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 The tradition of a collegiate mace is taken from
medieval times in England, when it was held by a bodyguard for
dignitaries at ceremonial functions. Ceremonial maces are used by
governing bodies worldwide, including the U.S. House of
Representatives and the British Parliament. In collegiate settings,
they are typically carried in formal academic ceremonies by the
longest serving faculty member. After some initial research by my
Assistant Amy Gallagher, we found out that they’re cost prohibitive
for us to afford with prices between $5,000-$10,000.
Amy suggested that I meet with her Uncle Matt Young, as he might be
able to get one made. With the expensive mace catalog in hand, and a
rookie president in suit and tie, we met Matt at the Alley-Bi, where
I came to learn a lot of business is conducted in Lincoln. Over the
course of the next half hour, I explained what I was looking for,
and Matt and I busted each other’s chops numerous times. I would say
that we hit it off immediately. Matt suggested that he would kick
things around with his good friend Eric Morris and get back to me.
Our next meeting occurred at Eric’s excellent woodshop where we
shared a few beers, stories, saw all of the wonderful projects being
created, more chop busting, and the direction they were thinking in
crafting the mace. They had already carefully selected two special
types of wood: Purpleheart (Lincoln College color) and Padauk, and I
had hoped that we could incorporate the college’s seal. That evening
we had challenging negotiations over what their craftsmanship was
going to cost me. They wanted to do this for free as an honor to
Lincoln College, but I was adamant on paying them something.
Finally, we agreed on two cases of beer!
I was very excited as I arrived to Eric’s shop for the big day of
the reveal. Matt had built up my excitement over the course of a
month with tantalizing text messages. As Matt had me turn around for
the presentation, I was very excited in anticipation having already
‘paid’ them.
To my horror and disbelief, there on the workbench
was not anything close to what I was hoping for! With great pride,
Matt began his presentation while beaming ear to ear with a grand
glowing smile. He pointed out the purpleheart and patauk wood, the
college seal that rotated no less, the spring loaded ‘bobble Lincoln
top hat’ embedded with five Lincoln pennies, and that the shaft was
actually two ‘borrowed’ pool cues from the Alley-Bi.
I attempted my best smile while I said something to
the effect of ‘well, well, well, isn’t that something!’ Dealing with
college students and discipline, donors, board members, and
community members over the course of my long career in Higher
Education had prepared me for just about anything. I, however, was
speechless! Time slowed down, and the next few minutes felt like an
eternity. Matt allowed my uncomfortable feeling to linger as long as
he could.
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Then Eric pulled out this most amazing creation. Standing almost
4-foot-tall and weighing 6 lbs. was this beautifully turned
masterpiece leaning in its stand. It had four imbedded Lincoln
College commemorative centennial medallions at the top with two
displaying President Lincoln, and the other two exposing the college
seal. You could see the patauk inlay surrounded by the purpleheart
wood in this beautiful lathe turned mace. I was again speechless,
but this time thrilled, proud, and blown away. They pulled a fast
one on this rookie president, and I felt honored that they would
both play such a wonderful prank, and also create such a beautiful
and historic piece for the college. I chuckled that evening thinking
about the fun time they must have had while Eric worked on the mace,
and Matt invented new features for the faux mace while scheming as
to how he was going to trick me into thinking that his creation was
the real McCoy.
Their prank was too good not to reuse, and boy did I ever get the
mileage out of it. My first victim was my wife Lisa that evening.
Although my dramatic presentation of the faux mace got better over
time, it was never as good as Matt’s. Lisa fell for it as I even
asked her opinion as to what I should tell Matt’s niece, my
Assistant Amy Gallagher. Lisa was adamant that I could not use that
in any formal academic setting. Amy’s turn was the next day, when I
called her and asked her how well she knew her Uncle Matt, and asked
her to come over to the president’s house to see their creation. She
was equally speechless as I shared the rich features of the faux
mace. She couldn’t figure how they got things so wrong. Next came
all of the faculty at their appreciation dinner, and finally the
entire Board of Trustees. Matt’s prank worked every time and
everyone was ultimately blown away by the real mace.
A month or so after presenting the mace to me, Matt gave me a
homemade frame made from that same purpleheart and patauk wood with
a picture of Eric, Matt and myself with the two maces. On the back
the frame it said, “Matt Young Designer-Craftman, Dave Gerlach L.C.
Prez., Eric Morris BUM, Presentation of Maces Spring 17.” I will
cherish this framed picture the rest of my life.
I didn’t get to know Matt Young very well before he passed on
September 29. I spent a few quality evenings with them over at
Eric’s shop, and appreciated every moment of my time with him there,
at the Alley-Bi, or via text messages. He was a real, caring, down
to earth kind of guy who could joke around with anyone. After a
health scare in May of 2020, Matt made me a cross from that same
wood that I use every day as a part of morning devotionals, which
has even more meaning for me since his passing. To all his family
and friends who knew him, I am sorry for your loss. As a Lincoln
treasure, rest in peace Matt. You are missed by many.
Dave Gerlach, PhD
President of Lincoln College
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