Remembering Bruce Drinkhouse ’50

While Bruce Drinkhouse Jr. ’50 (above center) was involved in many aspects of the College throughout his life, one particular project was of key importance to him—a memorial to mark the historic significance of March Field.

Drinkhouse, who died in April, provided the funding for a marble monument at the site, which served as the field for football, baseball, and track from 1894 to 1925. His brother, David Drinkhouse ’52 (above left), compiled a history of the field. The monument was dedicated Aug. 26, 2008, by President Daniel H. Weiss in honor of Prof. Francis A. March Jr., Class of 1881, for whom the field is named.

A chemical engineering graduate, Drinkhouse received an MBA from Lehigh University and was employed at Bethlehem Steel for 20 years before retiring in 1982.

Past president of the Lehigh Valley Alumni Chapter and Friends of Skillman Library, he received the Danny Hatch, Class of 1904, Award for his support of athletics, William E. Greenip Jr. ’44 Award for outstanding service, and an Alumni Association Special Commendation in 2011.

The periodicals reading room in Skillman Library is named in his honor, and he was inducted into the Société d’Honneur in 2003. Past treasurer of the Chi Phi Fraternity Corporation, he received its Distinguished Service Citation.