McKelvey ’59 Named Distinguished Friend of Oxford

Robert G. McKelvey ’59, of Sea Girt, N.J., was named a Distinguished Friend of Oxford University by the university’s chancellor, Lord Patten of Barnes, during a ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York as part of the university’s recent North American reunion.

Founded in 1998, the Distinguished Friend citation has been awarded to 42 Oxonians of approximately 180,000 Oxford alumni.

The citation noted McKelvey as the “driving force” behind the Merton College Charitable Corporation, the alumni organization of Mertonians in the Americas since its formation in 1994. Merton College, one of the Oxford’s 45 colleges and halls, was founded in 1264 and is one of Oxford’s oldest colleges. The citation noted that “Merton’s donations from the U.S. are among the highest of all Oxford Colleges.” McKelvey studied at Merton from 1959–1961 as a Rhodes Scholar receiving a B.A. and an M.A. degree in history.

McKelvey also serves on the board of the Association of American Rhodes Scholars and as an officer since 1998. All Rhodes Scholars attend Oxford University.

McKelvey has served as a trustee of Wesleyan University, several national educational foundations, and, locally, the Sea Girt Citizens Lighthouse Committee and The (Animal) Shelter.

McKelvey is president of George McKelvey Company, investment advisers in Sea Girt.