Honored for Service to Nation

In tribute to the "monumental work" of Basil O'Connor '12, president of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis and former president of the American Red Cross, 1400 persons attended the New York dinner celebrating his 60th birthday and the 25th anniversary of his leadership in the field of human welfare, on January 7 at the Waldorf-Astoria. President Dickey and Edward S. French '06, Trustee of the College, were among those who saw the presentation to Dartmouth's distinguished alumnus of the Medal of Merit and a citation from President Truman.

Former Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson presented the awards to Mr. O'Connor for "exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding services to the United States" as national president of the Red Cross from November 16, 1944, to October 1, 1949. He was also given a scroll honoring him for his service to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, of which he has been president since its inception in 1938. Other speakers who praised Mr. O'Connor's achievements, before the audience made up of hundreds of leaders in law, medicine, business and education, included Dr. Detlev W. Bronk, president of Johns Hopkins University, and the actress Helen Hayes, national women's chairman of the March of Dimes, whose daughter was a victim of infantile paralysis.

BASIL O'CONNOR '12, whose 60th birthday and 25 years of humanitarian service were jointly honored at a testimonial dinner in New York, shown recently with President Truman at the White House.