Milford chronicle., 1956-03-23
Offices Re0rganized
At University

A reorganization OF the Offices Of
Alumni and Public Relations at the
University of Delaware was an
nounced this week by DR.. John A.
Perkins. president
The plan to combine the two de-
partments resulted after DR.. Perk-
ins had accepted the resignation
Of Richard ID. Groo. director of
alumni relations since 1949. Mr..
Groo will join the Farmers Mutual
Fire Insurance Company, Della
wares oldest insurance organjza-
tion. on April 16. He will assist the
president, William w. Swayze, III,
and will handle promotion and pub
licity for the company. After per-
iod OF training, he will assume the
position of supervisor OF agencies.
A 1948 graduate of the University
OF Delaware, Groo will receive his
master of education degree from
the university in June. Prior to
joining the staff of the university,
he served with distinction as a staff
sergeant in the u. s. Air Force. He
was recently promoted TO captain
In the artillery of the U. S. Army
Reserve.
DR. Perkins disclosed that T. Ell
bert Chance, present director Of
public relations, will become Gi-
rector of alumni and public sela-
tions. and that W. Glenn Dill, as
sistant director of public relations
and sports publicist, will become
news editor. Miss Ruth Durstein
will continue at alumnae secretary.
According to DR.. Perkins, the re-
organization of the two depart
ments is in keeping with the uni
versity's policy OF combining re-
lated responsibilities under the di-
rection of one official, whenever it
is possible to do so to effect saw
ings in personnel, equipment and
space without jeopardy to proper
functioning of the university. The
recent consolidation of the duties
of registrar and director of ad-
missions under DR.. William G. Flet-
cher was cited by the president as
a similar administratiye change.
AS director of alumni relations at
the university during the past eight
years, Groo has maintained records
of approximately 10000 alumni and
has supervised regional alumni
chapter programs. He has coordi-
mated the Annual Development
Fund campaign, the Homecoming
activities in the fall. and the
Spring Reunion One Of his most
important assignments has been the
editorship of the University News,
the quarterly publication of the
alumni office. During his tenure as
editor, the magazine has twice been
cited for excellence fos universi-
ties of it's size and Groo also re-
ceived an award from the Ameri-
can Alumni Council for the effee-
tive use of direct mail in fund
raising campaigns.
A member of Phi Kappa Phi Fra
ternity, Omicron Delta Kappa lead
ership society, and chairman Of
District III of the American Alumni
Council, Groo, his wife and two
daughters reside at 327 Orchard
Road in Newark.
Mr.. Chance joined the university
as assistant director of pnblic re-
lations and sports publicist in 1852
and became director of public re-
lations on September /, 1854. A
graduate of the University of Della
ware, he also attended Oberlin Col
lege and served as sergeant major
OF the 63rd Infantry Regiment be-
fore enrolling az the university. He
is now working toward his masters
degree In history
8Well known In local music and
dramatic circles. Chance is bari
tone soloist at First and Central
Presbyterian Church, a member Of
the Wilmington Opera Society and
the Brandywiners. He also is
member of the American College
Public Relations Association, the
Del-Mar-Va Press Association, the
Historical Society of Delaware, Phi
Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa,
and Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity
The son of Mr.. and Mrs. Albertus
Chance. 2611 West 18th street, Will
mington, Chance and his wife re-
side at 1910 W0odlawn avenue.
Mr.. Dill, native of Milford, grad
uated from the University of Della
ware in 1854 and became assistant
director of public relations in Sep
tember of that year. AS an UNDER
graduate, he was editor of The Re-
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