In Fords in Four, we ask a Haverford School alumnus four questions about his time at the School and about his life beyond. This month we spoke to Haverford alumnus, alumni parent, alumni son, and former employee, A. Hobart “Hobie” Porter ’72 P’04. Porter spent fourteen years of his career leading the development office at Haverford, seeing the School through the transitions to computers and a pedestrian campus. He then spent 15 years as a Business Development Director at Glenmede Trust Company, thanks to a Haverford connection. Haverford stays in his family to this day, with his daughter Molly Porter teaching Lower School art classes.
What do you think is the greatest strength of The Haverford community?
Haverford’s greatest asset is its ability to constantly engage and involve its stakeholders. Alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and students all care deeply about this place, and continually put their energy and resources into making it better. I was a “lifer,” and at least five of my classmates were sons of alumni from the same era as my father. Many of the students from the early 1940’s participated in World War II and they had a different story to tell (my Dad wrote Tales from the Tail, a book edited by my sister about his experiences as a tail gunner in a B-17) but they sent their sons to Haverford. And at least 5 of my classmates sent their sons to Haverford, as well. Add to that the number of alumni and parents who have served as trustees, teachers, coaches, class agents, members of the Haverford Leadership Council, the Alumni Executive Committee, the Parents Association, part of the strategic planning committees, and other valuable supporting groups and you begin to understand the power of what has become known as “the Ford Nation.”
I first arrived at Haverford for kindergarten in Sept. of 1959 at age four, and, 13 years later in June of 1972, I graduated at 17. I can still name just about every teacher or coach I had, and I know all the words to the alma mater. I remember where I was in fourth grade when news of John F. Kennedy’s assassination was announced over the intercom, I remember the combination to my first Master Lock for my locker in Ryan Gym, and my jersey number for 70-pound football, and I certainly remember all of my teammates on our Inter-Ac Championship soccer team in the fall of 1971.
Haverford was a pretty strict, no-nonsense place, and I would later hear from many alumni comments like, “I appreciate this place much more now than I did when I was here.” Teachers and coaches could be pretty demanding. We were certainly well prepared for college and beyond.
You have seen Haverford from many perspectives, from student to parent to employee. What has each role you've held shown you about this community?
My second stint at Haverford was as Director of Development and later as Director of Institutional Advancement. The Development Office was in the basement of Wilson Hall in what had formerly been the art room, and the 25 hooks for smocks still lined the side wall. When asked to do this conversation, I dug out some scrap books to be sure my facts were accurate. I started on October 1, 1990, when the endowment was about $3 million, enrollment was about 620, and the business model for Haverford, like most independent day schools, was a tuition-driven strategy. Annual giving (about $390,000) was not part of the operating budget, but was held out for projects approved by the Alumni Association. Financial aid meant finding someone to back “promising” students with a tuition payment. Driveways went through the middle of campus such that you could enter from Buck Lane at Palmer House and drive through “the circle” between the Lower School (Van Pelt Hall) and the gyms (Ryan and Parker) and around Wilson Hall to Lancaster Avenue, or alternatively go around the Lower School to exit onto Railroad Avenue. Not what you would describe as “pedestrian friendly,” and there was substantial deferred maintenance. And, by the way, Shipley and Episcopal had gone co-ed…Was it just a matter of time? Did that explain enrollment challenges?
Over the next 14 years, Annual Giving increased each year reaching $1.4 million in 2004, and the endowment grew to over $30 million. Our offices moved to Palmer House providing a welcoming space for alumni and parents to visit and hold meetings. I reported to three heads of school, attended every board meeting from October of 1990 through June of 2004, served four different Board Chairs, worked with three different Heads in each division (Lower, Middle and Upper School), four admissions directors, three athletic directors, three business managers, and, since my son was a student for most of that time, I watched Haverford’s faculty in action. What an incredible group of dedicated and caring people.
A comprehensive commitment to Strategic Planning made a huge difference. Every aspect of Haverford’s operations—curriculum, facilities, faculty development and compensation, admissions and enrollment management, development/advancement, financial management, diversity—was scrutinized and considered in determining a path forward. Remaining a school for boys was also part of the evaluation, and the result was consensus, broad engagement and a strong sense of commitment. We managed to get the endowment up to $30 million, issue the School’s first tax-exempt bonds, take cars out of the center of campus, build an awesome gym and add some first-in-the-area turf fields. A wonderful model for faculty development was implemented allowing for advancement from entry level all the way through Master Teacher and Department Head responsibilities, which included mentoring and enrichment. Technology was another exciting opportunity to be incorporated into both the curriculum and advancement efforts of Haverford. Alumni records transitioned from 3x5 cards to computers, Haverford’s first website came to exist, email gradually helped reduce the dependence on the USPS for mass communication, and classrooms and the library had to constantly evolve to remain valuable resources.
Beyond your time in Haverford’s development office, how did Haverford influence your life and career?
Phase one of my career was in banking/corporate finance. My head spins less about interest rates today when I recall the ’80s when mortgages and the prime rate were in the teens, banks were struggling with disintermediation and the eventual dismantling of Glass-Steagall, and hostile takeovers, and LBO’s were happening. After Haverford, I attended Trinity College (BA in Spanish—thank you Señor LaSerna) and later Wharton for an MBA. After that, Morgan Guaranty Trust Company was an exciting place to be, and it’s where I met my wife. We’ll celebrate our 40th anniversary next month!
After 14 years in Haverford’s development office, a Haverford parent in executive search asked if I would consider taking my finance background from Wharton and Wall Street along with development experience working with families and foundations on their philanthropic interests to a business development position in wealth management. The timing was right, the fit was excellent, and I was able to spend the next 15 years at the Glenmede Trust Company.
What makes you excited for Haverford’s future?
Three years ago, I became connected to Haverford in an entirely new capacity: Parent of Faculty Member. I now pay a little more attention to issues of Haverford School Today, and I try to take opportunities to visit for events and games when I can. I was very impressed by our Head of School Tyler Casertano’s article “Boys will be Better Boys,” which appeared earlier this year. He expresses the recognition of the different and changing expectations for boys and men in each generation. Emotional intelligence was not a topic for discussion in my student years at Haverford, and certainly not in my father’s era, but Tyler acknowledges a boy’s need to learn how to care, and Haverford’s intentional efforts to help today’s students develop that ability.
I remain an optimistic fan.
On Sept. 30, 2023 Hobie was inducted into the Trinity College athletic hall of fame for his participation in five varsity sports. He received ten varsity letters—at the time, the most letters received by any Trinity College athlete. Click here to view his acceptance speech.