Will Reading and his wife, Connie, aren’t originally from the Great Lakes Bay Region, but they are as close to lifelong Mid-Michiganders as you can get.

Originally from Rochester, a Detroit suburb, the retired Delta administrator and his wife moved to the area after getting married in 1946. They set up roots in Saginaw, where they raised five children and enjoyed a 73-year marriage. 

Connie passed away in October 2019 at the age of 93 after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Shortly after, Will and their children established a scholarship in her name.

Connie and Will attended Michigan State University, where Will received a degree in engineering. Connie was highly involved in her community, and enjoyed cooking, gardening, sewing and traveling. 

A new engineering job for Will brought the Readings to Saginaw in the early ‘50s. 

“I worked in engineering for a local company, but soon heard about a facilities position at a new community college,” he said. “I hadn’t given Delta any thought, but a friend suggested I look into a position that would oversee construction of its campus.” 

That friend was Morris Brown, who was part of the celebrated group of 300 individuals who helped start Delta. 

“The more I thought about it, the more I wanted the new position,” said Reading. 

He got the job and served as director of Facilities for Delta from 1959 until his retirement in 1986. Will, now 94 years old, has been able to watch Delta grow through the years, starting with the construction of its main campus in 1961. 

“When we first opened, there were two schools and some classes were held in the hallways and in the lower level in the lounge spaces,” he said. 

One of the favorite parts of his job was working with faculty and helping communicate their needs in new construction projects.

“It was the kind of job you enjoyed going to every day,” he said. “It’s been gratifying to watch Delta grow.”

Will and his children established the Connie R. Reading Scholarship Endowment after the excellent care his wife received at the end of her life.  

Will said many of those who took the best care of his wife attended Delta College. 

“I visited Connie every day, so I got to know the nurses well. It was obvious that money was a big concern for them, so when Connie passed away, I wanted to do something special in her memory,” he said. 

For years to come, the new endowment will support students aspiring to become nurses. Scholarships will be awarded annually to part- or full-time students in the nursing program at Delta.

 

Interested in creating an endowment or supporting scholarships at Delta College? Contact Sheryl Kiscadden at 989-686-9627  or  sherylkiscadden@delta.edu.