a birthday tribute to malcolm U. Pitt, Jr. 

The Collegiate School of today didn’t just happen by accident.

It had its roots with the legends of yesterday, those indefatigable, larger-than-life figures who shaped the style, set the tone, created the culture, left the footprints.

Recently, we gathered to honor Malcolm U. Pitt Jr., who for 27 years served as the first head of the Boys School and then President of The Collegiate Schools until his retirement in 1987.

The happy occasion attended by more than 500 guests was his 80th birthday party, and it was a grand celebration befitting the greatest Cougar of them all.

“Much of our wisdom, our values, our expectations to do well, our spirituality and success at Collegiate all started at the hand of Mr. Pitt,” said Alex Smith, vice-president for development and a friend for 40 years.

The festivities began in Oates Theater with a 10-minute, this-is-your-life slide show to the accompaniment of the themes from The Natural  and Chariots of Fire. 

There were pictures from the very early years, his time at Thomas Jefferson High School, and his days as a star athlete at University of Richmond where he played basketball and baseball for his father, the legendary Coach Pitt.

There were scenes of him with Betty, his wife of 53 years, and their daughters Louise Miller, Betty Cimmino, and Anne Pitt and their families.

There were pictures of him with his colleagues and with kids at Collegiate and at Camp Virginia, his large and loving extended families. 

The entire presentation was wonderful and moving. 

Imagery often says more than words can ever express.

But there were also plenty of words, some in jest, most serious and heartfelt, all incredibly respectful.

Richard W. Wiltshire, life trustee, former board chairman, and retired C.E.O. of Home Beneficial Life Insurance Co., spoke of meeting Mr. Pitt in kindergarten and sharing a friendship of 75 years.

“In all the years I’ve known Mac,” he said, “I’ve never met a better Christian or anyone who had a higher sense of honor and integrity.  I’ve seen him on so many occasions make personal sacrifices to be of service to others.

“When he retired, Collegiate had the respect of the best colleges and universities in the United States for the preparation given to its students academically, physically, and spiritually.”

The Hon. A. Christian Compton, a justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, also a former board chairman and lifelong friend, spoke of Mr. Pitt’s sense of caring.

“One of his most admirable traits is his consideration of others,” he said.

“His activities have been marked by strength of leadership, personal integrity, moral values demonstrated daily, sensitivity to young people under his supervision, loyalty, sportsmanship, and fair play.”

Smith was next and began powerfully and eloquently: “I love Buck Pitt.”

He then spoke of Mr. Pitt’s influence upon a special thread that runs through life at Collegiate. 

“If there’s one word I think about, it’s loyalty,” he said.  “Loyalty to his friends, his school, his faculty and coaches, his country, his church, and to God.  He never, ever placed himself before others.

“He’s unwavering in his beliefs.  He’s downright stubborn sometimes, but he’ll stick by you.  And he’ll take chances.

“Most of us think he’s conservative, but he took chances on a lot of us, and when we messed up, Buck was still there for us, no matter what, and I appreciate that.

“He created the Boys School from scratch, and a lot of you were part of that scratch…including me.

“He taught us to win against all odds, and in the early days, we did.”

Mr. Pitt’s minister, Dr. James Flamming of First Baptist Church, followed with a powerful testimony:  “He is always a man of care and compassion.  He is a prince of a man, and the reason he is is that he’s treated each of us as if we were princes and princesses.”

Keith Evans, Head of School since 1999, spoke reverently of his search for clues to Mr. Pitt’s legacy.

They’re not in the buildings, not in the campus itself, he said, but more in the spirit that permeates our relationships.

“This is a very personal school where adults care for students, students care for students, and adults care for one another,” Evans said.

“It’s a school very tuned in to who children are growing up to be, the character of the person, the personal sense of honor, duty, and devotion to the truth.

“And so, Mr. Pitt, I stand on your shoulders, we stand on your shoulders, we stand in your shadow, and we stand because you stood up for what you believe in.”

The 45 minutes rolled by quickly, and the fanfare, well, Mr. Pitt deserved every word.

Then, it was time for the guest of honor…

“I love this school, and I love the people that are a part of it,” he said.  “And I thank God for every relationship I’ve ever had here.”

And in typical Buck Pitt fashion, he added, “Thanks for coming, and I hope it hasn’t spoiled your evening.”

Then, he intoned a very familiar postscript.

“Thanks a lot!”

The feeling, as always, is mutual.