“Accounting is Truly in My Blood”
Recently, alumnus John Camm ’76 spent time with us to share some memories of his Miami days and his continued enthusiasm and passion for the accounting profession. To send us your stories, email accdept@miamioh.edu.
Two men first inspired John Camm to embrace an accounting career. The first was his father, William P. Camm, an “accountant’s accountant” who eventually became a senior partner at Andersen in the ‘70s. A move from Los Angeles to establish a Cincinnati office brought the family into contact with professors at Miami, including C. Rollin Niswonger [bio], author of Accounting Principles, and Ray Gloss [bio], dean of the business school at the time.
John started in the Indian Hill School system, and by his senior year, decided to take an accounting course taught by Dale McKibben. He said, “I loved that course, and it was through this class that I finally realized and appreciated what my dad did for a living.” He added that accounting and financial education should be in schools starting in the 5th grade. “Everyone should learn this; these are essential life skills.”
It was after a year of enrollment at Vanderbilt University that John decided to pursue an accountancy major. He decided to transfer to Miami University, which had a more established business school. (Another factor in this move was his older brother William B. Camm, M.D. ’73, who was a pre-med major at Miami.) “My father knew almost all the accounting professors, and in fact, was a Dean’s associate in those days, but trust me, none of them cut me any slack. I have fond memories of professors like Harold Boggs, Jake Paperman, Ben Yager, Harry Lyle, and most notably Harold Jasper. Every accounting student loved Hal Jasper, he was kind, a wonderful teacher—and truly cared about his students,” John reminisced.
“But the man I most remember was Rollie Niswonger,” John said. “Rollie and his wife Sue would host annual Spring dinners in the 1809 room, inviting students who like myself had a parent in the accounting industry. Sure, it’s one thing to have the most widely used accounting textbook in the nation for many years, but Rollie was one of the most engaging, funny, and caring persons I’ve ever known.” John continued to stay in touch with the Niswongers after graduation.
“I did not take the usual route for accountants,” he shared. After completing his degree, John moved to Troy, Ohio, to work at Hobart Corporation, eventually working his way up to senior management. “In those days, you pretty much stuck with the same company and built your career there.” After he became Controller, his colleagues encouraged him to sit for the Ohio CPA exam—a challenge he took on successfully, despite having taken his last accounting course almost 20 years prior. “I studied hard—keep in mind a lot had changed in the profession since I graduated—sat for the exam in May 1994 and passed it all. Yes, my father was very pleased. But it solidified my passion for the profession, which continues to this day as a ‘semi-retired’ tax accountant. Believe me, accounting truly is in my blood.”
Since then, he moved to New York City and then eventually settled in Tucson, Arizona, acquiring CPA licenses in both states. He spends the rest of his time on his hobbies, which include being a Master Gardener and a five-string banjo player.