Albany College of Pharmacy - Alembic Yearbook (Albany, NY)

Page 7 text:

Dr. Francis J. O’Brien, Dean 6

Page 6 text:

 It is with considerable pride and pleasure that we, the Class of 1955 dedicate our yearbook to Claude L. Reed, Professor of Chemistry. Few individuals have given so wholeheartedly and unselfishly of their time, energy and ability to ensure adequate student education. A man of varied background, including strong founda- tions in Pharmacy, as well as Chemistry, Professor Reed skillfully drew on a vast fund of practical as well as theoretical knowledge in his teaching sessions. That he has been success- ful in imparting a portion of this to us is evident in the records of our graduates. Most of us will remember Prof. Reed as we see him every day, surrounded by an ever increasing volume of work, but never too busy when students were concerned, to pause for a moment, smile, joke a bit, or clarify some problem. There are few of us who have not sought his advice at one time or another. A teacher cannot receive a higher tribute. Claude Reed was born in Jefferson, New York, in 1911. Upon graduation from Jefferson High School he immediately entered Albany College of Pharmacy. After graduating in 1932 with his Ph.C. degree he was employed in a drug store in Stanford for a year. In 1935 he graduated from Albany State with a B.A. degree and immediately started teaching at Albany College of Pharmacy. He obtained his M.A. in 1940 from State. In 1949 he married the former Rachael Sawyer and they now reside in Albany. THIS yEAKCCCi;

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To the Class of 1955, I wish to express the sincere congratulations of the Faculty and to extend to each of you our cordial welcome to the Commencement of your career as a Pharmacist. You were endowed by your Creator with certain natural rights. To these were added the gifts of a body and mind capable ol accepting the opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and techniques to assume your place in society as a professional man or woman. This great honor firings great responsibility and with it the necessity of accepting a code of conduct which will distinguish you from those less favored with either the natural ability or strength of purpose, or who, in some rare instances were unable to reach an avenue of opportunity for one reason or another. Primarily it is expected that you will use your knowledge and skill to assist those who need your help and that you will do it gladly and willingly and with human understanding and sympathy. It is also expected that you will be aware at all times of the latest advances in your profession so that your service to others will be the very best that can be offered. Yours is a tremendous responsibility that often will affect the very life of a human being. Whether a sick man dies or gets well may depend on the skill of the Medical Technologist who lias cross matched his blood with a possible donor or has accurately or inaccurately reported the result of an important diagnostic test. Or it may depend upon whether the pharmacist has exercised careful judgment in the selection of a drug of good quality which has been properly preserved and has dispensed it carefully and precisely to fill the prescription which may mean the life or death of the patient and the happiness or sorrow of his family. We of the Faculty hope that you will find joy in your work. We believe you will as you find your place among the ranks of scientific and professional men and women engaged in the production and distribution of that vast array of potent and life saving medicines that characterize today’s Materia Medica. The thrill of watch- ing a desperately ill patient regain his health and vigor may never be yours, but nevertheless you will be aware of it as you dispense and give the linal cheek to the drug that is to set the stage for his recovery. If you truly fulfill your obligation, your joy will come primarily from the service you rendered and not the pecuniary reward you earned. You will, of course, be obliged to be alert to the ever changing economic conditions of a modern world since these factors will be important to your profes- sional as well as your economic stability. But you can still be more interested in human lives than in material goods. And finally, may we express the hope that you will continue to be a credit to yourself and to your Alma Mater and that we shall have the privilege of meeting you many times in the years to come as colleagues and as members of those organiza- tions so particularly devoted to all that is best in our mutual profession. 7