“From the beginning Don and Betty treated us like family members. Our daughters were
young, Heather 6th grade and Cassandra 1st grade, when we moved, so the transition
was difficult for them. Taking them to visit the Farmhouse to see Don’s animals really
helped; the girls loved them. I really appreciated how Don cared for the ‘Delta Family’—like
he did his own family. Don valued integrity and honesty, and he was never taken with
the trappings of being a college president. He was who he was from his cowboy boots
up. He modeled a commitment to his family, to Delta, the League, the community, to
friendship and spirituality. When we moved to Oregon to be closer to our family, we
missed Betty and Don’s friendship. We stayed connected through yearly visits and regular
phone calls until his passing. He left forever the imprint of a life well lived. He
made Delta—his friends, his family—better by his presence. Pete and I are better people
through having known him.”
Paul Chaffee
Former publisher & editor for The Saginaw News
“He was a good friend. He had a birthday party in Midland and the turnout was impressive.
We sat there all day while people came and went. It was a testament to his impact
on the community and how broadly his reach extended. He was involved in many projects.
He was laid back. He had a good sense of humor, and when he spoke, it mattered.”
Tina Van Dam
Dow retiree
“President Emeritus Don Carlyon never lost his dedication to and pride in Delta College.
He continued to send his friends newsclips of student achievements, faculty awards
and innovations. He kept an eye on what was happening on campus, and it brought him
great joy throughout his retirement years. He epitomized the definition and spirit
of the title ‘emeritus’ that he so justly earned.”
Karen MacArthur
Executive director of the Delta College Foundation, 1982 – 2007
“Delta College has earned a national reputation as a leading fundraising organization
among community colleges. This recognition comes from the strong foundation set by
President Emeritus Don Carlyon, a respected humanitarian and visionary leader. He
was not only committed to hiring talented faculty and staff but also fostered a warm,
family-like environment where students and staff feel connected and supported. Today,
the college’s caring spirit and inspiring success stories continue to motivate community
leaders to support major gift campaigns for essential capital projects and scholarships.
Don Carlyon’s spirit and dedication to Delta College will leave a lasting impact on
our Great Lakes Bay Region.”
Sue Montesi
Dean of students, 1970 – 2020
“One of the things I admired about Don, is that he always put people first. When he
made decisions, he considered how it would affect others, whether it was students,
faculty, staff or our communities, in addition to how it would affect our Delta projects,
programs, processes or our future. One operational style he had that would frustrate
a lot of people was when someone typed up a message and sent it to Don or they caught
him in the hall or left him a voicemail (remember that back in the 1970s and early
‘80s emails were not the norm), he might not respond quickly; instead, he would intentionally
let a few weeks go by before responding. However, it made a lot of sense after he
explained to me why he did so. Some would say, ‘Don hasn’t responded yet’ or ‘What’s
taking so long.’ When I mentioned that to Don he said, ‘Sue, I’ll let you in on why
I do that.’ He said, ‘I found that if I don’t respond immediately, people might consider
another approach or, better yet, they might start talking to one another because I
haven’t responded. About half of the time, the problem is resolved or at least better
analyzed without me.’ I think that was an important aspect of his leadership because
he empowered others to take the initiative to resolve problems or issues on their
own.”
Dr. Jim Still
Professor of lifelong wellness, 1968 – 2005
“In the early days of his presidency, Don Carlyon created what we all called, the
‘Delta Family.’ And it worked! We governed the college together; we drank coffee and
ate lunch together and we celebrated together. We knew each other and we trusted each
other. Additionally, Don was a faculty advocate. He knew that a strong faculty meant
a strong college, so he created a diverse and highly educated group of teachers that
helped Delta become one of the country’s outstanding community colleges. As Don often
said, ‘We done good.’ I’m proud that I was fortunate to be a part of that era.”
Pixie and Ron Sharp
Professor of chemistry, 1971 – 2019
“As the middle weeks of December approached in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s in the
Sharp household, our three children would start to ask, ‘When is Delta’s Christmas
party?’ Actually, there were two parties. Betty and Don’s Christmas dinner party was the faculty
and staff social event of the year. True to Don’s leadership style, the food service
department turned the cafeteria into a first-class restaurant. The menu included steak,
shrimp and a three-table dessert bar. Betty (president) and members of the Delta Women’s
Club put on the yearly children’s Christmas party which included a visit from Bay
City’s Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. I always felt like Don and Betty went out of their
way to treat us, not only part of the Delta team but as family.”
