Gregory Milman

Joe was a great inspiration and friend to those of us in the Class of 1962. Couldn’t beat his guitar playing either.

Liz Baughman

Sen dir of advancement services, HMC (soon to proudly start my 35th year with the college)

In referencing the HMC Mission Statement Joe Platt created, it is an amazing thought to realize the Impact on Society he brought forward. Just think about the number of students, faculty, trustees, and staff who walked through HMC and how their lives have been touched by Joe and Jean Platt having the courage to embrace and grow a new and then unknown institution. It really is AMAZING! As we now cross over into a new era for Harvey Mudd College, all it is and all it will be started under the guidance of Joe Platt.

Dr. Platt is the true definition of a gentleman – always kind, gentle, and understanding. One-of-a-Kind! He will be missed, but never never forgotten.

Jim Dewar ’66

Los Angeles, CA

We all knew this day would come, yet there was a part of me – the non-rational part that HMC works so hard and well to cultivate – that believed that it certainly wouldn’t be today. How could it be today? Today isn’t special – certainly not special enough for it to be the day that Joe Platt died. From there it had been easy for the heart to conclude that Joe would never die.

In the event, as before, the mind smoothly recounts Joe’s manifest contributions to HMC, to the Claremont Colleges, to higher education in the United States, to institutions outside higher education, etc. The mind marvels that a man who walked so softly through the world could leave such indelible footprints.

But what is the heart to do in a world without Joe Platt? For those of us whose formative years were spent with Joe – or rather, JoeandJean – how does the heart deal with his absence at HMC functions or his unavailability for the occasional dinner together. There was a comfort in knowing that he was still watching over HMC. What’s to be done about that?

If the power of the mind, in the final analysis, is the power of one, the power of the heart is the power of many. My heart joins the thousands of hearts who send their love to Jean, Ann, Beth, and to all those whose hearts are hurting because the world has lost Joe Platt. The mind still celebrates Joe’s magnificent legacy, but the heart now aches.

Hubie Clark

Former chairman of the board at Harvey Mudd College

When I was first offered a board seat at HMC, I said to myself “I need a new fund raising chore like I need a hole in the head” – and then I met Joe. Within a nanosecond, I knew I was with a special person with whom I wanted to work and learn. His recognition that engineers were introverts who needed help in communicating and mixing with others, and his belief in “learning while doing” was so in line with my personal experience. My fears dissolved and were replaced with the idea of learning from this man. So, I jumped at the chance. But I couldn’t shake my desire to avoid another fund raising job, so I said to Henry and Joe that I would love it – provided they would give me a five year moratorium on fund raising and allow me to be on committees to promote the ideas Joe had enunciated. Joe immediately chimed in “OK and we’ll put you on the education committee.” Henry backed Joe, and so began a more the 30 year’s journey on the board. Within a year, I was out fund raising of my own volition because I was so caught up in the direction Joe was taking the college. I wouldn’t change a moment of it all!

Sue Archer

Former steno pool

My mom – Betty Clutters worked in the clerical end of Harvey Mudd under William Radley. She was a technical typist and worked on all typing of the freshman “books” during her tenure. I worked in the steno pool as well before moving down to Pendleton with Ralph Kemmerer to be the Purchasing department. Dr. Platt was always friendly to us and it was a pleasure to work under his leadership. Mom has since passed on but I know she would be saddened by the loss. Those were good times and she often spoke fondly of the Harvey Mudd people.