On May 17, our CEO Jim Rudd spoke at the thirteenth annual Bishop Dagwell dinner at Arlington Club in Portland. The Club was founded in 1867 by 35 businessmen seeking, “ … to provide a meeting place for discussing their own and Portland’s destiny.” Some of the notable names who founded Arlington Club included William S. Ladd, Henry Failing and Captain J.C. Ainsworth.
Bishop Dagwell was in residence at Arlington Club for 27 years and died just steps away from the club in 1963. He had just finished delivering Sunday evening service, drove himself home and collapsed getting out of his car. Included in Rudd’s remarks about Bishop Dagwell’s passing were his observation of other news that made the headlines that week.
“Reading a paper* that covered Bishop Dagwell’s passing were two other articles prominently featured—mere coincidence but I found their timing fascinating. One day later on June 3 the leader of my Church, Pope John XXIII, died of heart failure and there’s a story about his legacy with numerous quotes from President Kennedy. Equally interesting is an article between the pictures of Bishop Dagwell and the Pope with the headline, ‘Judge delays ruling on Governor Wallace.’ As you know, Bishop Dagwell was an outspoken critic of racial discrimination and a supporter of civil liberties—not an easy mantle to carry in the first 50 years of the 20th century.”
Rudd served as president of Arlington Club in 2002 and has been a member since 1987. Other Ferguson Wellman professionals who have served as Arlington Club President include Co-Founder Joe Ferguson and Senior Vice President Helena Lankton.
*This journal entry includes a link that take readers to content that is not managed by Ferguson Wellman. We can not confirm that the information is current nor accurate.