A portrait of Dick and Patsy Couper hangs in the Burke Library in recognition of their longtime support.
(Painted by Monica Acee in June 1999)

The Couper Family Tradition

(Reprinted from the Fall 2004 Alumni Review)

The description of Richard Watrous Couper '44 that accompanies his senior photograph in the Hamiltonian reads like a prophecy: "Sincere, popular, able, Dick has made a career of character and intellect."

Today, more than a half-century after graduating with the James Soper Merrill Prize, he has lived up to that coveted honor. "In character and in influence," Dick Couper has indeed "best typified the highest ideals of the College."

Couper has served his alma mater in more capacities than any other graduate. His 46-year tenure as a trustee is second only to that of Elihu Root. A partial list of other roles includes administrative vice president, provost, acting president and volunteer extraordinaire -- everything from visiting dozens of alumni each year to encourage their support of the College to sharing his reflections as a three-time Class & Charter Day speaker. His unprecedented commitment and service to Hamilton earned him the 2004 Volunteer of the Year Award presented in October.

Couper entered Hamilton in the fall of 1940. Graduating with Phi Beta Kappa honors, he earned a master of arts degree in history at Harvard University. During World War II, he served as a captain in the Army before going on to success in the insurance business in his hometown of Binghamton, N.Y. In 1962, he returned to his alma mater as administrative vice president. Hardly had Couper arrived on the Hill when the College embarked upon a major fundraising drive, which he helped complete successfully. Subsequently, the illness of President Robert McEwen led the trustees in October of 1966 to appoint Couper as acting president.

Among Couper's contributions was his chairmanship of the trustee Committee on Long Range Planning, which recommended the construction of a student center and the establishment of coordinated colleges on the Hill. The Bristol Center and Kirkland College are direct outcomes of these recommendations.

Perhaps even more impressive than Couper's long personal association with his alma mater are his Hamilton family ties. It all began with his great-great-great-grandfather, Charles Avery, Class of 1820, who served for 34 years as professor of chemistry. Avery's daughter, Delia, married O. S. Williams, Class of 1831, who served as Hamilton's treasurer. Williams' son, E.S. Williams, Class of 1867, had a daughter, Ruth, who married Walter Thomas Couper, Class of 1892. Their son was Edgar Couper '20, Dick's father.

And that's just the direct line. Counting other relatives, the total rises to 21 -- eight members of Phi Beta Kappa, three trustees, four honorary degree recipients, five faculty members and one vice president.

"One of the great joys of my life was that my father and I were both in Pentagon, both Phi Beta Kappa, both trustees and both got honorary degrees from the College," he noted. "A lot of
our time over the years was spent talking about higher education and Hamilton in particular."

Ever generous with both their time and money, Dick Couper, along with his wife, Patsy, and his parents established the Williams-Watrous-Couper Fund in 1955, an endowment that provides support for faculty research and teaching improvement. Other Couper funds support the library -- one providing for special purchases and a second endowing the Couper Librarian.

"Our giving is not simply Couper giving, but stems also from our desire to recognize and pay tribute to our many forebears and relatives and their ties to the College," he added.

Following his career at Hamilton, Couper served as deputy commissioner for higher education with the New York State Education Department from 1969-71, the first full-time president and chief executive officer of The New York Public Library from 1971-1981 and president of The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation from 1981-90. Throughout the years Couper has received seven honorary degrees and served on more than 60 boards of profit and non-profit organizations.

After his retirement, Dick and Patsy moved back "home" to Clinton and live about a mile from campus -- close enough to take part in many Hamilton and community events.