Deaf Heritage: A Narrative History of Deaf America

Chapter 17. The National Association of the Deaf

Frederick C. Schreiber (1922-1979) Executive Director National Association of the Deaf Endowed with a deep sense of social consciousness for the needs of grassroots deaf people, Frederick C. Schreiber was an action-oriented ind ividui;ll who has left a lasting impact on the lives of all of us, deaf and hearing alike. Brillia nt, articulate, aggressive, and yet sensitive and blessed with a gift of humor, warmth, and peopleness, this human dynamo began early to gain those experiences which provided meaning and substance to his eventual national and intem ationa l contributions. Following his grad uation from Gallaudet College in 1942, this native New Yorker entered th e ranks of blue-collar workers in a war plant in Akron, Ohio, for the duration of World Wa r 11, taugh t briefly in Texas, tutored voca tional rehabilitation clients in New York City, fi naU y settling down as a linotypist for the U.S. Government Printing Office in Wa hington, D.C. All through these early years Fred acti vely participated in local clubs, Frat divisions, and community publications , all of which fo rmed the real-life contact with the deaf community which enhanced his culminating work at the federal and world-wide level. In 1964 he was elected to the Boa rd of Directors of the National Association of the Deaf as secretary-treasurer , and two year later accepted the challenge of becoming Executive Director of this floundering and restructured sleeping giant with its extremely limited financial Tesources. At the time of his unexpected death on September 5, 1979, Fred had engi neered the NAD into a full y solvent and powerful consumer organization with an annual budget of close to $2 million , its own national office building, and a s taff of some 40 people. He had also made time to serve on countless advisory boards and on the Bureau of the World Federation of the Deaf. Fighter and advocate for the rights of deaf persons, facilitator and developer, forceful, innovati ve, and creative, his legacy to the deaf communi ty will long endure. Although he is no lon ger with us today, accolades honoring his many contributions continue to reach the National Association of the Deaf from the far corners of the world. The Gallaudet College Alumni Association is proud to honor one of its rarest and most impressive sons with the LAURENT CLERC AWARD- Frederick C. Schreiber. This tribute to Dr. Schreiber was wrillm by his good frielld, Dr. Mervill D. GarretsOlI. It was read 01 the presmtation ceremO llY by a mell/ber vf the Lallrellt Clerc C"lIurn[ Flmd COII/mittee of the Gallaudel College Alilmlli Association which presc 'I1ted the Lallrelll Clerc Award to Dr. Schreiber posthumously'''' April 12. 1980. 421 Presidents of the National Association of the Deaf (Compiled by Rosalyn L. Gannon) Name Cause of Deafness/Age State Term 1. Robert P. McGregor (1849-1926) brain fever OH 1880-1883 7-8 years old 2. Edwin A. Hodgson' (1854-1933) meningitis 18 years old NY 1883-1889 3. Dud ley W. George (1855·1930) Gradually became deaf IL 1889-1893 16 years old 4. Thomas Francis Fox' (1859·1944) meningitis 12 years old NY 1893·1896 5. Rev. Jacob M Koehler (1860·1932) meningitis PA 1896·1900 10 years old 6. James L Smith' (1863·1943) mening itiS MN 1900·1904 8·10 years old 7. George W Vedilz (1861-1937) scarlet fever CO 1904·1910 8 years old 8. Rev. Olaf Hanson' (1862-1933) ears frozen WA 191 0·1913 12 years old 9. Jay Cooke Howard (1872·1946) unknown MN 1913-1917 7 years old 10. Rev. James H. Cloud' (1862-1933) unknown MO 1917·1923 14 years old 11 . Arthur L. Roberts' (1881-1957) 12 years old IL 1923·1930 12. Franklin C. Smielau (1870· 1940) 6 years old OH 1930-1933 13. William H. Schaub (1894-1947) MO 1933·1934 14. Marcus L Kenner' (1882-1969) meningitis NY 1934·1940 10 years old 15. Tom L_Anderson' (1888·1966) scarlet fever IA 1940-1946 12 years old 16. Byron B. Burnes' {1904- chicken pox CA 1946-1964 15 years old 17. Robert G. Sanderson (1920· spinal meningitis UT 1964-1968 11 years old 18. Robert O. Lankenau {1919- spinal meningitis OH 1968-1972 10 years old 19. Don G. Pettingill (1920- German measles MD 1972-1974 5 years old 20. Jess M. Smith (1919...