May 8, 2007

By Susan Hammons

Natural Sciences and Mathematics Communications

92-year-old to graduate from UH with bachelor’s in math

Crossing the stage to graduate from the University of Houston this week will culminate a quest that Henry Pitcher, 92, began 75 years ago.

Pitcher, a candidate for a bachelor of arts in mathematics from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, first pursued a college degree by enrolling in 1932 at Virginia’s Washington and Lee University to study engineering. The Great Depression forced him to drop out two years later, however, and go to work.

What followed has been a life well-lived, during which Pitcher has continued to challenge himself, said his daughter, Cynthia Pitcher. He worked for M.D. Kellogg, now part of Halliburton, and traveled extensively as head of the company's foreign construction operations.

“You name it: He’s been there in the world,” she said.

Pitcher and his wife moved to Houston more than 30 years ago, where they lived on and off until he retired here in the early 1980s. He then studied to become a certified real estate appraiser and worked as an appraiser for 10 years until he retired again at age 85.

Pitcher also began running in his 70s and ran in both the New York and Houston marathons.

In 1978 he resumed taking classes, this time at UH, where he took classes off and on until 1984. Cynthia Pitcher said she’s uncertain why her father stopped.

But last fall Pitcher, whose wife died a couple of years ago, contacted Tai McAlister, undergraduate advisor in the Department of Mathematics. He wanted to know how many courses he had left to graduate. McAlister said that because his hours from Virginia were not reflected in her database, it appeared that he had a number still to take.

“He was ready to take the bus from his new apartment down to the university,” said his daughter, who decided to help facilitate her dad’s return to school by contacting McAlister herself a few weeks ago.

Because documents about Pitcher’s transfer credits were archived, McAlister had to do quite a bit of research and coordination with math and various other departments on campus. In the end, administrators determined that Pitcher had enough hours for his diploma.

“This just would be the icing on the cake,” his daughter said.

NSM commencement will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 13, in Hofheinz Pavilion at UH.