John Updike, HD Ripon, 1965

(John Updike, ca. 1965)

(1965 Ripon College Commencement Program)

In 1965 one of the preeminent American writers of the twentieth century walked across the stage to receive an honorary doctoral degree from Ripon College. On that day John Updike shared the stage with several other literary luminaries. The press release announcing the event had the following to say: “RIPON, WIS.—The honorary degree recipients at the 99th commencement exercises at Ripon College on Saturday, June 5 will include playwright William Inge, novelist John Updike, poet William Stafford and theologian Nathan A. Scott, Jr., in keeping with the theme of “Literature.” … Updike is the author of Rabbit, Run, [sic. Rabbit, Run] The Centaur, Telephone Poles, The Coupled Hen, and others. In 1960, he received the Rosenthal award from the National Institute of Arts and Letters.”

Yesterday, January 27, 2009, John Updike passed on after a bout with lung cancer.