April 28, 2001

Response of Peter J. Liacouras, Chancellor of Temple University, to Presentation of the "Russell Conwell Award" by the General Alumni Association of Temple University

I accept this award with humility ... and pride.

Humility is for the obvious reason that I don't deserve an award for doing my job, and because we all succeed only through the vision and works of others -- who usually remain under-appreciated and even taken-for-granted.

For me, the persons you are really honoring include:

My family, which nurtures and supports me even when I'm wrong: especially Ann, our children, grandchildren. Ann, Lisa and Jim Marshall are here tonight.

You are also honoring my teachers.

You honor my co-workers in the profound cause that we at Temple call the "Conwell" mission.

You honor my bosses over the years, a Board of Trustees of selfless persons the likes of which include Dick Fox, Howard Gittis and the others I have often thanked before.

So, this award is really theirs. Acceptance is the formality bestowed on me.

So, I am humbled.

But I am also proud to accept your award because it comes from you.

My love of Temple students -- you, who became Temple alumni -- is well-known. It began on my first day in my first class in August 1963, when a student responded to one of my assertions with: "How do you know that?" "The gall of that student," one might have expected me to think. But my reaction was quite the opposite: "the student is smart, curious, ambitious, street-wise, hard-working."

Having been at Yale, Harvard, Penn, Fletcher, Duke, Drexel and William & Mary for extended periods, this kind of direct challenge at Temple to a teacher was unusual if not downright shocking.

At Temple, it was the norm, and I loved the challenge. I have since visited scores and scores of colleges and universities around the nation and the world. Each has its own charm, the best have good missions, good students and faculty, and resources aplenty.

But I consider the Temple student and the Conwell mission to be special.

I've been really lucky and honored to devote the bulk of my professional life to something I really love -- to Temple University. In the process, I've gotten my own Temple education ... through our students, by our distinguished faculty, in countless arenas of exploration and give-and-take, ... and through Temple's legitimate diversity of people and ideas.

I consider my Temple education to be second to none. And so, with pride in being your partner all these years in pursuit of Russell Conwell's dream,...

With happiness in being able to share with you another evening honoring our Founder by recognizing the contributions of outstanding alumni and friends,...and

In support of our outstanding new President David Adamany who will lead us to even greater heights ...

I say: Thank you, Temple!

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