Pratt to Succeed White As 'Program' Chairman

H. Irving Pratt '26 will succeed Alexander M. White '25 as chairman of A Program for Harvard College, President Pusey announced yesterday.

The Program, which has been under White's leadership since its inception in 1956, has reached $50,257,422 in gifts and pledges, or approximately 60 per cent of the goal.

Commenting on White's resignation, President Pusey said, "When White accepted the chairmanship of the Program for Harvard College more than two years ago, we had an understanding as to the time when his duties would end. He has cheerfully served long past that date and we must now regretfully release him from his responsibilities.

"Designer of Program"

"From its beginning," Pusey continued, "he has been the designer and organizer of the Program, and his enthusiastic, effective, and imaginative leadership has been indispensable to its planning and execution."

A New York investment manager, Pratt has had extensive experience in heading campaigns to raise funds for institutions. In 1955, he was vice-chairman of the successful effort for the Divinity School. He has also served as executive vice-President of the Pratt Institute Development Fund, as building fund chairman of the Community Hospital in Glen Cove, L.I., and as president of the Groton School Alumni Fund.

Commenting on the state of the Program, the publicity director said that the major activity at present is the effort to procure large gifts from both alumni and non-alumni. He added that national alumni contributions are $2 million short of the proposed goal and may not reach it by the end of the year.

He also remarked that the outcome of The Game on Saturday "will help with a few people. Many Harvard alumni wanted to be reassured that Harvard was still interested in its football team."