Honoring Frank L. Boyden
Remarks by Brian Rosborough '58, P'03, '06

By by Lee Wicks

Convocation marks the official beginning of the school year, and this year's speaker, Mr. Brian Rosborough '58 P'03, '06, helped the academy celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Headmaster Frank L. Boyden in 1902.

Mr. Rosborough said, "Mr. Boyden's time as headmaster spanned 66 years, from horse and buggy to the moon landing. He was present at the dawn of electric power, the telephone, the automobile, air travel, income tax, radio, television, penicillin, several wars and a depression." Mr. Rosborough told students, "His (Mr. Boyden's) time was an industrial revolution. Your time is an information revolution...He used his time to build a school that, we hope, will last a thousand years. What will you build?"

In a speech that lasted thirty minutes but felt like ten, Mr. Rosborough shared humorous and tender memories, supplied a great deal of history, and described the core of Deerfield's educational values, saying, "The academy was founded on the belief that it should stand for the right things. To Frank Boyden, that was you. His calling was to build the character of youth. If done well, the future would take care of itself."

The entire community offered a standing ovation at the end of Mr. Rosborough's speech, and then bagpipers led the assembled audience from the Large Auditorium.

Mr. Rosborough's entire speech, along with others that celebrate the life of Frank Boyden, will be published in a small volume at the end of the school year.

Mr. Rosborough's speech caught the imagination of the students who quickly began planning a "Back to Boyden Basics Day." Scheduled for February seventh, plans include sit-down breakfast, lunch, and dinner with check-ins at every class and co-curricular activity, an after dinner sing, a movie and a sock-hop. The movie has not yet been chosen, since students first must decide the year. So far 1957 is the favorite.