Olivet College - Oaks Yearbook (Olivet, MI)

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. . accepts a memorial of Dr. Mary Armstrong from Miss Josephine Austin. . .dictates a letter. -f-'Ss i t fi' A Qifrfwf' . . . chats with faculty members Hendrick, Mitchell and Boucher. Page 5

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4-:Tie-2 . K If w1'vq:sf:f 2 vt' 'fb J rv- AA.. AN OPE LETTER FROM THE PRE IDE T Dear Mr. Laffrey: Within the covers of this book are recounted some of the highlights of the year. The book is important to its readers both for what it reveals and for the fond memories which it inspires. As an alumnus of Olivet and as her President, I ask you to share with me a just pride in our Alma Mater. We may well be proud of her cherished traditions, of her purposes and direc- tion, of the famed Olivet Spirit, of her devotion to the laws of God and the rights of men, of her glorious victories and of her unbowed head above crushing defeats. Our pride is sea- soned with humility before the greatness of her forebears, before the grand achievements of her sons and daughters, before the patience of Almighty God with our failures and short- comings. Through the years you will have occasion to refer frequently to this issue as an estimable supplement to the recollection of happy years spent here. l hope that your reflections will grow in significance with the passing years and that your loyalty as a student will mature to even higher loyalty as an alumnus. Olivet has left its mark upon you, the significance of the mark which you have made has yetlto be determined. You may leave the Olivet campus, but the spirit of Olivet goes wit you. , My best wishes and congratulations. Sincerely yours , Gorton Riethmiller Page 4

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T Q s ,, WE PRCDUDLY , . . , . Q Y- N Q X-f DEDICATE THE Nsblnp t l l959 ISSLIE F -13.2 THE oAKs T0 JAMES NEWCOMER, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE A Newcomer in name but not in fact is Dean James Newcomer, academic Dean of the College, who leads a busy life as head of the faculty and as academic administrator of the College. In addition to these duties he teaches a course in creative writing. James William Newcomer was the youngest of three sons, father of whom was the local pharmacist. He was born and raised in Gibsonburg, Ohio, and attended public schools there. His years as an undergraduate student were spent at Kenyon College in Ohio. While a student at Kenyon College, 'm mm comer sang in the college choir, joined Beta Theta Pi, and was elected president of his class. He was -. -- - ' I e student newspaper and maintained an academic average which won him membership in Phi Beta Kapp maintained membershi is I - - enior Honor Society and the Literary Society. He was graduated fr -- Ken - ' with a major i - ' L - -I and A.B. - 1- L - and a teaching certif- lcate. The teaching of English led to pos ons as h - - - e English department at Elgi Academy ' d Junior College. and later as Dean of Hockaday Juni College at Da . s. This phase of his care waslnterrupted - service in the 3rd Army in Europe as officer in a - LTCR-eona-pa , 1' ' utenant. g ' Upon retriming from the - - he entered the U versi of Michigan ' ere hi 2,4 - 1 or yielded an M.A. degree. At the S ' A - 2 sity of Iowa Mr. wcomer : -- - - -- : r- - e degree which brought him the privileges a . - - sibili 'es of a Ph. D. de ee. English literature 'of the Restoration and 18th Century provided his field -- - r interes owever his Do ral Thesis was a novel, experimental in form, with each chapter an independent short story. Dr. Newcomer is a music lover. He plays the violin and the piano, and is particularly fond of symphonic works and violin concerti. And then there is his family: wife, Ruth Salisbury Newcomerg and three children---Jane, 11g Robert, 83 and Mary, 6 years old. At this time Dean Newcomer is engaged in an education survey under the auspices of the United States com- missioner of education, Earl J. McGrath. His assignment relates to study of exceptional schools of pharmacy where he confers with liberal arts deans and heads of departments and those of the pharmacy schools. He is also making 1 a study of agricultural and business administrations at state universities through catalogue analyses. Page 6