National Alumni Association

The St. Paul’s National Alumni Association began as The St. Paul’s League of Greater New York. History shows this beginning occurring between the years 1908 and 1910. The Reverend Mr. N. Peterson Boyd was the first National President. Reverend John T. Ogburn became the next National President in 1911.

Other National Alumni Chapters, including Brunswick County, Philadelphia,Washington, D.C., Richmond, Portsmouth, Norfolk, continued to form around the country.

The Annual Alumni meetings were held on the college campus for many years. The dedicated and loyal alumni were instrumental in challenging alumni members in other areas to establish local chapters and to participate fully in the support of the Alma Mater.

Over the succeeding years, the Association grew significantly. The Annual Meeting became an important activity. Alumni came from far and near to have a voice in the affairs of the Association and its relationship with the college. The College consisted of the Normal School, the High School, and the Trade School.

With the growth of the Association and an increase in the participation of the Alumni in the Annual Meeting, it became increasingly more difficult for all of the business matters to be addressed in the course of the day. For many years, the Annual Meeting would convene at 8:30 a.m. and adjourn sometimes at 8:00 p.m. Often, all of the important business had not been addressed. For several years before 1945, there were discussions of holding another meeting before the annual meeting so that more business could be addressed, thereby enhancing the functioning of the organization. There were pros and cons to this particular suggestion. Often, tempers would flare, and issues of importance were tabled or not addressed at all, due to the lengthy agenda that was presented at those meetings.

Finally, in 1945, under the leadership of Mr. John Graves, President of the National Alumni Association at that time, the Association voted at its Annual Meeting to establish the Mid-Winter Meeting, to be hosted by the New York Chapter in February 1946. The Constitution and By-Laws were amended to reflect this additional meeting. Ostensibly, it was approved as a method to enhance the conduct of business of the National Alumni Association. It would minimize the pressure of the Annual Meeting by having many issues and problems addressed and resolved before Commencement Weekend.

We can attribute the establishment of the Mid-Winter Meeting to the leadership of Mr. John Graves and Dr. William H. Whitehurst, Senior, Alumni Coordinator for St. Paul’s College. The success of the Mid-Winter Meetings over the years attests to the vision and faith of these individuals. Other individuals played important roles in helping the Association to realize this goal.

Submitted by William H. Whitehurst, Jr.

August 10, 1996