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Volume 12, Number 2
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
May, 1969
ALUMNUS, OVERSEER WILL BE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
May 31 Exercise First of Kind In Crummer
Hall; 39 Graduates Receiving J. D. Degrees
Crummer Hall auditorium is ready for its first commencement. Dedicated only
two short months ago, it has been designated the site of College of Law graduation exercises, Saturday, May 31.
This new facility supersedes as a convocation center the colorful and historic
Great Hall of the original complex of campus buildings. "The old order changeth,"
and spaciousness, superior lighting and
a commission in the United States Naval
Reserve.
With Justice Department
Separated from active duty with the
rank of lieutenant commander, Mr. Un-
derhill continued in government service
with the United Stafes Department of
Justice in Washington, D. C. During the
next six years he served the department
in many capacities — Special Attorney,
Alien Property Section, Claims Division
— Special Attorney, Veterans Affairs
Section — Special Assistant to the Attorney General — First Assistant to the
Assistant Attorney General in charge of
the Antitrust Division — Acting Assistant
Attorney General—Acting Deputy Attorney General — and Assistant Attorney General in Charge of Lands
Division — to mention a few.
Floridian At Heart
In 1952 Mr. Underhill was admitted to
the District of Columbia Bar, and since
that time he has built up a large general
practice both in Washington and in De-
Land. While his career of public service
has been confined largely to activities
in the Nation's capital, his record of
community service in his native state is
ample tesfimony that he remains a Floridian at heart. His interest in education
is manifested by his membership on the
Board of Overseers of the College of
Law and on the Board of Trustees of St.
Leo College. A supporter of charitable
and philanthropic enterprises, he is a trustee of the Fish Memorial Hospital, De-
Land. He has served his state at large
as a member of the Florida Council of
100. Mr. Underhill is a past president of
the Florida Chamber of Commerce and
WILLIAM AMORY UNDERHILL
acoustic design have triumphed over a
relic of a proud past.
The public ceremonies will begin
promptly at 9:30 a.m., when the academic procession of faculty, overseers,
trustees, honored guests and thirty-nine
graduating seniors file across the inner
court between Dana and Crummer Halls,
through the rear entrance and down the
long aisle of the auditorium, to take
seats on or in front of the dais.
Underhill To Be Honored
William Amory Underhill, LL.B., Stetson, '36, a member of the Board of
Overseers of the College of Law, will
deliver the commencement address and
receive an honor commensurate to his
record of public service.
The distinguished speaker, a native
Floridian — he first saw the light of day
in Basinger, Florida — practiced law in
DeLand from the time of his graduation
from Stetson College of Law until shortly
after "Pearl Harbor", when he accepted
a past vice-president of the Florida State
Junior Chamber of Commerce, an Elk,
a Mason (K. T.) and a member of the
Military Order of World Wars.
A Dedicated Overseer
Like so many men of conspicuous
ability, Mr. Underhill has been persuaded to associate his name with many
causes and activities; but unlike so many
men to whom honors come easily, he
has never associated himself with any
cause or activity in which he has not
wholeheartedly participated. He is one
of the most dedicated members of the
College's Board of Overseers, and
though the notices of meetings usually
reach him in his K Street Office in
Washington, 1200 miles away, his record
of attendance over the years has been
nearly perfect. His assistance in helping
the College of Law prepare its program
dedicating the Crummer Classroom
Building and Eleanor Naylor Dana Hall,
March 15, went well beyond the call of
duty. He has made many friends for
Stetson, but none is more dedicated
than he.
Graduation Dinner
A dinner honoring graduating seniors
will be held in the Great Hall, Friday
evening, May 30. As master of ceremonies, Dean Richard Dillon will announce the members of the graduating
class who have distinguished themselves
by scholarship, and recognize all Colleae
of Law students who have won competitive prizes and awards this semester or
participated significantly in student
activities.
For list of graduates, See Page 6.
FIFTY YEAR MEMBERS
Three members of the Class of 1919,
Stetson College of Law, will be honored
this week by the Florida Bar at its 19th
Annual Convention in Hollywood. They
are Harry Katz, Jacksonville; Thomas
B. Dowda, Palatka; and John M. Mur-
rell, Miami. All three have been members of the legal profession 50 years,
having been admitted to the Bar the
year of their graduation from law school.
