In tribute to J. Michael McGean '49

In tribute to J. Michael McGean '49 (left), Secretary of the College, who has ended ten years of service as secretary of the Dartmouth Club Officers Association, a special citation from the Association was presented to him at the Alumni Council dinner in Hanover on January 14. Zebulon W. White '36 (r), senior representative of the Association on the Council, made the presentation. The citation was as follows:

Two decades ago your Princeton father regretfully recognized you as a truly fitted candidate for Dartmouth College. In the ensuing span of years you have sustained his judgment by not only achieving renown for your class of 1949, but by adding eminence to your college.

It required only four years of shuttling to get you onto the main track which has led to your present position. Graduate work at two universities - tour of duty in the European Army of Occupation - figure skating in which you flashed to fame with your wife as partner winning many coveted championships.

Appointed Assistant to the Secretary of the College in 1953, you have since advanced through the chairs of Assistant Secretary (1957) and Associate Secretary (1960) to your present distinguished position.

Through the creation of the Dartmouth Club Officers Association in 1957 by amoebic cleavage from the Dartmouth Secretaries Association, there appeared a new cohesive entity which you have brought to new vigor, stature and breadth. Under your auspices as Secretary of the Association the roster of Alumni Clubs has increased by 25% — and in numbers from 110 to 137. Around the girdled earth have these new groups been founded — in Mexico City, Peru, Venezuela, Paris, Hong Kong and Thailand, to mention those places most remote.

You have been instrumental in formalizing these clubs and keeping them on an active footing. To maintain the busy schedule of alumni gatherings coast to coast your flashing skates have been replaced at times by contrailing jets. In this manner you have brought these far-flung groups as close to the Hanover Plain as the speed of sound will allow. This concept of Dartmouth families by community or region, thus augmenting the traditional groupings by graduated classes, has served to double the feeling of fraternity which has always been a hallmark of the Dartmouth fellowship.

As you relinquish your duties with the Dartmouth Club Officers Association to accept your new responsibilities as Secretary of the College, this Association wishes to pay its respects to you for a job well executed. It is anticipated that in your work with the full body of Alumni you will display the same brilliancy and verve, but with even greater intensity and devotion.

As a symbol of our regard we award to you now this special citation.