2005 Dr. Thorald K. Warley, Hon.DLaw '03

Prof. T.K. Warley came to the University of Guelph as chair of the Department of Agricultural Economics in 1970. Sandy, as he is known to most of us, has since become one of the strongest advocates for the Ontario Agricultural College and the University.

Sandy has been a life member of the OAC Alumni Association since his retirement from the Guelph faculty in 1991. He has served for 13 years as a volunteer member of the association's board and is also a member of its advisory committee. Our Aggie alumni were delighted when the University of Guelph awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2003.

No one has done more than Sandy Warley to ensure the viability and sustainability of the relationship between OAC and its graduates. He was the principal author of the OAC Alumni Association's constitution and bylaws in the mid-1990s and, 10 years later, drafted a new strategic plan for the association.

He chaired the association's communications committee for many years and, in that capacity, oversaw creation of the first OAC alumni website and a new design and distribution system for the OAC Alumni News. Without a doubt, Sandy has researched, written and edited more stories for the newsletter and website than any other contributor. In 1999, he chaired the communications committee for the OAC 125 celebration and played a key role in publicizing the numerous anniversary events that were held.

Named to the OAC Alumni Foundation in 2001, Sandy helped rewrite the foundation's bylaws and served for five years as founding chair of the joint investment committee of the alumni foundation and association. He was instrumental in establishing the committee's modus operandi and is still involved in its activities today.

Although OAC has been a major benefactor of Sandy Warley's volunteer commitment, he has also spent countless hours working on behalf of several community organizations, specifically the Guelph Wellington Men's Club, the Guelph Horticultural Society and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, which has awarded him a certificate of achievement to recognize more than 20 years of volunteer service.

Sandy has demonstrated again and again how one talented individual can make a tremendous difference and inspire others around him to reach new heights. For this, Sandy was recognized for his dedication by the University of Guelph Alumni Association when he was presented with the Alumni Volunteer Award during Alumni Weekend 2005.