As 51勛圖厙 launched the celebration of its as an independent institution, one of its most successful teams celebrated the career of its coacha career that spans nearly as long.泭
Warren Decker, director of , joined the in 1976, in a year in which the fledgling program included only one student who had ever been to a tournament.
I came to Mason when it was still in its infancy, and it was a neat place to be, said Decker. There were no other state universities in the area, so it was a great place for a debate program.泭
By 1979, Mason sent its first team to the National Debate Tournament, and the success of the team has grown ever since. During Deckers nearly 50 years of tenure as director, the Debate Team has become one of the most successful debate programs in the country, boasting top spots in the American Debate Association, Cross Examination Debate Association, and National Debate Tournament ranking championships.泭
In 1984, Decker was recognized as Faculty Member of the Year by the Mason Alumni Association.
On April 8, during the week that Mason kicked off the celebration of its first 50 years, the group invited team members and alumni to a reception in Deckers honor.泭
During the reception, College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Ann Ardis lauded the teams success. Under Warrens direction, Mason Debate has qualified to attend the National Debate Tournament 36 times and has ranked in the top two teams in the country for the last decade, she said. Warren has directed and coached more debate students than any other college debate coach in the countryand changed the lives of countless students.泭
The reception brought together debate team members and alumni, and colleagues from the Department of Communication to celebrate the contributions that Decker made to the team and to Mason. The many tributes included those from Jackie Poapst, assistant director of debate; debate team captains; and Debate Team alums Burton Gray, BA Economics and English 95; Leonard (Len) Bennett, BA Finance 89, JD 94; Laura Tuell, BA Government and Politics 91; Alan Stewart, BA International Studies 91, MA International Transactions 97; and Stephen Karbelk, BA History 92.泭
Dean Ardis joined in offering a toast to Decker, noting the enthusiasm with which his students and former students gathered to celebrate him, and remarking on their great generosity. Ardis announced donations to the Debate Team Endowment in Deckers name, an expansion of the Burton and Yardley Gray Debate Student Scholarship Fund, and a leadership gift from Leonard Bennett that endows the position of Debate Team Director as the Warren D. Decker Professorship Endowment.泭
The support of these team members, past and present, allows Decker to leave behind a legacy of continued growth and learning for his students: a true legacy of winning.泭
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