"Do I wish I had gone to the Tuck School!"

Philip E. Beekman, D'53 President of Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc., New York; and The Seagram Company Ltd., Montreal

"WHEN I graduated from Dartmouth almost 29 years ago, I took a job with Colgate-Palmolive as a trainee. I guess the work and I jelled, for in 1975 Colgate saw fit to make me the President of its international company. I've now been at Seagram's for five years. And I must say that I've enjoyed a very stimulating and rewarding career with both firms.

"When I was a senior at Dartmouth I hardly gave the Tuck School a second thought. I decided to go straight into business. Oh sure, I had some friends who had gone to Tuck. And they seemed to have prospered both at the School and in business. But other than being their friend, I had no ties to Tuck.

"So I was very surprised when I received my first invitation to lecture at the Tuck School, 22 years after my Dartmouth commencement. Since that first lecture, I have visited Tuck over 20 times, as an Executive-in-Residence, Overseer and friend of the School.

"Now some of you may think it peculiar for someone who has been as fortunate as I have been, in business and in life, to regret not having gone to the Tuck School Well, maybe so. But after observing the School, its programs and people, I've become envious. Envious of my Dartmouth classmates who went on to spend that extra year or two at Tuck. For the Tuck School offers a rewarding educational experience that is hard to duplicate, even after nearly three decades of working in the business world.

A Unique Educational Experience

"Those factors which contribute to this unique experience are: • A faculty that is dedicated to teaching,

• A curriculum that exposes students to a broad range of managerial ideas, • A highly motivated, intelligent and cheerful student body, • A commitment from the School to enhance the lives of all students, present and past, and, • A committed group of former students who actively participate in the life of the School. "Last year, over 700 former students participated in the activities of the School. And last year 2532 former students gave money to the School via the Tuck Annual Giving program. Many of these donors were my fellow Dartmouth alumni, most of whom make generous contributions to the College as well. They realize that their donations to the College are unrelated to the Tuck School.

Tuck Annual Giving

"For many years, Dartmouth College regularly subsidized the Tuck School. However, this is no longer the case. In recent years Tuck has supported itself, and has paid the College for the School's share of overhead expenses. This would not have been possible without the generous support of former Tuck students via Tuck Annual Giving.

"In 1899, Dartmouth President William J. Tucker expressed a hope that the lives of Dartmouth students would be enhanced by the Tuck School. I believe that his dream has been fulfilled. Even as an observer, I have been challenged and stimulated by Tuck. And I know many students past and present who feel the same. I hope you do too.

"Please join with me and your fellow Dartmouth alumni by participating in Tuck Annual Giving so that President Tucker's dream will live- on."

Phil Beekman

Phil Beekman in after-class discussion of mergers and acquisitions, during a recent visit as Executive-in-Residence.