Six Inducted into Honor Roll

This year’s Homecoming festivities included the addition of six new members into the “Honor Roll of the Names that Live at Simpson.” Established in 1986, and updated with new inductees every five years, the Honor Roll recognizes alumni, former faculty members, and friends of the College who have made a significant impact on Simpson and their communities.

Distinguished Alumni honorees included retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Gerry Berry ’67, who enjoyed a highly decorated career as a helicopter pilot. He is famously remembered for helping to rescue more than 7,000 Vietnamese and Americans from the American Embassy, including Ambassador Graham Martin, during the fall of Saigon in 1975. Berry’s remarkable 25-year military career included earning three Distinguished Flying Crosses.

The late Richard Cohen ’70, three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, and producer was the other distinguished alumnus honored. Cohen’s storied career included roles with ABC News, CBS News, CNN and PBS. He also wrote a health column for the New York Times and authored several books on health issues, including his own 50-year battle with MS — the disease that claimed his life in December 2024.

Dr. Owen L. Duncan, Jr., professor emeritus of history, was honoredas this year’s Distinguished Faculty member. A beloved teacher, mentor, and academic innovator, Duncan served Simpson for nearly four decades, shaping curriculum and the lives of generations of students.

The Honor Roll event also featured recognition of new Honored Benefactors, alumni and friends of the College whose total gifts of $1 million or more epitomize the transformational power of philanthropy. Honorees were Dennis and Hildreth Murphy ’32, Dr. Hal ’57 and Greta Stuart Bryan ’57, and Chuck and Joy Rohm.

Together, these honorees stand as a testament to Simpson’s enduring mission to cultivate a diverse community of learners who lead lives of meaning and purpose.