Contemporaries describe Houghton as "a very energetic young man" who lived a "very colorful childhood."

He has remained an active alum of the A.D. final club. In fact, a picture of Houghton and several buddies from his reunion class still adorns the wall of an upstairs bar room in the club's elegant Plympton St. house.

After graduating from the College, Houghton moved across the river to Harvard Business School. But he found the atmosphere there more difficult than that of the College.

He was forced to withdraw from the school for two years after poor first-year grades, which means at least four "low passes" during that year, according to alumni.

During his withdrawal, he went to work for Goldman Sachs and Co. before returning to complete his MBA in 1962.

A Family Affair

Two years out of Harvard Business School, Houghton entered Corning, Inc., the company founded by his great-great grandfather, where he began a steady rise which culminated in his appointment as chair and CEO in 1983.

Houghton began his financial career in the international sector, serving as European area manager from 1964-68.

He was named vice president and general manager of Corning's computer products division in 1968. In 1971, he earned a promotion to vice chair of Corning's board of directors, with responsibility for international operations, a post he held for 12 years.

Today, the Houghton family owns 15 percent of Corning's stock--worth about $1 billion, according to a recent article in Business Week.

Members of the business community praise Houghton for his leadership at Corning.

"He has a terrific reputation. The company has always been a strong company with a great science and tech base," says University Treasurer D. Ronald Daniel, an ex officio Corporation member and former chief of McKinsey & Company, Inc. "What Jamie has done is build a sense of excitement in the company and the company has run better."

Other Corporation members are Rosovsky, University President Neil L. Rudenstine, Kirby Corporation CEO Robert G. Stone Jr. '45, Harcourt General, Inc. CEO Richard A. Smith '46 and Washington attorney Judith R. Hope.

Former president of the Board of Overseers John C. Whitehead, a former chair of Goldman Sachs, echoes the praise.

"He's one of the leading businessmen in America. He's highly regarded he's been a very successful CEO of Corning and I think its wonderful he's willing to give the time required to be a good member of the Corporation," Whitehead says.