The 92nd Commencement Exercises Springfield Civic Center XII", :1j3 }(1JI Sunday, May 28, 1978 ;' o GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST o God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast. And our eternal home. Before the hi![s in order stood, Or earth received her frame. From everlasting thou art God, To endless years the same. o God, OUT help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be thou our guard while life shaliiasi. And our eternal home. - IsDlu Walls A SONG FOR SPRINGFIELD ALMA MATER Now raise a song for Springfield, let hearts and voices blend, To celebrate her praises whose fame shall have no end: While fellowship makes holy. while eager hope elates. And visioned men come thronging her spacious gates. Earth-wide may happy boyhood lift high his wond'ring eyes, Strong youth bring back the vision of earthly paradise; To follow truth to wisdom, nor faint through falt'ring fears, Be this thy task, 0 Springfield, through all the years. - Wrillrn and (omposrd by E S. HYIlr Profrssoro{ English and Musil 1907-1936 COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES Sunday, May Twenty-Eighth Ten o'clock Dean Paul U. Congdon, Presiding Prelude Symphonic Concert March Bonelli~Fa1cone Processional Pomp and Circumstance, Op. 39, No.1 Edward Elgar Invocation The Reverend Kenneth A. Childs Chaplain. Springfield College Audience will stand for Invocation and Hymn Hymn o God, Our Help in Ages Past William Croft Commencement Address Mr. George A. Plimpton Conferring of Degrees President Wilbert E. Locklin Alma Mater A Song for Springfield Hyde~Vickers Benediction The Reverend Dr. Leo J. Hoar Chaplain of Newman Apostolale Recessiona1 Sine Nomine Ralph Vaughan-Williams Grand Marshal Professor Edward S. Steitz Faculty Marshals Dean John J. Costello Professor Emery W. Seymour Professor Donald F. Bridgeman Class Marshals Lisa J. Kibbe '78 Deborah L. Plimpton, Graduate Mark R. Mathews '78 William B. Rider, Graduate Christina L. Murphy '78 Karl C. Zacker, Jr. '78 Music by the Springfield Commencement Wind Ensemble Gilbert T. Vickers, Director SprillsfitlJ Ca/lrgr wl,ulfuJ/y rrqlust$ thlll 111m Ilr no phologrllplu I"h,r {rom Ihr tlllrRna t(J, ~r !/(Jor (Jf. Ilrt Civic Cnlrr Mlna. GEORGE A. PLIMPTON George A. Plimpton, editor, author, lecturer, and today, commencement speaker. Indeed, graduates, mothers. fathers. spouses, grandparents. el 31 will havE' the unique opportunity to listen to one of the nation's acknowledged ' literary greats' this morning. Mi. Plimpton. born in New York, on March IB, 1927, has come pretty close to " . doing it all .. ," in lournalism. The editor of the prestigious Paris Rrojl'w since 1953, he is, perhaps, better known for his many and varied ventures into the sports world where he's played quarterback for the Detroit lions, pitched to an awesome collection of All-Stars in Yankee Stadium. boxed with Archie Moore, toured with Sam Snead. played lennis with Pancho Gonzales. basketball with the Boston Celtics, and, most recently. goalie with the 80ston Bruins. His books include Pa~r liD1I , Oul of My Ullgut, Shadow Bax, TIt,. Bogry Mall , Mad Ducks ami B IMS, a nd A", Mort lw ly, He is a special contributor to Sporls J/Iuslraltd, associate editor of Harptr's, and co-author (with Jean Stein) of an oral~history volume entitled, A mt'riron l ourn ey: Tilt TimtS of Roln-II F, KlnnrdJl . Mr. Plimpton's exploits as a ", .. professional amateur ..." have not, however, been restricted to the world of sports. He has played bridge with Oswald Jacoby as a partner, dared the high trapeze in the circus, been a night~club comedian in Las Vegas, a movie bit player in Lawrtn(1' of Art/Mil, Tilt DI'lrcli(w, BI'Yow/ lilt Lmo. and Rio Lobo. a percussionist with the New York Philharmonic, and. unbelievably. a Playboy centerfold photographer. His form of ", .. participatory journalism .. ,It has been widely praised. The late Robert F. Kennedy once said, "Some men want to be President, but I'd rather be George Plimpton." WALTER BYERS Doctor 0/ Humtwics You have brought order and stability to intercollegiate ilthletics througnout the nation. Out of a welter of previous practices, you have developed rules and guidelines which are today accepted and comptied with. making NCAA athletes the envy of all nations. Under your direction. the Nation.:!1 Collegiate Athletic Association has grown in resources, membership and prestige and has become the central authority for all its member colleges. Your skill, leadership ability, and patience are credited with this achievement, as is your understanding of the competitive spirit of youth and the part that collegiate athletics plays in this spirit. News reporter and sports editor in your youth. you have for the past thirty-one years been a guiding force in amateur athletics. Tireless in your efforts to weld the college community into a cohesive organization. Working for sound government legislation affecting colleges and universities. Recipient of the National Association of College Directors highest award, in recognition of your important contributions to intercollegiate athletiCS. For your Imaginative and vigorous leadership of the National Coliegiate Athletic Association - For your pragmatic philosophy that intercollegiate athletics is an integral part of a well-rounded education - Faryour achievements in athletics withi.n the framework of the American educational system - the Faculty and Trustees of Springfield College are proud to honor you by recommending you for the degree of DOCTOR OF HUMANICS, honorIS {R11511. DEAN W. JEFFERS Dodor of Humnnics YouthFul teacher and principal in Ohio r ural schools. Marine who served in the Pacific area in World War II. A national figure in the insurance industry, you rose through the ranks and, since 1972. have been General Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of one of the country's leading insurance companies, a truly nationwide institution serving and protecting millions of Americans. As Director, Trustee, and past Chairman of national insurance associations, you have helped to shape poliCies in health. life. property and liability insurance. Your life has been the personification of the American dream. and your achievements were recognized in 1975 when you received one of America's highest honors. the Horatio Algtr Award. given annually to Americans who have risen from humble beginnings to reach high goals through hard work. honesty. and determination. Your full image emerges in your personal life. Civic leader and philanthropist. Respectt>d in your own community and far beyond. Member of community and cultural organizations - Vice President of The Griffith Foundtion - Trustee of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra - Trustee of Ohio Dominican College and. since ]970, esteemed Trustee of Springfield College. Because of your concern for people and your lifelong devott>d service to your own community and to the national good - becuase you exemplify the H umanics philosophy which is such an integral part of our teaching - tht> Faculty and T rustees of Springfield College take pleasure in recommending you for the degree of DOCTOR OF HUMANICS, hunori5 callSIl. TIMOTHY J. NUGENT Doctor of Humlltlics The lives of all who are handicapped are better because of you. In mOTe than twenty·five years of dedication to their cause, you have opened up tremendous opportunities for activity and education to those who once were threatened with societal exclusion. Your prodigious research and development have helped diminish physical and sociological barriers for the handicapped. Your prolific writing has made available numerous books and publications to publicize changes in attitudes. equipment. architecture. and potential. Your training films have demonstrated graphically how the handicapped may acquire greater mobility and function. Founder of the Rehabilitation-Education Program at the University of Illinois, and its distinguished Director, you are sought nationally and worldwide as a speaker and consultant. You have advised our government agencies, lectured at foreign and domestiC universities and medical colleges, and acted as advisor to everyone from coaches to orthopedic surgeons, from designers to manufacturers of equipment for the handicapped. Recipient of honors too numerous to mention. Active in dozens of professional organizations dealing with various types of handicapped. Researcher in the physiology of disabilities. Responsible for legislation which mandates facilities and equipment for the handicapped. In recognition of your personal faith that the handicapped can compete in nearly all educational and vocational pursuits - In recognition of your monumental achievements' on behalf of the handicapped - the Faculty and Trustees of Springfield College are proud to recommend you for the degree of DOCTOR OF HUMANICS, honoris tal/sa. THE REVEREND FRANCIS W. SCANLON Doctor of Hllma"ics Gentle in spirit. Strong in conviction, The years you spent On this campus as our Catholic Chaplain were eventful, meaningful years. Years in which, through your vision and perseverance, regular services first became available for Springfield's Catholic students. Years in which you helped to establish the Newman Club. which still flourishes. Years in which you reached out and touched the Jives of countless students at a time when many are troubled and searching for meaning. To hold the yaung, you dared to be an innovator in the liturgy of the Church. The invocations and benedictions you gave at our Commencements were models of sincerity and spirituality. Your selness concern was evident in every human contact, whether it was one-Ie-one or to an entire assemblage. Caring deeply for the students you served, you were in turn respected and loved by them. In your own parish and the community at large, you gave unstintingly of yourself. To the poor and disadvantaged in the city's North End. To young people - encouraging them in healthful activities and sports. To all who needed you. carrying out your priestly duties in the highest sense of the word.