During Fireside Chat Students Get to Know Joseph and Marion Wesley
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At the conclusion of the Fireside Chat, Wesley answered questions from many students, eager to get advice from such a successful businessman.
Because many of Williamson’ s current students are unfamiliar with Joseph and Marion Wesley, the couple who have done much to further Williamson’ s mission, a Fireside Chat was held on Feb. 6 in the afternoon of Founder’ s Day in the Clara Schrenk Memorial Chapel so they could learn about their background and how they became a part of the Williamson community.
The chat opened with President Michael Rounds describing Joe Wesley’ s life, from his humble beginnings to an extremely successful businessman.
Rounds said,“ Joe came from a bluecollar family in Philadelphia. He didn’ t care much for school and dropped out at an early age. Soon afterward, he met Marion, they got married, and then he joined the Marines where he learned to operate heavy equipment, including cranes.
“ After his service, he worked at several jobs, including one where he operated cranes. In 1967, the couple mortgaged their home to found the American Equipment Rental Co., and purchased their first crane. They worked hard to make the company successful. In 2007, 40 years after founding the company, they sold the company which had become one of the largest crane rental companies in the entire world.”
In retirement, the couple created The Joseph and Marion Family Foundation, concentrating on helping educational facilities. Joe Wesley was introduced to Williamson College of the Trades in 2017 by a member of Williamson’ s Board of Trustees. He visited the college several times and talked with students, faculty, and staff and the more he learned of Williamson, the more he appreciated the college’ s mission.
“ He especially liked that we offer a trade education, and emphasize character and leadership development. As a proud and patriotic Marine, he appreciates that we stand at attention for the raising of the flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in chapel.”
After making several generous gifts to Williamson over a period of time, he sat down with Rounds and William Bonenberger 7W9, board chairman, and said he wanted to make a gift that would have a huge impact. When he was told that the school’ s biggest dream was to create a modest recreational space for students, he responded that he would give the college $ 20 million to build a top-of-the-line recreational facility. He later added $ 1.5 million to the gift to build bleachers, improve the athletic field lighting, and add landscaping.
Rounds added that Joe Wesley was the keynote speaker at the 2022 Commencement, at which he was awarded an honorary degree, only the third person in the history of the college to receive this honor. The couple has also established an endowed scholarship and has set aside a $ 20 million trust in an estate gift to Williamson.
“ Joe and Marion are the American dream. Because of their generosity they will forever be a part of the Williamson story. We can never thank them enough.”
Next, speaking of the impact at Williamson of the Wesley’ s gift, Bonenberger said,“ The Wesley’ s financial contributions to Williamson are legendary. In our 136-year history, they rank in the top three, along with our founder Isaiah Williamson and Henry Rowan and family. What do these three men have in common? They all came from humble beginnings, had an incredible work ethic, and believed education was the key to life. This is how you go from poverty to a successful life, any kind of success. What is unique about them is that after making a fortune, they didn’ t keep it for themselves, they wanted to give back to make sure others had the same opportunity they had.
“ When we told Joe we wanted to improve the quality of student life on campus so that the college is a more enjoyable place to spend time, he asked‘ What would accomplish this?’ Our response was that we need to create a place where students can go and enjoy each other’ s company, strengthen their bond, blow off steam, hang out, and have fun.” Bonenberger said that his and Rounds’ vision was different from Wesley’ s. They imagined a modest $ 6 million building that would be tucked away on campus, hidden because of its utilitarian appearance.“ He came back to us and said,‘ I’ m not going to give you $ 6 million, I’ m going to give you $ 20 million. I want to build a first-class facility with my name on it that students can be proud of, a building that will attract students to
For nearly one hour, Joseph and Marion Wesley told the entire student body of their lives, including struggles and their success at founding the largest crane rental company in the United States, during a Fireside Chat in the Clara Schrenk Memorial Chapel. President Michael Rounds opened the chat describing the background of the Wesleys and William Bonenberger 7W9, board chairman, described the enormous impact of the Wesley Student Center on life at Williamson. Then the Wesleys answered questions of students. Pictured are( from left to right): President Michael Rounds, Marion Wesley, Joseph Wesley, and William Bonenberger.
come to Williamson.’
“ It is now the center of campus and one of the most beautiful buildings on campus. It gets used from 5:30 in the morning until lights out. I call it the happiest building on campus because it is where you go to have fun. This building is a game changer.”
Bonenberger said that as generous as their gift was, they are not finished. They have set aside another $ 20 million out of their estate for our endowment that will help us increase student enrollment in the future. They want to help us ensure Williamson will be here well into the future.
“ Just simply saying‘ thank you’ to Joe and Marion for everything they have done is not enough. They have inspired us trustees, taught us to dream and to put in the hard work and planning to make things happen as we work to give more students the opportunity of a Williamson education. I hope Joe and Marion feel our love and our appreciation for everything they have done for us and our students. You have made an amazing impact and you should be proud for all you have done for us.”
In a question and answer portion of the chat, Louis Milione, a landscaping construction and management senior, asked Joe Wesley“ What is your life’ s greatest accomplishment?”
Wesley answered that as someone who did not graduate from high school receiving an honorary degree from Williamson was a meaningful accomplishment. He also emphasized his marriage to his wife, Marion.“ My bride of 72 years is an important part of my life. We were teenagers when we got married, I was 16 and she was 18. We had very little money and we needed $ 18 to pay the preacher. I only had thirteen dollars and had to borrow five dollars from my uncle. Two months later I was in the Marines. In all our years together, we never had an argument, only spirited conversations.”
Milione followed this up with a second question,“ What was your greatest challenge in life?” Wesley replied,“ At one point in my life, I was working for $ 1.90 an hour, which was a low salary even then. I had proven that I have character, which is important to me. I was working as a crane operator and had some problems with a union and that is when I decided to found my company. I started it with one crane. Forty years later in 1967, when I sold the company, I had 710 employees and 315 cranes. Always be honest with yourself, make sure you try everything you can, and life will treat you right. When I was working and my company was doing very well, some of my employees said‘ You are lucky.’ I replied,‘ It seems like the harder I work, the luckier I get.’ Always pay attention to life and what’ s going on around you. There’ s a lot to be learned by that. Don’ t ever give up.”
Marion Wesley pointed out that when they were building their company they had three children and her husband would sometimes be gone for long periods of time. We only had one crane at that time and had to work hard to find jobs. We sacrificed a lot and it was a challenge.”
Joe closed saying,“ It’ s only in America that this can happen. It took a while to grow a company with a kid who dropped out of school in seventh grade. Your Williamson education will help you go farther than I did, and faster. You are lucky to be here.”