WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Feb. 1, 2017 — West Liberty University Foundation accepted an estate gift totaling more than $800,000 from the estate of former professor, Dr. Lawerence H. Talley, recently. Talley died on Feb. 13, 2016 in St. Clairsville, Ohio.
“We are pleased and grateful to our former professor for his foresight and generosity. His philanthropy and legacy will go on indefinitely due to his love of education and West Liberty University,” said WLU President Dr. Stephen Greiner.
The gift will fund four-year scholarships for a student majoring in chemistry or biology in the College of Sciences.
“Our students will benefit tremendously from Dr. Talley’s gift, which represents the third largest estate gift ever received by the Foundation. Because Dr. Talley also was a working scientist, he had an understanding of the value of education to society and the need for college degrees for our workforce. His generosity and concern for our students is admirable,” said Foundation Executive Director Angela Zambito-Hill.
Talley was the only son of Boyd and Sylvia Talley and was born in Cincinnati, on Aug. 16, 1927.
“Larry” Talley was a gentleman of varied talents and purposes of life, according to his friend and former colleague, WLU President Emeritus Dr. Clyde Campbell of Wheeling.
“He was a physical scientist who truly appreciated all aspects of art, literature, music, education and the social sciences. He was an outstanding college teacher of chemistry, a dedicated and effective administrator, and a sincere and true friend to many,” Campbell said.
Talley earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree, both in physical chemistry, at Ohio University. He later obtained a doctoral degree in education from West Virginia University.
His professional career was very diverse. As a research chemist, he worked in the laboratories of the “Manhattan Project” which developed the isotopes to fuel the first atomic bomb.
His work as a chemist also took him to Janesville, Wis., where he was vice-president for research at the Parker Pen Company.
However, his first professional love was teaching and he arrived at West Liberty State College in 1959 as a professor of chemistry. He was later appointed Dean of the school of Science and Mathematics, and eventually became academic vice-president and briefly served as interim President of West Liberty State College in 1984. Dr. Talley retired from WLU in 1993.
His personal interests were as varied as his professional activities. He held a private pilot license and flew his own airplane for many years. He was an avid collector of antiques and was an amateur rodeo rider.
According to Dr. Campbell, he was a gentleman and a gentle man in all aspects of the word. He was a true and devoted friend to many, particularly his students and he was fair, honest, and forthright in all his interactions with individuals at all levels. He was admired by his students, respected by his colleagues, and cherished by his friends.
Talley spent the majority of his retirement years in San Diego where he worked as a volunteer with the Scripps-Howard Institute. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Wheeling.
For more information on the Talley gift or to make a memorial contribution, please contact the WLU Foundation at 304-336-8498.