Babson College has named the lower level of Olin Hall the Markey Commons in honor of outgoing Babson Board of Trustees Chair William F. Markey, Jr. M’64.

Dedication ceremonies took place at noon on Saturday, October 20, 2007.  Speakers included Babson President Brian M. Barefoot ’66, P’01; Prof. Mark P. Rice, Frederic C. Hamilton Chair for Free Enterprise; Richard F. Connolly, Jr. M’64, Senior Vice President, Investments, and Co-Founder of The Connolly Group; and Cabletron Systems founder and former New Hampshire Governor Craig Robert Benson ’77, H’03.

“Bill always has been there for Babson when we’ve needed him,” said President Barefoot.  “Bill and I have worked together very closely for the past 10 years.  During all these years, I’ve seen how incredibly devoted Bill is to Babson—and to having it become the best school it can be.”

“Bill has been a phenomenal role model for our students and a true leader in building the Babson community,” said Prof. Rice.

Markey is president of The Wilmark Group. Before establishing The Wilmark Group, he served as executive vice president of Talent Tree Staffing Services, president and CEO of Blue Arrow Services Inc., president and cofounder of Position Inc., and product manager at General Foods.

Markey earned a BA from Providence College and then earned an MBA from Babson in 1964. He chairs the trustees’ Executive Committee and is a member of the Nominating Committee. He was also past chair of the Graduate/Executive Education Committee, the Graduate School President’s Society, the Babson President’s Society Council and the Marketing Committee.

In addition to being a successful business leader and tireless volunteer for Babson, Markey is actively involved in his community. He has a passion for giving back and for running, and has linked the two over the years. With 24 Boston Marathons to his credit, he joins his athletic pursuits with his charitable interests. Over the past decade, he has run in support of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, an autism center in Westwood, and for LADDERS, an autism clinic in Wellesley. He began running in his late 30s and now runs about 1,200 miles per year. Bill is married to Elaine Markey, and they have two children and 6 grandchildren.

Special thanks to the F.W. Olin Foundation, whose 1997 gift to Babson College made it possible to construct Olin Hall and provide continuing support for the faculty, students and programs of the F.W. Olin Graduate School.