The Hall of Fame event was attended by more than 100 students, staff, faculty, alumni and supporters of the college.

Those inducted into the Hall of Fame include H. David Chamberlain, Frank R. Cubley, Jamie Eaton, Richard Longtin, James Lord, David O’Brien, Howell G. Pickett, Patricia and Paul Pillis, James Tucker and James Voorhies.

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H. David Chamberlain

Paul Pillis, Patricia Pillis, Sharon Sorgule and Cheryl Culotta (Provided photo)

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Dr. H. David Chamberlain served as the president of Paul Smith’s College from 1988 until his retirement in 1994. During his time at Paul Smith’s, he was recognized for the great deal of work he had done to stabilize the college financially and to expand its programs.

Chamberlain nurtured a campus-wide sense of togetherness and teamwork and instituted a comprehensive long-range plan which led to the strengthening of the college’s unique identity as “The College of the Adirondacks.”

The 1994 St. Regian is dedicated to Dr. Chamberlain, with a dedication that states “in the spring of 1988, Chamberlain arrived at Paul Smith’s College to begin an era of progressive leadership with one common goal as his vision — to focus on providing quality educational experiences to students.”

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Frank R. Cubley

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When the college was chartered in 1937, Frank R. Cubley became a member of the board of trustees. From 1948 until his death in 1960, he served as the president of the board. He was also the head of the executive committee of the college and had been instrumental in its phenomenal growth, resulting in it being the largest private junior college in New York state.

Cubley was a well-known attorney of Potsdam.

As a memorial to Cubley and in gratitude for his long service to the college, the new library, in 1960, was named the Frank L. Cubley Library.

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Jamie Eaton

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Jamie Eaton earned an AAS degree in Forestry Recreation in 1997. She served on the women’s basketball team for both her freshman and sophomore years.

As stated in a quote from the 1997 yearbook: “All-American Jamie Eaton is quite possibly the finest women’s basketball player this school has ever seen, and has left her mark as the all-time leading scorer (1,183 pts) and rebounder (747 boards).”

In 1997, the Women’s Bobcat Team had their best season ever, finishing 25-4 with a ranking as high as number nine in the country. The team dominated the Northern Independence Conference (NIC) going undefeated and capturing their second consecutive NIC Championship.

After graduating, Eaton continued her education at Lyndon State College, earning a degree in Recreation Resource and Ski Resort Management. She was also a two-year member of their women’s basketball team, and continued to receive numerous honors including being named to the All-Conference Team both years, being named MVP both years, and team captain her senior year.

She ranked 17th nationally for individual field goal percentage and 20th nationally for individual rebounding in the NAIA Division II her junior year. Jamie also ranked second in scoring and first in field goal percentage in the conference that year. During her senior year, she ranked 10th nationally for individual scoring and 11th nationally for individual rebounding in the NAIA Division II. She also ranked first in scoring and rebounding in the conference her senior year.

Jamie was also named scholar athlete in 1999. In addition to all of these accolades, Jamie scored her 2000th career point on Feb. 13, 1999.

Jamie grew up in a rural town in Pennsylvania, but after spending two years at Lyndon State College, she knew that she wanted to make the Northeast Kingdom her home and has resided here since her graduation. She currently lives in Lyndonville, Vermont, with her twin sister, where they pursue a life of outdoor adventures and share in their love for animals.

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Richard Longtin

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Born in Bennington, Vermont in 1888, Richard J. Longtin came to work for the Paul Smiths’ Hotel as a young man. He worked in the office and spent his entire life working for the family in the various Smith enterprises. Only during World War I (1918 to 1919) did he leave the area while he served as a sergeant in Company B, Second Pioneer Infantry in France.

After Apollos Smith died, Longtin worked for Phelps Smith in the operation of business and when Phelps died in 1937, he took over the operation of the Power & Light Co., and the Hotel Co. He retired as the postmaster of Paul Smiths in 1958 after 25 years of service.

He served on the board of trustees for Paul Smith’s College from the beginning (October 1937) until his death, including serving as president of the board. The Longtin Cafeteria was named while he was still living.

He also served as Brighton town supervisor from 1924 to 1933. He was very active in all community affairs. In a 1958 Post Script article, some of his major achievements were mentioned, including that he provided the funds for the building of the dam on the Saranac River that created Lake Flower, and the donation of land for the Saranac Lake Airport.

Geraldine Collins, in her book the “Brighton Story,” stated that Longtin had been living in the Smith Hotel and escaped from the building when it burned in 1962. He suffered a severe personal loss of historical possessions collected over the years, in addition to smoke inhalation. The combination seemed to rob him of all inclination to live. His decline was steady from then until his death on July 29, 1967.

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James Lord

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James Lord graduated in 1955 with a degree in Forestry and was a member of the forestry club. He has been making signs for the alumni campground and signs to raise money for the reunion auction for years.

In 2020, the alumni board honored him with the “Friend Award.” Lord retired in 1991 after 32 years as a state forest ranger. He was a bobsledder who competed in the mid-1960s as the brakeman on a sled piloted by Fred Fortune of Lake Placid, who won a bronze medal in the four-man event at the 1965 FIBT World Championships in St. Moritz.

Lord was the ranger who led the crew up Wright Peak that found the B-47. Paul Smith’s College VIC Director Scott van Laer, a former forest ranger, says that Lord may be the last living ranger from that crew, actually. Lord wrote the licensed guiding laws that are still on the books today.

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David O’Brien

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David O’Brien is retired after a 30-year career with IBM Corporation. He has served as an active volunteer for Paul Smith’s College, including 11 years on the alumni board of directors. He served as vice president for four years prior to serving as president from 2014 to 2016. He also served on social/reunion, historical and nominating committees.

O’Brien has been an active volunteer at regional alumni events such as the Sugarbush Breakfast, annual Alumni Clambake and Pancake Breakfast at Bob’s Trees.

He was very involved in the annual reunion, helping to check every room, and leave a mint on every pillow for many years along with the 50/50 raffles to benefit the Forestry Club Cabin and the annual silent auction. O’Brien also served as a member of the compass club, recruiting prospective students at college, career, and transfer fairs. O’Brien also served as a class rep for many years.

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Howell G. Pickett

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Howell Pickett, age 67, director of the Liberal Arts Division and head of the Chemistry Department at Paul Smith’s College, died in his home on Feb. 2, 1967. He began his work at Paul Smith’s College in 1946.

He was very civic minded and served for a variety of organizations including the Franklin County Heart Association as chairman and the county unit of the American Cancer Society as president.

He was responsible for bringing the Bloodmobiles to Paul Smith’s College and for many years he directed the college blood bank program. He was adored by all and known as a great storyteller. In 1968, a new classroom building was named after him: “Pickett Hall.”

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Patricia and Paul Pillis

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Paul and Patricia Pillis together have had an impact on hundreds — perhaps thousands — of students at Paul Smith’s College. Each has played a significant role not only as a teacher but as a mentor, leader, a role model and a friend for the many students whose lives they have touched.

One such example of their impact includes opening their hearts and their home. Patricia and Paul hosted a party at their house at the end of every semester and for the Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays.

It provided a sense of place to those who couldn’t travel home for the holidays, or for those who simply needed somewhere to stay. One student stayed with them for a year, others for a semester. Every Thursday night for the last 10 years they have had between eight and 25 students for dinner and bible study.

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James Tucker

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James Tucker started at Paul Smith’s College in 1987 as the director of the Higher Education Opportunities Program. In that role, he acted as the chief administrator for the New York state-funded academic support program for disadvantaged students.

In 1995, Tucker became the recreation and intramural coordinator, a role that enabled him to bring his love for the outdoors to the larger campus community at PSC. Fittingly, from 1995-2010, he was cordially referred to as the “Dean of Fun.”

In his time in that position, Tucker developed and maintained indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, participated in trail route maintenance for outdoor pursuits, coordinated aquatic programs, supervised undergraduate recreation, coordinated and supervised intramural athletics, coordinated a broad-range of outdoor recreation programs for the campus community and contracted public service organizations and corporations, and supervised year-around outdoor treks.

At the behest of President Peter Linkins, Tucker also jump-started the marathon canoe team at Paul Smith’s College in 1995. He has contributed even more to the various curricular and extra-curricular programs at PSC.

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James Voorhies

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Shortly after graduating from Paul Smith’s College in 1972, James Voorhies joined the landscape section at Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester. He also married his college sweetheart, Judy Lynn Holliday.

After a very successful career at Kodak, Voorhies accepted the position of grounds supervisor at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. He ended his professional career with Orkin Pest Control specializing in wood destroying organisms. During that time, Voorhies became an associate certified entomologist through the Entomological Society of America.

Throughout his career, Voorhies continued his education at SUNY Empire State College, and through correspondence courses and workshops at Texas A&M, Purdue and Appalachian State in North Carolina.

Voorhies has a long history of volunteering. His involvement with PSC includes working over 15 years with the Phelps Smith Society, becoming one of the founding members of the Paul Smith’s Booster Club, serving as an active alumni board member, and a member of the PSC Hall of Fame Committee. He also works with admissions to help recruit students.

Prior to the Hall of Fame celebration, there was the official unveiling of the Paul Smith’s Conference Room at Hotel Saranac, something that was announced in June 2021. The room and adjacent hallway are adorned with historical images from Paul Smith’s College.

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