Veteran reflects.

• Position: Members news

Since FEI is more than 70 years old, the organization has thousands of veteran and retired members. From time to time, we will feature some of those who were there to help FEI grow, and who particularly credit FEI for the value they gained from membership.

One such individual is Harold R. DeJager, a life-retired member. Still a member of the New York City Chapter, he's been with FEI for 55 years, having begun his membership in 1948. DeJager served in a variety of chapter and national committee and leadership positions. Among those, at the chapter level: Director, Vice President, President; and at the national level: Chairman, Admissions Committee; FEI, and FERF Treasurer, Committee on Corporate Pension Programs, and more.

DeJager began his career working with Ernst & Ernst from 1936-46, traveling on the road all winter while studying for his degree from the University of Minnesota (it took him 1-1/2 years to complete a three-year program, going to classes in the summer, spring and fall). He then took his first job in the private sector in Buffalo, N.Y., as Controller and Secretary for Welch's Grape Juice Co. (now Welch Foods Inc.).

It was following this job that his membership with FEI--then the Controllers institute--became a seminal event in his life, DeJager said in an...