College Mourns Passing of Dave Kellogg, Beloved Trustee and Chairman Emeritus

The Wyoming Catholic College community was saddened to learn of the passing of Dave Kellogg on Tuesday, April 9th.

A long-time friend and supporter of the College, his influence on its history would be difficult to overstate. “The College is forever indebted to Dave,” says President Kyle Washut, “and she could not have asked for a better or dearer friend. For many of us at Wyoming Catholic, Dave was practically a founder; there was no time when the College existed when Dave was not also there, lending a hand. It is the end of an era, truly, and we are all greatly saddened at his passing.”

As the president of LEADER Corporation, a private, local economic development organization based in Lander, Dave played a pivotal role in bringing Wyoming Catholic College to town. In addition to his work with LEADER and his strong support with the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus, he was instrumental in the formation of the Cornerstone Committee, created for the express purpose of working to locate the College in Lander.

His support of the College ran far deeper than his efforts in those initial stages, however. Soon after convincing the College’s three founders (Bishop David Ricken, Father Bob Cook, and Dr. Bob Carlson) to select Lander from the list of forty-one possible locations, he joined the Board of Directors, eventually becoming her longest-tenured board member and serving as her Chairman for several terms. He donated the use of a pair of apartment buildings near Holy Rosary Church, which were used to provide housing for many of her first students (and housing an ongoing number of them each year, even to this day). In addition to his significant financial support to the College, he contributed in countless other ways: advice and guidance to her administration, hospitality and friendship to her students—the annual Senior Pizza Party at Mr. Kellogg’s was justly legendary—and cheerfulness and confidence in the face of the many obstacles the College has confronted and overcome during the course of the brief (but eventful) years of her existence.

Bill Sniffin, another long-timefixture on the Lander scene, worked with Dave for many years, including partnering with him on the effort to bring the College to Lander and eventually joining him on the College’s Board of Directors. He, too, has spent the last few days reflecting on what Kellogg meant to WCC and marveling at all that he accomplished. “I  have known Dave for many, many years, and I was honored to follow him as Chairman of the Board at Wyoming Catholic. As someone with a ringside view of Dave’s tireless efforts on behalf of the College (and of Lander), I know he was proud of this college and of all he was able to do for her. He will certainly be missed.”

Gary Michaud, the College’s Vice President of Administration, remembers meeting Dave when he (Gary) moved back to Lander in 2006. “He was very involved in community economic development efforts,” Gary recalls, “and we became good friends over the years. Dave was a marvelous and faithful man. His passion for Lander and devotion to Wyoming Catholic College were unmatched. I will miss his friendship and leadership, as will we all.”

In his youthful days, Dave studied electrical engineering at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, as well as electronics technology at Central Oregon College in Bend. He worked in several marketing and sales positions for computer technology companies IBM Corporation and Lexmark Corporation before he and his wife, Carol, eventually decided to call Lander home. They owned and operated DACON Enterprises, a real estate management business (both commercial and residential) and his expertise in those areas served the College in good stead as it acquired both academic and residential properties as part of its necessary growth.

“Dave was more than just a wonderful friend to the College; he was a wonderful friend to all who knew him,” reflects Washut. “His cheerfulness and dedication were matched only by his loyalty and faith. He was a true gentleman, and he will be greatly missed. Please keep his wife, Carol, and his children in your prayers during this time of sorrow, and may his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”

Providentially, the entire Wyoming Catholic College community had the opportunity to honor Dave Kellogg earlier this year as part of its annual Patronal Feast celebration. During that evening’s festivities, there was a special tribute for the long-serving trustee, whose final term on the College’s Board of Directors had come to an end in February. Dr. Carlson made the following remark about Dave that day, and it is shared by all at the College who had the great pleasure to know and work with him:

Simply put, Wyoming Catholic College would not exist today without Dave Kellogg’s contributions.