SANFORD HENRY STEELE

The outward events of Mr. Steele's life are narrated in a brief sketch contributed to the Alumni Notes of this issue of the MAGAZINE. The writer of this article will, therefore, confine himself to a consideration of Mr. Steele's professional and business activities and an appreciation of his personality as a man.

Although technically of foreign birth he .was a thorough New Englander. His grandfather was a pioneer resident of Brookfield, Vt. and moved to a farm in Canada just over the "Line" when his son Sanford, the father of our Sanford, was quite a lad. His mother was a native of Vermont, and his two brothers and his sister spent their mature life in the "States".

Mr. Steele's ability and success as a lawyer have won substantial recognition among his professional associates. The present writer is too indirectly cognizant of this aspect of his career to speak of it in adequate terms; but the estimate here presented is believed to be accurate as far as it goes. Those well acquainted with him in his young manhood believed him qualified to take a position in the very front rank of even the members of the New York bar. Only a few days ago a classmate — his and mine — himself a lawyer of nation-wide repute, whose practice is wholly in the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, made the following statement. "In all my practice I have never met a lawyer or a judge who in my opinion was the superior of Sanford Steele in intellectual endowment and general equipment for the legal vocation." A clear analytic mind richly furnished, and ability to see and fairly weigh arguments and counter arguments on a given proposition, a power of verbal expression clear-cut and exact, and a commanding presence — these he possessed, and these are an equipment for making a great lawyer.

Mr. Steele did not seem to aspire so very much to become a distinguished advocate. He perhaps felt himself better fitted for the role of a counselor, and this role was probably more congenial to his temperament. Certainly in this phase of legal activity his success was marked, and his ambition to a good degree satisfied.

As a director of large business affairs the official positions he successively held in the General Chemical Company — General Counsel, Chairman of Executive Committee, Vice President, and President — testify to his ability and success. This great corporation was organized largely through his instrumentality; and its success, its solidity, and the fact that in spite of its monopolistic features "it has never", to use Mr. Steele's own words, "been the subject of any unfavorable criticism", bear witness to his soundness of judgment, and his breadth of view, as well as to his moral integrity.

The following words, quoted from The General Chemical Bulletin of a date just following Mr. Steele's resignation as president, show the Company's high estimation of his services. "It is with great regret that we have to announce that our beloved President, Mr. Sanford H. Steele, has insisted on carrying out a plan which he has had in mind for some time, and has retired from the presidency, lie has been elected to a new office — that of General Counsel of the Company — in filling the duties of which he will not in any way be tied down as to time and place; but the company will be able to receive the inestimable benefit to be derived from his advice." Mr. William H. Nichols, prominent in the affairs of the Company, and long and intimately as- sociated with Mr. Steele, is quoted by a writer in the New York Times of recent date as follows: "He was one of the noblest of men; no one can go too far in speaking words of praise for his high and fine character".

Elected a trustee of Dartmouth College in 1918, and reelected in 1920, Mr. Steele has given to his Alma Mater, out of his wide and varied experience, a very valuable service. A member of the board — one qualified to speak from fullest knowledge — characterizes this service as of a quality distinctive, and very difficult to duplicate in filling the vacancy caused by his death.

It remains to speak of Mr. Steele's character and personality as a man, a theme on which the present writer can speak with the fullness and confidence that are assured by a life long acquaintance and an intimate friendship. In such a case there is indeed danger of overstatement. The general public may fail to see virtues in their superlative degree which appear plain to one who for years has loved and admired their possessor. But in this instance the writer is not alone in his high regard for his friend. He finds many who, having known Mr. Steele well, and in all the varied relations of his life, both public and private, are expressing their admiration and regard in terms equally emphatic. It is their estimate as well as the writer's, that in the qualities essential to a noble manhood Mr. Steele was a peer of the best. The tall dignified figure, a figure that would instantly attract attention in a crowd, and the kindly expression of countenance, and graciousness of manner, all typified a real nobility of character, — integrity, breadth, sympathy. And these were joined with wit and vivacity in such wise as to make him a most delightful companion as well as a most loyal friend.

In our class gatherings he was ever the center of the group, not because he willed to dominate, but because he was essentially magnetic. No one contributed a larger share than he to the enjoyment of our meeting, whether conversation turned to reminiscence of college days, or to present day problems in politics, business, or education.

His rare conversational powers were universally recognized even in his .youth. Hardly a man in college among his contemporaries could have been regarded as his equal in this respect; and the charm was never lost, but rather enhanced, as time brought to him larger responsibilities and a richer experience.

When his classmates meet in the years to come it will seem as if a wide breach had been made in their ranks. They will wonder that the loss of one member could mean so much.

SANFORD HENRY STEELE Trustee of the College; died December 19, 1920

PROFESSOR LEMUEL SPENCER HASTINGS. '70 Born Nov. 26, 1847, Died Dec. 19, 1920.