1942

Last November we referred briefly to the fact that Price Lewis was in Seattle to take command of a Navy icebreaker. Now, thanks to his wife Dorothy we have the full story in hand. Following a period as senior instructor in Naval Science in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Command at Columbia University, Commander Lewis received his master of arts degree from Columbia last year and then went to the West Coast to assume command of the Staten Island. Contrary to your secretary's assumption last fall, his ship did not go north but rather, proceeded to join Operation Deepfreeze IV in the Antarctic Research Program in conjunction with the closing period of the International Geophysical Year. The primary function of Price's ship was to break a channel into McMurdo Bay ice to allow the supply ships to get within reach of the U. S. McMurdo Base and its near neighbor, New Zealand's Scott Base. This was to have been a joint operation with another icebreaker which damaged her screws and had to withdraw, leaving the Staten Island to do the job alone. The rugged bay ice was breached to within seven miles of McMurdo Base after several days of ramming through four to seven foot layers of ice. Here, on some of the toughest ice in the bay, the Staten Island prepared a mooring area for the supply ships. Other activities of interest on this trip included the adjustment to lack of darkness, conduction of scientific studies of cosmic rays and oceanographic studies, not to mention the period when the ship was locked fast in the pressure ice. An important, but somewhat unexpected program on this trip was "Operation Snuffles," a long-term experiment and study to learn more about the symptoms and duration of the common cold and attempt to isolate its viruses. The experiment began before the vessel left its home harbor of Seattle. I'm sure we would all like to see a successful conclusion to this study.

The lack of many heavy snows at Mt. Sunapee created ideal conditions for the iceboat enthusiasts on Lake Sunapee who maintained that this had been one of the best winters for the sport in many years. Among the skippers on the lake was Dex Richards, who must have been disappointed with the snow coverage but adjusted rapidly to make the best of existing conditions and found a new sport for the winter months.

Over in Concord, N. H., attorney Guy Swenson was appointed as Merrimack County Chairman for the Spaulding Youth Center, an organization to help New Hampshire's troubled boys and girls. Guy, who has been serving as secretary of the Center, will be in charge of organizing the sponsoring committees in the 27 communities of Merrimack County, a job to which he brings a very active interest and past participation in local community affairs.

And speaking of community affairs, Doug Stowell was named second vice-chairman of the annual Heart Fund Drive in February for Danbury, Conn. As personnel director of the Surgical Products division of the American Cyanamid Company, Doug has been most active in the local Community Chest campaigns and the Chamber of Commerce.

Behind President Eisenhower's February meeting with Mexican President Lopez Mateos in Acapulco was the man you would expect to find there, Ambassador Bob Hill. He continues to improve relations between the two countries while selling himself to the Mexicans and selling Mexico to Washington. To his credit is the fact that in a three-month period three top United States officials visited Mexico starting with Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson last November and Secretary of State Dulles in December on the occasion of the inauguration of President Mateos. Bob's success in running the fourth largest American Embassy in the world has naturally aroused speculation in Washington as to his next assignment among which are rumored the next Assistant Secretary of State for inter-American affairs and congressional candidate from his native state of New Hampshire. Only time will tell, since Bob maintains that "this is my last assignment in the foreign service." 1960 will be an important year which may decide the direction of Bob's future work and I, for one, hope he remains associated with the government where we need the best we can offer.

Of random interest: John Wyper, who has been serving as secretary of the life underwriting department of Connecticut General Life Insurance Company was appointed second vice president in February — in January, Oily Quayle joined the firm of Louis Harris and Associates, Inc., New York City, an opinion research organization, as account executive and vice-president. He had formerly been associated with Elmo Roper and Associates in the same field - Ditto, Inc. has changed Bob Whelden's territory and we find him moving from Verona, N. J., to Allentown, Penna.

A pleasant spring to you all and if you haven't written that note to Lipp or me yet, there is still time for this year's crop.

William M. Jones '42 is now Vice President and Manager for the Thompson Products Commercial Electronics Group of Thompson Ramo Woolridge Inc. of Cleveland.

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