The Hinckley Center was bursting at the seams with staff and faculty excitedly anticipating a handshake.
Everywhere you looked you could see nothing but smiles and words of support as President and Sister Samuelson gave a final goodbye to the people they had worked so closely with for the past 11 years at BYU.
But they couldn’t leave without some reminiscing.
“One of my favorite memories is when Sister Samuelson approached me about making an ice cream flavor for her husband,” said Dean Wright, director of dining services at BYU. “Of course we loved the idea and so we talked with her and found out some of his favorite flavors, eventually creating the ice cream. When we asked her to name it she came up with “Whoosh Cecil!” and it was an immediate hit. It’s just the little things like that make you love the Samuelsons.”
Over the years BYU students, staff and alumni have grown to love the power couple that over the years attended almost every men’s basketball game.
The athletics department has always had two Cougars fanatics in President and Sister Samuelson.
“There is not a better man that supports my team. We are really going to miss him,” said BYU women’s head coach Jeff Judkins.
Although there were many high profile faculty from BYU at the reception, there were also just normal people there to say thanks to the Samuelsons for helping them and their respective departments through the years.
“I work in the Print and Mail services and in the past couple of years printing has been hurting a bit on campus, but throughout the years we have received nothing but support from President Samuelson,” said Delane Donithorne. “I just wanted to come and say thank you personally.”
One thing is for sure, the reception showed that BYU was going to miss them and people have nothing but good things with which to send them off. The Samuelsons are grateful for the opportunity they have had to serve the BYU community, but are excited to move forward and lead a quiet life with their family.
