October 15, 2013

Lafayette College Honors Buck Family for Generous Support

Members of the Buck family pose near the newly built squash courts at the dedication of the Allan P. Kirby Sports Center in fall 2000. From left to right: Sally Buck (wife of Whip), the late Alexander K. “Whip” Buck ’53, William C. “Bill” Buck ’50, Laura Buck (wife of Bill).

Members of the Buck family pose near the newly built squash courts at the dedication of the Allan P. Kirby Sports Center in fall 2000.

Lafayette College is honoring the Buck family for their nearly 100 years of generous support of the College with a reception at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, followed by dinner with newly inaugurated President Alison Byerly.

The reception will be held in the Simon Room of Skillman Library, where a collection of photos and letters written by Grace Buck to her sons William “Bill” C. Buck ’50, and Alexander “Whip” Buck ’53, and to college administrators will be on display.

Bill Buck is the last surviving member of the immediate Buck family with ties to the college. He will be attending the ceremony and presidential dinner with his wife, Laura, but will represent the philanthropic spirit of his father, mother, and brother.

The Buck’s affiliation with Lafayette began with the late J. Mahlon Buck, who graduated in 1921, and was Grace’s husband. The Bucks’ gifts include:

  • The Buck Family Endowment Fund for Music was endowed in 1981 by Grace Buck and her three sons. Supports instructional programs in music.
  • J. Mahlon Buck Library Fund (endowed in 1959 by J. Mahlon Buck ’21 William C. Buck ’50 and Alexander K. Buck ’53). Used for books on music and recordings.
  • The Music Room in the Skillman Library
  • The Buck Concert Series was endowed in 1970. Grace Buck took a personal interest in these performances and attended several. The 2005-06 J. Mahlon & Grace Buck Concert will take place Feb. 2, 2014 (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, with violinist Vadim Repin).
  • The “Buck Courts” for squash are named in recognition of their generosity to the Lafayette Leadership Campaign. They were dedicated in 2000.

The College is pleased to recognize the entire Buck family for their lifetime of collaboration and support.

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Photo: Members of the Buck family pose near the newly built squash courts at the dedication of the Allan P. Kirby Sports Center in fall 2000. From left to right: Sally Buck (wife of Whip), the late Alexander K. “Whip” Buck ’53, William C. “Bill” Buck ’50, Laura Buck (wife of Bill).

Higher res photo available, http://flic.kr/p/fNgvxy.

Kathleen Parrish
Associate Director of Media Relations
Lafayette College
Communications Division
Easton, PA 18042
parrishk@lafayette.edu