Findlay, Ohio, Dec. 6, 2002 – John S. and Barbara Eakin ’63 Meyers, James W. ’63 and Karis S. Woodward and Marilyn C. and Gordon S. Macklin were named Distinguished Associates at “Applause,” the donor recognition reception held at The University of Findlay on Dec. 5.

Since 1975, the Distinguished Associates Award has been presented to members of the UF Associates who by their personal endeavors, financial support and leadership have brought distinction to The University of Findlay.

John S. and Barbara Eakin ’63 Meyers are being honored for their outstanding commitment to The University of Findlay and its programs.

John is a retired salesman, and Barbara is a retired educator from the Findlay City Schools. Currently, she is the regional coordinator for Praxis III Entry Year Teacher Program through the Ohio Department of Education.

Active with the College First Church of God, John and Barbara are members of the Heirloom Antique Club and volunteers for the Hancock Historical Museum Victorian Christmas Dinner.

John is an avid golfer and enjoys participating in UF golf outings. He also is a supporter of the UF men’s and women’s basketball and football teams and is a member of the Findlay Elks Club.

Barbara is co-coordinator of the docent program for The Mazza Museum, where she also serves as a docent. She also does living history and serves as a docent at the Hancock Historical Museum. Currently, Barbara is treasurer of the UF Regional Alumni Club and has participated in UF-sponsored community chorus events. She also established the Barbara Eakin Meyers Acquisition Fund Endowment for The Mazza Museum at UF.

John and Barbara have three children, Diane of Orlando, Fla.; Betsy of Vanlue, Ohio; and Evan of Columbus. They also have three grandchildren.

James W. ’63 and Karis S. Woodward are being recognized due to their many years of dedication to The University of Findlay.

James retired in 1995 from Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. With a career spanning back to 1957 with Cooper, James rose through the ranks to the position of manager of market planning before his retirement.

He earned his degree from then Findlay College in 1963 and graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1979. He also attended the Air Force War College in 1986.

For 34 years, James served as a member of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve, retiring in 1989 as a lieutenant colonel. He earned numerous commendations, including the Humanitarian Service Medial and the Expert Infantryman Badge.

A member of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve from 1988 to the present, James has also been active in a number of other organizations, including the Winebrenner Village Board of Trustees since 1996, past director of The Planning Forum, a member of the Findlay • Hancock County Chamber of Commerce since 1987, a member of the UF Alumni Board of Governors from 1980-89 and a project business consultant for Junior Achievement from 1986-90.

Other memberships in community organizations include Elks Club, Odd Fellows, Reserve Officer’s Association, The Retired Officer’s Association, Officer’s Christmas Fellowship, United States Army Infantry Museum Society, Friends of Camp Perry, American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and the Trojan Club.

Karis is a registered nurse, having retired from Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center in 1993 after 18 years of service in the special care unit.

She attended Bowling Green State University and worked for several years as a medical assistant for a local physician. She earned a degree in 1975 from the Bowling Green Area School of Practical Nursing and a nursing degree in 1992 from Owens Technical College.

A member of UF’s Town and Campus, Karis has also been active with the Lads and Lasses Child Conservation League and as a Campfire group leader.

James and Karis are active in College First Church of God and sing in the church choir. They have two children, Jill and Judith, and four grandchildren.

Marilyn C. and Gordon S. Macklin are honored for their years of support of The University of Findlay.

Gordon has been a corporate financial adviser since 1992. He has also held numerous other positions, including chairman of White River Corporation from 1993-98, chairman of Hambrecht & Quist, Inc., from 1987-92, president of NASDAQ, Inc. from 1975-87, president of NASD from 1970-87, chairman of the National Clearing Corporation from 1970-76 and partner and a member of the executive committee of McDonald & Company Securities, Inc., from 1950-70.

Currently, he serves on the board of directors for Martek Biosciences Corporation, MedImmune, Inc., Overstock.com, Spacehab, Inc., White Mountain Insurance Group, Ltd. and WorldCom, Inc. He also serves as a director, trustee or managing general partner in 48 of the funds in the Franklin/Templeton Group.

Gordon has been honored numerous times for his outstanding service. He received the Fort Findlay Award from the Findlay • Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, the Over-The-Counter Man of the Year Award from Equities Magazine and the Award for Excellence of Achievement Benefiting Mankind and Improving the Quality of Life from the Governor of the state of Ohio.

He was recognized with the Alexis de Tocqueville Award for Statesman of the Year in 2000 and has been awarded honorary degrees from Montgomery College in Rockville, Md., and from The University of Findlay. He was recognized for Outstanding Service to Capital Markets by the Museum of American Financial History, and “The Gordon S. Macklin Building” was dedicated to him by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Brown University in 1950.

Marilyn graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in literature.

Early in her career in Cleveland, Marilyn worked at the Shaker School Summer Recreation Program and at Boulevard Nursery School in Shaker Heights, followed by the Fairmont Nursery School in Cleveland Heights. After moving to Findlay, she worked at the Concannon Nursery School.

Marilyn has participated in volunteer activities over the years, including serving as a member of the Child Health Center Board in Washington, D.C., Montgomery County Foster Care Child Review Board and the Board of Trustees at The University of Findlay.

In addition to raising four children and assisting with nine grandchildren, Marilyn has played an important role in Gordon’s occupational schedule. Most notable were her achievements in coordinating the logistics and social arrangements of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

The couple established the Gordon and Marilyn Macklin Merit Scholarship at UF.