The Webb community celebrated Founder’s Day on Friday, April 4th. On Founder’s Day all of the students, faculty, staff, and administration joined together to honor our founder, William H. Webb. Through his generosity and vision, William Webb gave students the opportunity to study and live here towards a common purpose. Therefore, it has become a tradition to honor him by spending one afternoon each year cleaning, painting, and maintaining the Webb Institute buildings and grounds.
Founder’s Day was first created as a holiday and celebrated on June 19, 1896 by then Resident Manager and Trustee, Andrew Reed. Unfortunately, due to rainy weather this year, a few of this year’s activities were cancelled. However, this year’s projects included: power-washing of the newly updated Luckenbach Courtyard and first terrace patio furniture; yacht club, beach, and attic cleanup; painting of the Robinson Model Basin common room, updating the movie room, and Luckenbach Courtyard bench restoration.
After the projects were completed, all hands cleaned up, put on their best attire, and sat down to a delicious dinner prepared by Peter Morris and his staff. Dinner highlights included the traditional cutting of the cake by the most senior Webbie present, Professor Emeritus Tom Bond ‘45, accompanied by the youngest Webbie, Nicholas Ratinaud ‘17. Another highlight was the showing of a short video taken during the field day by Mr. Barry Rivadue, which depicted the events of the afternoon. The special guest lecturer this year was Dr. Jennifer Waters ’91 of the U. S. Naval Academy.