James A. Lehman OPC '54 Receives the Alumni Award of Merit

The Alumni Award of Merit is given "to a graduate of the William Penn Charter School whose character and outstanding achievement have reflected lasting credit upon this school." 

Dr. and Mrs. Ball, fellow alumni, members of the Class of 1954: I have to say that I am overwhelmed. I could never imagine myself getting this type of award, especially when I read the list of prior recipients.

First of all, I must thank Leman Davis for nominating me and for being persistent. I never thought it would happen. I thank the Alumni Society for bestowing this honor. I want to thank my wife, Toni, my son, Tom, my brother Dick OPC’55 and also my aunt, Joan—who has always been like my older sister—for being here tonight. My other three children have given me their congratulations but due to their jobs in the western USA they could not make it.

I would be remiss if I didn’t say that I miss not having my parents here because they started this odyssey. So what did Penn Charter bring to the equation? First and foremost, a great education and a concept that education never ends. You can always improve. Mr. Linton—algebra; Colonel Lisle—English; Mr. Craig—geometry; Mr. Evans—biology; and probably the best science teacher I ever had was Mr. Braxton in chemistry and physics. He made things come alive.

The other part of the Penn Charter experience was the athletic field. Coach Conard allowed me as a senior to play soccer, develop my skills and be able to play a game. I still love to play. He encouraged my development and I still play in an “over 30” soccer league with my son, Tom.

Coach Palaia taught me persistence and to dedicate yourself to improvement, all of these qualities that stand the test of time in any career.

“If I can do it you can do it.”
“It is not the will to win but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference.”
      -Bear Bryant

From my father I developed the desire to be a surgeon because I watched him operate from the time I was 12 years old. He also taught me about DFO’s. What are those? “Doing For Others.” He showed by example that you just take care of people whether they can pay or not, whatever the problem, and good things will happen. It is the key to happiness.

My own volunteer work had its origins in Vietnam in the first first civilian war casualty hospital. We had to house families for children with birth defects outside the wards so we built a tent community next to the pediatric ward. In the ‘70s I went to Guatemala and there in then in the ‘90s when my children were grown I went to Romania and the last six years I have worked with Rotaplast teaching plastic surgery in northern Chile.

Finally, I will leave you with a little quote. “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take out breath away.”

You have definitely taken my breath away tonight. Thank you all.