BA '56
It was an opportunity when I lived in Manhattan a long, long time ago. I was working as a clerk, and one of my fellow quilt makers said, 'You should really get an accounting degree at City College.' I said, 'I can't afford to go to college.' He said it's free if I take the exam and qualify. I applied, took the test, and went to school for six and a half years at night at the cost of about $50 a semester. The studies weren't really difficult and the instructors as well. Everyone was dedicated. It was always a pleasant classroom. I did well and that started my career in accounting. I was working while attending school in a razor blade company. I was working as an assistant bookkeeper. Eventually, the superiors retired or got promoted. Someone had to run the Accounting Department, so I became the senior guy. I was supervising two CPAs while going to City College. I finished school, then at one point, I opened an ad while having lunch one day. I opened it and saw that Crucible Steel was looking for an account payable supervisor. I applied for it, and they offered me a job. When they interviewed me, they turned me down because they didn't feel that I had enough life experience, not financial experience. The vice president of the company asked me to come and see him. I had not met him. We sat down and had a discussion. Then, he got up, stretched his arm over the desk, and he said, 'Congratulations, when can you start?' I was the youngest man there. I was an assistant supervisor in the Accounting Department. The company then closed the office and decided to move to Pittsburgh. I was one of those that was asked to go and decided not to go because I had family here. I had to find another job. I went to work for Hyster Company, a lift truck company. I was a branch office manager there. My entire life was changed by the opportunity that arose. City College of New York is absolutely foundational.