Charles Sheridan Styron, known to his friends as Dan, had the talent and drive to take on almost any career and succeed.

But no one could have predicted his lonely fate. Last year he committed suicide by gassing himself after almost 15 years as a leader of the revisionist Socialist Workers Party.

Like his colleagues in the “Carleton Twelve,” Styron’s origins were anything but political and safely distanced from the class struggle.

His father, the Rev. Charles M. Styron, was the Congregationalist minister at the parish church in the small town of Lincoln, Massachusetts.

Young Styron was not without a sense of humor. In one high school report, he replied to the question, “What occupation do you expect to engage in?” by answering “College teaching.” The following year, he replied, “None (if possible).”

His application to Carleton College was accompanied by a batch of laudatory recommendations from teachers, neighbors and friends of the family.

“Charles is extremely interested in people — their thoughts, their motivations, their ideals,” wrote the mother of one of his friends. “I think he can contribute a lot to his contemporaries and that he will be respected and liked by his peers as well as by his elders.”

His math teacher said: “I have taught high school students for nine years, and in this time have never seen a finer teenage leader.”

At the Lincoln–Sudbury High School, Styron was president of the student council for two years and president of his own class for four. During his term of office, he proposed and pushed for a new plan for 'student government.'

One of his teachers commented, “It is largely due to Charles' efforts that the student body is soon to assume some responsibility in establishing and enforcing their own rules or code of dress and behavior.”

Another wrote: “His marked qualities of leadership coupled with his superior native abilities, deserve the best education possible.”

There was a glowing tribute from a neighbor who said: “Persuaded a group of students who wouldn't ordinarily participate to join the school glee club. Always swaying opinion. Divides his time well among studies, sports, church and extra curricular activities with general aim of being a well-rounded, well-educated person.”

The leader of his youth group wrote: “Mr. Styron's name is always brought up in connection with any job that requires public relations on behalf of the organization.”

Although his admission to Carleton must have been a foregone conclusion, Styron clinched it with his biographical essay.

My most vivid recollections of childhood are of the summers during which my family and I went on camping trips all over the United States. Since my eighth birthday, my father, my mother, my older sister, my older brother and I have spent most of our summers in Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico, with other trips to Cape Hattison, North Carolina, Maine and New Hampshire.

During our enjoyable adventures, we spent most of our time fishing, hunting, camping, mountain climbing, meeting people and enjoying nature at its best.

During the summer of 1956 I had the opportunity of attending a work camp just outside of Newtown, North Dakota. At the work camp, a dozen teenagers and I had the opportunity of working with the Indians at the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. We helped them to rebuild an old garage into a small chapel.

During this time we grew to better understand the problems which face the people in this area and how to appreciate the Indian Americans as people.

By living in the small residential town of Lincoln all my life, I have received many opportunities which I would not have received in a large community. Because of the high school size, I was able to lead and participate in many school activities and organizations.

For example, I am not a good athlete, but because of a lack of competition in the small school, I was able to play basketball for four years and soccer for three. I am grateful for this opportunity.

This summer our family is going to take one last camping trip. We plan to sail for Europe during the first of July, buy a Volkswagen in Germany, and drive completely around the Mediterranean. This should be an extremely educational and fascinating experience.

After our return to the United States, I expect to attend my first year of college where I hope to major in Sociology, Philosophy or Psychology. Upon completing my education I hope to work helping minority groups to integrate into larger societies.

This, however, is a bit vague in my mind because I don't actually know enough about myself or potential occupations to make an intelligent choice of this type.

Immediately he arrived at Carleton in 1959. Styron became destined for high honors. He became president of Carleton Student Association and at the 1962 inauguration of college president John W. Nason, Styron made the welcoming speech on behalf of the student body.

Nason sent a note to Styron two days after the inauguration saying:

Dear Dan,

You had a difficult assignment on Saturday noon and you carried it off with distinction. I do not know whether congratulations or thanks are more in order. Anyway I send both.

You handled yourself at the luncheon like a pro, and I hope you were pleased, as well as relieved, to have the affair over. You have every right to be proud.

Yours sincerely,

John W. Nason

Nason was no small town businessman. A former Carleton graduate, he was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford in the 1920s. His brother Philip, a member of Carleton's board of trustees, was president of the First National Bank of St. Paul, the largest banking firm in the Midwest.

Others in the Styron generation recall that Nason was a World Federalist and that he frequently hosted receptions for visitors from the United Nations.

As student president, Styron mingled with the administrators and faculty with ease. They met at gatherings of the Student-Faculty Council when Dean Richard C. Gilman was always in the center of things.

The outgoing president, Laurence M. Gould, wrote to Styron in February 1962, saying: “As you probably know, the Student-Faculty Council has no legislative responsibility.”

“It does, however, provide an excellent forum for the free discussion of matters of mutual concern to the students, the faculty, and indeed the whole college.”

In other words, Styron was a highly trusted and valued student leader insofar as the administrators were concerned.

When Styron wrote to Nason asking for a reference in November 1963, president Nason replied: “I shall be delighted to write a reference on your behalf. So far no inquiries have reached this office.

“Mrs. Nason and I leave this week for a tour of the West Coast... I don't know whether we shall see you or not at the alumni meeting on the 18th. We would both enjoy seeing you if it turns out to be possible for you.”

Styron shared his campus spare time between student activities and the stage. He appeared in two college musicals, “Girl Crazy” and “Guys and Dolls.”

His college record throws no light on his conversion to the Fourth International or Marxism. Indeed, he is listed as being a devout worshipper at Sunday services.

He graduated on June 14, 1963, as a history major, and sat holding the hand of another graduate, Mary-Alice Waters. The next day they married.

While their classmates thought that they were destined for illustrious professional careers, they had in fact been selected and trained for something quite different. With their BAs in their hands, they went off to the SWP.