Presented at the 2015 Commencement Ceremony at Franklin & Marshall College

At the increasingly busy intersection of popular culture and modern media, one is almost certain to encounter Class of 1981 F&M graduate Richard Plepler because of his tremendous impact on his industry. As the chairman and CEO of Home Box Office Inc., he is responsible for the overall management of the world's most successful pay TV service, which includes two television networks — HBO and Cinemax — and counts upwards of 127 million subscribers in more than 150 countries worldwide.

Many of the most innovative, influential, critically acclaimed and honored programs in television history — including "The Pacific," "Game Change," "Boardwalk Empire," "Too Big to Fail," "The Newsroom" and the wildly successful "Game of Thrones" — have emerged from the collective talents at HBO during Mr. Plepler's time with the company, which began in 1995 when he left a senior executive position at parent TimeWarner to join the cable and satellite television powerhouse. He was named co-president of HBO in 2007, and assumed his current responsibilities as chairman and CEO in January 2013.

Upon graduating from Franklin & Marshall College with a degree in government, Mr. Plepler first worked for United States Sen. Chris Dodd, from his home state of Connecticut, making a lasting impression on the senior lawmaker. Their friendship continues to this day, as does Mr. Plepler's interest in politics, culture, national and international affairs.

Described by colleagues as deeply curious, intelligent, with a voracious appetite for knowledge and for life, Mr. Plepler is frequently engaged in a continuing education with leading figures from entertainment, politics, and government. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, as well as a trustee for the Asia Society and New York Public Library, Mr. Plepler and his wife, Lisa, frequently host informal gatherings in their home attracting journalists, authors, actors and even heads of state for discussions about international events, politics and the arts.

In 2014, The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the world's largest and most prestigious annual awards and celebration of creative excellence in advertising and communications, named Mr. Plepler its Media Person of the Year. He is also a 2013 inductee of the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. And this year, HBO was accorded the Financial Times ArcelorMittal Award for boldness in business.

A primary example of Franklin & Marshall's preparing and inspiring students and graduates for lifelong learning, Mr. Plepler continues to pursue knowledge that will help him better understand the societal challenges of our age, and to advocate for continuing education.

Richard Plepler, for your devotion to the liberal arts and unquenchable thirst for new knowledge, and for your efforts to both inform and entertain through the media of motion pictures and broadcasting, Franklin & Marshall College bestows upon you the Honorary Degree, Doctor of Letters.

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Citations:

Robert Kwesi Koomson '97: Doctor of Humane Letters

Sherry Turkle, Ph.D.: Doctor of Science

Lynn Matluck Brooks: Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching

Michael L. Anderson: Bradley R. Dewey Award for Outstanding Scholarship

Robert Gray: Socrates Citation

Cecile Zorach: Socrates Citation

Lina Bernstein: Socrates Citation

Christine Alexander: Richard Kneedler Distinguished Service Award