Charles D. Makepeace (Class of 1900) spent many years in the service of Williams College. This included a long career as the College Treasurer beginning in 1935.
In his undergraduate days, Makepeace was highly involved in athletics, particularly baseball and football. The 1900 Class-book announces, “His opportune hitting in the Wesleyan [baseball] game Junior year will never be forgotten.” Makepeace was also a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity and the winner of the Moonlight prize in oratory.
After graduating from Williams, Makepeace took up the cranberry business to which he had been introduced as a boy. He next became involved in banking, helping to found the Mercantile Trust Company, then serving as vice president of the Chase National Bank, executive vice president of the First Stamford National Bank & Trust Company, director of the Agricultural National Bank of Pittsfield, and director of the American Safety Razor Company.
Makepeace’s commitment to Williams was significant. In addition to serving as Treasurer, he was a member of the Executive Committee of the Society of Alumni. His involvement with the New York Williams Club included several terms as governor and the presidency from 1929 to 1931.
These positions brought Makepeace several honors. In 1944, he was given the Rogerson Cup “for service and loyalty to the College and for distinction in any field of endeavor.” During the 45th reunion of Makepeace’s Class of 1900, his fellow classmates commissioned his portrait to be painted by Augustus Tack, a well-known portraitist and mural painter. The College awarded Makepeace an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1950. The lounge of the Greylock Quadrangle’s dining hall is named in the memory of Charles D. Makepeace.
Makepeace’s involvement worked to benefit the country as well as the College. He was a member of the Board of Governors and Treasurer of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation. With this organization, Makepeace helped to conduct the nation-wide campaign to raise the $1,000,000 needed to purchase Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home.
By Jaime Margalotti (Williams Class of 2000)
SOURCES:
Charles D. Makepeace biographical file. Williams College Alumni Office Records. Williams College Archives
Class-book (1900).
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