cdonald to St. Andrews
Convocation a success
by Amanda Willoughby
The St. Andrews Centennial
Convocation came off witli a little
less fanfare than expected, given the
dreariness of the weather but despite
the close confines of Avinger Audi
torium, both old and new members
of the SAPC community came out
to help celebrate the founding of
Flora MacDonald College. Guests
included, as promised, David
MacDonald, the great-great-great-
grandson of Flora Macdonald, Peggy
Harris Cleveland ‘47, Charles
McCoy ‘42, and Billy Howard ‘77,
as well as the head of Scotland
County Board of Commissioners,
who thanked St. Andrews for the
additional sales taxes it brings in.
y^iiDew Schulz looks on.
Phnto by Rooney Coffman
, to endure. I admired the sweet-
of Curtis Mayfield’s face, and
perhaps a little bit smugly,
;i|itBilly’s admission that a one-
water skier could best him
!iiiy day of the week.
When I did manage to ask an
iij'interview question,” I learned that
"ten Billy Takes on a project,
[I) iether it be photographing home-
! bs people, AIDS patients, or chil-
ifJien with cancer, he does so because
hopes of shattering stereo-
and breaking down barriers,
wen barriers of my own.” Howard
®dits the people in these pictures,
Andrews, in part, for helping
)i fe learn the importance of liking or
le Effing a person without looking at
It s okay if you like somebody,
' if you don’t, but not if you
feel that way because they’re in a
chair, or because they have
crutches.”
While he is working to break
dovm walls between people, Howard
has no thought that his work can
change the entire world. “I’ll be hon
est. I’m selfish. Most of the impact
is on me.” Even so, proceeds from
all of Billy Howard’s books go to
help the various causes to which
they’re dedicated, and in the back of
each book, there are names and ad
dresses of organizations with which
readers can become actively in
volved.
My final big question, the one
that inspired Billy to make Mike
Wallace jokes, was, “Why is St. An
drews giving you an honorary de
gree?” He responded with a puzzled
laugh. “I don’t know. I’m totally
Featured
speaker and hon-
oree, former Ca
nadian cabinet
member Flora
MacDonald,
spoke of the ever-
;hanging world
power structure,
and emphasized
the importance of
education, as well
as involvement,
saying, “You can
not criticize a
game in which
you are not a
player.”
t
$
The Centennial Convocation brought many alumni bask to
SAPC for a couple of days to honor their alma mater.
Photo by Rooney Coffman
humbled and embarrassed by it...I
guess I’m accepting for all these
people I meet and photograph, who
can’t speak up for their own behalf,
and won’t get
the chance to
take it...”
What is
so clear in
Billy
Howard’s life
and work is
that he has, at
his center, a
deep respect
and admira
tion for the
people he
photographs.
His camera
treats them
lovingly, and with dignity, and we
are fortunate that he is skilled enough
to introduce us to so many everyday,
extraordinary people.
Alumnus Billy Howard accepts his honorary degree from
president Warren Board. Photo by Rooney Coffman