Thayer School
The happy discovery of a file folder marked "News Notes" in our Secretary's desk has provided an unexpected dividend of material for this column, although the tardiness of this find is somewhat disturbing to the chronology of the items reported.
To catch up on the early summer news, the following alumni were in Hanover for their class reunions and paid visits to the school.
Fred Weed '15, Carrol Edson '15, Fred Munkelt '09, Jack Mac Donald '14, Bob Egelhoff'39, Charlie Hitchcock '39 and his wife, BobElkins '40, Muggsy Bly '40, Allen Hazen '40 with his family, and Phil Jackson '44.
There seems to be an epidemic of "back to school" plans among our alumni. Jim Holway '47 writes from Catonsville, Md., that he is planning to enroll at Johns Hopkins University for a few courses in business administration. From St. Louis, Guy Emerson '48 informs us that he is about to enroll for work at Washington University. Jack Woods '52 writes of his plans to enter the University of Massachusetts Graduate School to study civil engineering.
A splendid letter from Nick Costes '51 informs us that he has completed his academic work at the University of North Carolina where he majored in Foundations and Soil Mechanics. Of special pleasure to all who know Nick will be the news that he is taking steps to become an American citizen. Nick writes, in part:
"During these five years I have come to love this land so much that I now wish to make it my homeland. It is not the greatness of this country or the opportunities which exist here that attract me. It is the everyday life, the way of thinking, the average American, the sense of humor, the way of dealing with your fellow man that have become parts of myself. Four years ago I had told you that I liked this country very much, but I would like to live in Greece. Now I know that if I ever leave this country, I will be one of the unhappiest of persons."
On September 16, Ted Platz '47 was presented with a second Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal for "having distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight as a pilot with the 8th Fighter Bomber Wing on March 1, 1953." From England, a card was received recently from Steve Olko '47. The message, in its entirety, was, "Enjoying my stay in London. A lot of work and a little sightseeing."
In a recent letter, Larry Denton '49 accounts for much of his action since graduation as follows: "After four months of extremely pleasurable duty at the Navy Electronics Material School in San Francisco, we came back East to Boston to pick up the ship in October 1951. Then followed a very typical eighteen months of rugged destroyer duty, over a major portion of the Atlantic. Only compensation was that we were able to set up a home here in Norfolk making use of it slightly more than half of the time. I held down the Electronics Officers billet for a year and then became Communications Officer, the real hotseat on any 'tin can.' I was more than happy to see said ship disappear over the horizon last week. I expect to be separated on 15 May and. then we shall head north for a short vacation."
Announcements of wedding bells have been received from the following principals: JimHolway '47 and Harriette Brown, June 27; Don Snell '52 and Joanne Whittaker Teals, June 27; and Bob Tracy '48 and Winifred May VanKoughnett, August 29.
Don Jorgensen '52 has completed the G.E. Test Program and has been assigned to a mechanical design section at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, Schenectady.
Jack Helsell '50 and his wife Jan paid Hanover a brief visit recently while on their way home from a bicycling tour in Europe. Jack is with the Pacific Car and Foundry Company.
Word has been received of the death of George Henry Nolan '00 on September 5 in Middleboro, Mass. Mr. Nolan's wide range of accomplishments included extensive reconstruction work in Cuba, the development of Miami Beach, public works construction in New York, and foreign assignments in Chile, Brazil and Uruguay.
