June 1, 2023
By Kyla Marino
Staff Writer
LHS welcomed 1974 alumnus Malcolm McPherson into the Academic Hall of Fame at the Academic Awards Dinner on May 8. The event, which was attended by the top 10% of LHS students and their families, took place at The Fiesta in Wood Ridge. After accepting his award, McPherson gave a speech highlighting the importance of goal-setting, education and giving back to the community.
McPherson, who was his class’ valedictorian, said he enjoyed taking English and history classes throughout high school. He said he always gravitated toward these subjects, which equipped him with skills he would use in his career as an attorney.
“It was what was instilled in me by my parents,” McPherson said. “They gave the idea to do your best and to reach for something you might not be able to achieve.”
In addition to excelling academically, as a high school student, McPherson was involved in extracurricular activities including the National Honor Society and Ursa Major yearbook. He also shined in sports. A three-sport athlete, McPherson played football, basketball and baseball.
“When I graduated high school, it was always a dream of mine to go into the Athletic Hall of Fame, and our football team did get inducted. It was a nice honor, but I never expected to then be called up another time for an induction into the Academic Hall of Fame,” McPherson said.
After graduating LHS, McPherson went on to earn a bachelor’s degree and juris doctorate from Seton Hall University in South Orange.
McPherson said he loved college, especially because he was able to create his own class schedule and professors utilized the honor system when it came to attendance.
McPherson said even though some professors do not require their students to attend class, he said it is important to show up to reap the benefits of the once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.
“Try your hardest in college, enjoy it, try to set your goals and go after them. While you are at it, try to help others to make their life a little bit better,” McPherson said.
“When I graduated high school, it was always a dream of mine to go into the Athletic Hall of Fame, and our football team did get inducted. It was a nice honor, but I never expected to then be called up another time for an induction into the Academic Hall of Fame.”
While attending Seton Hall, McPherson worked as a law clerk, and after graduation, he became an associate and then partner at Edwards & Antholis Law Firm. As a partner, he said he had to put in long hours, sometimes working until three in the morning.
“After discussing it with my wife, we decided to move back to Lyndhurst to start my own law firm in 1991. I really wanted to spend more time with my family and to go to my kids’ school events and coach them in softball, basketball and soccer,” McPherson said.
Through the years, McPherson contributed to his community by being a member and coach of the Little Falls Athletic Club, coaching basketball and softball in Little Falls and taking on leadership roles for the Elks, which included being the exalted ruler of the Lyndhurst Elks and rising to the position of national president.
Sophomore Shawn Bellenger, who attended the Academic Awards Dinner, said he found McPherson’s advice useful.
“After listening to his achievements and learning how goal-setting helped him achieve that much, I started thinking about how goal-setting could benefit me too,” Bellenger said.
Bellenger said he respects McPherson’s drive to excel in all of his responsibilities.
“As a student-athlete that plays the same sports that Mr. McPherson played, it is inspiring to see how successful he was,” Bellenger said.
Senior Olivia Norcia, who was also at the Academic Awards dinner, said McPherson’s speech reminded her of the importance of assisting others.
“Mr. McPherson mentioned so many ways he helped his community and the Elks that it inspired me to lend a helping hand to people that need it,” Norcia said.
She said although McPherson mentioned that he was not a great public speaker, his speech was one of the best she ever heard.
“His speech was genuine and short, but that is what made it effective. He was able to say a lot in a short amount of time that did not bore the listeners,” Norcia said.
In the fall, Norcia will be attending the University of Maryland in College Park where she will be studying kinesiology. Just as McPherson has, Norcia said she hopes to return to the Academic Awards Dinner as a distinguished guest.
“To come back and receive an award like that would be a dream. I hope by then I will have benefitted my community and others just as much as Mr. McPherson has,” said Norcia.
