Chairman, Michigan Colleges Foundation; President, Detroit Insurance Agency
1962
Citation:
One hears it said that the law of the market place is the law of the jungle and that the ruthless businessman who manipulates sharp deals and grinds down his competitors is supposed by some to be the paradigm case of the successful executive in our society. That there are such men no one doubts, but even a cursory glance at the roster of the top level workers who give so generously of their time to the United Foundation and its Torch Drive, to the Society for Mental Health, and other important civic projects reveals a quite different type of executive present on the Detroit scene. Our city is blessed with many of these men who wear the double mantle of civic and economic leadership. Tonight the University of Detroit wants to honor one of her sons who has worn this double mantle with distinction, that man, Mr. David T. Marantette, is a native of Detroit. He graduated from the University of Detroit High School and attended the University of Detroit College of Commerce and Finance. Since then he has risen from junior salesman to President and Director of a large and important insurance agency. Mr. Marantette has made his way in the world, but while doing this he has been most mindful of his civic responsibilities. Personally, as Chairman of the Michigan Colleges Foundation, he has been the rallying point of the effort to establish the smaller colleges of the state on a sound financial basis. As an insurance executive, he has energetically encouraged his subordinates to take an active part in civic projects. Many have responded to his urging and have become members of their local school boards, participated in the preparation for the recent constitutional convention and worked in the various charitable and civic drives. In doing this they have followed Mr. Marantette's deeds as well as his words for he has led the way by becoming among other things a director of the untied foundation and the Metropolitan Detroit Building Fund. He is also the new president of the Greater Detroit Board of Commerce. Mr. Marantette is a son of whom Detroit can justly be proud. Reverend President, I have the pleasure of presenting David T. Marantette for the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws. Commencement, University of Detroit, June 14, 1962.