Obituaries

Hadley Case Breathed New Life into Antioch

Hadley Case ’33 died peacefully on March 16, 2004 at the age of 94. Hadley was beloved by all his family, and was an important member of his communities, including the Antioch College community. The Chairman Emeritus of Case Pomeroy & Company, Inc., Hadley was a successful and well-respected executive for 60 years. He provided leadership and guidance to the Company over six decades as its President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. He also was President from 1952 of Felmont Oil Corporation, a subsidiary of Case Pomeroy, until it was sold to Homestake Mining Company in 1984, and a director over many years of Hometake, and other major companies.

Hadley Case’s association with Antioch College began in 1929, through his father, Walter Case. His father was an early and generous supporter of Arthur Morgan’s Antioch, collaborating with Morgan on many projects, including helping to create the Antioch Industrial Research Institute, and serving on the Board of Trustees from 1930 to 1936.

Hadley once told J.D. Dawson, “I did not choose Antioch; my father sent me.” Despite this fact, he made the most of the decision; as a student, as a co-op employer at Case, Pomeroy and Company, Inc., and later as a leader and University Trustee.

In 1986, Hadley returned to campus to attend Alan Guskin’s inauguration where Case Pomeroy was to be honored as one of Antioch’s earliest co-op employers. He immediately recognized the importance of rebuilding Antioch College and committed himself to the objective. It did not take him long to make this decision, in that he telephoned from the airport with an offer to underwrite the cost of the inauguration. Later that year, he answered the call to serve on the Board of Trustees.

Hadley’s leadership breathed new life into Antioch. He understood that it was not enough for Antioch to just fix-up its deteriorating facilities. He advocated that a new building should be constructed to send the message that Antioch College was indeed back. At a time when conventional wisdom called for caution, he provided funds to build new student housing units and a new student gathering space, and to refurbish West Hall and the Presidents dormitories. The project had a profound effect and sent a powerful message to one and to all, “Antioch is here to stay.” The morale of the Antioch community and the alumni body was lifted to a new level.

In the following years his leadership transformed the philanthropic culture of Antioch College. At critical junctures during the Campaign for Antioch College, he created the J.D. Dawson Endowed Chair in Cooperative Education, he funded crucial improvement in the Admissions Department, and he generously supported the crown jewel of the campaign—the renovation of South Hall.

Two times in this century Antioch College turned to the Case family for leadership and support, first during the 1930s and again in the 1980s. Two times the Case family responded, and each time Antioch College was made stronger and more vibrant. Hadley even remembered Antioch in his will, surprising many who thought his great generosity over the years could not possibly be surpassed. Hadley’s legacy lives on at Antioch in the buildings he brought to life and with his final generous gift to the College.

Arthur Morgan wrote, “One of the highest human purposes is to create and sustain institutions that reflect your values.” Hadley Case devotion and generous service to Antioch College was evidence of his engagement in this highest human purpose.