>> Dr. Gary, thank
you for that kind introduction.
Dr. Jahanian, Carnegie Mellon graduates,
your family and loved ones and
fellow honorary degree recipients.
I find today's underlying theme,
embracing possibilities in one's life
and career to be right on point.
Possibility of bounds
at Carnegie Mellon University.
My life's experience may
well be proof of that.
I recall a question from
a junior high school grade advisor
about my ambitions.
I blurted a spontaneous answer
to his unexpected question.
Replying that it was my plan
to own a record store.
I recall that moment with clarity.
Perhaps my declared ambition
had its beginning with
a wind-up spring model Victorola,
very much like the one you
see in the backroom as I'm speaking.
Turntables driven by electric motors
were introduced in 1930,
but I didn't have access to that innovation.
Instead, I repeatedly wound
the machine and listen to
the explosive voice of
our Enrico Caruso singing
his famed aria from Pagliacci,
Vesti La Gubbia on the Victor Records label,
the predecessor to RCA Victor.
I arrived at Carnegie Institute
of Technology in 1951,
enrolled in the school
of Printing Management,
an adjunct to the School of Engineering with
the intention of framing
a career in the printing trades.
I receive the promised
education that provided
introduction to all aspects
of the printing industry.
However, my personal awakening
came when I looked across
the campus to
an architecturally compelling building
that houses the School of Fine Arts.
There was the home of
the already formidable Drama Department,
the School of Painting and Design,
the School of Architecture and
remember that record store,
the School of Music.
I formed friendships which
students from all of
these disciplines and the true wonder
of Carnegie came into view. Here's how.
My junior and senior years,
I became attracted to
the on-campus Playhouse, Scotch 'n soda.
For two years, I designed, printed,
and distributed
the programs for their productions.
Concurrently, an
inspiring professor of English,
Irwin Steinberg imagined a program for
the newly launched
Public Broadcasting System,
WQED Pittsburgh.
He called it the novel and modern living.
He assembled the cast for
the weekly discussion of great novels.
The show would be highlighted by vignettes
performed by then drama student Barbara Hall,
later be known as Barbara Feldon, and
her starring role in
the TV series, Get Smart.
Frank Gorshin,
another drama student who went on to play
the part of the Riddler
in the first Batman movie.
My fraternity roommate,
Dan Haberman also went to printing school,
became a Shakespeare scholar
while at Carnegie
and went on to become
Poet Laureate of New York.
I was the fourth player during
the weekly live on camera book review.
Professor Steinberg should have
become a casting director.
After the show, which ran for two seasons,
we would retire to the Pittsburgh Playhouse,
where our fans would call
in to comment on the evening show.
We really did have fans.
I saw the piece of me I didn't know existed.
This was Carnegie Mellon at its very best.
From 1955, the year of
my graduation, engagement with
the university has been
central theme of my life,
earning my time and charity.
The association is the renewable ticket.
Let us embrace, offers opportunities that
need only be recognized to give them life.
It's with gratitude for our president
Farnam Jahanian, Dan Martin,
Dean of the School of Fine Arts
and the exceptional leaders of
this university that I
accept this award while extending
sincere congratulations to all
of today's graduates and their families.
At Carnegie Mellon University,
everything is Possible. Thank you.