New Overseers

John R. Blackmon ’79

Residence: Las Vegas, NV

Education: BA from Whitman 1979, MBA from UW, Pacific Coast Banking School

Career: Independent banking industry pro-
fessional, president of Western Thrift & Loan

Family: Wife, Susan; six children; four grandchildren

Whitman Community involvement: Whitman College Alumni Board member, Alumni Board representative to the Whitman College Board of Overseers, class representative for the Annual Giving fund, alumni admission representative

Community volunteer efforts: President of The First Tee of Southern Nevada, chairman of the Board of Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada, president of the UNLV Rebel Football Foundation

Megin Flaherty Edwards ’91

Residence: Seattle, WA

Education: BA from Whitman 1991

Career: Former associate director of development, University of Washington School of Medicine; associate director of the annual fund, Whitman College

Family: Husband, Derek Edwards; children, Jake (7) and Logan (4); parents, Linda and John Flaherty ’64, overseer emeritus; brother, Sean Flaherty ’87

Whitman Community involvement: Whitman alumni fund volunteer, associate class representative and current class representative, Whitman Annual Fund Advisory Committee member, Western Washington Campaign Committee member

Community volunteer efforts:
Program for Appropriate Technology in Healthcare; Magnolia Cooperative Preschool Board and Executive Committee

Why I serve as a volunteer leader for Whitman: “Whitman has touched many important parts of my life, and I am happy to give back through my time.”

Michael P. Flannery ’76

Residence: Spokane, WA

Education: BA from Whitman 1976

Career: Retired stockbroker

Family: Partner, Dean Lynch

Community involvement: Inland Northwest Business Alliance, Spokane, founding member; Planned Parenthood of Spokane, past board member; Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Spokane, past board member; Spokane Symphony, past board member; Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, Seattle, past board member

Why I serve as a volunteer leader for Whitman: “It is a way for me to support my strong commitment to a co-ed liberal arts education. I believe in the importance of professor-led small classes.”

Thomas H. Oldfield ’67

Residence: Gig Harbor, WA

Education: BA from Whitman 1967, JD from University of Washington

Career: Partner/attorney, Oldfield & Helsdon, PLLC

Family: Wife, Mary “Skip” McNichols Oldfield ’67; children, Katherine Oldfield, Shelley Oldfield Higgins, Elizabeth Fairchild ’96 and Paige Fairchild

Community involvement: Board member, Children’s Home Society of Washington

Whitman Community involvement: Alumni Board vice president

Why I serve as a volunteer leader for Whitman: “I volunteer because of the benefit that I believe one derives from Whitman’s liberal arts education, and it’s also an excellent way to keep in touch with alumni. I am constantly reminded of the value of a liberal arts education as I encounter Whitman students and alumni in diverse work and community activities … There is an unmistakable difference in the foundation Whitman provides students for their future lives.”