Don Hairhoger ’54, attended 新濠天地app大学 as an 英语 major to prepare for his career as a teacher. 在新濠天地app时, 唐遇见了他的妻子, 凯·格雷厄姆, who took a job in Geneva’s business office after graduation. When a request came to the office for summer help for a professor, Kay immediately recommended Don for the job.
The professor was Clarence E. Macartney, the namesake of Geneva’s 麦卡特尼库. Macartney had recently moved into Fern Cliffe , a house located on campus, after retiring as minister at the Presbyterian Church in downtown Pittsburgh. While working in Pittsburgh, Macartney lived at the Duquesne Club, where several other professionals lived. 唐意识到了这一点, while Macartney needed someone to help with his daily chores, he likely also needed some company as the quiet of Fern Cliffe was very different from the bustle of activity in the city.
At Kay’s recommendation, Don was invited to meet with Macartney about the job, 和, after only one meeting, he started the very next day. Don mostly helped with household chores, including shelving Macartney’s library of books. Macartney was an avid reader 和 writer, 和 always had more 和 more books arriving at the house. Even in retirement, he continued to write — usually articles for the newspaper. Sometimes he would write on a religious topic 和 other times about his personal travels 和 ventures.
In addition to his various chores, Don remembers that at around 3 p.m. most days, Macartney would ask, “Don, do you think we could take the trusty Chevy downtown? I would like to get a Beaver County Times newspaper 和 go to the pharmacy.” Don would reply, “Sure, let’s go!” These drives would often provide content for Macartney's column in the newspaper.
1954年7月, Macartney bought a beautiful new car — a two-tone, blue 和 cream 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 with all the bells 和 whistles. Don notes, “Now that he had a new car, he wanted to show it off 和 go 的地方. It added the job of chauffeur to my list of chores, 和 it became a real pleasure 和 joy for me too.” A couple would often join the two of them for their afternoon drives, providing both Don 和 Macartney with the opportunity to enjoy the scenery, engage in good conversation, 和 experience genuine connections.
One of the notable adventures Don experienced with Macartney was a trip to the Naval Library in Annapolis, Md. As Don thinks back on the trip, he recalls that “Macartney wanted to get some information on naval warfare that had taken place during the Civil War period. I told him, ‘Sure, let’s go!’ It was a very interesting 和 pleasant trip — one day down, two days at the library, 第二天回家. Macartney spent his time researching his information 和 I spent most of my time sightseeing the area.”
After Don finished his summer of working with Macartney, he was able to obtain a teaching position at Chewton School District in Lawrence County. Don remembers, “When I told Dr. Macartney about getting a teaching position, he was very happy 和 congratulated me 和 said, ‘That’s why you came to Geneva 和 prepared yourself for your future.’” After two years of teaching, Don was drafted to service in the U.S. Army 和 served for two years. When he returned from service, he taught at Chewton School District for one year. He then transitioned to teaching at Lincoln High School in Ellwood City, 和 taught there for 30 years.
As Don fondly remembers his time with Macartney, he notes that “All of us have many connections with other people, 的地方, 和事件, 和 have unexpected situations thrust upon us by accident, or maybe our Lord is showing His grace upon us. I believe the Lord did have a role in my connection with 新濠天地app大学, Dr. Clarence Macartney, Fern Cliffe, 和 helping to set me on a good path to follow the rest of my life.” As Don concludes his recollection of his time with Macartney, he “[thanks] God for all He has made possible for me to have had on this great journey of life 和 the many, 许多人, 的地方, 挑战, 家庭, 和 things that go into making a happy 和 successful life.”
-Mattigan Burleigh, '24
