Mrs. Lett Simmons is president of BLS & Associates, a management leadership training firm she founded in 1972, and the host of a weekly radio and TV show.
A former teacher, she earned a master's degree from Wayne State University. As an activist for civil rights, women, health issues, art, music and the elderly, she has served on the board for numerous national and local organizations and is the recipient of over 155 national and local honors.
Mr. Jacobson rose through the ranks to chairman of the American National Bank & Trust Company of Michigan.
He was instrumental in organizing the American National Bank Holding Company, the first de novo bank holding company in the state, and later served as its president and chairman of the board.
As a member of the committee which established the guaranteed student loan fund, Mr. Jacobson had significant impact on higher education in Michigan.
Mrs. Parker served as president of both the Michigan Congress and the National Congress of Parents and Teachers. She chaired a state committee on home and family and was president of the Michigan State Council on Adult Education.
A freelance writer, contributing articles on home and family to such magazines as Better Homes & Gardens, she also served as national president of Campfire Girls.
She received an honorary doctorate from WMU in 1960.
Dr. Beekman received a master's degree from Michigan State University. He began his career as a teacher. While director of special education for the Lansing Public Schools, he established the nation's first public school work experience program from the mentally disabled.
He later guided Michigan to a leadership position in service to the mentally impaired as the state's director of special education.
Dr. Ellis also received a master's degree from WMU and a doctorate from Michigan State University. He began his career as a public school teacher, coach, and principal.
He returned to Western in 1965 as director of student financial aid and was named secretary of the Board of Trustees three years later.
He was named a program director in educations for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 1972 and was considered a pioneer in fostering foundation programming in the areas of philanthropy and volunteerism.