DEAR MEMBERS:
At an Iowa State men’s basketball game earlier this season, Zach Christensen (’02) stopped by my seat at Hilton Coliseum to share his and his wife, Azure’s (’01), appreciation for the Iowa State video acceptance message that their son Maddox had received, the role I played in the video, and the exciting news that Maddox will be attending Iowa State next fall.
Our conversation led us down memory lane: I had the privilege of meeting Maddox at his first visit to Hilton when he was about 13 weeks old (Iowa State vs. North Dakota State; we won 67-54!). We snapped a photo of the moment then in 2006, and recreated it this year to celebrate Maddox’s decision to continue his Cyclone journey.
While Maddox will become an official Cyclone next fall, he has been an Iowa Stater his whole life. In fact, Maddox holds the distinction of being the youngest life member ever of the ISU Alumni Association. His maternal grandparents, Steve (’68) and Karen Eddy, purchased Maddox a membership when he was only 4 months old. The Eddy family’s history and legacy at Iowa State University is long, rich, and proud. Maddox’s great grandparents, the late Bob (’40) and Barbara (’40) Eddy, served on the association’s board of directors, and were association life members, Order of The Knoll members, athletic season ticket holders, donors, and so on. All their children, Robert, Steve (’68), Donald (’73) and Mary Wolf (’78), have supported Iowa State over the years with gifts or engagement as alumni association lifetime members.
Journeying down memory lane with Zach and Maddox was a special moment for me. It reminded me of how many Iowa Staters I’ve had the honor to meet, know, and see grow over my 25 years here. It also was a reminder of the legacy which we leave for ourselves and others. What’s your or your family’s Iowa State legacy story? How did you start or how are you planning to start your child(ren) or grandchild(ren) down the Iowa State legaCY path? I’d love to hear, and have the ISU Alumni Association be a part of, your story!
Jeff Johnson, PhD ‘14
Talbot Endowed President and CEO
