Company, Marcus Hook, N.J., as a chemical engineer. He was president and general manager
of his own company, Reynolds Chemical Company in Utica, N.Y., from 1926 until he sold it to
Heyden Chemical Corporation in 1930. He joined the managerial staff of Heyden as vice
president and remained there until 1944 when he joined Merck and Company. He was
promoted to vice president of engineering and purchasing in March 1947. Active in the alumni
association, even serving as chairman of the Clarkson Alumni Research Committee, he became
chairman of Clarkson's Board of Trustees from 1960 until his death in 1961.
Advanced Degrees
. Clarkson awarded 16 master's degrees, twice as many as in any previous
year, and 245 bachelor's. The Board authorized PhD programs in chemistry and chemical
engineering to begin in the fall of 1961, and a BS degree in mathematics.
Distinguished Teaching Award
. Begun originally in 1960 as the Excellent Teaching Award,
this was a College step to recognize its excellent teachers by having the alumni vote on whom
they felt were Clarkson's best teachers. Professor William Lowe, former professor of military
science and tactics in the ROTC department and then professor of Liberal Studies, was the first
one chosen.
In subsequent years, Professor John Adams, electrical engineering, won in 1961;
Professor John Perry, mathematics, in 1962; and Professor Melvin Backman, liberal studies, in
1963. After Professor Andrew Ormsby was awarded it in 1964, the award was discontinued.
Not until 1970, when Professor Joseph Scaturro, director of the Industrial Distribution
program, was honored, did the award continue under a new title: the Distinguished Teaching
Award. With its winners selected by a committee appointed by the Faculty Senate, this new
award is presented at Commencement ceremonies. Selection is based on nominations and
supporting statements made by eligible alumni, those who have been graduated for three years.
Thus, the first award was made by members of the Class of 1965. (See Appendix III for the
complete list of winners.)
Frank Cubley
. A member of Clarkson's Board of Trustees from 1907 to 1960, Frank practiced
law in Potsdam following his admission to the bar in 1899. Serving the Board as treasurer in
1908 and 1909, Cubley was the first new addition to Clarkson's original Board. He served as
vice president and chairman of the executive committee of the Board from 1946 to 1960.
Clarkson honored him with the honorary degree of doctor of science in 1946.
Born in Massena on October 15, 1870, he moved to Potsdam in 1888. He graduated
from Potsdam Normal School in 1892 and the University of Rochester in 1897. At Rochester he
was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was a member of Psi Upsilon social fraternity. He became a
director of the Citizen's National Bank in 1902, and served as its president from 1932 to 1942.
Active in civic and philanthropic movements, Cubley served as president of the Board of
Education of Potsdam from 1904 to 1934. He was a trustee of the Auburn Seminary and
president of the board of trustees of the Central New York Hospital Service Corporation, and
held numerous other offices until his death in 1960. One wing of the hill dormitory is named for
him.
Sleigh Ride
. Eight Clarkson students took a 300-mile sleigh ride from Buffalo to Potsdam
beginning January 28, 1960, in conjunction with the 1960 Ice Carnival. Plans called for a horse
