At Reunion 2004, SAE presented Robert T. Dean '49
with the True Gentleman of New York Alpha Award.

A True Gentleman of New York Alpha

Robert T. Dean '49

Here follows the text of the speech honoring Bob Dean, given by Alumni Association President Kevin T. Merriman '88:

A year ago we, as a board, decided it was important to honor alumni who have made important contributions to industry, the professions, or in service of the fraternity; those whose lives exemplify the values and ideals of SAE, and it was decided that officers of the alumni association would, from time-to-time, honor a brother in this fashion.

But, having agreed that this was important, we struggled with the question of what to name the award, and what criteria should be used in determining who should be selected to receive such an honor.

The answer soon became obvious; the criteria could only be our creed, The True Gentleman, by John Walter Wayland, as that is the truest statement of what each of us as brothers of SAE strives to be in our own lives. It is worth reciting now, both as a reminder to us of the ideals it pronounces, and, for those who are not members of the fraternity, to provide a better understanding of what we are recognizing today.

The true gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe.
- John Walter Wayland

Thus, the True Gentleman Award. With these words in mind, it is befitting that our very first recipient of the True Gentleman Award is Bob Dean.

Bob could receive this award for many reasons, among them being:
- He graduated from Cornell's College of Engineering in '49
- He was a star football player, having lettered in '46, '47, and '48 as a back, punte,r and kicker.
- Bob set Cornell's all-time record for long plays, passing for a TD in a game with a 98-yard TD pass against Navy in '47.
- For these achievements, he was inducted into Cornell's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986.
- Bob has also been involved in many civic organizations, including as a trustee of the Village of Cayuga Heights, and as chairman of the Presbyterian Church.
- In addition, he is an accomplished businessman.

But while all of these accomplishments are certainly noteworthy, we honor Bob today as a True Gentleman because of his dedicated service to the fraternity.

At our lowest point in NY Alpha's long history at Cornell, fraternities were unpopular and membership was down considerably; so much so that it could not keep pace with its operating costs. This, in turn, led to borrowing, which led to substantial debt. By the late 1970s, the house was essentially bankrupt.

Bob Dean entered the picture, and spent many thankless years negotiating with CU to assume ownership and financial stewardship of the house and, at the same time, to preserve Hillcrest for generations of students to come.

Out of these negotiations came an unprecedented agreement; it resulted in a three-way relationship among the active brotherhood, the alumni assoc. and CU that set the framework for a partnership that has lasted two decades. It remains at the very heart of our organization. Indeed, we still operate today in accordance with its terms, which can be viewed on our website. Bob's tireless efforts built the foundation for a new beginning, a beginning that attracted new leadership and inspired new generations of actives, and continues to endure today.

Robert T. Dean '49

It is for this reason, Bob, that we honor you today. Thank you for your important contributions. Bob, you are a True Gentleman.

More on Bob Dean from the Spring 2004 New York Alpha News

Robert T. Dean graduated from the College of Engineering with a degree in electrical engineering in '49. He was also an outstanding football player and was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986. Bob is also a successful businessman and established Deanco, a limited line technical distributor in 1964. This June he will celebrate his 55th reunion.

Bob has also been involved in various civic activities including being a trustee of the Village of Cayuga Heights and past board chairman of the Presbyterian Church. He has also worked with the United Fund, was a board member of the Country Club of Ithaca, and has been involved in various local, state, and national organizations related to his business. By virtue of being a past chapter adviser, he is also a member of the New York Alpha alumni board.

Bob and his wife, Maxine (Indiana '45), live on the east shore of Cayuga Lake. They have four children, two of whom received degrees from Cornell University.

In football Bob excelled. He lettered in '46, '47, and '48 as a back, punter, and kicker. He won many games for the Big Red with his last-minute heroics. He set Cornell's all-time record for long plays, passing for a TD in a game with a 98-yard TD pass versus Navy in '47. That record still stands. He was named Cornell Sun Athlete of the Year for 1948-49.

What every New York Alpha brother should remember brother Dean for, however, was not played out on the football field. His unparalleled dedication and commitment to SAE in the late '70s and early '80s as chapter adviser were critical to our survival as a fraternity. Others gave up, but not Bob. The house was a mess both physically and financially and without help was sure to go under.

Bob personally shelled out money for repairs and operating capital. He worked tirelessly with the university on a plan to transfer ownership of Hillcrest to Cornell as a means of saving SAE and our rights to occupy Hillcrest. The result of his focused effort was the '85 agreement, which, to this day, serves as the operating platform between Cornell University, the active brothers in the chapter, and your alumni board.

Thank you, Bob, for all you did. You are a very special brother, The True Gentleman.

Bob Dean '49 receiving True Gentleman Award, with Charlie Kunken '05 looking on,
at awards ceremony during Reunion Weekend 2004.
(click image for enlargement)