Presentation to Mr. Floyd W. Alston
121st Commencement Exercises
May 22, 2008
The Liacouras Center
Today we have the privilege of renewing a Temple University tradition by awarding an honorary degree to a person whose values and accomplishments exemplify the university’s mission and ideals. Temple has awarded more than 850 honorary degrees in its 124-year history; today we will award the first in many years as part of our Commencement exercises.
Mr. Floyd Alston, will you please come forward. Chairman Polett and Trustee James White will you please assist with the hooding ceremony.
Mr. Floyd W. Alston is a business visionary, a neighborhood developer and community servant whose accomplishments have made a difference in the daily lives of Philadelphians, especially those who live and work in this community.
His career has been highlighted by outstanding achievements as founding president of the Beech Corp., now Beech Interplex. He brought together business, government and non-profit entities to revitalize the Cecil B. Moore neighborhood adjacent to Temple’s Main Campus, which had experienced a period of economic decline. His efforts and partnership with Temple brought new investment to this community, resulting in more than $200 million in private development, including new retail shops, restaurants and office space in the surrounding neighborhoods.
For these outstanding achievements, as well as his many years of service as a civic leader, we honor Floyd W. Alston.
(As Dr. Hart confers degree, Chairman Polett and Trustee White place academic regalia around Mr. Alston):
By the authority vested in me on behalf of the Board of Trustees, I confer upon you, Floyd W. Alston, the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, with all the rights, honors, and privileges pertaining thereto.
(Applause)
Congratulations.
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