
being merely a fine old Southern bastion living on memories
and charm. We now have an obligation to excel also.

You have identified our problems and shortcomings. I
support you in your efforts to correct them.

With best wishes,

[Ben]

Ben Chapman '64
Reeves Center

[pb]

December 14, 1983



Mr. Benjamin L. Chapman
[address redacted]
Lexington, Virginia 24450

Dear Ben:

Your personal note means much to me. I thank you most sincerely
for taking time to write and in the way you have chosen. Clearly to
have Jack Warner and other strong alumni deeply alienated is most
disconcerting. I hope we manage to come out the other side and with
the University in a strengthened position. That is the important
thing. My own standing, or that of any other individual, is of little
or no importance, next to the powerful mandate to make this place all
it is capable of becoming. I share your view of the possible future
and am deeply grateful to have your support in efforts to realize it.

Most sincerely,



John D. Wilson
President

JDW/bcb