Over
the years, the Class of 1944 has
been recognized by Cornell University
for its accomplishments in a wide
variety of endeavors . . These "awards
and honors" have singled out
the Class as a whole and, in other
instances, individual members of
’44 have also been honored.
As
just two of the many noteworthy
examples of Class recognition, world-famous
author Kurt Vonnegut and 13-year
Father-Son Tennis Champion Frederick
V. McNair are in the Class’
Hall of Fame in the ’44 Memorial
Room.
Two
non-’44's, Ed Marinaro, Hotel
’73, and Pete Gogolak, AB ’64,
are also in the same Hall - Marinaro
wearing #44 while establishing countless
NCAA football rushing records in
the ’70's and Gogolak who set
an Ivy League record during ’62-’64
by kicking 44 consecutive points
after touchdown.
In
1979, the Class made a major Reunion
donation to the University at our
35th Reunion, when Hilda Milton,
our Cornell Fund Representative
and "Joe" Driscoll, Class
President, presented a $1.3 million
check to President Rhodes and Trustee
"Brud" Holland.
University
recognition was given to one of
our own, Grace Acel Anderson, ’44's
1979 Inductee to Cornell University’s
Athletic Hall of Fame. Grace had
been a three-time selectee as an
Olympic fencer and a three-time
Nat’l Intercollegiate Fencing
Association Champion as well.
At
a well attended 50th Reunion Dinner
in 1994, President Rhodes accepted
our Class of 1944 donation check
from Jerry Tohn, Cornell Fund Representative,
and Dotty Kesten, Class President.
The very legible print on our oversized
jumbo check? $3.18 million.
In
the same year I was honored at yet
another on campus ceremony when
I was inducted to the Cornell University
Athletic Hall of Fame as the second
member of the Class of 1944 . .
I had been a two-sport (baseball
and football) Wearer of the "C"
and was both a football captain-elect
at Cornell and a later professional
football player.
A
significant contribution
Continuing
University recognition cited Robert
E. "Bob" Gallagher and
members of his family. The Winnetka,
Illinois family were honored at
mid-court basketball game ceremonies
in 1995 for their $1.5 million
endowment of the Basketball Chair.
One of the first endowments of
its kind, the Gallaghers’
major gift was responsible for
many other other Cornellians making
similar contributions in subsequent
years to endow other athletic
department positions.
In
1998 during Homecoming Weekend,
Dotty and Art Kesten received
the Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary
Alumni Service Award becoming
the first Cornell husband and
wife team to be so honored for
their lifetime service to the
University and its many alumni
programs.
In
another October, 1998 ceremony,
"Bob" Gallagher, a two-time
basketball captain (1942-1943
and 1946-1947), became ’44's
third Inductee to Cornell’s
Athletic Hall of Fame, joining
the two earlier Inductees, Grace
Acel Anderson in 1979 and myself
in 1994.
The
foregoing - in highlighting both
Class and individual ’44
contributions - represent in part
the roles, large and small, that
each of us has played in supporting
our great University.
|
Louis
J. Daukas |
, Past
President, ’44 |
