June 4, 2010, was the day which the college formally recognized the contributions of the first president, Dr. Richard Quittenton.  Joining Dr. Strasser and college staff were past and present students and staff who shared fond memories of “Q” at a media event dedicating the naming of the student residence on main campus.  Derek Quittenton, Dr. Qs' son, represented his father and family at the dedication ceremony. The event was videotaped for the family to show to “Q”.  Due to health issues, Dr. Q was not able to attend.

Dr. Richard Quittenton was known to student and staff simply as “Q”.  Our first president, was born in Toronto, Ontario and was trained as a professional engineer.  His doctorate degree is in chemical engineering from the University of Toronto.

He was the college president who successfully completed the transformation from the Western Ontario Institute of Technology (W.O.I.T) on Mercer street in Windsor to the St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology in South Windsor.

The new beginnings of St. Clair College had a 12 classroom temporary building on a 92 acre campus that housed classes of business students.  He was instrumental in the design of the $13 million, four storey building that would house the 850 students at St. Clair College.  He finished the construction of “A” block in 1970.  “F” Block was opened in 1972.  The other campus blocks and the landscaping and veterinarian tech buildings were added in 1974.  Our Chatham Thames campus began its construction during his term in 1976.

While he was president, the student population grew from less than 400 students to just over 3,000 when he left the college in 1977.

Dr. Q had his philosophy on our college written on an embossed plaque on his office door:

“IT IS MY PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY THAT ST. CLAIR BE A STUDENT-ORIENTED COLLEGE, WHERE STUDENTS AND STAFF HAVE A JOLLY TIME AND WHERE THAT STUDENTS GET A JOLLY GOOD EDUCATION SO THAT THEY LEAVE WITH A GLOWING PRIDE OF WORKMANSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP, A STRONG SELF-RELIANCE AND A CHEERFUL OUTLOOK.  SUCH ARE ST. CLAIR PEOPLE.”

This plaque and the 2010 dedication plaque are now displayed in the lobby of the Quittenton Hall Student Residence at the south campus.

Dr. Quittenton and his wife now reside in British Columbia.