The Hall of Fame Induction of Dr. Euclid Herie and Dr. Dean Tuttle by Dr. Jane Erin

Tonight we will honor two outstanding professionals in visual impairment, one an extraordinary teacher and one a gifted administrator.

I will begin with Dean Tuttle. I had known of Dr. Tuttle for a while before I discovered that Dean was his first name rather than his university title. However, my initial impression that he was a dean was not too far from the truth…college deans would count themselves fortunate to possess his intellect and his ability to reason, listen, and advise.

Early in his professional career, Dean Tuttle was a teacher of visually impaired students and principal of the California School for the Blind. In 1971 he completed his PH.D. and joined the faculty at the University of Northern Colorado. He has been honored with the Wings of Freedom Award from the American Printing House for the Blind, the Migel Medal by the American Foundation for the Blind, the Warren Bledsoe Award from AER for an outstanding publication, the Distinguished Service Award by the Division on Visual Impairment of CEC, and the Scholar of the Year Award at University of Northern Colorado.

Among his 58 publications, perhaps the best known are those related to self-esteem. How many in this room have read his book, Self-Esteem and Adjusting with Blindness? Perhaps, like me, you count it as a professional book that you wanted to read rather than one you had to read. In writing the book along with his capable wife and co-author, Naomi, Dean was able to apply personal experiences…both his own and those of others…to make a credible case for the theoretical frameworks that underlie adjustment to blindness.

His nominators provide the most complete insight into the reasons why Dean Tuttle is so deserving of induction into the Hall of Fame.

Phil Hatlen recalled his work with Dean Tuttle in California: "As a mentor, I often turned to him to advice regarding difficult decisions. His calm and quiet demeanor often contrasted with my sometimes explosive approach, and Dean was the person to whom I turned when I needed a quiet, persuasive voice. I have often referred to him as the Gentle Giant in our profession."

Mike Bina described his initial discomfort as a doctoral student when Dean Tuttle reversed roles one day and asked Mike for advice. ( I have known Mike for a while, and I will affirm that asking him for advice is a very risky thing to do). Dean wanted Mike’s opinion on whether he thought there was a need for a book on the applications of the Kubler Ross theories on death and dying to adjustment with vision loss. Mike was surprised and honored that he was asked, noting that Dean "showed not only his humility, but his humanness and his respect for everyone around him, no matter what their academic rank. His doing so elevates everyone around him." Eugene Sheehan, the dean at the University of Northern Colorado, recalls, "While many of us in academe can confidently state that we have positively affected generations of students, few of us can state that we have similarly affected our colleagues. Dean taught us just as much about blindness as he taught his students."

Kay Ferrell, who followed Dean as the coordinator of the program at the University of Northern Colorado, gave him the difficult assignment of teaching courses in Hawaii soon after he retired. In her nomination letter, Kay recalled that Dean spoke to a group of elementary school students recently. Following the presentation, a student wrote a note of appreciation that said, "Thank you for being blind." Kay continues, "We should all be thankful that Dean Tuttle is blind, for in being blind, he has given us a legacy of insight and self-examination that has provided new understanding. He has made me not only a better professional, but a better person."

You may not be aware that Dean and Naomi Tuttle have contributed their own writing skills to the Hall of Fame in crafting the biographies of the people who have been honored there. It seems fitting now that we can apply Dean’s own quotation from the Hall of Fame website to Dean himself as he is inducted into the Hall of Fame. "The paths that our heroes have blazed and the legacies they have left provide us with purpose and meaning." Dean Tuttle, you are truly among those heroes.

Euclid Herie

Our second inductee into the Hall of Fame is Euclid Herie, whose influence on the blindness community is truly international. His early life sounds a bit like a Canadian version of Little House on the Prairie; the Hall of Fame biography notes that he was "one of three children of a poor French Canadian Farming family." Somewhere in those early years he learned to rely on himself and believe in his own capacity to persuade others, even while his vision decreased during his teen years and after he became blind by age 40. Dr. Herie received all of his post-secondary education from the University of Manitoba, including an honorary Dr. of Laws in 1981. From 1975 to 1983, he held a variety of roles at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, including Executive Director of two divisions, Ontario and Manitoba; Assistant Managing Director and President/Chief Executive Office of national CNIB. He has been Treasurer and President of the World Blind Union, and he established the World Braille Foundation to advance international braille literacy. As I read his biographical information, it occurred to me that this man has probably spent a higher percentage of his waking hours in meetings that any non-politician on earth…and he probably presided over most of those meetings himself.

His honors include election as a life member of the World Blind Union, president emeritus of Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Shotwell award from AER for his contributions to the rehabilitation of adults with blindness or visual impairment, the Queen’s 50th anniversary Commemorative medal, and the very prestigious Canadian Government membership in the Order of Canada.

Although this is the first time I’ve met Dr. Herie, the words of his nominators created an image for me of a man who is both decisive and personable…an unbeatable formula for a successful leader. Dwight Eisenhower once commented "Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it," and Euclid Herie has that important ability to motivate others to advance toward goals that are in the best interest of all.

In her nomination, Dr. Penny Hartin mentions his decisions to reorganize regional management structures and implement new service models, along with developing programs for technology, employment, and youth. Dr. Herie articulated a vision of how to improve services for blind people, even though I am sure he knew that change would not always be easy or welcomed by all. Dr. Hartin commented, "He exhibited tremendous leadership and vision as President of CNIB, helping the organization to evolve and grow over a number of years. In particular, Dr. Herie was very interested in progressing the situation of blind women and was very supportive of blind women taking on leadership roles both within CNIB and with the World Blind Union…he has been an inspiring and committed leader."

William Rowland, second vice president of the World Blind Union during Dr. Herie’s administration, commented, "Not only did I witness his leadership during many hours of board meetings in various parts of the world, but I also accompanied him on epic visits to East Africa and New Zealand, where he was specially honored by the Maori community. Aside from his technical skills and brilliance as a public speaker, I value most highly his warmth of personality and ability to touch the lives of disempowered people."

David Blyth, past president of the World Blind Union, noted that Dr. Herie’s initiation of the World Braille Foundation has meant that "countless numbers of blind person have had the opportunity to become literate" and that his "standing within the blind of the world is at the highest level." Mary Anne Diamond, currently president of the World Blind Union, noted Dr. Herie’s ability "to gain and maintain the attention of whoever he spoke to, whether it be one person, a crowd, or government officials he did not know. He always spoke with passion and knowledge, and ensured the issues important to people who were blind were always on the mind of those he was speaking to."

This year Dr. Herie received the Louis Braille Medial from the World Blind Union, during the year of the 200th birthday celebration of Louis Braille. This seems a fitting time to acknowledge the breadth and permanence of his influence on services for blind people by inducting him in the APH Hall of Fame. It is my honor to introduce Dr. Euclid Herie.