The Best of the Best: CPA Hall of Fame Inducts Three New Society Members

By Sanjay Paranandi, Public Relations Specialist

The New York State Society of CPAs recently inducted three distinguished members into the CPA Hall of Fame. The honor went to three exceptional certified public accountants for their lifetime achievements, vision and contributions to the profession and the larger community. The presentation took place on May 15 at the Society’s 106th Annual Election Meeting and Dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.

The Society leadership established the Hall of Fame in 2000, when a special Selection Committee inducted five members posthumously for their demonstrated leadership, impact and distinguished service in and out of the profession. This year the award will be given to Arthur J. Dixon (1924-1981), Maurice E. Peloubet (1892-1976) and Philip Wolitzer.

“Admission to the Society’s Hall of Fame is a lifetime achievement award to a member (living or deceased) who has excelled throughout his or her career in many areas related to the accounting profession and the Society,” past Society President Alan Weiner said. “It is a multidimensional award and it is special because of the ‘less is better’ philosophy; that is, the admission requirements are so stringent that only the very best of the best are allowed to be considered.”

Criteria for acceptance require that an individual has:

• Demonstrated leadership within the profession and in the larger community within New York state;
• Demonstrated a record of achievement and provided vision and knowledge of broad business issues;
• Made a demonstrated impact on the profession through outstanding professional accomplishments;
• Provided distinguished service to the profession or the larger community;
• Contributed to accounting research, literature or education;
• Demonstrated commitment and leadership in adapting to changes in the profession;
• Made a contribution toward influencing the future of the profession;
• Provided significant service to accounting organizations; and
• Been a member of the NYSSCPA for a significant part of his or her career.

Candidates also must have worked for a minimum of 25 years as a CPA, with 10 of those years of experience in New York state, and either have attained the age of 65 or have passed away, become disabled or otherwise ceased to be actively engaged in accounting-related employment.

Arthur J. Dixon (1924-1981)

Arthur J. Dixon, CPA, was managing partner of Oppenheim, Appel, Dixon and Co. He led the tax department, which was renowned as a creative force in the field of securities taxation. When he became managing partner, Dixon transformed the company from a local to a national firm.

Dixon joined the Society in 1948 and actively participated in it and the American Institute of CPAs. He served as director, vice president and president of the Society (1974-1975) as well as chair of the NYSSCPA Federal Tax Committee.

In 1980, the Society presented him with its Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes CPAs who have distinguished themselves as leaders and have given outstanding service to the Society and the profession through publications, public service and other activities. In his name, the Society created the Arthur J. Dixon Award, the highest award given by the accounting profession in the area of public service.

Dixon graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1942. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946. In 1949 he received his juris doctor’s degree cum laude from the New York University School of Law, where he was a member of the law review.

His positions in philanthropic organizations included vice president, trustee and chairman of the Distribution Committee of the Jewish Philanthropies of New York, trustee for the Jewish Communal Fund and director of the NYU Law Alumni Association.

Maurice E. Peloubet (1892-1976)

Maurice E. Peloubet joined Price Waterhouse in 1911 before founding the accounting firm of Pogson, Peloubet and Company. In 1963 his firm merged into Price Waterhouse and he became partner.

Peloubet became a member of the Society in 1923, serving in numerous leadership positions, including president (1950-1951), vice president and director.

During his lifetime, Peloubet received many awards and honors in recognition of his lasting imprint on the accounting profession. He served three times as a delegate to the International Congress on Accounting and four times as a delegate to the Inter-American Accounting Conference. He received the AICPA Award for Service in 1946.

Leading a special mission for the United States and British Combined Chiefs of Staff in Europe, Peloubet served as a consultant to the War Production Board (1941-1942) and the U.S. Navy Department (1942-1943).

Peloubet also authored the influential 1946 article “Forensic Accounting: Its Place in Today’s Economy,” in which the origins of investigative accounting can be traced. In 1999, Georgia State University published Peloubet’s memoirs, titled The Story of a Fortunate Man: Reminiscences and Recollections of Fifty-Three Years of Professional Accounting.

Philip Wolitzer

Philip Wolitzer joined the Society in 1943 and still is an active member today. He currently serves on the General Committee on Futures in the Profession, the Furtherance Committee and the Public Relations Committee. He also conducts the Society’s “Understanding and Evaluating Financial Statements” seminars for members of the media. Wolitzer is a member of the NYSSCPA’s Board of Directors and has served as secretary and vice president on the Executive Committee. He has been honored with the NYSSCPA’s Outstanding CPA in Education Award and its Distinguished Service Award.

A member of the faculty for more than 50 years, Wolitzer chaired the accounting department at the Brooklyn Center of Long Island University (LIU) from 1964 to 1983. He began his teaching career at LIU as an instructor in 1947, and has held the highest academic rank of full professor since 1965.

In addition to his being named an Outstanding Educator of America, the Accounting Society of Adelphi University named Wolitzer the Accountant of the Year for outstanding contributions in the field of professional accountancy.

Wolitzer has served as a financial consultant to many businesses and as an officer and a member of many faculty organizations. He instituted the Internship Program for Accounting Students at LIU. He has written articles published in many professional journals, including The Journal of Accountancy, The CPA Journal, The Accounting Seminar and Taxation for Accountants.

Wolitzer earned his baceholor’s degree in business administration at City College of New York and his master’s in business administration at New York University, both with honors.