Raven's Claw Society
Encyclopedia
The Raven's Claw is an all male senior honorary society at Dickinson College
. It was founded in 1896, making it the first society unique to Dickinson College
and one of the oldest in the country. Membership is limited to seven senior men who are selected by the seven previous members. The new members are chosen based on a variety of factors, these include: campus leadership, a solid academic record, and athletic participation. New members are inducted in a "Tapping Ceremony" which is held on the "Old Stone Steps of Old West
." The ceremony is traditionally conducted during commencement weekend. They are called "claws" or "white hats", denoting the white caps they wear around campus to signify unity and loyalty.
and Carlisle, Pennsylvania
communities through discrete service activities. The group's alumni organization is also responsible for founding one of the college's largest scholarship funds and the McAndrews Fund for athletics. Additionally, Dickinson College has named several buildings on campus after Raven's Claw members in recognition of their generous service and/or financial contributions to the school.
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
. It was founded in 1896, making it the first society unique to Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
and one of the oldest in the country. Membership is limited to seven senior men who are selected by the seven previous members. The new members are chosen based on a variety of factors, these include: campus leadership, a solid academic record, and athletic participation. New members are inducted in a "Tapping Ceremony" which is held on the "Old Stone Steps of Old West
Old West, Dickinson College
Old West, Dickinson College is a building designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe in 1803 and completed in 1822. It was the original building of Dickinson College. The construction of Old West, known then as 'New College,' was authorized and began in 1798. The effort was in response to the complaints...
." The ceremony is traditionally conducted during commencement weekend. They are called "claws" or "white hats", denoting the white caps they wear around campus to signify unity and loyalty.
History
The Raven's Claw Society is very loyal and has been a part of Dickinson's history for over 100 years. While the members of the group are known, the majority of their actions and traditions are concealed. The group prides itself in serving the Dickinson CollegeDickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
and Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
communities through discrete service activities. The group's alumni organization is also responsible for founding one of the college's largest scholarship funds and the McAndrews Fund for athletics. Additionally, Dickinson College has named several buildings on campus after Raven's Claw members in recognition of their generous service and/or financial contributions to the school.
Business
- Merkel Landis, President of Carlisle Trust Company, responsible for establishing the first Christmas clubChristmas clubThe Christmas club is a savings program that was first offered by various banks during the Great Depression. The concept is that bank customers deposit a set amount of money each week into a special savings account, and receive the money back at the end of the year for Christmas...
savings fund. - Robert M. Waidner, President of Standard Fusee Corporation.
- John H. Devlin, Senior Vice President, Barclays CapitalBarclays CapitalBarclays Capital is a global British investment bank. It is the investment banking division of Barclays plc which has a balance sheet of over £1.2 trillion . Barclays Capital provides financing and risk management services to large companies, institutions and government clients. It is a primary...
. - George V. Hager, Chairman and CEO of Genesis HealthCareGenesis HealthCareis a leading provider of short-term post-acute, rehabilitation, skilled nursing and long-term care services. As of 2011, Genesis operates over 200 skilled nursing centers and assisted living residences in 13 eastern states. Genesis also supplies rehabilitation therapy to over 1,100 healthcare...
Corporation. - John R. Stafford, CEO of American Home Products International Inc.
- Gary A. Poliner, CFO and Executive Vice President of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.
- Doug Pauls, BankUnitedBankUnitedBankUnited is a savings and loan association based in Miami Lakes, Florida. It was seized by U.S. financial regulators and immediately handed over to a new holding company on 21 May 2009, in the second largest bank failure of the Financial crisis of 2007–2010...
Chief Financial Officer. - Abram Bosler, President of Carlisle Deposit Bank and Carlisle Shoe Company; President of the Carlisle City Council; Co-founder of Carlisle Country Club
- David S. Freysinger, Executive Vice President of Reliant EnergyReliant EnergyRRI Energy, Inc. , based in Houston, Texas, United States, was an energy company that provided electricity to wholesale customers in the United States. The company was one of the largest independent power producers in the nation with more than 14,000 megawatts of power generation capacity across...
, Inc. - Kyle Miller, President and CEO of Hudson Castle Group, Inc.Hudson Castle Group, Inc.Hudson Castle Group Inc. is a private, independent company formed in 1996 and is a leading provider of debt financing solutions to the global financial institutions sector...
http://www.hudsoncastle.com - Richard W. Schey, Partner, Management Committee, Regional Coordinator, New England Offices of Jackson Lewis LLP; Author of 'The New Jersey Wage and Hour Handbook.'
- Daniel J. Sheridan, President and Chief Operating Officer, Extensis Group LLC.
Arts and entertainment
- Philip Capice, television producer (Raven's Claw Productions).
- Leon RoseLeon RoseLeon Rose is an attorney and sports agent, based in New Jersey, near Philadelphia. He represents a number of prominent NBA players, including Allen Iverson and LeBron James....
, prominent sports agent. - John Griesemer, Motion Picture and Television Actor, Author of No One Thinks Of GreenlandNo One Thinks Of GreenlandNo One Thinks Of Greenland is a 2003 novel by John Griesemer, upon which the film Guy X was based.-Plot summary:The book is set after the Korean War. The novel follows the misadventures of the character Rudy Spruance who has been mistaken for another soldier and inadvertently assigned to Greenland....
, among others. - Henry Boye, Publisher of the Harvard Business ReviewHarvard Business ReviewHarvard Business Review is a general management magazine published since 1922 by Harvard Business School Publishing, owned by the Harvard Business School. A monthly research-based magazine written for business practitioners, it claims a high ranking business readership among academics, executives,...
. - Byron Quann, president and chief executive officer of Whitaker Center for Science and the ArtsWhitaker Center for Science and the ArtsWhitaker Center for Science and the Arts is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The center is the first complex of its kind in the United States to use science as an entry to the arts. Whitaker Center exhibits science, the performing arts, and an IMAX theater under one roof...
. - Hugh Beistle Woodward, prominent 20th Century Conservationist.
Politics and public service
- Edward J. BoninEdward J. BoninEdward John Bonin was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Edward Bonin was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Navy from 1922 to 1926...
, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania - Samuel W. Witwer, politician credited as the "Father of the Illinois Constitution."
- S. Walter StaufferS. Walter StaufferSimon Walter Stauffer was a United States Representative from Pennsylvania.S. Walter Stauffer was born in Walkersville, Maryland. He graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1912. He moved to York, Pennsylvania in 1915. He was engaged in the manufacture of lime, crushed...
, United States Representative from Pennsylvania and President of the National Lime Association. - Robert E. Woodside Jr., Pennsylvania State Congressman, Pennsylvania Attorney GeneralPennsylvania Attorney GeneralThe Pennsylvania Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It became an elected office in 1980. Currently, the office is held by Linda Kelly.- Authority and Responsibilities :...
and Superior Court Judge. - John D. Hopper, Pennsylvania State Senator.
- Henri S. RauschenbachHenri S. RauschenbachHenri S. Rauschenbach has served as a Massachusetts legislator and a high ranking official in state government. Henri is presently on the Board of the Northeast Midwest Institute and the Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute....
, Massachusetts State Congressman and Senator. - Dallas Winslow, Delaware Public Service Commissioner and Delaware State Senator.
- Jim GerlachJim GerlachJames "Jim" Gerlach is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.- Early life, education and career :...
, U.S. Representative and 2010 Gubernatorial Candidate from Pennsylvania. - Harry NiceHarry NiceHarry Whinna Nice , a member of the United States Republican Party, was the 50th Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1935 to 1939....
, member of the Baltimore City Council and the 50th Governor of MarylandGovernor of MarylandThe Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
. - Luke Bernstein, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania.
- Richard Barclay SurrickRichard Barclay SurrickRichard Barclay Surrick is a United States federal judge.Born in Media, Pennsylvania, Surrick received a B.A. from Dickinson College in 1960, and a J.D. from Dickinson College in 1965. He was in private practice in Pennsylvania from 1965 to 1977. He was a chief of the appellate division in the...
, United States federal judgeUnited States federal judgeIn the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of PennsylvaniaUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of PennsylvaniaThe United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 federal judiciary districts created by the Judiciary Act of 1789... - Dennis J. Crawford, New Jersey Supreme Court Certified Trial Attorney.
- James A. Kenney, IIIJames A. Kenney, IIIJames A. Kenney, III is a former judge of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. He joined the court on June 17, 1997 and retired March 26, 2007....
, Judge of the Maryland Court of Special AppealsMaryland Court of Special AppealsThe Maryland Court of Special Appeals is the intermediate appellate court for the U.S. state of Maryland. The Court of Special Appeals was created in 1966 in response to the rapidly growing caseload in the Maryland Court of Appeals. Like the state's highest court, the tribunal meets in the Robert C... - Jeffrey Truskey, Senior Legal Counsel for the Chevron CorporationChevron CorporationChevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
. - John E. Jones IIIJohn E. Jones IIIJohn Edward Jones III is an American lawyer and jurist from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A Republican, Jones was appointed by President George W. Bush as federal judge on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in February 2002 and was unanimously confirmed by...
, U.S. District Judge who decided the Dover Intelligent Design Case
Athletics
- W. J. GobrechtW. J. GobrechtWilbur Jacob "Goby" Gobrecht was a college football player and coach in the United States.-Playing career:Gobrecht was an all-conference halfback for Dickinson College from 1949 until 1952, where he also played on the basketball team....
, Author, Historian and Coach. - Dave Webster, Dickinson College Head Men's Lacrosse Coach.
- John Carroll (basketball)John Carroll (basketball)John Carroll is a former basketball head coach for the NBA's Boston Celtics. He coached the latter part of the 2003-2004 season, temporarily replacing Jim O'Brien who had resigned...
, former Boston Celtics head coach. - Bernie Driscoll, Kutztown University Head Men's Basketball Coach.
- Jim EnglesJim EnglesJim Engles is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He replaced Jim Casciano...
, New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNew Jersey Institute of TechnologyNew Jersey Institute of Technology is a public research university in Newark, New Jersey. It is often also referred to as Newark College of Engineering ....
Head Men's Basketball Coach. - Peter J. Sivess, Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
pitcher and Central Intelligence AgencyCentral Intelligence AgencyThe Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
Cold Warrior. - Steve Hoffman (American football)Steve Hoffman (American football)Steve Hoffman is an American football special teams coach for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
, former NFL player and current NFL coach - Eric Amsler, Miami Heat, Scouting and Player Personnel
Education
- Boyd Lee Spahr, President of Dickinson College Board of Trustees.
- Don W. Llewellyn, Dean of Graduate Legal Studies, Villanova University School of LawVillanova University School of LawVillanova University School of Law is the law school of Villanova University, the oldest and largest Catholic University in Pennsylvania. Villanova was founded 150 years ago by the Augustinians, a prominent Roman Catholic teaching order...
- John "Milt" Davidson, member emeritus of the college’s board of trustees; most senior living Raven's Claw member
- Edward A. Polloway, Dean of Graduate Studies and Distinguished Professor of Education, Lynchburg CollegeLynchburg CollegeLynchburg College is a private college in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA, related by covenant to the Christian Church with approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. The Princeton Review lists it as one of the 368 best colleges in the nation...
. - Gilbert "Red" Malcolm, 23rd President of Dickinson College.
- Stephen A. Saltzburg, Distinguished University Professor, The George Washington University Law SchoolThe George Washington University Law SchoolThe George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, is the law school of The George Washington University. It was founded in 1825 and is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the...
. - Benjamin JamesBenjamin James (football coach)Benjamin James was the 24th head football coach for the Dickinson College Red Devils in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and he held that position for the 1942 season. His overall coaching record at Dickinson was 1 wins, 5 losses, and 0 ties...
, educator, dean, coach, and beloved Dickinsonian. - Former/current members of the Dickinson College Board of Trustees, among others.