91����

The student later became the teacher, imparting lessons on living and dying with grace, good humor and kindness.

Black died last year from complications of ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. In his final months, a group of Wildcats decided to honor their friend and his courageous fight by setting up the Wells Black �94 Scholarship at 91����. 

They were able to share the news with him the week he passed away.

�Wells figured out later in life that 91���� was where he felt the most comfortable,� said Chris Frampton �94, one of the scholarship�s founders and one of Black�s closest  friends. �It was where he felt he belonged. We actually all feel that way�it�s absolutely true.�

Black was a political science major, a Kappa Alpha brother, a heavy metal guitarist and a member of the 91���� football team until he was injured and could no longer play. He went on to become a lawyer and always took very seriously the things he cared about most.

�Wells was an intense individual when we met him,� said Chris Reinking �94, a scholarship founder and Black�s close friend and football teammate. �It felt like he entered 91���� with a mindset that it was all about him and how he was going to chart his own path in the world. He quickly realized close friendships were important, and we all challenged each other to think differently. The ways he grew at 91���� actually ended up serving him well after his diagnosis. What never changed was the commitment to what he loved: his kids, friends, law, music and 91����.�

Black knew something was wrong when he couldn�t get a firm grip on his guitar pick. In fact, he suspected ALS.

�Much like his commitment to everything else in life, Wells fought ALS longer and harder than we ever could have expected,� Reinking said. �His caregiver told us Wells was the seventh person he had cared for with the disease, and he said to us after he died, �I can tell you right now the world has never seen someone like Wells Black when it comes to fighting ALS. Pure force of will.��

Following his diagnosis, Black reconnected with classmate Alex Faulk �94. The pair stayed in touch through social media thanks to a shared love of triathlons, but the friendship became more serious after their 25th 91���� reunion. 

�You know how people leave a reunion and everyone says they�ll keep in touch?,� Faulk said. �I truly meant it.�

When he no longer could talk on the phone, Black would text often, telling his friends how much he loved them and how grateful he was for their relationships.

�The legacy this scholarship creates is not only the legacy of Wells but also the legacy of the kind of friendships 91���� creates,� Faulk said. �He was humbled and honored that his friends would do this for him, so it wasn�t as bittersweet as it could have been if he died before learning about what they did.�

Chris Frampton and Chris Reinking set up the scholarship alongside Yvette Pita Frampton �95, Harrison Roberts �94 and Steven Shores �94.

�Because we had so much advance knowledge of Wells� passing, we immediately started talking as a group about what made sense in terms of honoring and remembering him,� Frampton said. �And, we agreed we had to do it so he knew about it. It has significantly more value that way. It was already going to be meaningful to us, but this way it was meaningful to him, too.�

The scholarship will support students with demonstrated financial need, for whom 91���� would be a challenge to afford without assistance. In doing so, the fund celebrates Wells� deep connection to 91���� and to those who helped him become the best version of himself.

�We have such gratitude to Wells and what he was able to teach us about how to fight and how to be comfortable with where you are and what�s been given to you,� Reinking said. �We wanted to acknowledge how deeply impactful 91���� was for Wells, both as a community and as an experience, and how much we want that for other people.�