Mentor’s Students Were Great Mentors As Well

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William Shellman’s heraldic Princeton banner.

Courtesy of Jeffrey K. Graydon h’71 p’05

The article about William Shellman caught my attention. While working with Michael Wurmfeld ’61 I learned a bit about Shellman as a professor and mentor. Michael and I became close while working with Bob Myslik ’61 and Jon Hlafter ’61 *63 to design and build the Class of 1952 Stadium in the early 1990s. Jon and Michael were roommates and students of Professor Shellman. We three collaborated on projects including Stevens Fitness Center at Dillon and the Squash Center at Jadwin. Michael told me about the student gatherings at Professor Shellman’s home on McCosh Circle and gave me the one and only Shellman-designed heraldic Princeton banner. I was told it was proudly flown during those gatherings. Before he passed, Michael gave me the banner and asked that it be displayed in some way at Princeton. I’m not sure how he managed to get it, but I’m glad he did. Happily, I was able to honor his request: The Shellman Banner is currently on display in Baker Rink. It continues flying in my former office, and it was featured in a Princeton hockey program some years ago. I recall too that we used the banner design to paint it on several doors in the Athletic Department. The article about William “Billy” Shellman gave me reason to reflect on how fortunate I am to have had mentors and friends like Michael, Bob, and Jon.