Wake Forest Honors Ron and Linda Wellman
10/12/2019 11:37:00 AM | General
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest University on Friday night (Oct. 11) honored recently retired director of athletics Ron Wellman with a farewell reception that featured a number of special honors.
Wellman served as Wake Forest's athletic director from 1992 until he retired on April 30, 2019. During his 27-year tenure, Wake Forest won 24 ACC championships, five NCAA team championships and produced 10 national players of the year.
Among the luminaries presenting tributes were Director of Athletics John Currie, Board of Trustees Chair Gerald Roach, former Wake Forest student-athlete Brooke Thomas, and Ron and Linda's three daughters, Angie, Nicole and Melissa.
Among the numerous honors bestowed upon Ron and Linda was the announcement that the Wake Forest Athletics Department will have its mailing address changed to 1 Wellman Way. In addition, the road that leads directly to the Sutton Sports Performance Center and Shah Basketball Complex will culminate at Wellman Plaza.
Wellman's service to Wake Forest University and his care and respect for the many student-athletes and coaches that he worked with were recognized by the presentation of the first Ron Wellman Life Teammate Award. Awarded annually, the Life Teammate Award will recognize a male and female student-athlete who best represents the characteristics of being a life teammate.
During his comments following the announcement of the Life Teammate Award, Wellman asked that the award be re-named the Ron and Linda Wellman Life Teammate Award.
"Linda is my life teammate," said Wellman.
The award was inspired by the Will to Live Foundation which was founded by John Trautwein, a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played at Northwestern University during Wellman's tenure as head baseball coach of the Wildcats. The "Will to Live Foundation" was founded by Trautwein following the tragic suicide of his teenage son, Will. The foundation is dedicated to preventing teen suicide by improving the lives and the "will to live" of teenagers everywhere through education and mental health education while encouraging them to be good teammates for life.
As an offspring of Wake Forest's relationship with the Will to Live Foundation, Wake Forest University will partner with the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools to proactively address the rising rate of youth suicide in North Carolina. WS/FCS is offering suicide prevention education and depression awareness as part of the SOS Signs of Suicide® Prevention Program.
Designed to raise awareness about behavioral health among middle and high school students, the SOS Prevention Program uses developmentally appropriate educational videos and guided discussions to teach students about the warning signs of suicide and depression. Students are also encouraged to ACT (Acknowledge, Care, and Tell) by reaching out to a trusted adult if they are concerned about someone or if they themselves need support.
The SOS Prevention program will be presented to all 7th graders in Health & PE class on selected days between November 4, 2019 and December 6, 2019. Classes will be facilitated by student services personnel and teachers who have been specially trained in providing suicide prevention education and screening.
"The life teammate concept was something I came up with at my son's funeral when I saw all of my old teammates from when I was in high school and college," said Trautwein. "They had traveled from across the country to be with me in my hour of need. It was at that time I realized that these old teammates and old friends were my life friends and my best friends. That's where the concept of a life teammate originated and I wanted kids to recognize that they've already met some of their lifelong teammates and we need to talk about it.
"So many of my lifelong friends were from my days playing baseball at Northwestern and we truly do love each other. We all played for Ron Wellman. He was our coach, he was our leader, he was our mentor, and he fostered this atmosphere of creating this team concept. He was such a proponent of it and that's really where it came from. Ron was such a key driver of it, not only while we were playing for him but after we graduated.
"Ron always loved having us together," continued Trautwein. "We would return for our reunions and alumni weekends to see him because we had such a great respect for him. But we loved him because he loved us. He created this atmosphere of loving your teammates which is rare. I was fortunate enough to continue in baseball for a really long time. I had lots of coaches and only a few of them were like Ron and fostered this concept of really being there for your teammates. That's why it is such an easy, and in my opinion, a brilliant idea to name the award after him. Ron is such a believer in everything that we're trying to do with this message."
The criteria for the Life Teammate award include having the characteristics of humility, honesty, unselfishness, accountability, optimism, leadership, integrity and resiliency. The Life Teammate award recipient handles both wins and losses with class and dignity, is dedicated to the success and well-being of each team member and shows respect for all teammates as well as coaches, officials, fans and staff members.
The first recipients of the Ron and Linda Wellman Life Teammate award are Cade Carney from the football team and women's soccer player Madison Hammond. Both serve as team captains for their respective teams.
Madison is an exceptional example of a Deacon Leader. She is someone who takes the initiative to create change and spearhead solution-focused action. Madison is an active member of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, ensuring the needs and challenges of her peers are heard. She helped create the SAAC motto: "Our Chance For Change" and has written to the University's President to speak on important issues such as gender equity and inclusion.
"Madison is looked up to by many of her teammates because of her outstanding ability to empathize, her outgoing and tenacious personality and work ethic," said Ashley Wechter, Wake Forest's Assistant Athletic for Student-Athlete Development. "She's won awards for her commitment to community service and she's a true supporter of all teams, showing up regularly to cheer on her Deacs."
"I would like to thank Ron Wellman for everything he has done for this athletic community and the department for the development of all student-athletes," said Madison. "I would also like to thank my coaches, peers and teammates for inspiring me to be the best teammate on and off the field. I have learned so much from everybody and those lessons have made my four years at Wake Forest truly memorable."
Cade made his mark in Wake Athletics as early as his freshman year. As an active member in Athletes in Action, Cade quickly became identified as a servant leader devoting his Tuesday nights to ministry and daily walking alongside his teammates through the highs and lows of life. His work ethic and talents were evident on the football field; winning and losing with dignity and respect. Cade has served on the board of Santa's Helper for the past two years, recruiting volunteers to dress up like Santa to deliver over 1,000 gifts to underprivileged families. He is an outstanding spokesperson representing the football team and Wake Forest University on national platforms.
"Cade is seen as a leader on the football team, across the University's athletic department and as a student-athlete," said Robert Egleston, the Executive Director of Leadership Winston-Salem and President of Santa's Helper. "His infectious smile and spirit light up every room he enters."
"I am honored to be receiving the Ron Wellman Life Teammate Award," said Carney. "The legacy that Mr. Wellman left on the campus and the relationship we were able to build in my four years here is something that I am honored to be a part of. To be considered a person who carries out the attributes that he lived during his 27 years at Wake Forest, I am very thankful and appreciative."
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