Letter from the Chair, Urton Anderson

Will and Beverly O’Hara and many other alumni and friends keep us at the top of the charts

It’s always a pleasure to publish our donor list in the Accounting Times each year to acknowledge the integral part the generosity of our alumni and friends plays in making our programs great. We are cognizant that every donation counts in our efforts to maintain our program’s top status—from the most modest to the highest levels of support.

This year, the McCombs School and the department have been honored with an especially generous donation from Will and Beverly O’Hara, who are featured on page 3 of this issue. Even before they bestowed this gift, they were avid supporters of our programs, with Will going so far as to lend his expertise in the classroom.

In 2003, when Will made an appointment to talk with then-chairman Steve Limberg about his desire to teach in our program, Steve was hesitant—but only due to the dazzling accomplishments evidenced by Will’s resume. A 1968 BBA in accounting graduate, he had retired in 2002 after a stellar career that included serving as senior vice president at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. "Were there unstaffed classes appropriate for Will’s impressive background? I thought not," Steve says.

But after meeting with Will and Beverly, Steve came to understand that Will was happy to contribute in any way possible, even to teach an introductory course. "That proved to be among the best decisions I’ve ever made," Steve says, "His wealth of knowledge and connection with the students has been invaluable to our programs and the McCombs School."

His former students enthusiastically describe Will’s impact on their lives. Connie Chau, who was a member of his Accounting 312 class, says, "Professor O’Hara’s passion and dedication is evident in his charismatic teaching style and his attentiveness to helping his students succeed at the highest level, in the accounting profession and in life." Diana Hwu, another of his students, describes him as patient, approachable, and very giving of his time and experience. "Professor O’Hara sincerely wants the best for each and every one of his students," she says.

In his eloquent and inspiring address at the December 2006 BBA Commencement ceremony, Will summed up his beliefs about the importance of giving back to his alma mater: "None of our successful alumni ever forget their experience here and how key it was to their success. And they believe they have a responsibility to make sure that this experience will continue to be available to and make a difference for the next generation of successful business leaders."

Will is as good as his word, and he joins our many alumni and friends who make such a difference in our programs, both monetarily and through gifts of their time. We are well aware that our supporters make us what we are—and we work hard to assure that the high regard of our programs parallels the level of our immense gratitude.