Letter to William Beckett from Herbert Smith (April 15, 1947)

Herbert S. Smith, chairman of the Tarbell Medallion Committee, wrote this letter to William H. J. Beckett on April 15, 1947. The letter informs Beckett that he is one of two alumni being honored with a Tarbell Medallion at the Commencement Dinner in June. The second honoree was Elmer Berry. At the end of the letter is a list of the members of the Tarbell Medallion Committee.William Henry Jackson Beckett (1882-1954) was the first student to receive a degree from Springfield College, then known as the International YMCA Training School. Although he originally wanted to become a social worker, Dr. James Huff McCurdy convinced him to pursue physical education. After graduating in 1906, he went on to earn his MA at the University of Pennsylvania. Beckett was an ardent civic and religious advocate. He worked for two years in the physical education department at Howard University, and then as a physical education director at YMCAs in Baltimore, Washington D.C., and St. Louis. During World W