Doctorate of Letters for Roland H. Sherwood

Antigonish: Roland H. Sherwood “whose fertile mind and prodigious talents have so deeply enhanced our knowledge of the past,” was last weekend awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by St. Francis Xavier University.
Dr. Sherwood is the author of several books, and for many years has been a practicing journalist.

Dr. Malcolm MacDonald, president of S.T.F.X., said Roland Sherwood “has restored to us in lively and literate prose our precious patrimony, and invited us to embellish the common legacy which is so vital a part of the texture of our lives.”
“His silken voice and prolific pen have alike illumination the misty contour of the centuries and if, on occasion, the sober historian has yielded the exultant bard, few there are who would fault so felicitous a failing.”

Dr. Sherwood is the second Pictonian to be so honored by that university in the past yea, with Ellen MacLean d Eureka receiving an honorary doctorate at the fall convocation.
In presenting Dr. Sherwood to the chancellor, The Most Reverend William E. Power, Dr. MacDonell noted that Dr. Sherwood was also a long- distance runner who graces the Nova Scotia Hall of Fame.

Second recipient of an honorary doctorate during convocation ceremonies last Sunday was Dr. Chester Stewart of Medicine at Dalhousie University.
A native of Amherst, Rollie was transferred to Pictou 40 years ago with Maritime Telegraph and Telephone, with whom he was employed for 32 years. He retired from the phone company in 1952 and devoted himself entirely to journalism. As he says, “Amherst is my hometown, Pictou is my adopted town.”

Rollie and his wife, Hellen, have one daughter, Helene (Betty) MacCullough of Toronto.
In 1976 the Amherst Chamber of Commerce made Rollie honorary citizen of the year. Then in February of this year, Pictou held a dinner honoring all he had done for the town and its citizens over the past two decades.

PICTURE CAPTION:
Two Pictou County honorary doctorate recipients are shown with S.T.F.X president, Dr. Malcom MacDonell. Dr. Ellen MacLean of Eureka received an honorary degree at the fall convention of the university, and Dr. Roland Sherwood received his honorary doctorate during convocation ceremonies, Sunday.