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The Suffield Bell Commencement Edition

Volume LXXIX, NO. 5

Established 1835

May 23, 2014

2014 Commencement Speaker: Walter Moore P’09, ’14

Photo by Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88

Suffield Academy proudly welcomes Walter Moore P’09, ’14 as its keynote speaker for the 181st Commencement. Born in Mercedes, Texas, Mr. Moore was a high school football player who had his sights set on playing for the University of Texas. “Like every kid in Texas, I wanted to win the state championships and play for the Longhorns.” But life had a different plan for him. He played in the state championship, but lost. To his great surprise, the University of Texas told him he was not good enough to play for them. Then, a businessman in Mr. Moore’s hometown told him to apply to Princeton University. Mr. Moore left Texas in the fall of 1970 for New Jersey and planned to play on Princeton’s football team. It was only the third time he had ever left the state of Texas. Not surprisingly, life at Princeton was a bit of a culture shock. When Mr. Moore suffered an injury that prevented him from playing football, he dove into his studies instead. His

professors were very influential people. “I realized that these guys—my professors and my peers—were making national rules. And making rules makes the life.” Mr. Moore graduated from Princeton in 1974. A year later, he returned to Texas to work for United States Senator Lloyd Bentsen. Mr. Moore’s political aspirations eventually led him back to the University of Texas’ Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs where he earned a master’s degree in 1976. “I’d been interested in campaigning and policy since the age of 13. But winning campaigns changes the plate tectonics of policy.” Mr. Moore moved to Washington, D.C., in 1977 to work for the Federal Election Commission. Since then, he has served as a staffer in Congress and the Administration. After his public service, he worked in biotechnology for over 20 years, most of it as Vice President of Genentech. He currently works as Vice President of Federal Affairs of the American Chemistry Council.

When Mr. Moore and his wife— Board of Trustees member Pat—decided to send their sons to Suffield Academy, it stemmed from thoughtful consideration of boarding schools that had student enrollments of a similar size. Mr. Moore remembers the admissions Revisit Day in 2005 when his older son Tod was deciding between Suffield and two other boarding schools. “The first time I heard Charlie speak, I thought two things: 1) This is a remarkable man, and 2) How can I hire him to work for me?” Mr. Moore said. “We chose Suffield for our sons because the school is a transparent organization with a clear plan and vision. Charlie has a very visible strategy on how Suffield students learn and grow here, and he’s exactly the kind of guy who can run a place successfully. As a parent, it’s extremely comforting to know exactly what Suffield’s game plan is.” After graduation, Tod attended Gettysburg College. He is now working on political

campaigns in Washington, D.C. Harrison will be heading to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts this fall. When Mr. Moore was asked to be the 181st Commencement speaker, he found himself in good company, following in the footsteps of Commencement speakers Bill Belichick in 2011, Sir Howard Stringer in 2012, and Mark Tolosky in 2013. “Hey, senior parents, you’re out of luck. It’s me,” Mr. Moore joked. He’s looking forward to addressing the Class of 2014, but he’s the first one to acknowledge that “this is the graduates’ and Harrison’s day. I’m just honored to be a part of it.” Part of his advice to the graduating class will be to always have a back-up plan and focus on the people, friendships, and mentors in their lives. “Life can be surprising, so you’ve got to take risks…both in work and in love.” And then with a smile, Mr. Moore added, “But no one ever remembers their graduation speaker, so I might as well have fun.”

The Suffield Bell 2013-2014 / Commencement Edition Editor-in-Chief Nicole Matysiak ’14 Layout Editor Julie Doten ’14 Photographers Soyun Chang ’14, Charlotte Hinrichs ’14, Neelam Mahtani ’14 Special thanks to Joan Brodie, Erica Caginalp, Charlie Cahn, Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88, Gina Manning, Marlene Rusczyk, Maeve Ryan, Tobye Cook Seck ’88, P’16, Ann Selvitelli


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