Orton Hicks '21, the College's first vice president, and his wife Lois shared the honor of receiving the Boston Post Cane yesterday afternoon, signifying they are Hanover's oldest residents.
The couple was given a Boston Post Cane, one of the 700 original canes presented to New England towns in 1906 by the publishers of the Boston Post newspaper.
Lois Hicks, 95, was born in 1899 and Orton Hicks, 94, was born in 1900. The couple's goal is to live to see the start of the 21st century so they will be able to have lived in three centuries, their son Orton Hicks Jr. '49 said.
Married 70 years, the couple received the award in the reception hall at Kendal of Hanover, a retirement center where they currently reside.
Hicks has permanently lived in Hanover since 1958, but got his first glimpse of the town in 1917, when he arrived at the College as a student, Hicks Jr. said.
Hicks called that event "the most important thing I ever did in my life, besides getting married."
Hicks was extremely active at the College through his pursuit of numerous extracurricular activities, Hicks Jr. said.
He earned a varsity letter playing center for the football team, founded the Green Key Society and served as assistant managing editor for The Dartmouth, Hicks Jr. said. Hicks was also a member of Palaeopitus, a student advisory group that consults with college deans.
He went on to the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration after graduation and pursued a career in the film industry after completing his degree, Hicks Jr. said.
According to a March 2 article in The Country Chronicle, Hicks began his career with Eastman Kodak company and later worked with the film company MGM after serving in the army.
After retiring from MGM studios, Hicks came back to Hanover to serve as the College's first vice president in 1958, Hicks Jr. said.
He served in that position until his mandatory retirement in 1966 and raised $70 million for the College during his eight years in office, according to The Country Chronicle.
But Hicks' retirement did not signify the end of his activities. Along with his son and daughter, he built the Willow Springs Circle in 1970, the first condominiums in the Hanover area, Hicks Jr. said.
He also continued to play in local tennis tournaments until the age of 83, Hicks Jr. said.
Hicks turned to tennis when his College football career ended. He was a ranked player for many years and has competed in the U.S. Open for seniors, Hicks Jr. said.
Hicks has received numerous College recognition for his dedication to his alma mater including the Dartmouth Alumni Award and the Eleazar Wheelock Award, according to the Country Chronicle. Baker Library's Orton Hicks Seminar Room is named in his honor.
He said he was "tickled to death" to be presented with the award yesterday.
