Board Chair Byram (By) E. Dickes

By Dickes became chair of the board of directors of Presbyterian Homes in April 2006 after serving for one year as vice chair.  Dickes has been a member of the board since 1989 and has served separately as chair of both the Finance and Long Range Planning Committees, and as a member of the Building and Grounds, Compensation, and other important standing committees of the board.  Dickes has been involved in many key decisions at Presbyterian Homes for several years.  "There is great satisfaction in contributing to such a worthwhile organization," said Dickes.

In addition to his service on the board of directors at Presbyterian Homes, Dickes is currently a trustee of the Hadley School for the Blind.  While semi-retired, he still finds time to serve as chairman of George T. Schmidt, Inc., and as chair of Garden Trends, Inc.  Dickes has been president of Chase Franklin Corporation, a small venture capital firm that specialized in agricultural-related ventures, since the early 1960's.

Dickes graduated from Purdue University with a BA in agriculture in 1956, was commissioned as an ensign in the US Naval Reserves following graduation, and served as a "plank owner" (a member of the ship's company when the vessel was originally commissioned) of the aircraft carrier USS Ranger, CVA 61.  After completing his tour in the Navy, Dickes and his wife, Sue, moved to the Boston area where Dickes earned his MBA degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Business in 1960.

The Dickes reside in Winnetka during the summer and at the Country Club of Florida, Village of Golf, Florida in the winter.   They have three married children and seven grandchildren.

Dickes said, "Sue and I expect to move to Presbyterian Homes' Westminster Place in the not-too-distant future, and we look forward to making many new friends there." In the meantime, as chair, he is pleased to contribute to the leadership and mission of Presbyterian Homes.

(Photo available in Image Gallery)