1964–65 Volume 89 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

RON'ORED GUEST Ralph J. Cordiner, Whitman '22, at the rostrum as he received standing ovation at WashingtohBeta's Founders Day-Fiftieth Anniversary dinner. The retired chief executive oificer of General Electric was thefeatured speaker at the late May affair. In background are Whitman President Louis B. Perry, Virgil Bennington,Whitman '13, master of ceremonies, and Donald M. DuShane, Survey Commission Chairman, who riqiresented'theGeneral Council.WHITMAN PHIS HONOR CORDINERRetired G.E. Head Feted at Founders Day DinnerWashington Beta's 50th AnniversaryA"HOMETOWN BOY" whose business careerbegan while a student at WhitmanCollege, and eventually carried him to the topof the nation's business world, was feted at specialFounders Day activities in May.The occasion was celebration of the 50thanniversary of the Washington Beta chapter of* A 9 at Whitman College. The honored guestand principal speaker was Ralph J. Cordiner(Whitman '22), recently retired chief executiveofficer of General Electric Company.Nearly two hundred members of the Whitmanundergraduate chapter and of the WallaWalla Alumni Club attended the banquet inthe city's Marcus Whitman Hotel.Also honored were two Phis who were inductedinto the Golden Legion—William BertramDingle, Sr. (Idaho '17) of Dayton, Washingtonand LaVeme Van Marter (Oregon '14)of Heppner, Oregon.[8]ObservingBrother Cordiner, who came from the EastCoast to attend the banquet, to visit friends,and to look over the campus at his leisure, paidtribute to his alma mater and Fraternity andto individuals who had helped him in earlylife. He also mentioned what he termed our"system of competitive enterprise," a more realisticterm than "free enterprise" as it is mostcommonly known.Mr. Cordiner began his employment with thePacific Power and Light Company in WallaWalla while a senior at Whitman College. Heserved 27 years with General Electric, thirteenof them as chief executive officer.Just prior to his visit to the college and attendanceat the banquet, the General ElectricCompany made a gift of $500,000 to Whitmanin recognition of Cordiner's service.He has also been a substantial contributor tohis alma mater himself, regularly has at-