The Teaching Fellows endowment was established in memory of Joie Maynard’s parents, Dr. John H. Albers and Jane Albers. John was a dedicated surgeon for 40 years and an instructor in medicine in Southern California. Jane became interested in preventive medicine, studying nutrition and sharing her knowledge with John’s patients.
The Business Fellows endowment was established in memory of Jim’s parents, Reid A. Maynard and Grace Maynard. Reid served as an Elon trustee for 35 years and was a passionate advocate of education. A respected business leader in Alamance County, he founded Grace Hosiery Mill and Tower Hosiery Mill in the late 1920s. He was named Alamance County’s Citizen of the Year in 1952 and received an honorary degree from Elon in 1970. Grace was an active community leader and devoted countless hours to her church.
Jim Maynard is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Harvard Business School, and has been an Elon trustee since 1985. He spent his career in management and as president of Tower Mills Inc., the family hosiery manufacturing business. He served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and United Way in Alamance County, president of the Alamance Country Club, chair of the Burlington Advisory Board of Bank of America, director of the National Hosiery Association and Dan River Mills Inc., and chair of the board at Methodist Retirement Homes Inc. In 1997, Elon awarded Jim the Frank S. Holt Business Leadership Award.
Joie graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Graduate School of Education, and taught in the Newton, Mass., public school system. Active in her community, she is a board member of the N.C. Museum of History Associates and chair of its acquisition committee. She served on the editorial staff and as distribution chair of the History of Alamance County Legacy Book Committee for the Alamance County Historical Museum. She also was a director and the first female president of Alamance Country Club and has been a member of the administrative board and board of trustees of Front Street United Methodist Church.
The Maynards’ two-part gift included a charitable IRA rollover and a charitable remainder unitrust funded with appreciated securities. As part of their gift, the couple plans to return to Elon a portion of their annual income from the charitable trust.
“We have been long-time believers in Elon,” says Jim. “My wife and I have been fortunate to have outstanding education provided to us, so we support our educational institutions. It makes us very happy to make this gift. Elon has shown so much appreciation for it, so it really makes us feel good. I heartily recommend that others do the same.”
Jim says it was important for the couple to make their gift now so they can meet the students who will receive the Fellows scholarships. He also praised Elon’s planned giving staff for helping them to structure their gift.
“It’s not a scary thing but a fulfilling thing that makes you feel good,” Jim says. “Elon is doing such a fine job educating the most important asset we have, which is our youth.”
The Maynard family’s Elon roots run deep. Maynard House, the residence of President Leo M. Lambert and his family, was given to Elon in 1988 through the estate of Reid and Grace Maynard. The stately two-story, Georgian brick home was built in 1957 and hosts university receptions, dinners and meetings. Jim Maynard and his siblings were instrumental in the transfer of the home to Elon.