Above, Jane Adams Canby ’51 introduced her husband to the assembled crowd at a dinner in his honor October 16. Left, 2006 Distinguished Alumni/ae Award recipient Judge William C. Canby ’49
William C. Canby ’49
Federal judge traces roots of his success back to SPA
A
“Alumni/ae offer students a roadmap to the future, and embody what it means to live a rich and meaningful life,” Head of School Bryn Roberts told an assemblage of friends and well-wishers Monday, October 16, as he introduced 2006 Distinguished Alumni/ae Award recipient Judge William C. Canby ’49 at a dinner in his honor. Jane Adams Canby ’51 followed Roberts at the podium, noting it was an “enormous treat” to introduce her husband to a crowd of St. Paul Academy and Summit School faces. “The Academy played a significant role in my husband becoming a contented,
16
SPA
| winter 2007
interesting, well-traveled and ironic man,” she said. “He learned focus, discipline, and how to ask questions in a healthy way.” Canby himself then came to the front of the room, thanking “the previous speaker for her gracious remarks” and went on to say he was delighted both with the award and the honor of being selected the Distinguished Alumni/ae Award recipient for 2006. He spoke of his indebtedness to the Academy and of his experiences in the Peace Corps, in teaching law and in serving on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The following day he presented a similar speech to
Middle and Upper School students at an all-school assembly. Head of School Roberts told students Canby’s life and work were not exclusively defined by law, but that he was a prime example of someone who has used his background and intellect to help solve major social problems. He reminded them Canby was once a student at SPA, just as they are now. “He walked these halls, played on these fields and he studied in these classrooms,” Roberts reminded. “He is an important part of the SPA community to which you all belong.” Canby took the podium, noting it was fun, albeit somewhat daunting, to be
talking to the entire school. Nobody, when he was a student, called him “Judge,” he joked, and his primary use of the gymnasium in those days was for Thursday night target practice — something he felt would no longer be condoned. He expressed gratitude to the Academy for his education, noting the school has changed significantly over time and likely for the better. He credited part of that change and betterment to merging with Summit School in the late 1960s. Canby came to SPA as a student in the seventh grade after having attended public school. He told students he was not terribly interested in academics