HBS’s Oldest Class Secretary
Cole in 1949
Let’s hear it for HBS’s oldest class secretary, Charlie Cole, who will turn 100 on July 23. Charlie writes about the AMP 14 class, which graduated in December 1948, 96 members strong, and now has 6 hardy souls. The 1949 Annual Report yearbook reported details about the class: its average age was 43, its average salary was $18,000 (an indicator, the yearbook wrote, of the very responsible positions these men — including 7 presidents and 11 VPs — held in their companies). About 9 percent of the class came to AMP from the armed forces, 13 percent from the food industry, and 25 percent from the petroleum industry. Charlie was among the last group, for he was manager of Standard Oil’s Everett, Massachusetts, refinery when he attended HBS. He worked a total of 36 years for affiliates of Standard Oil and the last 15 years, before he retired in 1965, for the Creole Petroleum Corp. in Caracas, Venezuela. At retirement, Charlie said that he and his wife intended to do a lot of traveling, and they did so, cruising to the Mediterranean, the Orient, and the North Cape of Scandinavia. They lived in Lighthouse Point, Florida, and summered on Cape Cod.
Until 1966, AMP 14’s class secretary was John McCambridge of American Can Co., but later notes for the class were sporadic and anonymous, inserted by the Alumni Relations Office, until Charlie volunteered in 2001. His most recent notes appeared in the December 2007 Bulletin: “I lost Charlotte five years ago, sold our home, and moved into Classic Residence by Hyatt. After fracturing my hip in a fall, I trained up using a walker and a wheelchair when long distances require them and have a part-time nurse's aide. My 4 children, 12 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren keep me in good cheer, and my many friends living here are interesting and very cosmopolitan and keep my spirits high. I spent 36 years with what is now Exxon Mobil, the last 15 years in Venezuela, where I served as mgr. of its refining operations. My time at AMP was a treasure in developing my career and enriching my many retirement years and helped in my contribution to society.”
Your Comments
This was really interesting. I wish Charlie well and hope Keith will continue these "blogs" about unusual aluma.
Would that we could all be so blessed. What an inspiration is Charlie Cole. Thanks Keith, for compiling this insight, and good wishes to Charlie as we try to emulate his fine spirit and enlightened take on humanity.
Dear Charlie,
First my warm good wishes that you may complete 100 years on this wonderful planet!
You are a source of inspiration to all Class Secretaries!It is wonderful to see your indominatable spirit shining through Keith's blog.
May the good Lord bless and protect you.
With admiration, Roda
Keith - A great article on Charlie Cole - with which I can empathize - both because of being a Class Secretary and because the late father of my late first wife (Herb Mayers) also worked in Creole at about the time Charlie did and they may well have known one another. Thanks for the taste of tradition!
Cheers,
John C. Cooper
Congratulations to Charlie Cole.
I thought you were going to write about Gorham Brigham whom I think - but am not sure - has been the MBA Class of 1939's sole secretary all these years thus setting a record not likely to be equaled or matched.