2009 Honorary Degree Luncheon
Wabash President Pat White offers a toast to honorary degree recipients
Rev. Edward "Monk" Malloy, Clay Robbins ’79, and Max Servies ’58.
"With character and dignity, you serve as exemplars to all of us,
especially to the young men who receive degrees with you today. We
commend your careers and service and what you have accomplished; even
more, we praise who you are. Gentlemen, we salute you."
Rev. Edward A. "Monk" Malloy: "I have studied a little bit about the
history of this institution, and I could see that there was a grand dream
early on. But to see what that original dream has led to—the academic
recognition that dream has led to through the years, the building up of
the endowment, the focus on a particular kind of education and educational
tradition, and sending off generation after generation people of great
leadership capacity in every walk of life—that’s something to be proud of.
"I’m proud now to be a graduate of Wabash College. I’ll tell the story of the outstanding quality of the education that’s available here and the great sense of tradition you share."
"I’m proud now to be a graduate of Wabash College. I’ll tell the story of the outstanding quality of the education that’s available here and the great sense of tradition you share."
Clay Robbins ’79, president of Lilly Endowment, Inc.: "[Wabash has] given
me a sense of belonging to a community of men and some extraordinary women
who think deeply and critically reflectively about the world and about
life. I have the opportunity in my work to engage with people from
government, business, and the non-profit sector, and I can tell when
Wabash men and people like them are involved in the conversation. They
understand the larger context of the issues, they don’t just look at them
from an ideological perspective.
"I know that approach is not formed only in the classroom. It’s formed because
of the engagement that Wabash students have with faculty, with other
students, and with the alumni who come back here and engage with the
students."
Max Servies ’58: "For the past 55 years I’ve had the privilege of working
with and for gentlemen of giant hearts. This honor is not about me, but
the outstanding staff people and coworkers and administrators with whom
I’ve worked and who have such great dedication.
"I give thanks to our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ for everything
they have done for me and for Wabash College all this time. And thank you
to my friends, family, and colleagues for always being there."