Raven's Claw Society

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, which are speculated to include: campus leadership, a solid academic record, and athletic participation. While those are often the factors associated with membership in the Raven's Claw Society, no one knows for certain how or why members are selected.[1] 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 on certain days throughout the year.[2]

The Raven's Claw emblem (current)

History
1965 Raven's Claw Tappings Ceremony on the steps of Old West

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 College and Carlisle, Pennsylvania communities through discreet service activities.[3] 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, there are many buildings on campus named after Raven's Claw members in recognition of their generous service and dedication to the College and/or large financial contributions to the school.

Alumni

Business
  • Merkel Landis, President of Carlisle Trust Company, responsible for establishing the first Christmas club savings fund.[4]
  • Robert M. Waidner, President of Standard Fusee Corporation.[5][6]
  • George V. Hager, Chairman and CEO of Genesis HealthCare Corporation.[7]
  • John R. Stafford, CEO of American Home Products International Inc.[8][9]
  • Gary A. Poliner, CFO and Executive Vice President of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.[10]
  • Doug Pauls, BankUnited Chief Financial Officer.[11]
  • Abram Bosler, President of Carlisle Deposit Bank and Carlisle Shoe Company; President of the Carlisle City Council; Co-founder of Carlisle Country Club[12]
  • David S. Freysinger, Executive Vice President of Reliant Energy, Inc.[13]
  • Kyle Miller, President and CEO of Hudson Castle Group, Inc.[14]
  • Richard W. Schey, Partner, Management Committee, Regional Coordinator, New England Offices of Jackson Lewis LLP; Author of 'The New Jersey Wage and Hour Handbook.'[15]
  • Daniel J. Sheridan, President and Chief Operating Officer, Extensis Group LLC.[16]

Arts and entertainment

Politics and public service

Athletics

Education
  • Boyd Lee Spahr, President of Dickinson College Board of Trustees.[47][48]
  • Don W. Llewellyn, Dean of Graduate Legal Studies, Villanova University School of Law[49]
  • John "Milt" Davidson, member emeritus of the college’s board of trustees; most senior living Raven's Claw member[50]
  • Edward A. Polloway, Dean of Graduate Studies and Distinguished Professor of Education, Lynchburg College.[51]
  • Gilbert "Red" Malcolm, 23rd President of Dickinson College.[52]
  • Stephen A. Saltzburg, Distinguished University Professor, The George Washington University Law School.[53]
  • Benjamin James, educator, dean, coach, honorary president, and beloved Dickinsonian.[54][55]
  • Former/current members of the Dickinson College Board of Trustees, among others.

References
  1. "Raven's Claw". Archived from the original on 2007-12-20. Retrieved 2007-12-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. History of Raven's Claw Archived 2008-02-08 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Dickinson College - The Dickinsonian
  4. Merkel Landis from NY Times
  5. Waidner Recognized as one of America's Most Generous Donors
  6. Dickinson Named Beneficiary in Waidner Trust Archived 2006-09-14 at the Wayback Machine
  7. George Hager, Genesis Healthcare Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Stafford recognized as a Great American Business Leader of the 20th Century
  9. Dickinson Receives Multi-Million Dollar Gift From Raven's Claw Member Archived 2005-01-02 at the Wayback Machine
  10. Gary A. Poliner Executive Profile
  11. The opening bell at the NYSE signals the start of a good day for Doug Pauls ’80 Archived 2011-04-16 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Abram Bosler Archived 2008-12-02 at the Wayback Machine
  13. Dave Freysinger, Reliant Energy Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  14. Kyle Miller: Executive Profile & Biography - BusinessWeek
  15. "Jackson Lewis LLP | People". Archived from the original on 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  16. "Home". extensisgroup.com.
  17. "Remembering a Former Trustee and Television Pioneer". Archived from the original on 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
  18. Cavs.com’s Exclusive Interview with LeBron James, Agent Leon Rose, and Cavs’ GM Danny Ferry
  19. John Griesemer Author Profile
  20. Griesemer from IMDB
  21. Henry Boye Named Publisher of Harvard Business Review
  22. Byron Quann-Whitaker CEO
  23. Hugh B. Woodward Biography Archived 2007-04-30 at the Wayback Machine
  24. Witwer Hall, Dickinson College Archived 2008-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
  25. Quest for a Constitution: A Man Who Wouldn't Quit : A Political Biography of Samuel Witwer of Illinois
  26. National Lime Association
  27. Robert Elmer Woodside, 1904-1998
  28. John D. Hopper - Dickinson Chronicles Archived 2007-08-20 at the Wayback Machine
  29. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Legislative Journal, June 26, 1996 (Page 8)
  30. Henri Rauschenbach of Massachusetts Archived 2009-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
  31. Dallas Winslow
  32. Gerlach For PA
  33. Exhibit of Governors' Portraits in the Governor's Reception Room, Maryland State House
  34. Politics Magazine Names Bernstein ‘Rising Star' Archived 2008-10-08 at the Wayback Machine
  35. Law Offices of Dennis J. Crawford Archived 2010-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
  36. JAMES A. KENNEY III, Judge, Court of Special Appeals
  37. Dickinson College - Commencement Archived 2006-06-20 at the Wayback Machine
  38. Noteworthy Opinions
  39. "Gobrecht Receives Distinguished Dickinson Alumnus Award". Archived from the original on 2006-09-08. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
  40. "Goby" Recognized for Service Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine
  41. Dave Webster, Claw of 1988
  42. Bernie Driscoll Archived 2009-02-27 at the Wayback Machine
  43. Jim Engles, NJIT
  44. Obituary for Peter J. Sivess Archived 2008-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
  45. Steve Hoffman, Kansas City Chiefs Archived 2009-04-24 at the Wayback Machine
  46. Steve Hoffman, Miami Dolphins Archived 2007-10-19 at the Wayback Machine
  47. Boyd Lee Spahr, Class of 1900 Archived 2008-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
  48. Boyd Lee Spahr Library Archived 2008-08-29 at the Wayback Machine
  49. Don W. Llewellyn, Dean of Legal Studies Archived 2010-07-16 at the Wayback Machine
  50. 2004 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD Archived 2008-09-06 at the Wayback Machine
  51. Dr. Edward Polloway Archived 2009-02-26 at the Wayback Machine
  52. President Gilbert Malcolm Archived 2008-11-21 at the Wayback Machine
  53. Stephen A. Saltzburg
  54. Benjamin D. James Archived 2008-05-12 at the Wayback Machine
  55. Benjamin James - Honorary President
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