Durant Assumes Job Of Purchasing Agent On Morse Retirement

After 22 1/2 years as Purchasing Agent for the University, William G. Morse '99 retired June 30. His duties will be assumed temporarily by Aldrich Durant '02, Business Manager, who will carry out the purchasing function in addition to his present responsibilities until a successor to Morse is appointed. The Purchasing Office staff is in the charge of the assistant to the Purchasing Agent, William P. Bunyon.

Morse was born in New York in 1877. Entering Harvard in 1895, he was awarded the degree of A.B. in 1899. For the next two decades, he was engaged in business for himself. The University, in 1923, asked Dr. Morse to organize a purchasing department.

Wrote Book in 1941

During the next 22 years, the purchasing agent received orders for everything from dimethylcylohexanone to live cock-roaches. Mr. Morse wrote down many of his experiences and anecdotes, and published them in a book, "Pardon My Harvard Accent," in 1941.

Morse has moved permanently to New York City, and his family follows him tomorrow. He plans to return to the University on July 9, when he and his staff will participate in a farwell luncheon.