(Posted April 19, 2001)

Samuel Metz, retired assistant school superintendent for the Juniata County School District, will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters degree at 2 p.m., May 13, during Juniata's 122nd commencement ceremony.

Metz earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Juniata College in 1939.

He earned a master's degree in education from Bucknell University in 1951.

Metz also owned and operated the Metz Acres dairy farm in Juniata County from 1958 to 1999. He also was state director of the Pennsylvania Holstein Association from 1981 to 1991.

A native of Philadelphia, Metz worked as a medical salesman for Walker Corporation and Durst Pharmaceuticals from 1940 to 1943. From 1943 to 1945 he served in the U.S. Navy as a medical corpsman with the 4th Marine Regiment. He was involved in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He was discharged in 1945.

Metz was hired as a teacher of social studies and biology at the Juniata Joint High School in Mifflintown, Pa. in 1945. He also served as athletic director from 1945 to 1950. In 1951, he was promoted to supervising principal for the Thompsontown-Delaware Township School District. In 1952, he was named supervising principal for the East Juniata School District. In 1966, the school districts of Juniata County were combined and he was elected assistant school superintendent, a title he held until his retirement in 1972

Metz has served as the chairman of the board of the First National Bank of Mifflintown since 1989. He has been a member of the bank's board of directors since 1959. The bank has a central office and eight branch offices.

Metz is a member and past president of the Mifflintown Rotary Club and a member of the Juniata Valley Chamber of Commerce. He has been a member of various local Masonic organizations since 1959 and is a member of the Zembo Shrine in Harrisburg. He also has been a member of the American Legion No. 298 in Mifflintown since 1945.

He is a member of the Juniata County Educational Association and served as its president from 1957 to 1958. He is a past member of the National Educational Association and the Pennsylvania Educational Association. He also is a member of the Juniata County Pennsylvania School of Retirees.

He is married to Marian R. Metz, who is a retired elementary school teacher from the Mifflin County School District. The couple married in 1939.

The couple has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East. They both enjoy gardening and have been members of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra for the past 10 years. Mr. Metz tries to walk one to two miles every day when the weather is good.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.