Nu Alpha Phi Welcomes Lee Harlan '55 #147 ! !

Harlan

He attended Pomona College for four years, is an avid reader and correspondent to the Oak Leaf, and has been Alumni Relations Director since 1969. So how is it that after all this time Lee Harlan '55 has somehow managed to avoid becoming a Nappie? He certainly has all the characteristics: an open and friendly nature, a dedication to service, and an abiding affection for the College and its traditions. And that's not all; almost from the start of his term as Alumni Chief in 1969 Lee has been ready with a helping hand and the resources of the Alumni Office whenever the Nappie Network called for one.

Sensing that such a true friend must be recognized as a brother, the Alumni of Nu Alpha Phi sought to make up for this long standing oversight and officially inducted Lee into the Roster with much pomp and solemnity during Nu Alpha Phi's 75th Anniversary ceremonies on April 26. Lee's long-overdue recognition as a full-fledged Nappie is the brainchild of Zibby Zabriskie who has had the pleasure of working with Lee on the Oak Leaf and related matters almost from the beginning. That the installment took place during an auspicious year in fraternity history heightens the honor, as there was a certain amount of Nappie involvement that originally brought Lee to the alumni post.

As an active member of the Presbyterian Church in San Marino, the young Lee Harlan, then an official with the State Right-of-Way Commission, caught the attention of Nu Alph Jack Bradford '47 #271. Alumni Director William Seelye '56 was stepping down from the post to assume the duties of Pomona's director of Corporate Relations and Foundations and Lee was encouraged to apply for the position. During the interview process the prospective Alumni Director met Nappie Dick Nimmons '35 #142 who became an enthusiastic supporter for his candidacy. Not to over-emphasize the far-reaching power of Nu Alpha Phi approval, Lee has held the position ever since and is virtually synonymous with the office.

In keeping with his early Nappie involvement, Lee's induction featured the presence of early Nappies (although a sizeable collection of Nu Alphs from across the generational spectrum witnessed the event). Oldest Living Maggot (he'll tell you it is really Rabbit) Bob Dozier '23 #3 lent his majesterial presence to the proceedings. The sacred paddle of the late Johnny Blanchard '32 #99 gently tapped Lee - it really was just a tap - into his new, exalted status as Maggot #147 which had amazingly remained unoccupied since the mid-thirties. The pledge granted it found the responsibility too burdensome and became a Phi Delta (for his and his family members' sake he shall go nameless), one of the rare occasions a brother resigned. The "47" was pure serendipity, the cause of much rejoicing when discovered, and underscores the resounding appropriateness of welcoming Lee to the fold.

The newly-minted maggot #147 was presented with a suitably sententious certificate, liberally peppered with "whereas" and "therefore" and signed by Zibby (in his emanation as Fraternity Sage), sitting Active President Jeremy Kaufman '97 #1121, and Oak Leaf editor Chris Hall '82 #870 who represent the three great aspects of NAP cosmology: Alumni, Actives, and the Network that binds the two.

The humility and genuine enthusiasm with which Lee accepted the honor was heartening to those sponsoring his membership, and holds great promise for the future. We welcome him as our new brother, and recall the Fraternity Maxim, "Once a member of Nu Alpha Phi, always a member of Nu Alpha Phi!"