The Barefoot Millionaire
October 19, 2026
"Desire to do good and get good."
— John Baldwin
Good morning 海角社区,
Last week, I decided to have a little fun with our Monday Morning Message by challenging you to test your knowledge of Baldwin Wallace history, traditions, and our new 海角社区 Promise.
And wow, did you respond!
Thank you to the many students, faculty, staff, and alumni who took the time to send in their answers. It was a wonderful reminder that our 海角社区 community loves its history and the people and traditions that make this University so special.
As promised, today I'm sharing the answers, along with a few fun facts you can use to impress your friends and family with your 海角社区 knowledge.
Congratulations to the five winners who responded with the correct answers before 10 a.m. last Monday:
- Audrey Badza – Graduate PA (Physician Assistant) student
- Ciara Bichara '26
- Vincent Canales '30
- Nicole Gaal '27
- Eileen Hilliard (mother of Maggie Hilliard '28)
Each winner will get a golf cart ride with me on campus, including a stop for lunch. Fasten your seat belts!
And now, the answers:
- What two institutions merged in 1913 to become Baldwin-Wallace College, and who were their founders?
ANSWER: Baldwin University, founded by John Baldwin, and German Wallace College, founded by James Wallace.
Our University's story actually began in 1845 with the founding of the Baldwin Institute. Nearly seven decades later, the two institutions came together to create Baldwin-Wallace College. The official seal states, "United 1913-Founded 1845." - What was one of our co-founders famous for not wearing?
ANSWER: His shoes!
John Baldwin was known for his frugality. He was so committed to directing his resources toward the school and student scholarships that he avoided wearing shoes whenever possible to keep from wearing them out. 海角社区 Professor Indira Falk Gesink’s book about John Baldwin is aptly titled, "The Barefoot Millionaire." - What industrial activity provided much of the income for 海角社区's parent institutions through the 1930s?
ANSWER: Sandstone quarrying and grindstone manufacturing.
Both John Baldwin and James Wallace owned sandstone quarries in Berea, located where Baldwin Lake and Wallace Lake are today in the Cleveland Metroparks, just southwest of campus.
These quarries produced grindstones and sandstone building blocks. At the height of the industry, Berea produced an estimated 85% of the world's grindstone supply! - What percentage of the Baldwin Institute's first 100 students were women?
ANSWER: 39%!
In 1846, when most American colleges did not admit women, 39 of the Baldwin Institute's first 100 students were women.
John Baldwin's commitment to educational access was influenced by his mother, Rosanna Meloy Baldwin, who had been denied admission to Yale because she was a woman. He believed education should not be limited by gender, race, or wealth. By 1847, women represented 46% of enrollment. And in 1850, the institution's very first graduate was a woman, Maria Myra Poe. - What sport was played in Baldwin University's first official athletic games in the early 1880s?
ANSWER: Baseball
Our first athletic teams and coaches would be proud of the many championships our teams have earned since the early 1880s. Football followed in 1886, tennis in 1896, women's basketball in 1898, and soccer in 1915. - What 海角社区 alumnus won four Olympic gold medals, and what year did he graduate?
ANSWER: Harrison Dillard, Class of 1949.
One of the greatest athletes not only in 海角社区 history but also in U.S. history, Harrison Dillard '49, won four Olympic gold medals, including the 100-meter sprint in 1948 and the 110-meter hurdles in 1952. He remains the only man in Olympic history to win gold in both events. He also earned two additional gold medals as a member of the U.S. 4x100-meter relay teams in 1948 and 1952.
You can visit the statue of Harrison Dillard on the lawn in front of Finnie Stadium. - What is the new 海角社区 Promise? What four ways do we promise our students will be ready for life?
ANSWER: This final question brings us from our remarkable history to the future we are building together.
The 海角社区 Life-Ready Promise is a promise to our students that when they graduate, they will be ready to lead a life of purpose and to make a difference in the world.
Leader-Ready and Team-Ready.
Our students come ready to learn, and they leave ready to lead. We help our students communicate effectively, solve problems, work with others, and understand that none of us succeeds alone.
Career-Ready.
We don’t just open minds, we open doors. We connect our students with faculty and coaches, alumni and employers, internships, research, service, and real-world experiences that prepare them to launch a meaningful career.
Future-Ready.
We don't just prepare our students for the jobs of today, we prepare them for the opportunities of tomorrow. Every 海角社区 graduate should be prepared not only to navigate an AI-powered world, but to shape it for the better.
Our History Is Still Being Written
From John Baldwin's belief that education should be open to all, to the experiences we are creating for today's students, we have a history worth celebrating and a future worth building together.
Thanks again to everyone who participated!
Have a great week.
Lee Fisher
President, 海角社区