Class of 1921

Class of 1959

Bob enlisted in the Air Force upon graduating high school. It allowed him to travel the world and pursue his passion for people. He would return to New Hampshire, graduate from UNH, and in pursuit of turning his passion into his career, he would eventually return to join the faculty of the University of New Hampshire and help build the geography program. Even after his official retirement in 1999, Bob remained active in teaching and research.

Bob died as a result of the tragic terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, while on his way to a geography meeting. He was aboard United Airlines Flight 175. The formal letter of endowment for the Robert G. LeBlanc Memorial Fund at the University of New Hampshire described Bob this way:

“Bob spent his life pursuing a better understanding of people and the reasons they lived where they lived, spoke the languages they spoke, ate the food that they ate, engaged in the livelihoods that they did, and believed what they believed. […] Bob celebrated the wondrous diversity he found in the world...AND he shared this wonder and excitement and respect with his students, family, and friends.”

Class of 1964

A longtime member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, Doug Scamman was first elected to the New Hampshire House in 1968 and served as Speaker from 1986 until 1990. After serving as Budget Director for Governor Steve Merril and then Director of Administration for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation until 2003, Doug would go on to be reelected to the New Hampshire House and once again served as speaker from 2004 until 2006.

Doug grew up in Stratham, New Hampshire, and is the long-time owner and operator of Scamman Farms. Scamman Farms in 2019 earned a spot on the National Registry of Historical Places and has a long history as a popular campaign stop for candidates seeking to be elected President of the United States, including former President George W. Bush.

Class of 1970

Often recognized as the defender of New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation presidential primary, former Secretary of State Gardner holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Secretary of State in the history of the United States. First elected as State Representative to the New Hampshire House in 1972, Bill served until his election as Secretary of State in 1976. While serving as State Representative, Bill championed election reform, a cause he also championed in an effort to be elected secretary of state in 1976 at 28 years old.

As secretary of State, Bill fought for over forty years for the democratic principle of the right to vote both in New Hampshire and around the country. A Democrat, Bill was reelected by both Democrats and Republicans over the course of his forty years as Secretary of State. Bill Is a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award by the Phi Mu Delta National Fraternity.

Class of 1971

The late Ed Dupont spent a lifetime serving the Granite State and the University of New Hampshire community. He was first elected to the State Senate after winning a special election in 1984, where he served both as Senate Majority Leader and later Senate President. After leaving the State Senate, Ed would go on to found the prestigious Dupont Group. His service also included several terms as Chairman of the University System of New Hampshire Board of Trustees and on the Board of Directors for the UNH School of Law.

Amongst many distinctions, Ed received an honorary degree from the University of New Hampshire in 2017 and is a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award by the Phi Mu Delta National Fraternity.