“For the first 20 years of the college’s existence it was plagued with debt… always keeping the college afloat, sometimes on a wing and a prayer…Those pioneers were fearless and bold!” writes Professor Emeritus Dr. James Lightner, class of 1959, in the newly published college history by the same title. The book will be released at 1 p.m. on Homecoming Day at the hospitality tent.

Lightner, whose organizational abilities, meticulousness and talent for telling stories are well known, has always found history fascinating. During his student years, he wanted to learn about the College’s history and the people who shaped its destiny.

A few years after he retired from teaching mathematics in 1998, he was named college historian and has kept a small office in Hoover Library just several strides away from the College Archives. There, he pored over documents, including earlier written histories, minutes from trustee and faculty meetings, diaries, memoirs, scrapbooks, student newspapers and yearbooks. He conducted first-person interviews with senior alumni who shared memories of bygone years. His work researching and writing the book has consumed seven years, all given freely in service to McDaniel.

“It’s an excellent history that provides great insight into the magnitude and scope of our alma mater on its 140th anniversary,” says Donald Rembert, class of 1961 and chair of the WMC Heritage Society. Don and his wife, Judy Ellis ’60, along with Charlie ’71 and Carol Hoerichs ’70 Moore; William ’71 and Laura Westervelt; and George and Pat Benson made donations to underwrite the book’s production costs. 

At 728 pages, the book is a definitive, comprehensive reference; it’s also a good read that is rich with conflict, tragedy, humor and triumph. With an amazing 200-plus photographs, readers can trace the college’s growth from the days of Old Main to extending the education mission to Budapest, Hungary. Books are $25 and are available at the hospitality tent starting at 1 p.m. Oct. 27, or by calling the Alumni Relations office at 410-857-2296. Alumni may also go online and download an order form at www.mcdaniel.edu/collegehistory.

All proceeds from book sales will go toward student scholarships.