NSAC Convocation Honours Alumnus

Dr. Harold L. Chute, class of 1944, will be awarded an honourary doctorate by Dalhousie University during the Nova Scotia Agricultural College's 93rd convocation ceremony on May 1, 1998.

Upon graduation from the agricultural college with an associate degree, Dr. Chute was employed with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture until he entered Ontario Veterinary College in the fall of 1945. He graduated with a doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 1949.

He became an assistant professor in animal pathology at the University of Maine in 1949 where he worked for nearly 30 years distinguishing himself in the field of agriculture, making significant contributions to the poultry industry through teaching, research and production, and to society in general.

During this time he also received a master of science degree from the Ohio State University in veterinary pathology and a doctor of veterinary science degree from the University of Toronto.

Most of Dr. Chute's professional career was with the avian pathology department at University of Maine Orono. In addition to teaching, he published 200 scientific papers and lectured throughout the world on improved poultry diagnostics while contributing chapters to many scientific books in this field.

He has been a member of many professional organizations and served as president of American Association of Avian Pathologists (1963), the Maine Veterinary Medical Association (1969), and the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (1970). He also received the Pope Award in 1990.

From 1969 to 1977, Dr. Chute served as director of development at the University of Maine Orono before founding Chute Chemical Co., an industrial specialty chemical company that holds several U.S. patents. He retired in 1995.

Despite many professional obligations, Dr. Chute is also actively involved in many civic and fraternal activities, including being the first mayor of Orono and establishing the DeMolay Pine Tree Youth Foundation, which provides scholarships to boys and girls. He is currently serving on the board of several other charitable foundations with his efforts directed toward fund-raising.

Dr. Chute is married to the former Marion Baker of Margaretsville, N.S. They have two daughters, Pamela and Hazel Lee, a son, Cameron, and two grandchildren.

Two local citizens will also be recognized at this year's convocation by being appointed to honorary positions. Ian Fraser will be appointed vice-principal emeritus, and Dale Ells will be appointed dean emeritus, reflecting the positions in which both served the college for many years.

Convocation ceremonies will take place Friday, May 1, at the Langille Athletic Centre, starting at 2 p.m.