Four Rhodes Scholars call York County their boyhood home
Eugene Ludwig, former comptroller of the treasury in the Clinton Administration, is one of three Rhodes scholars in York County’s past. The most recent recipient, Gregory Lippiatt (see photo below), is also a York Suburban High School grad. Background posts: One-room school reunions preserve educational culture of thousands of York countians , PS Harrisburg grad school: ‘Set my feet even more firmly on the path into the world of Fraktur’ and York community leader: ‘We didn’t have equal opportunity to achieve’.
Gregory Lippiatt is York County’s most recent Rhodes Scholar.
He was the first since fellow York Suburban grad Eugene Ludwig scored this prestigious honor in the late 1960s. Bruce McClellan scored the scholarship before Ludwig.
But the fourth Rhodes scholar from York County might be forgotten by many… .
Gregory Lippiatt, a York Suburban grad and Virginia Military Institute student, is York County’s most recent recipient of a Rhodes scholarship. For more details, see: http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_11113183 .
Spurgeon Keeny (1893-1988) was an internationally known humanitarian. His boyhood home in Shrewsbury stands today, a historical marker designated the common-place structure.
He received his Rhodes scholarship after graduating from Gettysburg College in 1914.
Upon his death 74 years later, The New York Times ran an obituary headlined “Spurgeon M. Keeny, 95, Headed Relief Efforts in Asia and Europe.”
“For more than 60 years,” the obituary stated, “Mr. Keeny’s work in humanitarian relief took him to much of Asia and Europe, starting in World War I, when he served as a YMCA volunteer with the British Army, looking after Indian troops.”
Keeny, commonly known as Sam, spent 15 years in various positions with Unicef, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and worked in high profile humanitarian positions after that before retiring at age 83. But even after that, he consulted with the Population Council, the World Bank and other groups, according to the Times.
The historical marker near Keeny’s 155 South Main St., Shrewsbury, former home gives a further glimpse at the extent of his travels:
The humanitarian’s boyhood home. Served worldwide, 1917-76. In Asia, directed UNICEF; aided family planning. Chief, UN’s Italy relief; assisted Russian relief. A YMCA officer in Mesopotamia, Siberia, Estonia, Poland; later was on its U.S. Council.
So given the successes of Keeny and Ludwig, Gregory Lippiatt, York County’s newest Rhodes Scholar, will no doubt shine as well.
Also of interest:
A fourth Rhodes Scholar from York County is no longer overlooked : Meet Bruce McClellan.
