Distinguished Alumna
Charlotte Haile Frischkorn '58

Presentation speech by Margaret R. Broad, Headmistress,
at the Annual Alumnae Weekend Luncheon, April 15, 2000.

Today we are honoring a most distinguished alumna, Charlotte Haile Frischkorn, class of '58. In honoring her, we honor 25 years of engaged, formal leadership for St. Margaret's School.

Charlotte receives the award from Headmistress Broad at the Annual Alumnae Luncheon, April 15, 2000, in the Community Technology Center.

I first remember Charlotte as an extraordinarily capable woman leading a complex organization. I was a teacher; she was the board chair. She ran a layer of school life beyond my everyday experience of a school where I spent every day. I had the privilege of attending her first meeting as our first alumna to chair the SMS Board of Governors during my first year as Academic Dean. She ran a board made up of 13 men and 5 women, with only one other SMS graduate. Organized, elegant, tactful, serious, and determined, she held her own with the special commitment that a passion for her cause had given her.

Long before the rest of us had a vision, she saw her school with an eye for color, detail, and consistency that included interiors and exteriors, even the trees and green spaces. During all of her years with us, she has participated, pushed, prodded, and planned with great determination. She has held us to our plans by pulling us toward our best and highest visions.

What had Charlotte accomplished in the 10 years before she and I began our work together? As I recount some of the highlights, I would like you all to also note Charlotte's strong connections to so many of you in this room today.

Charlotte's active involvement with the Alumnae Association led to her appointment as president in 1975. At her first meeting, Mary Lloyd Pollard Lay was also present, and a resolution to John Garland Pollard, Jr. was recorded in the board minutes.

Eight years later, two other people with us today saw Charlotte begin her first term as a regular board member, Ann Davies Trible, Academic Dean, and Louise Velletri, Administrative Assistant. During those years, as one of a tiny handful of SMS graduates on our board, she kept the passion and vision alive.

Charlotte oversaw the restoration of Brockenbrough House to its original beauty, right down to the moldings and floor timbers.

She co-chaired the Blandfield Gala, which raised $25,000.

On June 7, 1987, Charlotte was named Campaign Chair of the Heritage & Future Campaign, with Paul Barthelemy as Head of School. This campaign had an ambitious goal and campus master plan.

On May 19, 1989, Charlotte was there when I was appointed Headmistress.

I have certainly never wanted to take on a new building or planning project without Charlotte! In these last ten years, Charlotte's leadership, formal and informal, has shown incredible breadth: Steering Committee member for Viola H. Woolfolk Learning Center; 75th Anniversary Committee member; Antiques and Art Hostess; Foundation Board member; Educating Young Women for Life, Campaign Committee member; Selection of color schemes for my office and our new dining room; Strategic Planning participant in January 2000.

Distinguished Alumna Recipients (l. to r.) are: Lila Ware Palmer '45, Hannah Mallory Perkins '40, Charlotte Haile Frischkorn '58, Polly Gray Rice '35 and Ann Burgwyn Hundley '39.

In honoring Charlotte today, we also honor her family and express our appreciation to them for their support of her work with us. Thank you first to her husband, Charles Hardwicke Frischkorn, Jr. Charlie, First Vice-President (investments) at Davenport and Co., has generously lent his offices for phonations throughout the years, first at Craigie and later at Branch Cabell. He has also been a frequent and welcome partner at our St. Margaret's events here and in Richmond. We also honor her daughters Isabel Dudley and Macon Willingham, their husbands Lee and Tom, and her grandchildren Lee, III, Tommy, Charlie, and Charlotte. We are glad so many of you are with us today.

Charlotte, in presenting you with the distinguished alumna award for the year 2000, we are honoring your 25 years of distinguished leadership, but we are not recognizing the end of your commitment to St. Margaret's School! All of us sincerely look forward to continuing to enjoy the inspiration that your particular vision brings to the life of our school and to all of us who share this life with you.

(From the Spring/Summer 2000 Thistle)