University Surprises Worth Tippy '91 On His 90th Birthday

November 8, 1956

November 8, 1956, Greencastle, Ind. — Worth M. Tippy, an 1891 DePauw University graduate who continues to serve his alma mater as a volunteer archivist for DePauw and United Methodism, was treated to a surprise on this, his 90th birthday. Members of the University faculty and staff gathered today for a surprise party to mark the occasion.  The special luncheon included remarks by President Russell J. Humbert (seen with the guest of honor in the accompanying photo).

"You must find something to do that is worth your mettle after you retire," Dr. Tippy explained as he discussed his secret to long life. "You can't just stop."

Known as the "grand old man" of DePauw's campus, Dr. Tippy returned to the University in 1951 to work as volunteer in the Archives.  His work there is "recapturing the light in the faces of DePauw's past," Tippy says.

In a 65 year career in Christian service, Worth Tippy served as a social worker, campus minister, author, lecturer and clergyman.  For 20 years he served as executive secretary of the Commission on the Church and Social Service of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America.  He led the organization of the Methodist Federation for Social Service with Bishop Herbert Welch, at that time the president of Ohio Wesleyan University. Tippy was called upon to arrange the selection and training of Protestant chaplains for federal prisons and visited the institutions. (above: Victor Gondos, Elizabeth T. McCord and Dr. Tippy pose outside of East College today)

His publications include: The Socialized Church; The Church in the Great War and The Methodist Church and Its Work (with Paul W. Kern).

In 1907 he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.  His alma mater awarded him with a second honorary degree, Doctor of Literature, last June. He also received an honorary doctoral degree from Baldwin-Wallace in 1907.

Back