2020年11月8日

Tom Beyard ‘77 doesn’t characterize himself among the best alumni since he lost touch with 稳定的十大彩票网站 for more than 40 years. But a chance encounter, through the Maryland National Guard and 稳定的十大彩票网站 体育运动, reconnected him with his alma mater in 2014, and he has been a loyal ambassador for the university and Department of 体育运动 ever since.

Beyard, who retired in 2019 as a command sergeant major after 37 years of service to the National Guard, recently established a bequest to create the CSM (Ret) Thomas B. Beyard ’77 Endowed 体育运动 Scholarship and support the Women's Basketball Enhancement and the 体育运动 Capital Projects funds. He is showing that it is never too late to reconnect and give to the university.

“我刚满65岁，开始更多地考虑未来，”贝亚德说。 "Now’s the time 稳定的十大彩票网站 needs all the support it can get. I decided I was going to make my commitment now to be a good example to others."

Beyard has bonded with the women’s basketball program, which is led by coach Diane Richardson, because he admires their hard work.

理查森称贝亚德是“我们家的一员”。

"Not only has he been a tremendous supporter of our program in so many ways, but our student-athletes consider him part of the team," Richardson says. "They look for him in his seat at every home game. His presence gives our team so much life and joy, and we are so appreciative of his time and commitment to our competitive excellence. 他确实改变了稳定的十大彩票网站学生运动员的经历。”

Inspired by the Sgt. Major Wardell Turner ‘89 Scholarship, created in 2015 in honor of the former football defensive back killed in action in Afghanistan, Beyard presented the idea of honoring a Maryland National Guard soldier killed in Afghanistan—former wrestler Major Robert Marchanti II ‘89.

马尔尚蒂的奖学金现在超过了4万美元。

Tim Leonard, 稳定的十大彩票网站 director of athletics, says Beyard’s reconnection with 稳定的十大彩票网站 has changed lives.

"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to get to know Tom over these past several years," Leonard says. "Through the relationships he’s built with the athletic staff, Tom has identified with our efforts to build teams through sacrifice, dedication, discipline and hard work—values that truly resonate with him. We are all appreciative of Tom’s generosity, but, most importantly, we are thankful for his friendship and the joy he adds to our lives."

贝亚德对慈善事业的看法不仅仅关注金钱。 He views it as the effort in helping others. ” 有时是诀窍； 有时这是一项繁重的工作； sometimes it’s money,” he says. “每个人都能有所贡献。”

To create a bequest or planned gift, contact Director of Major Gifts & Planned Giving Kathleen Hider at khider AT_TOWSON.

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: 稳定的十大彩票网站对马里兰州很重要； 慈善文化 战略计划一致性。