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Ric MacDowell attended Grinnell College from 1964 -1968. After his graduation, MacDowell worked for Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). In 1997, he received the Joe Wall Alumni Service Award.

Born to a Quaker family in Indiana, Macy was raised on a farm near Lynnville, Iowa. At age 17 he walked fifteen miles across the prairie to enter Grinnell College. He remained associated with the college for the remainder of his life as a tutor, principal of the Academy, then as a respected professor. From 1885 to his retirement in 1912, he devoted himself to teaching political science and writing many books on political, social, religious, and international subjects. After retiring from Grinnell he travelled abroad more extensively and formed close associations with such people as James Bryce and George Bernard Shaw.

George F. Magoun was the first President of Iowa College (Grinnell College), from 1865-1884. He then served as Professor of Mental and Moral Science, Iowa College, from 1884-1890.

John H.T. Main served as President of Grinnell College from 1906-1931.

Henry William Matlack was a professor of music at Grinnell College beginning in 1901. Merta Rebecca Johnson was his student and they married in 1903. In 1922 Henry was named alumni secretary of the college; he died in 1936. Merta was active in many community activities including the League of Women Voters and Entre Nous, was a determined gardener and expert weaver. In 1936 she was a local supervisor for the Consumer Purchases Study, a WPA project and continued working with area families on nutrition and housekeeping into the 1940s. She lived until 1968 in the family home at 1510 East Street in Grinnell.
They had six children, all of whom attended Grinnell College: David Johnson, Mary Westgate, Margaret Westgate, Jane Fairbanks, Laura Wolcott, Helen Constance. David remained a Grinnell resident his entire life; the daughters all moved away, married, and led active lives; eventually they all returned to Grinnell. Laura moved into the family home and lived there until her death in 1997. (See attachment: Matlack Family Tree for additional information about the children, their spouses, and offspring.)