Arnold, Schroeder Honored At Convocation
Eddy Arnold can still draw a crowd. Students filed into the Tawes Theatre with their parents in tow to see the country music legend. Freshly scrubbed locals who courted and sparked to his country music 40 years ago clamored for autographs. Even the former Governor of Maryland, William Donald Schaefer, was among the devotees. And without singing a single note, Arnold, hailed by one gushing fan as “the greatest singer alive,” held his audience captive.
Turns out, Arnold is as much a storyteller as a singer and songwriter. Turns out, he’s more of a family man than a show biz character. Maybe that’s the secret of his appeal.
One of the most successful recording artists of the twentieth century, Arnold received the honorary Doctor of Fine Arts at the Fall Convocation ceremony. “From his humble beginnings as the son of a Tennessee sharecropper, Eddy Arnold has risen to the pinnacle of the American music industry,” College President John Toll remarked. “At the heart of his remarkable success over the span of seven decades have been his extraordinary voice, his incomparable charm, and his way with a love song.”
Eddy Arnold is also credited for taking country music into the mainstream. He was the first country singer to perform at Carnegie Hall. In 1966, he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He received the Pioneer Award from the Academy of Country Music in 1984, the President’s Award from The Songwriters Guild in 1987, and the National Medal of Arts from the National Endowment of the Arts in 2000.
Receiving an honorary degree along with Arnold was L. Clifford Schroeder, a Washington College parent and the outgoing chairman of the Board of Visitors and Governors. Schroeder received the Doctor of Public Service in recognition of his stewardship on behalf of the College. A dogged fundraiser, Schroeder stepped up to the chairmanship with the passing of Board Chairman Louis L. Goldstein in 1998. “Cliff Schroeder rose ably to the position, serving with great distinction,” noted Toll. “With his interest in environmental affairs, he has been a staunch supporter of the Center for Environment and Society created during his chairmanship. We value his wise counsel, and are grateful for his continued role on the Board.”
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