Founder's Day 2007

Founder's Day celebrates the history of Cathedral and Marshall schools.

This year's featured speaker was Tony Rubin '96.  His remarks were entitled "The Power of the Word: Jefferson's Dumbwaiters and Marshall's Mission."

Photos from Founder's Day 2007 available here.

Introduction of Tony Rubin and Tony Rubin's Remarks

So it is my absolute delight to introduce our speaker today.  He’s such a wonderful nice guy and so smart.  I’m so glad you get to hear him speak.  Mr. Tony Rubin graduated from Marshall in 1996 and then from the University of Minnesota where he focused on rhetorical theory while earning his degree in Communications Studies.  After graduation, he remained in the Twin Cities and accepted a position with Family & Children’s Service, a non-profit human service agency.  After a sojourn in Portland, Oregon, Mr. Rubin returned to Duluth in 2005, and has since actively engaged within the Twin Ports community.  He serves on our volunteer Alumni Council, which has been just a delight.  He is a current participant in Leadership Duluth, a selective leadership training program here in town, and he is employed by Arrow Lift, a local company which provides innovative accessibility solutions in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.  We are delighted to have him here so please join me in welcoming Tony Rubin back to Marshall School.

It is an honor to be here today and thank you very much for those kind words.  Chico, I feel that grateful feeling too. 

I want to talk to you today about Thomas Jefferson.  Now these are some words that Thomas Jefferson wrote.  “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom and the father of the University of Virginia.  Born April 2, 1743, died July 4, 1826.”  Toward the end of his life, Thomas Jefferson wrote his own epitaph.  It was his wish that on his tombstone, there be things that reflect what he had given the people, not what people had given him.  So I will read it again.  He was the author of the Declaration of American Independence, the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and father of the University of Virginia. 

Now we know some other things about Thomas Jefferson though.  One of the things I know about Marshall students is that you all absolutely love the opportunity to raise your hands and shout things out.  OK, so I’ll help out, some of the other things about Thomas Jefferson, what else did he do?  He was a political philosopher.  Yes, exactly, he was an architect. Good one.  He was a musician, he played the violin.  He was a book collector.  In fact, his collection became the original Library of Congress.  He was also a scientist, horticulturist, a diplomat and an inventor.  Now, that inventor part, I like that one.  And back actually when Kennedy was president, he had a gathering of Nobel Prize recipients at the White House, and he described his guest that night as the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that had ever been gathered at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone. 

So let’s talk about that one there at the end, that inventor.  Because there’s a specific element to something that he invented that I find to be really interesting.  Thomas Jefferson, who was born at the age of 17 in a home that he helped his father build, was also the inventor of the modern upgrade to the dumbwaiter.  Now does everyone know what a dumbwaiter is?  You’ve probably read about one in some sort of spooky mystery story with an old mansion and had the idea that you could ride up and down.  Well, my work at Arrow Lift informs me that even through that would be fun, there are no riders on a dumbwaiter, so remember that.  That being said, Thomas Jefferson invented the modern upgrade to the dumbwaiter and he put it into his own architecturally designed home, Monticello.  Now on either side of his fireplace, he had these dumbwaiters, and they connected the dinning room to his wine cellar.  The purpose of this was that when people were engaged in dinner conversation in his dinning room, he wanted them to be able to continue that conversation, to be able to freely engage, to be able to share ideas, to be able to use words in such a fashion that you would be able to influence people’s ideas, people’s thoughts, really what happens in our world.  He used words for that.  And he wanted those words to be able to be exchanged in a free and unencumbered situation so he invented this dumbwaiter so that conversation could flow as freely as the wine. 

Now, what he did about that and how it relates to what we are here for today,  I mean outside of the fun fact that good old TJ was a founder, and it is Founders’ Day, but what I really enjoyed about Marshall in my time here, and now, is that it is mission driven.  There is a purpose here.  A Marshall education encourages students to develop strong academic habits.  Feel that?  I remember that.  It also gives an ethical framework for responsible decision making.  I remember that too.  Do you all feel that?  It also gives the respect for self, for others, and for property.  I feel that one too.  And my favorite, a commitment to bettering the world. 

Just as in the many ways that Jefferson’s words gave us a national mission, these words give Hilltoppers our mission.  This school is formulating an ethical framework based on respect and commitment.  The ideas that are exchanged freely throughout these halls and in these classrooms are what make the Marshall experience so valuable.  That freedom of thought that this school allows for, that exploration that is pushed forward, that opportunity, which is forever tied to responsibility, that’s what I like about this place.  That’s what I liked about it when I was a student here, that’s what I like about it that you’re students here now.  This is not something that you will find everywhere. 

You know, I had the opportunity to meet Woody Guthrie’s daughter, Nora, in New York City.  She runs the Woody Guthrie Archives and I am a big Woody Guthrie fan, and when I was in college studying rhetorical theory, I wrote my thesis in college on Woody Guthrie and I referred to him as a rhetorical troubadour.  What I meant by that was he was able to use the power of words in his songs to influence people.  Now Nora told me a great story about how when she was born, the nurse was filling out the paperwork that comes with having a newborn baby.  The nurse looks at Nora’s father, Woody, and says, “Woody, what’s the religion of this child,” and Woody looks back at her and says, “All of ‘em.” 

Now that sort of encompassing thought is what’s so important when we realize that the original intent of this school, now Marshall, once Cathedral, was to raise good Catholic boys.  Then it was expanded to raise good Catholic boys and girls.  Now it’s expanded that the mission of this school is to help create good people.  It’s an opportunity and it’s a responsibility.  Good people.  That’s what Hilltoppers are.  But it is more than just saying it, it takes action. 

I had the opportunity to have a conversation not so long ago with a relative of mine, an uncle who is not really an uncle, but, a second uncle maybe, and I really appreciate the opportunity to speak with him because conversations with him make me think of conversations that I would have with my grandfather.  He’s not around anymore, so you have to have those conversations when you have the opportunity.  You have to find people to share your thoughts and ideas with.  My Uncle Roger told me, I asked him about business, and he told me that after a lifetime in business, what was important to him that somewhere down the line, a couple decades down the road, whatever it was, that someone that he had done business with, someone he had interacted with, someone he had engaged with, would see him in the street and want to look him in the eye and shake his hand.  Good people. 

This relates because the Marshall experience gives you the tools to be an actor.  It’s up to you what you do with those tools.  The mission and the freedom to explore and discuss the ideas within the protection of this structure provided by this school, gives you every chance to be a good person.  Now Jefferson thought through the ideas that he held.  He discussed them with people around him.  People around you, your classmates, your teachers, fellow alumni with me, Hilltoppers, those are the people at your dinner table.  Within these walls, we are free to experience the power of words.  Share your ideas. Learn.  There are so many wonderful teachers here.  That was always my favorite part of being here - the people.  And the teachers who are here today, who were here when I was here, it brings me such a warm feeling to be able to see them, to know that you, Hilltoppers, are getting that Marshall experience from the people that I knew, and from the people who I have not yet had the opportunity to meet.  If you are a teacher here, I’m grateful.  Thank you.

It takes courage to make words into something more than just words, it takes commitment to move beyond mere words into words that bring about action.  Embrace the power of the word.  It’s right there in our school mission.  In the front hallway, that fantastic hallway with that beautiful view of our wonderful lake, as if it is out those windows just for us, reminding us every day of the vastness of this world and how important it is that we play a role within it and engage and connect.  That mission is mounted on two posters on either side.  So you can look at the mission and you can walk down that hall and you can look at that lake.  Then when you get to the end, you can read the mission again.  Or maybe you’ll just remember it.  But think about it, talk about it, because that’s what the power of this place is.  Let’s talk, let’s discuss, let’s share, let’s never forget to listen and let’s go forth with the recognition that if we do go forth in peace and love, with respect and commitment, we are serving the world.

Thank you for the opportunity to share these remarks.  I’m grateful for the opportunity.  And as Chico said, for all that is yet to come, let us be hopeful and let us be courageous and let us be actors. 

Thank you, Hilltoppers.