Longtime faculty and staff members Dr. Jack and Karin Traylor were honored Friday when Bryan College trustees named a new patio off the student center in their honor.
Jack Traylor, for 31 years a professor of history, and Karin deRosset Traylor, who for 48 years held a series of staff offices including dean of women and assistant to the president, were recognized in a ceremony outside the Traylor Patio as Bryan’s homecoming celebration began.
Trustee Dr. Gary Phillips recounted the Traylors’ contributions to the college including their serving as volunteer assistants to the Bryan basketball teams for more than 20 years and “being friends to generations of students.”
Before Dr. Traylor arrived at Bryan, he said, Mrs. Traylor was known for her behind-the-scenes contributions to college life such as sewing draperies for women’s residence halls, hosting showers and coordinating weddings and regularly praying for individuals.
“Jack was a wonderful history professor, and his students appreciated his fairness, his professionalism, his graciousness and his daily weather reports,” Dr. Phillips said. During his tenure, Dr. Traylor was named faculty member of the year, served as faculty chairman, chairman of his academic division and chairman of the history department for 17 years.
“It is in their honor and with great appreciation for their outstanding service that we unveil the Traylor Patio,” Dr. Phillips said.