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The tribute to our first honoree, Mr. Wright Abbot, was composed by someone whose way with words is both distinctive and inimitable. Pardon me while I add an accessory befitting this writer. {Editor’s note: At this moment, the headmaster donned a baseball cap and plaid blazer álà John Van Meter.}

Go figure how Mr. William Wright Abbot IV ever wanted to be near a schoolhouse again, having suffered a spate of stolen-lunch-money encounters on the grounds of Charlottesville Junior High School in his youth. That this stoic later enrolled at U VA comes as no home-town-small-surprise. His long devotion to “Wahoo wah, wahoo way”--U VA--remains as stonewall as does his animus for the North Carolina Tarheels, especially squads from the Dean Smith era. That he bleeds Yahoo orange and blue, as well as Oriole and Eagle orange and black, might suggest he has nothing more to exude. But hold up there. It might be noted in more than passing that this fellow totes an academic portfolio par excellence--despite his part-time sportsmindedness.

Arriving at McDonogh in 1985 after a brief stay at a New York State prep school and with a new-minted master’s degree from Brown University, Wright settled on campus where he was soon to meet his future wife, Ms. Cox, to whom he recently bequeathed the chairmanship of the English Department, a post he held for nearly twenty years, seeing that Department through two A.I.M.S. evaluations and a host of curricular changes.

His own classroom has always fostered a contemplative and stimulating atmosphere of academic inquiry toward all genres, but especially the novels of William Faulkner, a favorite. He and Ms. Cox, along with their children Will, a Princeton freshman, and Katherine, a junior, make their home a place of bounteous hospitality to campus groups and beyond.

This fellow can coach, too. Mr. Abbot’s chief hobby--golf, wherein he is near scratch—has become a joyful pursuit both recreational and instructional. He has served as McDonogh golf coach since the team’s inception in the late 1980s. This year’s varsity golf squad has achieved yet another noteworthy season.

Scholar, fan--perhaps as in fanatic, for he still competes in a fantasy baseball league—athlete and coach, Mr. Wright Abbot also walks the primrose path of the classic Virginia gentleman. His warmth and kindness and humor are for the ages. Thank you, Mr. Abbot, for your many gifts.

But hold up there. Thank you, Mr. Van, for your authorship.

“She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.” This quote from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice seems like an apt description of our own Cynthia Cox. After all, her sense of play, delight in the ridiculous, and deep sense of joy stands as the example of a McDonogh mission-keeper.

This Princeton graduate came to McDonogh to teach English in 1984. After a stint at the Klingenstein Institute, Ms. Cox designed the Writing Process curriculum for the department. Never one to settle, she was an early proponent of the Folger Shakespeare Library’s performance-based approach to teaching Shakespeare. In fact, more students cite their experience performing Macbeth in her English II Honors course as a chief highlight of their study at McDonogh.

Ms. Cox once graced the boards in the student-directed production of Born Yesterday, and many will recall that she also coached freshman & sophomore athletics for a time. Ask Ms. Cox about that, and she’ll laugh at her teams’ perfect record of having “never won a game!”

After taking a year off to complete a master’s degree, Ms. Cox returned to McDonogh and assumed the role as Legacy advisor – a post she held for 17 years. A daunting undertaking, to be sure, she is famous for the comment, “I like doing the yearbook because, on some level, I think disaster is funny!”

That disaster, of course, never happened, and her insatiable curiosity, energy, and generosity has led her wear many hats successfully in her years here – whether as an instructor of AP teachers at Goucher, an AP table leader for AP grading, as a co-director with Ms. Kessell on a student production, as a chaperon for many concert choir trips and for the Odessa exchange well before the Iron Curtain dropped, or as the resilient advisor for Mr. GQ! In short, She does it all.

Now, a department chair and active campus parent, Ms. Cox can still be found making time to put together gourmet meals for friends, to work in her garden, to raise two wonderful children, to be a devoted wife, and to be a trusted friend and colleague to us all. Thank you, Ms. Cox, for 25 years of extraordinary service to everyone in the McDonogh community.

Senora. Madame. A single conversation with Ms. Daniel is all it takes to know that her students come first and she loves them all equally. Popular, fun, engaging, and successful, Ms. Daniel makes each the day brighter for everyone she greets. It is never about her. Except today, it is about her. At McDonogh Ms. Daniel has taught Spanish and French. She has been a presence in other foreign language classrooms, as well, studying German and Latin alongside her students. Over the years she has served as an advisor to the Spanish Club, Helping Hands, and PenPals. She has taken exchange trips to France, Spain, and Costa Rica. She served on the Diversity Committee and ran the Cultural Fair. Students, you may not know this, but Ms. Daniel was once a member of the Faculty Chorus and the Faculty Riding Team. Plus, she has the largest key chain collection you have ever seen!

In 2007, Ms. Daniel became the first faculty member to receive the Doc Lamborn Endowed Teaching Chair, a high honor for a master teacher. And, of course, everyone knows her as head of McDonogh’s foreign language department, a position she has held since 1996.

Given her energy and enthusiasm, this is undeniably an incomplete list of Ms. Daniel’s achievements and contributions to the McDonogh community. And the list does not touch upon what are, perhaps, her most enduring qualities--a genuine warmth, compassion, and complete dedication to her craft and her students.

A colleague notes, “To have not passed through one of ‘Senora’ or ‘Madame’ Daniel’s classes in Upper School is a missed opportunity and an unfortunate loss. The parents of her students delight in the experiences revealed at home by their children. She makes learning fun, easy, entertaining and rewarding. She dresses in silly costumes on Halloween, she tells bizarre but true stories about her life, she travels with her students, she attends their school and out-of-school events, and she is there for them for the special moments.”

As Doc Lamborn once said, quote, “that the only excuse for an independent school is that the school approaches each student as though he or she were the only student in that institution.” Clearly Ms. Daniel subscribes to this philosophy, as well. Please join me in congratulating Ms. Daniel on twenty-five years of service to McDonogh School.

Now and again, a school gains a faculty member whose high regard by others is universal, and whose presence can make a great school greater. Ask for a short list of who this could be at McDonogh, and Mr. Andy Gill is sure to appear on everyone’s roster. Since joining the McDonogh faculty in the fall of 1985, Mr. Gill has exerted his influence quietly and without fanfare. Nevertheless, his example has been felt deeply by students, colleagues, and the entire McDonogh community.

Mr. Gill’s work ignores the boundaries of classroom walls. True, as an instructor of mathematics, he has gained a reputation for clarity, flexibility, and student-centered learning. But his classroom work is just one piece of who he is. After arriving at McDonogh from the Morristown Beard School, Mr. Gill assumed the role of the boys’ varsity cross-country team coach, and he is still going strong 25 full seasons later, posting many wins and a league title in 2001. In addition, Mr. Gill has assisted his friend, Coach Sanborn, on the girls’ varsity cross-country and the boys’ and girls’ track teams.

Most of you probably don’t know this, but Mr. Gill ran a 400 in 49 seconds at his alma mater, Hartwick College. He also has several New York City Marathons under his belt. In fact, on any given day, students and colleagues are apt to find Mr. Gill, sporting his ever-present New York Yankees cap, hitting the running trails at McDonogh.

If the school’s new and celebrated compass needed a person with whom it could be identified, Mr. Gill would make that short list as well. Students talk of how fair he is, and, when Mr. Abbot was asked to put a hiring committee together for the Head of Upper School, Mr. Gill was selected for his calm, thoughtful, and steady judgment.

So, from his first days as a dorm parent in Rollins, to the many miles he has witnessed on the tracks and trails at McDonogh, to being a dad of three daughters, Katie, Sabrina, and Maggie, we say to this quiet leader, “attention must be paid!” And today we do that, Mr. Gill, for you are truly a man for all seasons, and we are proud to have learned from your example all these years.

“Dependable, respectful, dedicated and loyal.” Anyone who knows Barb Shifflett since starting her bus route for McDonogh in the fall of 1985 agrees that these words capture her perfectly. Regarded as one of the most reliable drivers for the fleet, Barb pulls long days at McDonogh; in fact, it’s rare when she gets home before 7:30 at night. Although she is somewhat quiet, a close friend notes that “when she talks and gives advice or an opinion, her words are powerful and meaningful.” For all these qualities, Barb has earned the respect of those lucky to work with her over the years.

Above all, Barb celebrates family. Married for over 40 years to her husband, Leon, she raised two sons who have given her 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. And, whenever she can, Barb spends time with her grandkids in Maryland or in Florida. Once, Barbara even made a trip to Alaska to visit her grandson who was stationed there.

Fond of seeing new places, Barb and a close friend once traveled to New York City and scored front-row seats at the Sally Jessie Rafael Show! Indeed, Barb is always up for an adventure. Betsy Gaines, tells the following story:

Barb Shifflett and Barb Walsh had Gift Cards to get a pedicure. It was in December and they were determined to go to the salon on one of the coldest days of the year. In spite of the weather they went in their flip flops. No shoes for them – they didn’t intend to ruin the pedicure! They were hearty ladies! Leaving the Salon in those same flip-flops they headed to lunch and Barb said their feet nearly froze off. Can you imagine seeing two middle aged ladies in the streets wearing flip-flops in late December?! That had to give more than a few people a chuckle!

It goes without saying, Barb, that you bring more than just dependability to the bus route. You have brightened the McDonogh community in countless ways, and have made more than a few treasured memories for yourself and others. We thank you, Barbara, for 25 years of dedication, service, and friendship.

Just last year we gathered to celebrate Dr. Dan McGuire’s 25th year of service to McDonogh School. Today we pause to recognize his retirement not only from McDonogh but from a long and prosperous career of educating young people in the fullest sense of the word.

Through three headmasters, major renovation and construction projects, and dozens of hirings, Dan McGuire has been a constant source of calm leadership and unwavering support for the faculty and students of the Upper School. With an eye remarkably tuned to detail and a natural affinity for order and precision, Dr Dan has demonstrated innumerable times his excellent ability to plan, to organize, and to execute ambitious projects of all kinds.

His students know full well that Dr. McGuire has a passion for mathematics that is infectious. Always available for a quick question before school or a tutoring session later in the day, he strives to help each of his students master the subject and enjoy learning it along it the way. For years Dr. Dan has sought volunteers among students to compete with others across the country in the prestigious American Mathematics Competition, and our students have represented us well in this national test. Beyond the classroom, Dr. McGuire makes a point of attending games, plays, concerts, and other school events regularly. The Cardboard Boat Race will never be the same without Dr. Dan on the stopwatch, recording times for the boats amid the chaos with both accuracy and joy.

A family man at heart, Dan McGuire looks forward to spending more time with his wife Wendy and their daughter Meredith, Class of 1997. His life is one of civility, kindness, and refinement. Good food, fine wine, and the company of family and friends is Dr. McGuire’s recipe for enjoyment and relaxation.

Accompanied by the latest in a long line of canine lady friends (all of which have been German Short-haired Pointers), he looks forward to long walks here and on the Eastern Shore with his canine companion Tess. Following the stock car racing scene, enduring the fortunes in football and basketball of his beloved Oregon Ducks, and planning trips to New England to visit his daughter and son-in-law, Dr. McGuire has much to look forward to in the years ahead. We expect that Dan and Wendy have many plans for the next phase of their lives, and we hope that they will be frequent visitors to McDonogh as well.

Dr. Dan’s career in education has taken him from Oregon, to Peru, to Boston, to New Jersey, to Detroit, and to Baltimore. His is a life of order, of purpose, of integrity, and of dedication to the education of young people. We have been the grateful recipients of his knowledge, experience, and compassion. With full hearts we wish Dan McGuire the very best in the years ahead and say most sincerely, “Thank you” for your service to McDonogh.

Our last honoree, bus driver Raymond Sears, is not here today. Mr. Ray just wants to conclude his McDonogh career without an acknowledgment or fanfare.

Let me tell you the remarkable story of Raymond Sears, Jr. Following in the footsteps of his father, Mr. Ray began driving a bus and running errands for McDonogh School 42 years ago. Both Mr. Ray and his dad drove the same bus, number eight. Combined, they drove bus eight for more than 70 years, delivering generations of McDonogh students safely home.

Since Mr. Ray took the wheel of bus eight from his father in 1968, we estimate that he has made at least 14,000 runs. And that doesn’t include any of the driving he’s done for summer camps and field trips. He has greeted hundreds and hundreds of students daily in his slow drawl, “Morning, Sammi. Morning Sydney. Morning Jordan.” And the list goes on and on and on.

Alums remember Mr. Ray with great fondness. As one so charmingly put it, “Mr. Ray, you were always a pleasant captain of our big, yellow, noisy vessel.”

Bus eight riders recall Mr. Ray’s friendly wave and warm smile. His love of Orioles baseball. His ability to navigate snowy roads when school didn’t close for bad weather. And the one rule you dared not break on his bus. Wrote a graduate of the Class of 2000:

“We would always try to sneak a soda or a snack by hiding low behind the seats in the back, but Mr. Ray seemed to have super human ears. He could always hear the soda can crack open and somehow knew who it was and would holler out “Billy Rollins! No eatin’ or drinkin’ on the bus!!!!”... But then during one of the last days of school he would have a cooler FULL of sodas and invite everyone to grab one for the ride.”

It’s hard for us to imagine Mr. Ray “hollerin’” about anything. He is our “Ray” of sunshine, always cheerful. Always dependable. Always ready to make daily runs to the post office for mail, to pick up anything for us around town.

Mr. Ray epitomizes the term “unsung hero.” And if he had his way, he would remain completely unsung. He didn’t want the Alumni Association to honor him with its Distinguished Service Award in 1997. Just like he didn’t want us to pay tribute to him today.

But Mr. Ray has done too much for McDonogh over his long, exceptional career for us not to honor him. No one can take his place. He is one of a kind. Mr. Ray, wherever you are right now, if you get bored with traveling, listening to your favorite bluegrass music, and watching the Orioles play at Camden Yards, we’ve got a job for you.

Thank you for everything. We wish you a happy, healthy retirement.