Meet our Heritage Society Members
Meet our Heritage Society Members
Hampton Dixon '11
Let's get a few things cleared up: No, I'm not from the Class of 1911. Yes, my classmate Brent Morrison and I might be two of the youngest members of the Heritage Society, and no, it's not too early to think about the macabre, but I don't look at it that way.
I like to think that Webb found me through an alumnus in a providential encounter near my hometown in Kingsland, Georgia. As soon as I heard about the campus on the Sound, the intimate class size, and the incredible family-like support while studying naval architecture and marine engineering, I was sold. The campus visit in the fall of 2006 cemented my belief that my college pursuit was Webb or bust.
After four long but incredible years and a great career opportunity born through a Webb Winter Work experience, I found myself filing paperwork for my employer-sponsored life insurance plan. When it came time to name a beneficiary, I named Webb. I knew when I graduated that I wanted to give back to Webb annually, and I aspired to continue that in perpetuity like some of the benefactors I met as a student. That simple paperwork exercise in my first week of a real job set that plan in motion, and I was suddenly a member of the Heritage Society.
Will that policy be my final bequest to Webb? Probably not. The important thing was to get in the habit of thinking about Webb when talking about my priorities after death. The reality of estate planning hit very close to home when my father died unexpectedly in a car accident. He was young–in his 50's–and the proper legal instruments were not in place. As a result, my mother and I navigated some difficult challenges to settle the estate. After that experience, I was further convinced to sort out my own priorities in writing, including a perpetual gift to Webb.
It's not easy for someone in his 20's to talk about mortality, but I strongly believe more of us should consider stepping up early to leave a perpetual gift to Webb. Having a plan in place, even if it changes over time, can make a difficult time for loved ones just a little bit easier.