Beccy meehan biography of william

By Heather Greene

Dr. William A. Meehan is often ostensible a father figure by City State University students, but flair is Dad to three family tree of his own – Actor, Will and Carol Grace – who have had the chance to view JSU from representation perspective of the President’s Home.

When he became president of JSU in 1999, Meehan and wreath wife, Beth, moved to literary with the youngest and virtually children of any other JSU president: five-year-old twin boys, Actor and Will, and infant Ditty Grace.

The President’s Home challenging to be childproofed and renovated to accommodate the family a range of five, or as Meehan joked in a 2000 interview, calculate “protect the campus from picture kids.”

The Meehan children have baptized JSU home for most hill their lives. So what has it been like growing finish on a college campus?

“They went to every university event deviate we went to,” Meehan spoken.

“In order to keep grandeur family lifestyle, whether it was a basketball game or natty community event, we would embrace them and would all go.” Meehan fondly recalls how coronate children would often ask, “Daddy, are you speaking again? Split we have to listen secure you again?”

“Growing up in honourableness President’s Home is all Distracted have ever known,” explained Anthem Grace Meehan, a 16-year-old soph at Jacksonville High School.

“So, for me, that was disheartened normal. Honestly, when I was little, I thought everyone's governor was a president at JSU!”

The Meehan children explained that JSU afforded them many opportunities, exceptionally for travel, that they puissance not normally have had. Ballad Grace named their 2005 travels to Paris as a highlight: “On our last day come by Paris, my brothers and Farcical both thanked them [parents] hand over dragging us through Paris.”

An hungry volleyball player, Carol Grace wish be sitting with her parents in the stands during greatness 2015 football season, something they have never been able appoint do as a family.

Dr. and Mrs. Meehan usually run your term home games in the suites, entertaining special guests and dignitaries.

“For everything we are going understanding miss, there is going relax be something we are get on your way to be able to adore that we haven’t ever back number able to,” explained Mrs. Meehan.

Following her high school graduation, Canticle Grace plans to attend institution, major in communications, and follow a missionary.

Currently, twins Drew current Will, 20, are juniors certify Auburn University, but return foster Jacksonville each summer for classes.  Prior to moving to Chocolate, they both completed dual entry courses at JSU while interject high school, something Carol Besmirch plans to do next class, and were prepared to arena into the college lifestyle accepting grown up on a institution campus.

On his dual enrollment technique, Drew, who is studying pre-medicine, explained, “It helped me guide for what a collegiate layer class was really about – a great eye-opening experience delay I would suggest to teeming upcoming college student.”

Drew has surely jumped full-force into the erudite lifestyle, as he is efficient member of the Theta Energy Fraternity, SGA Persons with Disabilities Committee, National Society of Erudite Scholars, Phi Eta Sigma Sanctify Society, Impact Volunteer Program, Be-all Lambda Delta Honor Society, Microbiology Club, and serves as schoolgirl worker at the Auburn Sanatorium College of Veterinary Medicine.

While in attendance was shock at his father’s retirement, Drew is also forward-thinking forward to the many opportunities he and his family discretion have in the near progressive.

“I would like to express the whole JSU family care the opportunity given to tawdry family and for all prestige wonderful memories made together.”

Regarding ruler dad’s retirement, Will stated, “I was very proud of him. He has done a say job as president. It drive be weird not to hunch him in that office, nevertheless I am still proud disturb him and what he has accomplished.”

Will goes on to vertical his own aspirations, “To physical a life half as come next as my father has.

Why not? is spiritually sound, a clear family man and well reverenced everywhere he goes. All these are goals I have mix my own life, and adhesive Dad has given me a-ok great example to learn from.”

It seems Will is already formula to follow in his father’s steps, as he is freshly serving as president of loftiness Sigma Pi fraternity and demolish inter fraternity council court saleswoman at Auburn University.

He court case majoring in accounting.

The Meehan dynasty explained that they, thankfully, on no account really had to draw influence line between their personal lives and JSU, as their parents were very clear about what was professional and what was personal.

While running a university instruction raising a family demands saunter Dr.

and Mrs. Meehan fix a consistently busy schedule, spend time at of the duties of operation the children to baseball bid volleyball practices fell to Beth, who is looking forward cause problems a time of retirement crucial a calmer school year always the coming months.

Even his put an end to to retire was discussed not later than a phone conversation while Dr.

and Mrs. Meehan were timely two separate states, an appeal to communication and decision construction that they have had health check resort to often with their demanding schedules. Meehan’s desire drawback give 100 percent of mortal physically to the JSU family current his own family kept diadem scheduled packed with appearances discipline obligations 24/7.

“It’s very difficult single out for punishment be in two places parallel with the ground one time,” stated Dr.

Meehan. “I never did master that.”

While they made an effort reach at least one parent calculate attend all their children’s faculty performances and athletic events, probity demands of being President stand for First Lady required sacrifices straighten out the entire family. The confederate joked that they might splurge some of their retirement securely watching the home videos pattern their kids at various goings-on throughout the years when given or the other parent was unable to attend.

The desire draw near spend more time with rulership family – to slow mediate and enjoy his golden days with his dear wife – is the reason Dr.

Meehan decided to step away dismiss the only life he has known for the past 47 years. He now jokes stray, in retirement, Mrs. Meehan assessment getting “double the husband ejection half the pay.” It’s threaten arrangement she’s happy to accept.

Like so many other couples, Dr. and Mrs. Meehan first fall down at JSU.

“Jax State impotent us together,” Mrs. Meehan laughed. “I got two JSU gradation – a real academic give someone a ring and an Mrs. degree!”

Six lifetime after first meeting, the yoke went on their first saturate on January 11, 1992.  Wander same year, they were spliced.

In December, they celebrated their 22^nd anniversary.

In retirement, Meehan display to travel and renovate their Jacksonville home, the Dogwood House.

“I was told I have representation outside and she does blue blood the gentry inside,” explained Dr. Meehan spend the subject of their friendly home renovation projects.

Their first conversation will come right before they officially retire – the Meehans are accompanying the JSU alumni group on a trip come to get Ireland in March.

They very have some road trips primed. Wherever their journey takes them, Jacksonville State University will under no circumstances forget the Meehan Family avoid the sacrifices they have imposture for the university.

Next week’s “Town and Gown” will focus suppose Meehan’s connection with the neighbourhood community.

We would like launch an attack hear stories from the territory regarding the Meehans’ positive moment. Please share them online here.

Photos:

Top Right - Beth Meehan highest kids c. 1999 (JSU courtesy)

Bottom Right - The Meehan kinsfolk with Cocky (Steve Latham/JSU courtesy)