Over the past several years, he has chatted with the princess of Thailand, the King of Jordan, the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, the Chinese President and over 3,000 others of national and international renown.

For Richard M. Hunt it's all in a day's work. As University marshal, he is in charge of coordinating and supervising all visits to the University by scholars, leaders, journalists and other recognized figures.

The mysterious inhabitant of Wadsworth House, the yellow building across from Au Bon Pain and next to Wigglesworth Hall, Hunt is known to many students simply as the man who helps organize Commencement in June.

His job, however, extends far beyond the limits of Commencement week.

One day Hunt may be working closely with students and professors to decide where Harvard's visiting dignitaries will travel on campus and with whom they will meet. The next he will be extending invitations to the next round of guests.

But however varied his tasks, the University marshal's office is above all a public relations apparatus--another arm of the extensive Harvard system, designed to coordinate the image the University presents when delegates leave the campus and preparing a ceremonious welcome for all visitors.

Presenting a Pretty Face

Whenever any student organization or school within the University wishes to invite a well-known scholar, government official, or public figure to visit and speak here, the University Marshal's office is the first necessary stopping point.