A loss of leadership and a tough budget were education news makers around Oneonta in April 1976.
The Hartwick College community was saddened, as reported in The Daily Star of April 6, “Dr. Adolph G. Anderson, who, as president, guided Hartwick College through several innovative changes over the past seven years, died yesterday at Fox Hospital after a long illness. He was 62.
“The bell at the Yager Museum Building on the Hartwick campus rang in mourning yesterday afternoon shortly after Anderson’s death was announced.
“Classes on the campus were cancelled today. A special memorial tribute to the president will be held at 10 a.m. at the Center of the Arts. The center was constructed under Anderson’s leadership,” and was eventually named after him.
“Anderson was named to the presidency in 1969, succeeding Dr. Fred Binder.
“During his tenure at the college, several new programs were initiated. Many new research, educational, and recreational programs were started.
“During his administration the college acquired the 1,100 acre Pine Lake Campus, near West Davenport.”
More than 500 attended the tribute, and as reported on April 7, “The comments were personal. Each participant seated on the small semicircular stage and those from the audience who chose to speak did so briefly, giving their impressions of Dr. Anderson and how he had personally touched their lives.”
The college’s three vice presidents were in charge of the day to day operations. By April 9, The Star reported that Dr. Earl E. Deubler, the chairman of the faculty, was named acting president.
That same week, Hartwick College had a newcomer to campus. Star readers of April 10 found out, “The Warrior soccer machine of Hartwick College has a new head coach today. If record credentials and coaching honors mean anything, the Wick has claimed a winner.
“The new coach is 30-year-old James W. ‘Jim’ Lennox, late of Mitchell Junior College (New London, Conn.) soccer forces. Lennox piloted Mitchell to a 15-1 record last year, saw them ranked third in the country by the National Junior College Athletic Association, and was himself tapped as ‘Coach of the Year’ in the NJCAA nation-wide poll.
“In his seven years as Mitchell’s head soccer coach, those Lennox teams went through undefeated seasons and were also ranked high among the top ten in the county. Lennox considers Hartwick ‘a great soccer tradition and I approach the position of coach with respect.'”
Lennox replaced Coach Timo Liekoski, who resigned to accept the position of assistant coach of the professional Dallas Tornadoes.
In his second season with Hartwick Lennox took the then-Warriors to the NCAA Division I national championship.
Also that month in the Oneonta City School District, The Star of April 8 reported, “Edward S. Onody will become superintendent…July 1.
“Onody, who serves as assistant superintendent, will succeed Dr. Frederick Bardsley, who resigned to accept a position on Cape Cod.”
The announcement was made at a special meeting the night before, and in an accompanying story, readers learned, “The Oneonta School Board last night made cuts in its 1976-77 budget, eliminating several faculty and administrative positions.” One cut was the elimination of Onody’s former position of assistant superintendent.
“Administrators warned the school bord that unless the legislature takes action on bills that would allow the district to continue to use certain ‘excludables’ in computing its tax limit, the district would be forced to lay off up to sixty faculty members and most of the administrative staff.
“As it was, the board voted to eliminate several faculty posts, including three top administrative positions.
“Most of the 150 persons remained quiet during the discussions, almost as if they were in a state of shock. Many of the people who were district employees who will lose their jobs if the cuts are implemented.”
On Saturday, the local life and times around Oneonta in May 1901.