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Jack Mitchell . . . On February 10 Colgate University lost one of its greatest assets when John Taylor Mitchell passed away. In her memo to the campus community, Jane Pinchin claimed that Jack's greatest contribution to Colgate was as chairman of the Health Sciences Advisory Committee. While I am sure there are many doctors today who may agree with her, I believe that Jack played a more critical role as the type of classroom teacher, adviser and mentor which epitomizes the liberal arts experience that makes Colgate great. Jack took great pride and interest in all of his students, whether they chose a career in medicine or strayed into other professional areas, as I did. From the time I first met Jack (in my freshman seminar, Bioethics) he instilled in me a great interest in human developmental biology. I knew I wanted to study teratology (his specialty) and spent three years preparing myself for this course. When I could find only two other brave souls to join me in this course my senior fall, it looked as though my hopes would be dashed. But Jack, always an advocate for his students, went to bat for us, and I spent my senior year studying the effects of aspartame on fetal development. This personal attention is the very reason I chose Colgate. I am thankful I had the opportunity to see Jack one last time, to say both good-bye and thank you (though I regret it took me so long to let him know what an impact he had on my life). Today I mourn for Mary, her children and grandson, for the Colgate community, and for future generations of Colgate students who will not experience his extraordinary teaching.
LAURETTA FARRELL '84
Donald Stone '25
. . . Colgate lost one of her most talented and fascinating alumni with the passing of Donald Stone '25 on October 19, 1995. Don Stone was one of the giants of American public administration and public affairs education. His death at 92 brought to an end a career that spanned almost the entire span of public administration as a "science of governement." Don Stone's career began in the 1920s with his directorship of the Public Administration Service (PAS), a nonprofit consulting service bringing the new science of public administration to state and local governments. He was one of the principal architects of the modern presidency, helping implement the changes outlined in the 1939 Brownlow Report that created the modern Budget Bureau (now Office of Management and Budget) and serving beginning in 1941 as the first director of the Office of Management in BOB. He more than anyone could claim the title of inhouse expert on public management in the federal government. After World War II Don directed the administration of the Marshall Plan in Europe. A committed internationalist, he was the founding dean of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh, where scholars and students influenced the flow of American expertise to the world in the decades following the war. After a stint as president of Springfield College, Don returned to the professorial ranks at Carnegie Mellon, where he served well into his eighties. I met Don Stone in the 1970s, but it was my move to Harrisburg in 1988 that led to my getting to know him well. We discovered our Colgate connection in several visits to each other's campuses in the next few years. Don was an inspiration to the students and faculty at Carnegie Mellon, and a lasting influence on the Penn State students he visited here. He had seen almost everything in the development of modern governance in the United States; he had played a role in every stage, from the development of professional local government to the birth of the modern federal government and the expanding role of the U.S. in world affairs. Even in the 1980s, when faith in government seemed to wane, Don maintained optimism and faith in the principles of efficiency and good management he had helped design decades earlier. Like all of his generation, he realized that good citizenship and good government cannot exist in isolation. Colgate can be proud that Don Stone's name will always be included in the front rank of the pioneers of public administration in the U.S. and the world.
JEREMY F. PLANT '67
On baseball
. . . There were several reasons given for the university's dropping varsity baseball. One of them was the poor spring weather. I suppose after letting our players suffer through 106 years of this it was about time to throw in the baseball towel. As I read college baseball scores from today's (March 25) Sarasota Herald, I was amazed at the number of New York and New England teams that are still too stubborn to admit defeat. Those listed as playing on southern diamonds yesterday were Colby, Tufts, Wesleyan, St. Lawrence, SUNY Utica-Rome, Southern Connecticut, Southern Maine and Westfield State. When are these teams and those of LeMoyne, Siena, the SUNY Conference, Ivy League and Patriot League going to wise up and turn their baseball facilities over to women's softball? Thank goodness Colgate has been the leader in saving its would-be baseball players from a terrible fate, and its former diamondmen from having to contribute funds to the Fence Busters.
BOB BURLINGAME '52
Marathon meeting
. . . I was a spectator at the 100th Boston Marathon. In the flurry of people, I quickly zoned in on Rob Wolfe '94 who sped by at a very quick pace. I yelled out his name and GO COLGATE! and he ran by not registering who was yelling his name. Finally, Rob turned around and ran, against the grain, back to me, gave me a big hug and said how much fun he was having in the marathon. The crowd went wild seeing as this pretty fast runner had just lost at least 8 seconds off his time (which is a lot when you are running as fast as he was) just to see a fellow Gater. It was so great.
JENNIFER MARKSON '95
Among Colgate alumni also taking part in the 100th Boston Marathon were Laurie Cizek '91, Mick Midkiff '67 and Nancy Rowe '85. Among those from campus who made the run: Scene editor Jim Leach and Andy Lamb (purchasing).
On aggravation . . . . . . Do us both a favor, please, and send me no more Scenes. That will save me some aggravation and save you some postage. The `Alumni of Color' report and the SMI story in the March '96 issue are fatuous obeisance to political correctness, and I don't want to waste time on such silliness.
JOSEPH R. OWEN '48
. . . and appreciation
. . . The March Scene is a most interesting and informative production, as usual. I am sure a great majority of CU grads feel as I do, that we have a superior publication keeping us in touch with our Colgate roots. I was especially interested in Warren Anderson's letter about his attendance at CU football games. He must have an attendance record! That 1925 team was of special interest to me, as I played first right guard on the team that year with Eddie Tryon (and incidentally dislocated my left shoulder in the Princeton and Syracuse games). We were undefeated that year, though with two tie games. Twenty years ago I wrote a 50th anniversary poem for the Class of 1926. Our 70th anniversary will be this June. Though at 95 I get around with a cane and am in good general health, I will not be up to returning to campus.
EDWARD E. CHIPMAN '26
From the mayor
. . . Last September Colgate and the village of Hamilton, celebrating the 200th anniversary of its founding, joined together to establish the Elisha Payne Bicentennial Grove on the campus along Hamilton Street. Eight trees were planted at that time and five more (to make the traditional 13) were added in an Arbor Day/Earth Day celebration on April 25. Biology professor Ron Hoham, who initiated a program of tree identification on campus several years ago, was the speaker at the April tree planting. The Elisha Payne Grove is evidence of the continuing cooperation between the college and the village. Another project, which is being launched by the College-Community Relations Council this summer, is the Adopt-a-Student Program whereby local residents will invite first-year students to their homes, providing a home away from home. Together, Colgate and Hamilton have sponsored the annual community cookout, which opens the academic year. Since 1982 more than 2,000 villagers, students, faculty and staff have shared picnic fare on the village green every September. This last summer, when it became apparent that the airport located on the northern edge of the village might be split up and sold off in pieces, the village decided to purchase the property. We formed an Airport Development Committee to assist in the review of the Airport Master Plan and the Economic Development Study. Colgate is participating with other area representatives on this committee. It is our plan to continue the operation of the airport and to develop the non-airport lands as a business/light industry complex. Eventually we plan to extend our village electric power to the site as an enticement to business development. The village of Hamilton provides electric power to our residents, including Colgate University, at a rate approximately 60% below the rate for surrounding electric customers. In a separate endeavor, the university has applied for a grant to study rural economic development and provide applicable experiences for students. It may be that this will be another area of common interest to the village and the university. The village has also agreed to participate with Colgate in the pre-orientation program for incoming students. This is the first year of village involvement in this program, but we welcome the opportunity to get to know and work with the students who will be with us for four years, and more. These are some of the ways in which Colgate and the village of Hamilton work together. It has been a pleasure to work with President Grabois and his staff this year on several areas of common concern and/or interest. Our communities depend on one another, and as mayor I applaud the university's contribution to village life.
STELLA BRINK
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