COMMENCEMENT 1966
COMMENCEMENT DAY 1966 was another of those memorable Dartmouth occasions. The weather was perfect with temperatures in the high 60's; brilliant sunshine bathed the elm-shaded Baker Library lawn and a slight breeze stirred the leaves. The colorful ceremonies and the attendant academic rituals impressed even commencement veterans with their solemnity and stately pace.
Some 6,000 folding chairs covered the lawn and all appeared filled as the academic procession filed in to the strains of marches by Verdi, Wagner, Meyerbeer and Mendelssohn played by the College organist, Prof. Milton Gill.
It was a long procession because this was the largest class in the College's history. Some 928 degrees were awarded — 7l9 A.B. degrees to seniors, 47 Bachelor of Medical Science degrees to Medical School candidates, 23 engineering degrees to those who had completed courses of study at the Thayer School, 97 Master of Business Administration degrees to Tuck School students, 22 Master of Arts degrees to students in various scientific disciplines, six Master of Science degrees in the engineering sciences, and seven Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
The seven honorary degree recipients this year included three graduates of the College: educator Louis T. Benezet '36 (LL.D.), Bishop Charles P. Gilson '21 (D.D.), and playwright Frank D. Gilroy '5O (Litt.D.). The honorary Doctorate of Laws was also conferred on Henry Allen Moe, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and John W. Macy Jr., chairman of the U. S. Civil Service Commission; the Doctorate of Science on William Barry Wood Jr., Professor of Microbiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; and the Doctorate of Humane Letters on Homer P. Whitford, former Dartmouth music professor who wrote the music for Franklin McDufEee's Dartmouth Undying.
The solemnity of the ceremonies was lessened, however, when the commencement speaker, John Williams Macy Jr., began his address with a tongue-in-cheek reference to an ill-mannered editorial in The Dartmouth. It had commented on his selection with an editorial entitled "Who Is John Macy?"
"I am grateful to Dartmouth," Mr. Macy began, "par. ticularly to the editors of its newspaper, for preserving my official state of anonymity. That editorial... effectively re-established my credentials as a Washington practitioner of passionate anonymity. These credentials had been seriously threatened in recent months by increasingly frequent descriptions of the President's talent scout and his operations. My gratitude on this count is only matched by that of the President."
His audience, especially the graduating seniors, responded warmly to this sally and also to his serious warning that public administrators' most urgent task is to mobilize talent and imagination to meet the growing problems of urbanization.
Another speaker, Michael D. Danzig '66, the valedictorian, told the audience that the Class of 1966 had seen tremendous changes taking place in the College. Their period may be viewed as watershed years in the future, he said. (Both addresses are printed elsewhere in this issue.)
Concrete evidence of one major change was provided by the hooding of the seven candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Individual Ph.D.s had been awarded in each of the past two years, but this was the first time since the new doctoral programs were inaugurated several years ago that a group had received doctoral degrees. Five were awarded in mathematics and one each in molecular biology and engineering sciences.
One generally accepted criterion for the quality of graduate programs is how well they attract top-notch graduate students. It is interesting to note, therefore, that the seven Ph.D. winners won their undergraduate degrees from M.I.T., Knox College, Princeton, Dartmouth, the University of Madras (India), Geneva College, and the University of Cambridge, England.
The awarding of A.B. degrees produced the usual straining by parents, brothers, sisters, and friends to single out their particular senior as the twin lines formed for the presentation of diplomas. Cameras were aimed and snapped from all quarters to preserve the important moment for years to come.
The singing of Men of Dartmouth, the benediction by Dean Richard Unsworth, and the recessional completed the program. But there were other unfinished tasks before the degree-winners left Hanover. There was more picture-taking with gowned son posing self-consciously with parents against the background of Dartmouth Row or the Library. There were good-byes too - to classmates, favorite professors, and to Hanover friends. Frequently these were interspersed with quick introductions of parents and expressions of thanks for the comradeship or intellectual stimulation of the years.
Usually farewells like these are sad occasions. Dartmouth commencements aren't though, as a rule. Maybe it's because, as President Dickey says to the departing seniors, "in the Dartmouth fellowship, there is no parting."
Leverone Field House, which provides a refuge for everymajor College event when it rains, was the location of thetraditional Class Day exercises for the Class of 1966.
Sachem Orator William G. Wilkoff of Pleasantville, N. Y.,was interrupted by the arrival of Eugene E. Nattie Jr. ofQuincy, Mass., who as "Emmet, from up the road a piece"joined the Chief (below) for a dialogue on local matters.
Sachem Orator William G. Wilkoff of Pleasantville, N. Y.,was interrupted by the arrival of Eugene E. Nattie Jr. ofQuincy, Mass., who as "Emmet, from up the road a piece"joined the Chief (below) for a dialogue on local matters.
Lt. Gen. William F. Train, Commanding General of the First U.S. Army,spoke at the ROTC graduation program in the Bema, where commissions were given to 38 seniors in the Army, 28 in the Navy, six in the Air Force, and three in the Marines. Shown seated on the platform are Provost John W. Masland, Col. Willion R. Donaldson, Army ROTC commandant, and Capt. Ernest J. Knoche, Navy ROTC commandant.
Class president Roger C. Kline '66 ofNew York City, addressing classmatesand guests at Commencement luncheon.
Nattily attired members of the 50-yearclass at the Commencement exercises.
Class president Richard Parkhurst '16,who carried the flag at Commencement 50 years ago, with Daniel H.Williams III (left) and Donald P.Graves (rt), the flag bearers for '66.
President Dickey (left) with threegraduates of the College who receivedhonorary degrees: (l to r) Frank D.Gilroy '50, Louis T. Benezet '36, andBishop Charles P. Gilson '21.
