Joe, a 44-year career veteran in the lodging industry, retired in 2008 as group president/CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group and president/CEO of Days Inns Worldwide.

Additionally, Joe served as the CEO for Karena Hotels Inc., executive vice president/COO of Econo Lodges of America, senior vice president of the Howard Johnson Company, and various senior management roles for LaQuinta Motor Inns.  At 28, Joe was elected president of the Connecticut Lodging Association (1977), making him the organization’s youngest president in its then 73-year history.

In 2006, he was elected Chairman of the Board of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and represented the industry’s over 3.3 million rooms and 32,000+ member properties.

During his Chairman’s Inaugural remarks, Joe emphasized that his career trajectory began with the strong foundation provided at Paul Smith’s College. 

He served on the PSC Board of Trustees (1996-2000), raising funds through several innovative programs, and was the college’s commencement speaker in 2000.

As president/CEO of Days Inns Worldwide (1996-2008), he led this legacy brand to become the world’s largest economy lodging brand, with more than 1,900 hotels on five continents with yearly room revenue exceeding $1.35 billion.

In addition to Days Inn Worldwide, Joe simultaneously served as group president/CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group, overseeing the brands of Howard Johnson, Travelodge, Knights Inn, and Wyndham Training University, serving their 19 brand’s educational needs globally.

As chairman of the AHLA Education Foundation Annual Giving Campaign, he raised more than $300,000 supporting students through outreach programs and scholarships.

Lodging Hospitality magazine awarded Joe the “Chain Leadership Award” for Best Franchisee and Owner Relations, surpassing top brands in all segments, and he received The Lodging Conference’s “Above and Beyond” Award for his various humanitarian efforts on behalf of the lodging industry, amongst many other recognitions.

In 2014, he was honored as Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) Emeritus for distinguished achievement in all facets of the industry, signifying a commitment to the hospitality environment’s past, present, and future.

After retiring, Joe and his wife of 45 years, Maureen, reside in Vero Beach, FL, and continued giving by volunteering for local charities and have collectively raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various worthwhile organizations.

Professor Donald Kirche, son of Professor Emeritus Charles D. Kirche, Jr. (1916-2002), was born in the “old” Saranac Lake General Hospital. He graduated from the local high school and in 1967, from Paul Smith’s College. Later, he earned a B.S. degree from St. Lawrence University and a M.S. degree from Clarkson University.

In January 1971, following 10 months of active duty in the Army Reserves, Kirche began what has become a 50+ year career teaching math at Paul Smith’s College. In addition to his teaching, multiple committees, and advising responsibilities, he served two years as General Manager at the college-owned Hotel Saranac, taught math at the local BOCES, was the Food and Beverage Director at the Lake Placid Hilton, and he owned and operated several restaurants in the area. His food and beverage career included serving Pink Squirrels to Kate Smith and pouring champagne for Sigourney Weaver.

Kirche was a member of the New York State Mathematics Association of Two-Year Colleges, and he served on the Board of Directors of the Saranac Lake Civic Center and the Paul Smith’s College Alumni Association. He plays in the Saranac Lake Pool League, is an Adirondack 46er, and he still hikes Mt Baker in Saranac Lake.

Nicolas Pendl
Class of 2016

As a boy and as a young man, Nicolas “Nic” Pendl enjoyed the outdoors. Whether it was skiing, biking, running or simply walking in the woods, Nic was happiest when he was outside. The choice to attend Paul Smith’s was an easy one for him. With the lakes, the mountains and the “small town” feel of the campus, Nic felt at home at “Paul’s” from his first visit. One more plus that helped to solidify his choice – his grandfather, Robert “Bob” Potter also attended the college and always spoke so highly of it.

When he arrived at college, Nic’s doctors wanted him to hold off on participating in athletics for a bit due to seizures he had been starting to experience. He spent that time hiking and exploring around the Adirondacks, with a large amount of time biking or running at the VIC. Once he received medical clearance, he quickly joined the Snowshoe Cross Country team and never looked back. He earned numerous medals for top three finishes at various races and was part of the men’s winning relay team at the International Snowshoe Championships in Granby, Quebec. He ran eight races that day and returned back to campus late that evening. The next day, Nic raced in four events at the Empire State Games, medaling in three and earning gold in the 800 meters. In two days of racing, he garnered seven medals for top three finishes. Later that season, Nic was part of the winning mixed relay team at the US Snowshoe Nationals at Prospect Mountain, Vermont which helped him earn a 2014 National Championship gold medal. At season’s end, Nic was recognized by the Athletic Department with the Snowshoe Team’s Rookie of the Year award.

After the snows melted, Nic was anxious to try his next new venture – canoeing. He joined the Marathon Canoe Team and together with his roommate won the C-2 Men’s Rushton Cup at the Canton Canoe Weekend. After his passing, Nic’s family donated Slenda Glenda, a 32 ½ foot long canoe that has seven seats, to the college. This canoe helped Paul Smith’s win the 90 Miler this past year with a time of 12 hours 32 minute over the 3-day, 90-mile Adirondack Canoe Classic.  This is a new collegiate record for the 90-miler.

Another goal Nic had while at college was to be part of the Woodmen’s Team. During the summer before his sophomore year, he attended the Woodmen’s Camp and loved every minute of it. Between the pole climbing, the log birling and the ax throwing, Nic was in his element. He even set up a birling area at his home when he returned from camp.

As the saying goes, “It’s not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years”. Nic certainly filled his 19 years with joy, passion, determination and enthusiasm.

 
Robert Potter
Class of 1952

Born in 1931, Robert “Bob” Potter will always be remembered for his friendliness, professionalism and his humor.  After graduating from Allegany Central School in 1949, he attended Paul Smith’s College and received an AAS degree in 1952. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving from 1952 until 1954. Upon completion of his military service, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1956.

After completing his education, Bob started working at Potter Lumber Co. Inc., becoming president in 1977 and he continued in that role until his retirement in 2011. As a tireless volunteer for the lumber industry, he served as past president of Penn-York Lumbermen’s Club; Keystone Kiln Drying Association; Northern Loggers’ Association; Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers’ Association; the Empire State Forest Products Association; and the Cornell Cooperative Extension. He was an active member of the Advisory Committee of the New York State Center for Forestry Research and Development at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse; the advisory board at the Olean BOCES Center; the State Advisory Board of Cornell Cooperative Extension; and the Allegany State Park Master Plan Committee.

Bob served as a past trustee of the New York Lumbermen’s Insurance Trust Fund and for Paul Smith’s College. He also served as a past chairman of the Allegany Community Federal Credit Union and the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency.

He was an avid, lifelong skier until age 79 and served as the past president of the former Wing Ski Club. Bob made friends with anyone who was lucky enough to ride the chairlift with him.

Bob was a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Allegany, and as a faithful, dedicated member, he served as an Elder, as well as Clerk of Session for many years.  He was also a Sunday School teacher for 33 years.

Bob celebrated 56 years of marriage with his beautiful wife Francie, whom he met while he was a student at the University of Michigan. Together they raised six children and enjoyed the company of 15 grandchildren – all of whom he liked to call by number rather than name.

Bob always said that Paul Smith’s was the “making of him”. The time he spent there and the friends he made both as a student and as a trustee, helped shape him into the man he became.

Robert Seidenstein
Class of 1967

Doreen Stratton

Doreen Stratton was born in Binghamton, NY, attended Chenango Valley High School and Broome Technical Community.  Following that she worked at Sears and Robuck in Binghamton in the Appliance Service Department in billing. Her spouse enrolled at Paul Smith College and they moved to Saranac Lake.  After trying a couple of part-time jobs, she heard about an available at the College.  That was her first introduction to Dr. Buxton.   The interview was interesting.  Dr. B was very quiet, looked at his glasses frequently.  He asked a few questions, looked back at his glasses again for a while and after what seemed a long time, eventually hired her.   That started the long association with the college and friendship with Eileen Crary, his secretary.

Her first was boss was Gray Trombly, who was in charge of Student Affairs and Maintenance Department.    It was a busy office, with interesting students and parents of students and all iterations related to many topics.  A number of students also dopped by daily to talk to the boss and just to chat.    Bill Gokey, who was director of the maintenance, was a frequent visitor, and was a colorful and funny man!

After three and a half years in the office she resigned to give birth to her daughter Christine Baker (PSC
91).   That was a very happy time of her life.  When her daughter was in first grade, she thought it was time to go back to work.   Happily, she ran into Eileen in Howard Hoffman’s pharmacy, who told her about another opening – which initiated step two with the College.

Over the next years she worked of the Vice Presidents/Provosts, etc.  It is a knowable list, not in chronological order including Patricia Flath, Linda Kirstein, Dr. J. R. Woods (who wrote the History of Paul Smith’s College), George Matthews, Raylene Corgiat, Helena Sturnick, John Mills and Richard Nelson. 

Some of her responsibilities included directing December and May commencements – which, as chair the committee and all of the preparation and details of the ceremony including ordering and mailing the diplomas; taking notes at several Board Committees, preparation of Dean’s List certificates, preparation of faculty contracts, involved of initiation of the Faculty Handbook and yearly adjustments of the Handbook, taking notes for several college and Board committees, et al.  It was a busy time but gave her a feeling of accomplishment.

The major reasons she decided to retire was two-fold.  She was over retirement age and was tired, but more importantly it was to help care for her granddaughter, Sarah. 

She believes that Paul Smith’s College has always stood up for integrity and excellence in education for many years and hopes that the legacy will continue well into the future.

James Zumbo
Class of 1960

When the big buck bounded out of the swamp near White Pine Camp, I had no idea the incident would be a pivotal point in my writing career. I was crawling under a log when the deer ran off and was unable to raise my firearm.  On a whim I wrote an article for the college newspaper about Old Joe, which was the name the local hunters around Easy Street and Saranac Lake gave to the buck. Evidently Old Joe had quite the reputation and avoided many hunters. The article was published and I was on Cloud  9. I couldn’t believe it when I looked at my byline — several times.

I lived in White Pine Camp with 30 other students. We were studying Terminal Forestry rather than Pre-Professional Forestry. We car- pooled and the drivers received 5 cents a mile to make the round trip to classes on campus.

I graduated with an AAS in 1960 and traveled west to study for my Bachelor’s at Utah State University. Soon after I arrived I met a student who was on the staff of the college newspaper. I told him about Old Joe and he suggested I write a forecast for the upcoming deer season in northern Utah. I did, and the editor suggested I write a weekly outdoor column. I eagerly accepted, and wrote the column for several years.

At a forester’s party one evening a college professor made me a bet that I couldn’t sell a story to a “big” outdoor magazine. I accepted the challenge, intending to win the case of Lucky Lager beer which was the prize. To my great surprise and delight, the editor of Outdoor Life magazine based in NYC accepted the article. The beer was especially tasty. This was another huge pivotal event in my career path.

After receiving my BS in forest management I took a job with the state of Utah’s Forestry Department. After 2 years I worked for the United States Military academy at West Point as chief forester and game warden for 8 years, and then a 4 year stint with the US Bureau of Land Management in Vernal, Utah. All the while I was freelancing for outdoor magazines in my spare time and doing quite well. In 1978 I received an invitation to write full-time for Outdoor Life as Western Editor. I never hesitated and left behind a 12 year career with the federal government. I spent almost 30 years with Outdoor Life, most of it as Hunting Editor where I wrote a monthly column as well as feature articles. During that tenure I also hosted a TV show — “Jim Zumbo Outdoors” on the Outdoor Channel and produced 150 episodes.

All in all, I’ve written 22 books on hunting and fishing, some 3,000 magazine articles, and I’ve given more than a thousand seminars on hunting and fishing in more than 100 cities across the country.

I served on many boards, including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Professional Outdoor Media Association, Outdoor Writer’s Association of America, and a half dozen others that are associated with disabled veterans. I’m in the National Outdoor Hall of Fame, and have won a number of awards.

As I mentioned, I especially enjoy taking combat injured veterans on hunting and fishing trips. Over the years I’ve put together trips for more than 200 veterans and for several years was President of Alaska’s Healing Hearts.

I live in Cody, Wyoming with my wife Madonna, a yellow Labrador Retriever and a very cool cat. We have four children, three girls and a boy. The girls are all school teachers and our boy is an aeronautical engineer. We have 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. I’m supposed to be retired but I continue to write for several magazines, some paper and some online.

If I hadn’t attended Paul’s I never would have embarked on a journalism career. For that I am eternally thankful and have many wonderful memories of that beautiful place in the Adirondack Mountains. And, I was totally surprised and thrilled to learn that I’m being inducted into the Paul Smith’s College Hall of Fame.