Hall of Distinction Recognizes Jennings, Dake

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs High School Hall of Distinction honored two outstanding individuals for their extraordinary professional and community accomplishments, Wednesday night. The inaugural Hall of Distinction inductees, Madelyn Pulver Jennings (Class of 1952) and William “Bill” P. Dake (Class of 1953) were the recipients of the 2013 Hall of Distinction Recognition Night in the Loewenberg Auditorium at the Saratoga Springs High School. They were honored during the 20th Annual Academic Recognition program, as high school juniors and seniors were recognized for their academic successes (full list of names can be found at saratogatodayonline.com). A committee composed of current and former district administrators, high school teachers, high school administrators, community members and Saratoga alumni reviewed the nominations and selected the honorees. William P. Dake William “Bill” P. Dake graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1953 and went on to earn a degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University. After serving in the U.S. Navy for the next two years, Bill returned to Saratoga and joined his brother Charlie in running the family business, Stewart’s Shops. In 1978 he became president of Stewart’s, a title he held for the next 25 years. Although his son Gary has since stepped into the position of president, Bill remains the Chairman of the Board and is very much involved in the daily operations of the business. Bill has held seats on numerous local boards, including the Skidmore College Board of Trustees, the Saratoga Springs City Center Board of Directors and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Board (chairman 2005-12). He currently sits on the Saratoga County YMCA Board of Trustees and is the president of the Saratoga Foundation. Bill has taken a particular interest in the development of the Saratoga Springs community, coordinating the construction and financing of two ice rinks, the Farmers’ Market Pavilions at High Rock Park, the Carousel Building in Congress Park and three new Saratoga County YMCA locations. In addition, Bill has established himself as a local philanthropist, giving both corporately through the Stewart’s Foundation and personally with his wife Susan through the Susan and Bill Dake Foundation. Madelyn Pulver Jennings A 1952 graduate of Saratoga Springs High School, Madelyn Pulver Jennings was president of the Student Body and winner of the Yaddo Medal. She is a 1956 graduate of Texas Woman’s University, where she was named a Distinguished Alumna. She has served on many business and philanthropic boards, including, among others, Yaddo, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Hanes Corporation, American Press Institute, Monterey Institute of International Studies, and Sage Colleges, where she holds an honorary Ph.D. degree. Madelyn established the McGregor Links Foundation, following a career holding executive positions at General Electric, Standard Brands, Inc., and Gannett Co., Inc. The Foundation annually provides the George J. Pulver Scholar/Athlete Award to the outstanding SSHS female and male graduate and the Martha Walsh Pulver Poet in Residence at Yaddo. She has been recognized nationally as the outstanding U.S. human resources executive by the Society of Human Resource Management, Catalyst Award by the Media HR Group, and as a Senior Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources. She is a supporter of many local Saratoga not-for-profit organizations.