Lycoming College Report, May 1984

              LYCOMING COLLEGE REPORT May 1984
Commencement '84: Board chairman honored
The chairman of Lycoming's Board of Trustees joined the
C lass ot 1«84 in receiving degrees at the 136th
commencement on May 6. The annual ceremony took
pla< e I >n the campus quadrangle and flag court under
sunny skies with temperatures in the high 60s,
Several thousand persons looked on as W, Gibbs
McKenney '37, chairman of the board since 1976, received
an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from
Lycoming President Dr. Frederick E. Blumer They also
saw 178 seniors receive their bachelor of arts degrees and
45 January and September graduates be recognized at
Lycoming's only graduation exercise annually.
McKenney, 71, a prominent Baltimore attorney, was
ciled for "renowned dedication to the practice of law, your
contributions to the literature of your profession, and your
many years of outstanding service to higher education."
A partner in the law firm of McKenney, Thomsen and
Burke, McKenney has been a Lycoming trustee since 1964.
f Us ( ontac t with Lycoming, however, dates back to the
school's days as the Dickinson Seminary.
McKenney went on from there to Dickinson College,
where he earned a bachelor of philosophy degree, and the
prestigious law school of the University of Virginia He
started his private practice in 1947, specializing in taxation,
corporate finance, and estates and trusts, McKenney has
proficient in these areas that he is listed in the
volume. The Best Lawyers in America/' as one of the
finest in these separate Fields of practice. He is the only
Maryland lawyer to appear in three categories.
The board chairman, who is retiring from the post on
July 1, also is the author and editor of a variety of
publications used widely by trust companies, the insurance
industry, hospitals, and colleges nationwide Among his
publications are the monthlv bulk-tin Taxes and Estates,"
circulated to more than 400.000 readers; The Educator. " a
bulletin used by colleges across the country; "Minimizing
Taxes," a quarterly bulletin for insurers; and The
Patron, ' a quarterly used by hospitals.
McKenney is a frequent lecturer at the American
University Tax Institute, the Mount Vernon College Tax
Institute and Southern Methodist University. He also
speaks of ten before trust conventions, seminars, estate
planning councils, tinance forums, and bar associations.
In addition to serving as a Lycoming trustee, McKenney
has served on the boards at Dickinson College, Goucher
College and Wesley Theological Seminary He is tin'
president ol the Kelso Home for Girls and a trustee for the
Franklin Square Hospital and foundation Hi- also has been
j dim tot ol Goodwill Industries, the Baltimore Civic
I Iperat ompany, the Baltimore Estate Planning Council,
and numerous Baltimore corporations.
McKenney is a director ol Equitable Bancorporalion
.iii.l i K.nrrnan of the trust committee ot the Equitable
Hank N A, in Baltimore. He is listed in Who's Who in the
World and Who's Who in Ami ru a
Honored as the summa cum laude graduate of the Class
of 1984 was Martha R Detwiler ot Williamsport. an
accounting major and wife ol another trustee, John T
Detwiler, Fifty-three other seniors graduated with magna
aim laude or cum loude honors, including It ffi
Beckstead ot Woxall, a physics and computer science
majoi who was No Zinthi
Pi Shirley V.in Marter, Dean of the College,
introduced the honor students and presented all ot the
graduates i"r their degrees, Pr. Blumer awarded all but six
of the diplomas Those he didn't present were handed to
six graduates by some very familiar faces — members ol
theii families who are Lycoming emj
ees taking advantage of the Lycoming custom
isurer William! Baker 57. who handed a
diploma to his daughter, Katherine: Larry R Strauser '59,
assistant professoi of criminal justice who gave a diploma
to his son, Ned, the Rev Jerry L, Eischeid, campus
minister whoawarded! .ih her degree;
Elizabeth C Cowles, Secretary m the career development
center, who got to hand out two diplomas, one to her son,
Russell and the other to her daughter. Kimberlv; and
Chairman of the Board W. Gibbs McKenney 37. poses with Lycoming President Dr. Frederick E. Blunter (left}. In the
photo on the right is Martha R Detwiler. of Williamsport . the summa cum laude graduate of the Class of 1964 Belowis
the assemblage gathered for the 136th graduation exercise.
Bemadint G Hileman. oltice services coordinator, who
performed the honor for her son. Rocky. In each instance,
this meant some instant hugs and kisses were spread
around.
After awarding the diplomas, Dr Blumer spent a few
minutes addressing the graduates And as he does each
vear. the President asked the new graduates to salute their
parents and other relatives and friends who supported and
sacrificed for them during their four years on campus.
Music tor commencement and the morning
baccalaureate service was provided by Lycoming's choir
and concert band. Organist Charles Kaufmann. a junior
music and religion major from lermyn, played a carillon
concert before commencement and played at the worship
service.
Speaker for the baccalaureate service was Father John J.
Tamalis, chaplain to Roman Catholic students on campus.
The very popular priest also prepared with John G.
Nugent 84. of New York City, and Brian P. Trava '84, of
Franklin Lakes, NJ. a slide presentation It was shown after
his sermon in the darkened Lamade Gymnasium in the
Physical Education and Recreation Center, where
baccalaureate was held. The slides were shown to the rune
of the popular song, "The Way We Were
After baccalaureate, luncheon was served in the Wertz
Student Center dining hall. Graduate-sand their families
were guests of Lycoming,
On the day before commencement, the gradual ins
seniors also were honored at a graduation reception in
Burchfield Lounge of the student center