Lifetime Achievement Award

Joseph "Bud" Ford is a 1973 graduate of Fairmont State with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He is married to the former Karen Keefover, a 1971 FSC graduate, and they are the parents of three daughters, Jill F. Wright, Lauren L. Ford, and Dr. Molly L. Allen, all of Fairmont. Bud and Karen are blessed with four wonderful grandchildren; Euan and Grier Wright, both students at WVU, and Esme and Ollie Allen, both midle school students at East Fairmont Jr. High.

Bud and Karen attended East Fairmont High School and married during their sophomore year at Fairmont State and have celebrated fifty-four (54) years of marriage. Karen retired from the family business, Ford Funeral Home, having followed in his grandmother, father, and uncle's footsteps. 

Bud is a lifelong member of Gateway United Methodist Church (Trustee Chairman), retired former president of Ford Funeral Home of Fairmont, retired board member of Wesbanco Bank, past President of WV Funeral Directors Association, past President of WV Board of Funeral Service Examiners, past President of South Fairmont Rotary Club, and was honored to have served as a board member and former president of the Fairmont State Foundation for many years. 

Bud is a proud third generation Fairmont State graduate with his Grandmother Ford having graduated from Fairmont Normal School in the early 1900's. 

The Fords were fortunate to attend Fairmont State during very exciting times as the student enrollment grew rapidly, and athletic success became the norm with a national football championship and the basketball team progressing to the national tournament yearly. 

Fairmont State is a shining star in Marion County and Bud has watched it grow and excel over the years in the education and preperation of so many for their life's work. Fairmont State is very close to the hearts of Bud and Karen, and they have supported and been involved since graduation. Bud credits any success he has had to the love of his life and partner Karen. 

Mary Jo began her commitment to Fairmont State in 1963 after graduating from East Fairmont High School. In 1966 she graduated cum laude with a BA in Education from the “college on the hill”. In school she was a Falcon Band majorette, Gamma Chi Chi/Phi Mu Vice President, plus active in Student Government and other organizations.

Now retired, professionally she was a public administrator in both West Virginia and Virginia; loaned executive to the federal government; and assistant to FSU President Krepel. She served as president of her national professional organization; chair of the American Public Human Services Association President’s Council; and Executive Committee of APHSA. Two West Virginia Governors appointed her to the Apprenticeship Board.

Twice elected to the Marion County Board of Education, she served four years as Board President and seven years on the Executive Board of the West Virginia School Boards Association.

Continuing her involvement with Fairmont State, she served on the Foundation Board, was president and continues to serve on the Alumni Board, is a life member of the Athletic association’s Thousand Dollar Club, is an Emeritus Club member, is an enthusiastic Falcon sports fan, is a scholarship sponsor, has helped establish a number of scholarships, and has been honored as an Outstanding Alumna. She is president of the Gamma Chi Chi Alumnae.

In the community she has served our United Way as both campaign chair and board president, board chair for the Marion County Chamber of Commerce and now an ambassador, chair of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, chair of Trustees at Gateway United Methodist Church, president of Literacy Volunteers of West Virginia plus a number of other boards. She is a life member of Prickett’s Fort, member of South Fairmont Rotary, and serves on the boards for Academy Programs, MRDC and Mon Health Foundation.

Dedicated to opportunities for young people and education, she serves on the EFHS Foundation and Rhododendron Girls State boards. Very involved with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, she is a life member of GFWC West Virginia and the Fairmont club. She has served at all levels, including being president of five clubs, organizing four clubs, serving as state director of junior clubs, state president, regional president and on the GFWC international board of directors for several years, and is currently serving on the Strategic Planning Committee.

Mary Jo is a skilled parliamentarian, facilitator, workshop leader, and public speaker. She has earned numerous professional and personal accolades for her volunteer service, including the Distinguished West Virginian award, honors from the United Way and the Marion County Chamber of Commerce, and the Jack Squires Lifetime Achievement Award from both organizations. In addition, she received the GFWC’s highest honor—the Jennie Award—and was named a Pillar of the Community by WV News.

Her daughter, Rosemary, is President of Chowan University.

Dr. Ronald D. Pearse grew up in Monongah, WV, and is the son of TJ and Madge Pearse, lifelong educators in Marion County. Ron graduated from Fairmont State in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology in 1967 from West Virginia University. Ron joined the faculty of Fairmont State in 1968 and served as chairperson of the School of Social Sciences from 1994 until his retirement in 2003. 

Ron opened a private practice as a Licensed Psychologist in 1971 and received a Doctor of Education degree in Counseling Psychology in 1990 from WVU. During his private practice Dr. Pearse provided assessments, evaluations, counseling and therapy services to many state, local, regional and federal organizations. Dr. Pearse is a Co-owner and Founder of Academy Programs, LLC. This includes YOUTH Academy (1999) – a 22-bed residential treatment facility for adjudicated youth, YORE Academy (2008) – a 24-bed residential treatment facility for adolescents dealing with behavioral and substance abuse and YALE Academy (2014) – a 24-bed residential treatment facility for adolescents dealing with behavioral and substance abuse. 

Ron was elected WV Jaycees President in 1965 and served as United States National Vice President of Jaycees from 1966-1967. Additionally, Ron has been a member of the Fairmont Rotary Club for many years and served as President from 1997-1998, Fairmont State Foundation Board from 2001-2007, Board of Directors for Family Services Agency, Central West Virginia Medical Advisory Board, Board of Directors of North Central Community Action, Board of Directors of Friends of the Symphony, Advisory Board for the Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling and Community Psychology at WVU, Board Member of Marion County Day Report Program and Treasurer of Marion County Democratic Party from 2006-2020. 

Dr. Pearse was awarded a Diplomate from the American College of Forensic Examiners in 1998 and the Alumni of Achievement Award from the Fairmont State Alumni Association in 2002. Ron and his wife, Julie (Class of 1989) are the proud parents of Alex and Gabriella Pearse.

Charlie Reese graduated from Fairmont State in 1966 with a degree in teaching. He played football for Coach Deacon Duvall and was a member of the Tau Beta Iota fraternity. Charlie taught school in both Marion County and Ohio before changing career paths to become a salesman. He spent time working in the coal mines before being hired as the President of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce and Marion Regional Development Council (MRDC) in the late 1980s. Charlie served as President of the Marion County Chamber and MRDC for more than 25 years before retiring, after three attempts. He was instrumental in the development of the I-79 Technology Park, both VIP Parks in Pleasant Valley and Marion County Industrial Park. In addition, Charlie was part of the development team for the new Palatine Park. He served on the Marion County School Board for six years and has been instrumental in endowing numerous scholarships.

Gary K. Bennett is originally from Webster Springs, West Virginia. Gary graduated from Webster Springs High School in 1968. Fairmont State College in 1972 with a B. S. in Business Administration with a major in accounting and West Virginia University with a Master’s in Business Administration in 1973. Gary successfully completed the Uniform Certified Public Accountants exam in 1974.

After graduating from West Virginia University, Gary taught for West Virginia University as an instructor of accounting until 1980. In 1980 Gary returned to his alma mater to teach accounting and finance until he retired in May 2008 after 35 years of collegiate teaching. Gary also served as the Assistant Chair and the Assistant to the Dean of the School of Business since 1992. In addition to teaching full-time, Gary began practicing as a CPA in Fairmont in 1975 and retired from his business in 2016.

During his tenure at Fairmont State, Gary has served as the vice-president and secretary of the Faculty Senate, created and served as the faculty advisor of the Student Accountant Society, served as the faculty representative on Fairmont State Board of Advisors, and has been a member of various other University and School of Business Committees. Gary has been recognized for the Faculty Recognition Award and the William A. Boram Teaching Excellence Award and was named the Educator of the Year by the West Virginia Society of CPA's in 2002. He was twice awarded the outstanding committee chair by the West Virginia Society of CPA's. In 2007 Gary received the award for Alumnus of Achievement from Fairmont State Alumni Assoication.

As a leader in the community Bennett has served as the chairman of the Board of Directors of Fairmont General Hospital. He has also served as the Treasurer of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, Marion County Rescue Squad, Fairmont General Hospital, Green Hills Country Club, and Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia. Gary has been a member of Fairmont State Foundation Board of Directors since 1982 and has served as Treasurer, Vice Chair and Chair during that time. Gary has also served as President of the Foundation on three occasions. Most recently, Gary was the recipient of the Fairmont State Foundation Outstanding Philanthropy Leadership Award.

Gary is married to the former Barbara Jo Dunn. Gary and Barbara have two children Brian and Lindsey and three grandchildren, Charlie, Lauren and Claire.

Jack graduated from Fairmont State in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and took graduate courses in public administration from West Virginia University. In 1997, he graduated from the Rural Executive Management Institute, National Center for Rural Law Enforcement, at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 1998, he graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Law Enforcement Executive Management Program. 

Jack was employed as Director of Public Safety for the City of Bridgeport from 2003 to 2008 and as Chief of Police for the City of Bridgeport from 1981 to 2008. He has also been a Police Officer serving in assignments to patrol, investigations and community relations/crime prevention as well as the Assistant to the Chief of Police for the City of Fairmont. Most recently, Jack had been serving as the Chief of Police and Director of Emergency Management for Fairmont State and Pierpont Community and Technical College since October of 2010 until his recent retirement in April. 

Jack completed a variety of police training programs related to police tactics and procedures, community policing, personnel management, supervision, administration, instructor development, crisis intervention, conflict management, firearms, defensive tactics, incident command/management, CPR/First Responder, etc. 

In 1974, he prepared the initial curriculum proposal for a law enforcement associate degree program in what was then the community college component of Fairmont State. The program was approved, and Jack served as a part-time instructor. In 1976, he became employed full-time as Director of Public Safety for the community college and was responsible for academic programs in law enforcement, fire science and emergency medical services. During that time, he also prepared and submitted a curriculum proposal for a four-year program in criminal justice, which became part of the College of Liberal Arts at Fairmont State. Currently, along with several others, he is in the process of developing a new course curriculum that will allow Criminal Justice Students the opportunity to graduate with a degree in criminal justice as well as a Certification as a West Virginia Police Officer. From 1978 to 2007, Jack also served as an adjunct instructor of criminal justice. 

Jack’s professional affiliations include the following: life member, former state representative, International Association of Chiefs of Police; member and former member of the board of directors of the West Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police; former state representative for FBI CJIS Advisory Committee; member and past president of the North Central West Virginia Law Enforcement Council; commissioner and board of directors member of the Harrison County Bureau of Emergency Services (E911); member of the Police Policy Development Committee for the West Virginia Criminal Justice & Highway Safety Division; member, North Central West Virginia Airport Authority; and member, Marion County Rescue Squad Board of Directors. He also had the privilege to appear before United States Congressional members and staff concerning the effectiveness of small city and rural Community Oriented Policing Programs offered by the US Department of Justice.

Maria Rose was born in Fairmont and has lived in Fairmont most of her life. Dr. Rose was named Fairmont State University’s 14th president in April 2012 and she has served Fairmont State for more than 25 years. As a faculty member, she taught developmental writing, developmental reading and study skills and coordinated the campus-wide peer tutoring program. Dr. Rose also served as director of retention and vice president of academic services. Prior to being named president, she served as interim president and provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Dr. Rose received her Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Fairmont State College and a Master of Arts degree in reading from West Virginia University. From WVU, she also earned an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on family and community literacy issues as they relate to higher education. In addition, she earned a Developmental Educator Certification through the Kellogg Institute of Appalachian State University. Dr. Rose served on a task force for the Higher Education Policy Commission Adult Learner initiative and on the Commission’s College Completion Task Force. 

From starting as a grade-school teacher in a two-room schoolhouse in Idamay to serving as Fairmont State’s president, Dr. Rose has dedicated her career to providing meaningful and life-changing educational opportunities.

Maria has been married to Tom Rose for almost 48 years and they have one son and daughter-in-law, Alex and Tanya Rose who reside in Jupiter, Florida.  Also residing in Jupiter are granddaughter Shelby, her fiancé Ryan, and great-grandchildren, Juliett and Jackson.  Tom and Maria are currently splitting their time between Hobe Sound, Florida, and Fairmont.