1997 CITATIONS TOWNSEND HARRIS MEDALS

Henry Wittenberg'40E

City College's only Olympic Gold and Silver Medallist Henry Wittenberg is one of our nation's greatest wrestlers. He won 400 consecutive matches between 1938 and 1952 and was the Amateur Athletics Union's national champion eight times.

Mr. Wittenberg achieved his Olympic Gold Medal victory in London in 1948 under adverse circumstances. In the match preceding his triumph. Mr. Wittenberg suffered severe tearing of muscle tendons in his chest. The coach almost pulled him out but CCNY's champion insisted on going for the gold--and got it. He received a hero's welcome when Henry Wittenberg Day was declared in the Bronx. In 1952 Mr. Wittenberg won the Silver Medal at the Helsinki Olympics. In 1959 he led the first American team to visit the Soviet Union on a cultural exchange program. And in 1968, he was coach to the U.S. Olympic wrestling team in Mexico City.  Henry' Wittenberg did not think of himself as athletic when he arrived at City College but Joe Sapora, then coach of City's well known intercollegiate wrestling team recognized his talent and became his mentor.

Mr. Wittenberg earned a master's degree in health education at Columbia University’s Teachers College. He later became a New York City Police Officer, won five commendations for bravery and was actively involved in building up the Police Sports Association.  He was also active in developing Israel's Maccabiah Games held every four years for Jewish athletes from around the world. At these Games, Mr. Wittenberg won two gold medals for wrestling and a silver medal for weightlifting.  He returned to Alma Mater from 1967-80 as the College's wrestling coach and also coached at Yeshiva University In addition, he wrote a best-selling book. "Isometric Exercises," which has been through five printings. Mir. Wittenberg was the first inductee to the CCNY Alumni Varsity Association Hall of Fame. He was elected to the National Wresting Hall of Fame and to the Jewish-American Sports Hall of Fame. His determination to persist against all obstacles to achieve his own personal best and the best performances from his students are an inspiration to us all. In you Henry Wittenberg Alma Mater has particular reason to rejoice.

Philip Scheffler '50

“60 Minutes,” the nation’s most watched news magazine, of which Philip Scheffler is executive editor, has set the standard for broadcast investigative journalism.  Since 1968, the program has been one of the nation’s top sources of information, delving with integrity into issues left untouched by the quick soundbites of ordinary newscasts.

As executive editor, Philip Scheffler plays a key role in determining what issues will be explored and in doing so influences what Americans will be discussing and acting upon.  Long years of training as a working journalist in the trenches prepared him for this important function

After leaving City College, where he was managing editor at Observation Post and president of the Student Council, he earned a master’s degree at Columbia University’s prestigious Graduate School of Journalism, which, in 1981, presented him with the Alumni Award for distinguished contributions to journalism.

In 1951, Mr. Scheffler began his lifetime career with CBS as a writer, reporter and editor with the “CBS Evening News.”  He went on to become a reporter and associate producer of the award winning weekly program, “Eyewitness.”  In 1964, Mr. Scheffler became a producer of documentary and special news broadcasts, including “CBS Reports.”  He produced more than 100 such broadcasts, many of which remain etched in our national memory.  As producer of “60 Minutes” when it became a weekly series in 1971, he covered such diverse areas as politics and government, medicine, social issues, law and military affairs before being appointed senior producer in 1980 and executive editor in 1996.  Over the years, he has reported from all but three states in our country and from over 50 foreign countries, including Vietnam where he carried out six assignments.  His broadcasts have received Emmys, Peabody and Columbia-du Pont Awards, and awards from the National Education Association and the University of Missouri.  As the many viewers of “60 Minutes” can readily see, Mr. Scheffler has carried out journalist’s mission-seeking out and conveying the truth by shining the light of day on information our democracy needs to stay alive.  In you, Philip Scheffler Alma Mater has particular reason to rejoice.

Josh S. Weston ‘50

In his 27 years in senior positions at Automatic Data Processing, Inc., Josh S. Weston has guided that company’s growth in revenues from $40 million to $4 billion dollars.  He became chairman of the board and chief executive office of the company in 1982.  ADP has over 30,000 employees.

Mr. Weston actively leads other enterprises as well.  He is research chairman of the Committee for Economic Development and is chairman of the Yeshiva University Business School.  He formerly chaired the New Jersey Business Partnership and is vice chairman of the Tri-State United Way.  He serves on the board of directors of five major corporations—J. Crew, Olsten, Public Service Enterprise Group, Shared Medical Systems and the Vanstar Corporation

Mr. Weston also devotes much time to public service, as a member of the boards of the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey, the Liberty Science Center, the National Conference of Christians and Jews and as Chairman of the Board of Boys Town of Jerusalem. Over the years, he has also served on the boards of the National Bureau of Economic Research, of the Rutgers Graduate School of Management the Montclair State University Business School, the New Jersey Quality Education Commission and of Haifa University. His cultural and philanthropic interests led him to become an active board member for the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, WNET-TV (Channel 13), the I Have a Dream Foundation and the Montclair Art Museum, Mr. Weston received the early training which paved the way to his business success as an economics major at CCNY.  He received a master's degree as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of New Zealand. The eclectic nature of his accomplishments has led to his receiving honorary doctorates in law from Fairleigh Dickinson University, in humane letters from Montclair State University and in engineering from the Stevens Institute of Technology. His enormous corporate success, coupled with his activism in the business, educational. philanthropic and cultural communities embody the ideal of today's enlightened executive whose success is a springboard to service. In you Josh Weston, Alma Mater has particular reason to rejoice.

Eleanor Baum '59EE

A nationally prominent leader in engineering education and research, Dr. Eleanor Baum is a scientist a writer, a speaker and an activist seeking to recruit and retain women and minorities in the engineering profession.  She is Dean of Engineering at The Cooper Union and Executive Director of the Cooper Union Research Foundation.  An electrical engineer by training Dr. Baum has worked in the aerospace industry and consults for government and industry.  She is a director of Allegheny Power Systems. Inc., the United States Trust Company and of Avnet Corporation.  Dr. Baum is president of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, past president of the American Society of Engineering Education and past-chair of the National Engineering Deans Council. She serves as vice chair of the Board Governors of the New York Academy of Sciences and is a member of the National Research Council Board on Engineering Education and of the Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems. She has been a member of the Advisory Committee of the National Science Foundation's Engineering Directorate, has chaired the Committee of Examiners for the Graduate Record Examination, and served on the Board of Governors of the Order of the Engineer.  Dr. Baum is a commissioner of the Engineering Workforce Commission and a member of the Competitiveness Policy Council.  Her work extends to the international level. She was involved in National Science Foundation efforts to explore areas of cooperation with universities in former Soviet Republics, belonged to a taskforce focusing on mutual recognition of credentials between our nation and China and to another on engineering education work with Japan.  She holds a Ph.D. from Polytechnic University plus honorary doctorates from Notre Dame University, Union College and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Her most recent honor is the Institute of Electrical Engineers' Gruenwald Award. She was founding inductee in the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame.  In her efforts to further access and excellence in her field she has carried City College's twin goals worldwide. In you Eleanor Baum, Alma Mater has particular reason to rejoice.

Charles DeLisi '63

Charles DeLisi initiated the Human Genome Project, widely considered the most important biomedical project of this century.  The Project in which scientists are gradually drawing a “map” of the entire human genetic structure, has the potential to lead to revolutionary changes in our knowledge of human health and to the potential cure of many diseases.

In 1985 as Director of the United States Department of Energy's Health and Environmental Research Programs and before that as a senior scientist at one of the world's most important research centers the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. Maryland, Dr. DeLisi developed the early blue print for the project. In a book ”The Gene Wars: Science Politics and the Human Genome."  R. Cooke Deegan says that Dr. DeLisi "thrust the Human Genome Project in to the public agenda," and forced the federal government into action. This year. Dr. DeLisi received the United States Department of Energy's Exceptional Service Award for this work.

In his position with the Department of Energy, Dr. DeLisi set national science policy in health and environmental area.  Ten years ago, he returned to the academic world, first as Professor and Chairman of Mount Sinai School of Medicine’s Department of Biomedical Sciences and Professor of Biomedical Science at the City University of New York Graduate School.  For the past seven years, Dr. DeLisi has been Dean of the College of Engineering and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University, where he has completely transformed the College of Engineering.  His nationwide reputation allowed him to recruit faculty who had held full professorships and endowed chairs at the nation’s leading universities, including Berkeley, Princeton and Columbia.  External research funding at the College of Engineering has more than tripled and the school was catapulted to national prominence.  Throughout this time, Dr. DeLisi continued to publish scientific papers, formed a biotech company and remained an advisor to the federal government.

The number of lives, which will be saved and improved thanks to his work, are beyond measure and beyond our current imaginations.  In you, Charles DeLisi, Alma Mater has particular reason to rejoice.

Alan Hantman '65, '66Arch, 79MUP

As Architect of the Capitol, Alan Hantman is entrusted with the preservation of the buildings that symbolize American democracy to the world - the Capitol, six Congressional Office buildings, the Supreme Court, three Library of Congress buildings, the Federal Judiciary Building and the United States Botanic Garden, among others. He was appointed to this important position by President Bill Clinton this year and confirmed by the Senate after an almost two-year long national search, In announcing Mr. Hantman's appointment, the White House said, "the face of Capitol Hill, the Botanic Gardens and, in fact all of the District of Columbia are affected."  His distinguished position calls for him to sit on the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, among many other key advisory boards.  Prior to his presidential appointment, Mr. Hantman devoted 10 years to preserving another of our nation's icons, Rockefeller Center.  Thanks to his work as Vice President of Facilities, Planning and Architecture, this oasis in busy Manhattan retained its beauty and charm, its beloved landmark facades, famed skating rink and overall art and architecture.  He had to pay attention to details most of us never think of, such as the re-gilding of the gold statue of Prometheus.  Addressing the Senate, Mr. Hantman noted that both the Capitol and Rockefeller Center “are part of a larger community and are inextricably tied to their communities’ well-being.  Both welcome millions of visitors each year and require that security considerations be sensitively integrated.  Both have large staffs at all levels who work behind the scenes to maintain the rhythm and quality of day-to-day operations.  One of these complexes is the heart of a city, the other the heart of a nation.”  The New York Society of Architects presented him with the Sidney L. Strauss Award and our own Education Alumni named him 1996 Business Educator of the Year.  Mr. Hantman has lectured on Rockefeller Center in many forums, including CCNY.  In protecting and preserving our nation’s Capitol Hill treasures, he protects and preserves our irreplaceable heritage.  In you, Alan Hantman, Alma Mater has particular reason to rejoice.

Alan S. Gordon '66

As East Coast executive director of the Directors Guild of America the labor union representing film and television directors, and as counsel to the Artists Rights Foundation, Alan Gordon is one of the leading advocates for our nation's creative community and for the preservation of our cinematic heritage. As the Guild's chief federal lobbyist, he worked to create the National Film Preservation Act and spearheaded efforts to have Congress complete the labeling of films and videotapes altered without the creative authors' consent.  As counsel to the Artists Rights Foundation, whose executive vice presidents are directors George Lucas, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, Mr. Gordon conducts litigation on behalf of directors, writers and cinematographers around the world. A key goal is to fight unauthorized studio alteration of creative work. In our computer age the danger of such tampering is greater than ever.  Mr. Gordon has been a leading figure in fostering the current renaissance in film production in our town. Under his guidance, the Directors Guild works closely with the Mayor's Office of Film and Television, the Governors' Film Office and the New York Production Initiative. He actively encourages the directing efforts of women and of members of minority groups in order to assure greater diversity in that field.  Mr. Gordon holds a law degree from Syracuse University. He began his career by representing the New York State Supreme Court's Appellate Division in dealing with involuntary hospitalization of psychiatric patients. He then worked as an attorney for the Textile Workers Union and represented J.P. Stevens plant workers in their struggle for unionization. This successful battle was dramatized in the feature film Norma Rae.  Mr. Gordon volunteers much time at White Plains Hospital as a patient rights advocate, as an emergency room triage ombudsman and as legal advisor to the Volunteer Services Department. He also does volunteer work for the American Heart Association.  Through his efforts on behalf of artistic freedom in the creation of motion pictures seen here and abroad, Mr. Gordon has influenced the lives of millions. In you, Alan Gordon, Alma Mater has particular reason to rejoice.