To the editor:

I’m shocked and disappointed that the KU Alumni Association board fired long-time president Fred Williams. Association chairwoman Linda Duston Warren and interim president Del Shankel both acknowledge the organizational excellence and national prominence enjoyed by the KU Alumni Association. In my opinion, you can thank Williams for your association’s success and progress over many years. He is a long-time leader in alumni relations on a national scale and respected by his colleagues as a creative, skilled and industrious executive. Fred is a very passionate and enthusiastic spokesman for KU and has represented the interests of KU alumni in exemplary fashion.

The alumni board wants a change, and they do control who serves as their president. I do question whether many of them understand or appreciate how demanding the job is or how much of your personal life you have to give up to do it. Several decades of accomplishment and service to the association, the university and the alumni will be lost in this situation while Fred’s life and good reputation are damaged by a small group of people.

Fred Williams enjoys the support and admiration of thousands of KU alumni the world over and of his colleagues in the advancement profession. I hope the people of Lawrence don’t lose sight of Fred’s fine work and accomplishments in a flurry of negative press perpetrated by a few misguided board members.

Kent Rollins,

Tucson, Ariz.