Guide to the Peggy A. Stock Westminster College President's speeches

Peggy Stock was Westminster College's 15th president, serving from October, 1995 through June 2002. She was the first woman to lead any institution of higher education in the state of Utah, and brought with her a vision of Westminster as "a destination place for students". She developed a Campus Master Plan and helped lead a Capital Campaign that allowed the college to implement the plan and transform the campus.

Stock presided over the construction of Westminster's residential village, the renovation of its student center, the expansion of the Gore School of Business and the development of a high-tech aviation program. Under her direction, plans were also developed to expand the college's Jewett Center and build the Health, Wellness, and Athletic Center. Those buildings laid the groundwork for her real legacy: an increase in the quantity and quality of the students enrolled, the courses offered and the faculty and staff attracted.

During her presidency at Westminster College, Dr. Stock raised approximately $100 million and increased student enrollment by 30 percent.

Peggy Stock was born in Brooklyn, New York ca. 1936 to Ruth Feinstein Horowitz and Isaac Charles Horowitz. Her parents were married in 1928 and their first child, Harold, was born ca. 1929. Peggy received her B.S. degree in 1957 from St. Lawrence University, her M.A. in 1963, and Ed.D. degree in 1969 from the University of Kentucky. She married Dr. Robert J. "Bob" Stock, a professor of management and business ethics.

Before coming to Westminster College, Dr. Stock was Senior Vice-President for Administration and Professor at the University of Hartford, Assistant Dean of Students at Montana State University, and 6th President of Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire. While at Colby-Sawyer (1986-1995), Dr. Stock increased enrollment, completed a successful capital campaign, and constructed or renovated several buildings, including Rooke Hall. For 8 years she was President of the Midwest Institute for Training and Education, a highly successful organizational development, training, and consulting firm in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dr. Stock interviewed in April 1995 with the Board of Trustees to become the next president of Westminster College. The college had finally overcome some bad financial times; by 1995 it had been in the black for 12 years. The board wanted it to stay that way. Peggy saw the college as a "wonderful jewel that needed polishing". The board soon became convinced that her particular skills set fit the college's need; they saw a "can do" president. In her first 90 days as president, she and the board changed the bylaws and articles of incorporation for the college. Instead of representational trusteeship, they set criteria of "time, treasure, and talent".

A residential village became a large part of that vision. The three residence halls that now surround the green on the south side of campus brought not only residential students to campus, but all the energy and enthusiasm that accompanies 500 resident undergraduates. Olwell Hall was dedicated November, 2011, Behnken Hall in May 2002, and Stock Hall in June, 2002.

Raising visibility and creating an identity for Westminster College also became a priority. Peggy's strong personal leadership and energetic advocacy brought about a different perception of Westminster. She became a sought-after speaker whose style informed and entertained her audience. A storyteller, conveyer of a good joke, and master of just the right quotation, her speaking popularity mushroomed the requests poured in. In her first two years alone, she delivered 69 speeches. During that whirlwind speaking circuit, she convinced many that Westminster was a jewel in their midst that they failed to recognize.

In 2001, Utah Business Magazine named Westminster College one of the top five companies to work for in Utah. In June of that year Peggy reluctantly announced her retirement, effective June, 2002. She cited nagging health problems and a desire to spend more time with her husband Bob (Robert J. Stock) and her family.

After leaving Westminster, Peggy Stock became a Senior Consultant for Executive Recruitment and Organizational Management at the RPA consulting firm which helps colleges fill vacancies for presidents and deans. At Westminster's May 2010 Commencement, Peggy Stock received an Honorary Doctorate of Education Degree from the college.

Sources:

• "Executive focus: Peggy Stock, President of Westminster College" article in Deseret News, May 25, 1997.
• Macdonald, Anne. "Farewell to Dr. Peggy A. Stock, Westminster College's Fifteenth President", Westminster College Review, Summer, 2002.
• RPA Inc. website, Senior Consultants biographies (viewed December 2011).
• Westminster College website (viewed December 2011)

This collection consists of 143 speeches given by President Peggy A. Stock during her term as 15th president of Westminster College from 1995-2002. The speeches were delivered at various functions on campus and in the community. President Stock gave an average of 24 speeches per year. Illness prevented President Stock from delivering only one speech.

Some of the club speeches she gave in the community were to the Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, College Club, Town Club, and the Jewish Community Center Supper Club. She also spoke at various associations across Utah such as the Western Conclave and Region VI Cooperative Education Association; East Valley Chamber of Commerce; Tri-council for Gender Program; Interfaith Thanksgiving service; University of Utah Professors Emeriti Club; Department of Veterans Affairs, Unitarian Church, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges; National Association of Purchasing Management; Utah Academy of Sciences, Art, and Letters; Regional Sterling Scholar Competition; Utah Pioneer Partnership; Utah Association of Secondary School Principals; Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling; and the Utah Coalition for the Advancement of Minorities in Higher Education.

The topics for all of her speeches for clubs and other associations were very similar. She often told about her background, how she became the president of Westminster College and what it took to be a good college president, and she would often promote the college and higher education. Other common speech topics were change, success, diversity and acceptance, and making choices.

She would occasionally speak at high school graduations or other high school functions to promote Westminster College. Examples of these are the speeches she gave at the Olympus High National Honor Society Banquet (Jan. 1997), National Charity League of Utah Senior Graduation (1997), Career Education Day at Judge Memorial Catholic High School (Nov. 1998), Grantsville High School graduation (1999), and the High School Guidance Counselor Lunch (Jan. 2002). She also gave speeches on success to graduations for such groups as the Junior League Provisional graduating class (Oct. 1998), Leadership Dixie graduation (1998), and the ITT Technical Institute graduation in 1999.

Since Peggy Stock was the first woman college president in the history of Utah, she often gave speeches to groups of women talking about the special circumstances concerning women and success. Examples of the women organizations are the Consortium for Utah Women in Higher Education (1995); Business and Professional Women's Utah Foundation (1996); 20th Annual Women and Business Conference (1996); Executive Women International Leadership Conference (1997); Expanding your Horizons in Science and Math Conference (1997); Zonta International (1997); Women, Spirituality, and Power Conference (1997); National Charity League of Utah (1997); Utah Women Education Administrators Association (1997); American Association of University Women (1998); National Association of Women Business Owners; Utah Women's Conference (1998); League of Women Voters (1999); Utah State Administrators and Daughters (2000); Greenbacks Single Mother Conference; Ladies' Literary Club (2000); and two groups of women at Southern Utah University (1996) and the College of Eastern Utah (2000).

Peggy Stock's remaining speeches were given at Westminster College functions. The speeches she gave annually at Westminster College were the Budget meeting (March or April), Awards Night (March or April), Open House remarks (March or April), Freshman Orientation (August), Scholarship Luncheon (April or October), Commencement (May or June), Awards Program (April), All College meeting (sometimes given more than once a year in January, June, September, or October), and the Convocation (August). The remaining college speeches were for the reception of the Dick Sailer scholarship (Oct. 1995), Heritage Award Dinner (Nov. 1995), Donor Recognition (Dec. 1995), Legal Assistant Commencement (Dec. 1995), Miller/Cook speech (Spring 1996), Alpha Chi speech (March 1996), Introduction for Hyrum W. Smith (Apr. 1996), All Staff Awards meeting (Apr. 1996), her inaugural address (Oct. 1996), Newcomers' Luncheon speech (March 1997), Giovale Library groundbreaking (March 1997), Neisen R. Bank Award (March 1997), Master of Education (May 1997), Giovale Library Dedication (Sept. 1997), Sherry Sailer Recognition Event (Nov. 1997), Holiday Gala (Dec. 1997), Retirement Meeting (Jan. 1998), Residence Hall Groundbreaking (Jan. 1998), Introduction to Bill Child (May 1998), Caribbean Carnival (Aug. 1998), Capital Campaign Announcement (Jan. 1999) Dolores Dore Eccles Ceramic Center Dedication (Nov. 1999), Tim Daynes appreciation dinner (March 2000), Student Appreciation Dinner (March 2000), Founder's Day (Apr, 2000), Introduction to Patrick Moore Distinguished Alumni Lunch (June 2000), Debt Review Committee Presentation (Aug. 2000), Retirement Party (Apr. 2001), Parent Orientation (Aug. 2001), Faculty Retreat (Aug. 2001), A Gathering of Peace (Sep. 2001), Golden Reunion Lunch (Oct. 2001), Jay Lees portrait unveiling (Oct. 2001), Olwell Hall ceremony (Nov. 2001), Faculty/Staff Farewell (Apr. 2002), Student Farewell Luncheon (May 2002), Behnken Hall Dedication (May 2002), and the Stock Hall Dedication (June 2002).

Restrictions on Access:

Open to public research.

Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Twenty-four hours advance notice is encouraged.

Restrictions on Use:

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material must be obtained from the director of the Giovale Library.

Preferred Citation:

Peggy A. Stock Westminster College President's speeches, 1995-2002, ACC-027, Giovale Library Archives, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically by speech date.

Processing Note:

Processed in July 2003 by Laura Richey.

Creator:

Stock, Peggy A.

Language:

Collection materials are in English.

Quantity:

1.6 linear feet

Language of the Finding Aid:

English.

Author of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid written 2003 by Laura Richey; biographical note added April 2012 by Sarah Shaw.

EAD Creation Date:

2011 December 15 by Sarah Shaw

Standard:

Describing Archives : A Content Standard (DACS)

Subarea:

Related Material:

Related collections, materials and photographs in Giovale Library Archives:

• Peggy A. Stock Westminster College President's publications collection, 1996-1998 (ACC-189)
• Photograph of Peggy A. Stock, 1995
• Westminster College campus map description of Stock Hall

Corporate Names:

Behnken Hall (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Olwell Hall (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Stock Hall (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Westminster College of Salt Lake City--Administration
Westminster College of Salt Lake City--Buildings
Westminster College of Salt Lake City--Finance
Westminster College of Salt Lake City--History--Sources
Westminster College of Salt Lake City--Presidents
Westminster College of Salt Lake City. Office of the President
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998- )--Administration
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998- )--Buildings
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998- )--Finance
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998- )--History--Sources
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998- )--Presidents
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998- ). Office of the President

Subject Terms:

College presidents--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
Educational fund raising
Women college presidents--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives

Form or Genre Terms:

Speeches

Personal Names:

Stock, Peggy A.--Archives
Stock, Peggy A. Speeches. Selections

Geographical Names:

Salt Lake City (Utah)--History--Sources