Blacks@Dartmouth 1775 to 1960

William Marion Dent, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died of cancer on June 30. At the time of his death, Bill was the oldest black alumnus, an honor recognized in 1977 at a conference of black alumni. After Dartmouth, Bill earned a B.S. in accounting from Detroit Technical Institute in 1917. From 1917-21 he was manager of the Detroit Leader newspaper. He then became an auditor for the Liberty Life Insurance Company of America. From 1930 to 1935 he worked for the New York City Department of Welfare, and after that he held various positions in the New York State Department of Labor until 1962. He prepared income tax reports for business firms after retiring from his previous position.

Bill served as budget director of the Maryland Interracial Committee, was on the Board of the A.M.E. Church, and was a member of the Detroit Urban League. He also belonged to the Masons, Elks, and Odd Fellows.

While at Dartmouth, Bill was on the freshman track team.

Bill's second wife, Alveda, predeceased him in 1971. He is survived by his daughters, Jean Lane and Dr. Clotilde Bowen, his son, William M. Dent Jr., several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and by Paul Zabriskie '81.