Pauline Druley, member of class of ‘31, turns 100 surrounded by friends
by Rebecca Ogle
Pauline Druley graduated with the Earlham class of 1931. This year, the well-known Earlham alum celebrated her 100th birthday.
“Oh heavens, they just had all kinds of parties for me,” said Druley. “I think I got 93 cards.”
Druley, a sprightly optimist, has many friends in her current hometown of Milton, Ind., located about 15 miles west of Earlham’s campus. She is still an active and well-loved member of the Earlham community. On Sept. 26, 2009, President Doug Bennett gave a speech for College Meeting for Worship in celebration of Druley’s life.
“You have lived a long while, you have many stories to tell, but every time I see you, you want to talk about what’s happening today, and what’s going to happen tomorrow,” said Bennett of Druley. “You’re still fresh, active, vital.”
Druley is also popular in the alumni office.
“She’s everyone’s favorite alum and has been very generous to Earlham,” said Kim Tanner, associate vice president for Institutional Advancement. “One of the things we all say around here is we want to be Pauline Druley when we grow up. She has a young spirit and she is so appreciative and always takes a moment to say something nice about people.”
Druley came to Earlham as a sophomore, transferring from a strict all-girls school. She double majored in history and English. She was involved in many campus activities, including playing violin in the orchestra and being part of the debate team. Druley speaks very highly of her professors, and she said the main thing that has stayed the same about Earlham since the 1930s is the people.
“Well, I think the people at Earlham have been very genuine,” she said. “Everybody wants to help everybody out.”
Druley’s education at Earlham has led her to many different careers throughout her lifetime, including a schoolteacher in Richmond, a secretary at Earlham, a secretary for an attorney in one of the top three insurance companies in Washington D.C., and a secretary for the Pennsylvania Railroad during World War II.
One of Druley’s most notable accomplishments was when she made history by becoming the first female secretary of the Indiana senate.
“I don’t care if they were Democrats or Republicans, they were all just so nice to me,” Druley said of her position.
For someone that has lived a century, Druley certainly has a full schedule. She belongs to a sorority, a local church, and two literary clubs. She visits Earlham frequently and even went to Homecoming this year. “We went to breakfast, went to half of the football game and then to the president’s tea at 4:00 … I went to the concert on Saturday night. I got home at 11:00 p.m. after leaving the house at 7:00 a.m.,” she said.
When asked for her secret to living such a long life, Druley responded, “I never smoked … my husband didn’t because he was an athlete, and my father didn’t because he was a dentist, so I never did.” She added, characteristic of her positive, grateful attitude, “I’ve just been real lucky all the way.”
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