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Farris Hotchkiss, who died June 21 at the age of 86, is credited with building a thriving development department at Washington and Lee University.
During a career at W&L that stretched from 1966 to 2001 and included a variety of roles, the university’s endowment grew from $18 million when he joined the W&L staff to more than $400 million when he retired.
“Farris devoted his life to service and leadership on behalf of Washington and Lee University,” W&L President Will Dudley said. “His contributions to W&L as an alumnus and administrator over the 65 years since his graduation are nearly impossible to measure. Farris served as a mentor and friend to countless students, alumni, faculty, and staff, and shared his love of Washington and Lee with everyone.”
After graduating from W&L in 1958, he returned to W&L to serve as assistant dean of students and director of financial aid and scholarships. In 1968, he became the university’s first director of development, presiding over the first official capital campaign, as well as two subsequent campaigns. He served as vice president of university relations from 1987 to 2001, with responsibility for alumni relations, communications and development. From 1987 to 1999, he was secretary of the university, and a senior adviser to four university presidents. He retired from his role of university secretary in October 1999, and retired fully from W&L in December 2001.
He and his wife, Judy, were lifelong W&L ambassadors, both on campus and off. Since 1966, they hosted hundreds of W&L alumni and friends in their Lexington home. After retiring, Hotchkiss began volunteering for the university and was a class agent for more than 20 years.
To recognize the couple’s commitment to the university, the Class of 1958 — as one of its 50th reunion projects — raised $1 million to rename the Alumni House in their honor. In May 2008, President Emeritus Ken Ruscio ’76 declared that the building that welcomes university alumni and guests would now be known as Hotchkiss House.
Editor’s note: The above was taken from the obituary written by the W&L communications office and posted on the school’s website.
