The UMW College of Business has named a long-time professor of mathematics

In the year When Professor Emeritus Leigh Frackleton retires from the Mary Washington College of Business (COB) in 2021, Pandemic leaves plenty of room for fans.

Rob Strassheim ’96 wanted more for his former professor, who taught business law and accounting at the university for 35 years.

“Leigh is an institution here at Mary Washington,” said Strassheim, who now serves as deputy director of the UMW Board of Visitors. He helped raise tens of thousands of dollars to name Frackleton’s class. “I felt this was a great effort to pay tribute to someone who has had such an impact in the classroom and in the community.”

Alumni and colleagues, family and friends finally had the opportunity to meet a longtime faculty member on Thursday, April 20, in Woodward Hall, occupying the Leigh Frackleton Room as well as the Gibbons Group Room.

In the airy, technology-rich space, COB Interim Dean Ken Machande ’94 and guests swapped stories about “fracking” to illustrate his own work experiences — and golf games — of key business concepts. Before giving the professor himself a chance to share more stories, the dean announced that Frackleton had been instrumental in creating a scholarship for accounting students.

“I always enjoyed hearing his real-world examples,” said Michelle Gibbons, 16, majoring in business administration. “It helped fuel my desire to pursue a career in accounting.”

Gibbons named the team room in honor of her daughter, along with her parents, COB Executive Advisory Board member Bill and former Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Susie. Machande thanked the Gibbon family for their generous donation, which will benefit business students for years to come.

Frackleton, who grew up in the neighborhood next to UMW, majored in history at Washington and Lee University. He later earned a law degree from Richmond Law School and a master of law in taxation from the College of William and Mary. He became a CPA while studying for the exam with many of his students.

He was hired by Mary Washington in 1986 and spent more than three decades in the classroom. He now serves as a consultant at Parish Snead Franklin Simpson PLC, supporting many local community organisations.

At UMW, he developed a reputation as a hard-working student. “He had high expectations of the students,” said Rob Witt ’93, who attended the graduation. He and his daughter, Emily Witt ’23, took lessons with Frackelton and enjoyed comparing notes. “He was always enthusiastic and loved his studies and education,” Rob said.

But beyond his gruff exterior, “you find someone who really loves helping his students,” Machande said, telling a story about the time Frackleton paid a semester for a senior who was struggling financially.

“I’ve heard from academics who say that Leigh alone is the only reason they did accounting,” Strassheim said. “He once opened his house to a student in Richmond who was looking for a place to stay for an internship.”

And he was always focused on other things, Strassheim said. In response, David and Nancy Honeywell of the Honeywell Charitable Foundation made a generous challenge gift, prompting others to give Mary Washington a goal of raising $100,000 for the COB endowment.

Finally, it was Frackleton’s turn to speak.

“If I had a class like this, I’d be teaching for 55 years,” he joked, referring to those who cheered him on throughout his career as “the porch people.”

He credits many, including his wife and children, his son-in-law, and his beloved professor who encouraged him to practice tax law instead of teaching. Years later, the man was delighted that Frackleton could do both.

“That’s what I always tell my students,” Frackleton said. “Do what you love and enjoy what you do.”

Learn more about Naming gifts Or Establish scholarships At the University of Mary Washington, please contact the Office of University Advancement at (540) 654-1024 or advance@umw.edu.

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