"In the evening by the moonlight you can hear those brothers hum..."

Dr. Dwight R. Guthrie Biography
Originally written by Wes Brown, Class of 1975
Revised by Mark Lomasney, Class of 1974

If you attended Grove City College and were a member of the Epsilon Pi Fraternity before 1995, then the image of the saintly, gray-haired man traversing the campus at a slow gate, wearing a blue and gold jacket with an Octagon on the breast plate is forever etched in your memory. Dr. Dwight Guthrie, Harbison Professor Emeritus of Religion, was the fatherly figure that bound together every brother of the Octagon since he pledged the fraternity in 1920. His entire life was dedicated to his God and Savior Jesus Christ, his lovely wife, Julia, and their family, Grove City College and his students, and the Epsilon Pi Fraternity. His life was a reflection of our motto "Brothers working for the good of all." It is right and honorable that we devote this space on the new website to the life history of, perhaps, the greatest brother ever to wear the navy blue and gold.

"So pass the loving cup around nor pass a brother by. We all drink from the same canteen in dear old Epsilon Pi,"

Dwight Guthrie was born on September 6, 1902, in Apollo, Pennsylvania, where he lived with his devoutly religious parents, two older brothers and a younger sister. Dr. Charles Cribbs, his minister and a graduate of Grove City College, persuaded Dwight to enroll at the school, Dwight Guthrie's family was poor and could not afford the room, board and tuition, so Dr, Cribbs arranged for his protégé to gain work on campus. Guthrie, like so many of us that came after him, waited tables in the women's cafeteria, cleaned blackboards and delivered bread to Memorial Hall Cafeteria each morning.

Guthrie chose to major in history with the intention of entering the seminary. As a sophomore he was approached by Lee McCandless about pledging the Epsilon Pi Fraternity which was about to expand its tight knit group to 20 members, Dwight accepted the bid and pledged the frat.

"For you and I can ne'er grow old while this fair cup is high. So pass the Loving Cup around and drink to Epsilon Pi."

Upon graduation from GCC, Dwight Guthrie taught high school history for one year in order to earn enough money to pay his younger sister's tuition to GCC. In the fall of 1925, he was admitted to the Western Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh. There he earned his S.T.B. Degree and was ordained in April, 1929. His first assignment was the First Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he served for one year.

While studying at the seminary, Dwight met a beautiful young girl named Julia Clevenger and courted her. During a vacation break from school he proposed marriage. After studying at the University of Edinburgh, Dwight returned to the United States to prepare for their nuptials. They were married on July 15, 1931. They traveled to Europe and then to Scotland for their honeymoon. While they lived in Scotland, Dwight completed his studies at the University.

Returning to the United States, the Guthrie’s served ministerial appointments at Presbyterian churches in Springfield, Ohio, Cedarville, Illinois, and in Oil City and Johnston, Pennsylvania. Dr. Guthrie served those churches between 1932 and 1950. While in Springfield, Guthrie earned his S.T.M. Degree from Wittenberg University in 1935, and in 1938, while at Cedarville, he was granted a Doctor of Divinity Degree from Cedarville College. After ten years of study and perseverance, he completed his academic education at the University of Pittsburgh, earning his PhD in 1949.

"Pass the Loving Cup around it speaks of other days. We see the milestones backward run as upon this cup we gaze."

In 1950 Dwight and his beloved wife, Julia, returned to Grove City where he accepted a position as Professor of Religion with a Samuel Harbison Chair of the Bible. He served in that capacity until his formal retirement in 1972. In 1957, upon the death of Dr. Hoyt (EP Advisor), Dr. Guthrie became the advisor to the Epsilon Pi Fraternity until his retirement.

In moments of reflection, Dr. Guthrie would often mention his love of the fraternity and that his membership, advisorship and attendance at EP events were a major part of his life, EPs of every era cannot recall a single event where Dr. Guthrie did not sport colors or display his pledge pin on the lapel of his jacket.

No brother loved or was more proud of our participation in the quest for the IF Sports Trophy than "Doc" Guthrie. He'd loved football since his playing days as a 135-pound back-up guard on the Wolverine Football Team and religiously attended each fall IF football game, rain or shine. His devotion to our sports teams was demonstrated through his faithful attendance at every event. He could often be seen peering down through the observation window at the IF handball action when our men competed in single and doubles play. He always made the time to attend, all with Julia's support and consent. He loved the competition and he particularly loved it when we won.

He also faithfully supported our varsity sport athletes and attended many home contests. Often he could be seen standing on the sidelines during varsity football games and many times he was the first to shake our brother's hand at the conclusion of the contest, whether it was on the field, in the gym or in the Gedunk.

"Our grip grows strong. Loud comes our song as this fair cup we raise."

Julia Guthrie left us on June 13, 1985. Dr. Guthrie eventually sold the property on Washington Street and took residence at the old Penn Grove Hotel. He passed on to his Lord and Savior on August 29, 1998. He is, for many of us, one of our most unforgettable characters. He lived a purposeful life, He taught us academically and spiritually, prayed with us and for us, married some of us, counseled us, was a father figure to us and he supported us. Dwight Guthrie led and taught by example his perseverance, faith, virtue, nobility and spirituality were inspirational to all our brothers. He described his association with the Epsilon Pi Fraternity as being "something mystical" throughout the years. It certainly was.

"So pass the Loving Cup around and drink to EP days.”