The Recipe for Success

Dr. Danal Hotaling credits the strong liberal arts foundation he received at Hartwick College for the success he has achieved throughout his life. "Hartwick gave you an idea of what your capabilities were," Hotaling said.

A native of Oneonta, NY, he attended Oneonta High School and graduated from Hartwick College in 1939 with a bachelor of science in history. Noted for his leadership qualities, Hotaling was voted president of his senior class and returned to his alma mater 40 years later to lead again as a member of Hartwick's Board of Trustees. His dedication was recognized in 1979 when the College granted him an honorary doctor of laws degree.

Right out of school, Hotaling went to work as a sales representative for Continental Rubber. Then, in 1945, he and a partner founded Colonial Rubber Works in Logansport, IN. When the company relocated to Tennessee, Hotaling initiated a partnership with the University of Tennessee. Through this innovative collaboration, UT engineering students were given paid internships to work on "live projects" with Colonial Rubber.

Hotaling is a firm believer in this type of hands-on learning and was inspired by his own hands-on experiences at Hartwick College. He applauds the College's longstanding commitment to "melding the liberal arts with experiential learning."

Hotaling and his late wife, Charlotte, also a graduate of the College, were lifelong supporters of their alma mater. When Charlotte died in 1995, Hotaling established The Charlotte Orr Hotaling Writing Center in her memory. Today, the center is a critical support service serving all Hartwick students.

Most recently, Hotaling, who now lives in Inverness, FL, with his wife, Sue, has documented a generous bequest to help future generations of Hartwick students realize their own highest capabilities.