Gill to Succeed Conway As Master of Leverett

Richard T. Gill '48, an economist who devised the College's tutorial-for-all plan, will become Master of Leverett House this summer.

He succeeds John J. Conway, who will resign in June to return to his native Canada. Gill has been Allston Burr Senior Tutor of Leverett since 1955.

In announcing the appointment, Dean Ford also disclosed that Gill will become Lecturer on Economics. The 35-year-old Gill presently is an assistant professor.

Leverett House has undergone a major transformation during Conway's six years as Master. With two 11-story modern towers constructed in 1960 and a dining room renovated a year earlier, Leverett led all Houses last year in the number of first-choice applications received from freshmen. Previously, it had been among the least popular Houses.

With 459 undergraduates and 50 faculty tutors and associates, Leverett is the largest House at the College.

Short Story Writer

Besides serving as Leverett's senior tutor, Gill has been head tutor in the University's largest non-compulsory course, Economics 1, and has written short stories for the New Yorker and the Atlantic Monthly.

He also lectures in Economics 169, Theory and Problems of Economic Development. During a leave of absence in Rome last year he wrote an elementary textbook on economic development that is scheduled for publication this winter.

Several weeks ago Gill was appointed executive secretary of a ten-member Faculty committee that will review the College's General Education program. Chaired by Paul M. Doty, professor of Chemistry, the committee may re-define some of the goals of Harvard undergraduate education. The study could lead to changes in the General Education offerings.

Changed Tutorial Plan

In February, 1961 the Faculty adopted a motion proposed by Gill that opened junior and senior tutorial to all students in the Humanities and Social Sciences who have a satisfactory average of C minus or better.

Although it has not been carried out fully by all Departments, the Gill Plan has substantially reduced the distinction between honors and non-honors students. The Plan also altered the rules for receiving a degree of cum laude in General Studies.

After graduating summa cum laude in economics from the College in 1948, Gill spent one year at Jesus College, Oxford, as a Henry Fellow. He then served as assistant dean of Harvard College for several years before joining the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in 1955.

As an undergraduate, Gill was president of the Debate Council, vice-president of the Liberal Union, and treasurer of his class. At graduation he was class orator and now is a member of his permanent class committee.

He also boxed in College and in the army, and sang bass in oratorios in Cambridge.

Gill was born in Long Branch, N.J. He is married and has three sons.