Ad Astra - Don "Flea" Flye '55

Donald Guy Flye

Donald Guy Flye, 80, of Federal Way, died Wednesday July 17, 2013 at his home. He was born on February 17, 1933 in Tacoma, Washington to Guy M. and Cleo B. Flye. Don is survived by his daughters, Dana Robison, Kelly Applegate, his son in laws, Gunn Robison, Derek Applegate, his grandchildren, Ashlan, Connor, Ty, Grady, Cassidy, Raegan, and his partner and friend of 16 years, Kathy Thatcher. Don was a long time resident of Tacoma until attending college at the University of Washington. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and was a loyal member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.

Don was an accomplished competitive tennis player representing the UW in 1952, 1953 and 1957, winning four Pacific Coast Conference division championships. Some of Don's many tennis accomplishments include winning the title of National Junior Men's doubles champion in 1951 and playing at Wimbledon in 1955. In 2005, Don was inducted into the Tacoma Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame and continued playing competitive tennis through 2012. Don had a lengthy career at Boeing, retiring in 1988. He will long be remembered for his twinkling blue eyes, witty sense of humor, passionate point of view and competitive nature. Family service will be held Thursday, July 25, 2013 at Mountain View Cemetery. Memorial details for friends can be obtained on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/404011273051884/ under the events and file tab. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made St. Judes Hospital.

Published in The Seattle Times from July 22 to July 23, 2013

Luncheon - July 2013 - Dave Betts '06

Dave Betts '06 talks about the One Acre Fund and its very effective program for farmers in Africa

   It’s a long ways from Spokane to Kenya where the past three years have found Dave working with One Acre Fund. OAF is an innovative NGO (non-government organization) that operates like a business as it provides life changing services to poor rural farmers (http://www.oneacrefund.org/our-approach/program-model/). Though still a relatively young NGO, OAF has received a number of awards including a recent #18 ranking on the Global Journal's list of Top 100 NGOs. 

Dave noted that 75% of the world's poor are farmers, and Kenyan farmers live on $1-2 per day.  The One Acre Fund does not provide financial assistance to the farmers.  Rather they provide fertilizer, see, planting techniques, training, etc.  In a province in West Kenya a 5 person ex-pat staff works with a field team of 250 to coach/train/guide the farmers to increased productivity and more profitable marketing of their production.  

Dave has already accumulated a lot of experience.  His first year after graduation he spent working with a start-up in the sports sector --  Your Sports.  Dave's father was one of the co-founders of the Spokane Hoopfest, so sports is a part of his DNA.

From there he put his degree to work as a field engineer on rigs in the Montana/Wyoming/North Dakota in the oil/gas fields. His specialty was being a measurements engineer for the lateral drilling.  

Dave Betts '06 and fellow classmates at the July luncheon

Dave took his project management skills and joined Construction for Change.  This is a non-profit that builds schools and other buildings in Africa.  Construction for Change was previously the beneficiary of the undergraduate's Major Project, and some of its founders include Mike McEvoy '05 and Jamie Stoner '05  (Stoner previously presented to our graduate luncheon group.)