Thayer School

After a cold, rainy, dismal spring, we now have had three days of sun in Hanover this May, and they have been enough to remove the sogginess from the campus Softball diamonds, and the softness from the shoulders along North Park Street. It is always remarkable how quickly the wet Hanover silt turns to windblown dust around the various construction jobs such as Hopkins Center and the Wigwam dormitories. As you read this, construction of Dartmouth's new Field House, designed by Professor Pier Luigi Nervi of Italy, and described in last month's ALUMNI MAGAZINE, will be well underway.

Dick Olmsted CE'33, business manager of the College, is the coordinating head for this exciting project. John Minnich CE'29, assisted by Professor Carl Long and Russ Stearns CE'38, has designed the foundation and erection falsework for the arch construction. The general contract has been awarded to the Wexler Construction Company with Phil Jackson CE'44, vice president, in charge. The Wexler Company under Phil has done a tremendous job on the Dartmouth campus including both new dormitory groups, the Medical Science Building, Math and Psychology buildings, and now the Field House. Dick Olmsted, John Minnich, and Phil Jackson were fortunate in being able to meet Professor Nervi in Rome and see his beautiful structures there. John and Charlotte enjoyed a stop in Paris on the return trip.

Mention of Paris reminds your reporter that word has come to Hanover that Kim Ayers CE'48 was seen skiing at St. Ghristoph, Tyrol, with Jean and the three children. What are you doing, Kim? Professor Carl Long, who has for several years been concentrating on the development of engineering mechanics courses and laboratory work, and on the applications of digital computers to solutions in this field, has been granted a National Science Foundation grant to study next year at Yale. Congratulations, Carl.

The two main events at Thayer School this spring were the annual meeting of the DSE Executive Committee in Hanover, and the biennial Open House. About forty students, faculty, and alumni joined forces on April 20 to discuss enrollment in engineering at Dartmouth. Barney Tomlinson CE'36, as chairman, introduced the following panel: Bob Barr CE'42 - alumni viewpoint on desirability of increased enrollment; Barry MacLean ME'61 - effects of an enlarged enrollment on future students and curriculum; Paul Barnico ME'51 - report on the DSE High School Committee; Tom Brock ME'61 - the student point of view; Joe CramerES'62 — how can the Student Chapter, DSE, assist with underclassmen?; and Fritz Geller TT'48 - working plans for interrelationship of activities of the College Committee, DSE, and Student Chapter. The discussion was stimulating and most constructive from all points of view. The annual DSE student, faculty, and alumni dinner, held at the Norwich Inn, was another high point. In addition to those named above, these DSE alumni participated in the forum, and attended the business meeting on April 21: Bob EgelhoffCE'39, Dek Davidson '52, Gerry Sarno CE'51, and Bill Kimball CE'29.

The Thayer School Open House on May 4 was a resounding success. Built around the many projects developed not only by the 5th-year students, but also by juniors and seniors, it was totally a student show. Working exhibits in engineering mechanics, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, computers, methods engineering, electronics, jet propulsion, and thermal plastics, to mention a few, kept a record crowd amazed, not to say puzzled, all evening. The famous suspended water faucet was joined by an air cushion vehicle which roared up and down a corridor, proudly directed by its inventors, Pete Stone CE'62, and Bruce Johnson CE'62. They will spend the summer at Ft. Eustis making a prototype for the Army. The students under the leadership of Barry MacLean, president did a tremendous job not only in setting up the living, working show, but also in getting publicity to areas all over New England, especially high schools and preparatory schools.

Fritz Geller TT'48 was discovered in the Thayer School shop recently learning all he could from Larry Goldthwaite about raising Christmas trees. Fritz has taken time from his work at Markem Machine Company in Keene, N. H., to set out 150,000 Christmas trees which, according to Larry, will keep him plenty busy. Dan O'Hara ME'59 stopped at Thayer School for the Open House while between assignments with the U. S. Navy. He was on his way to California where he will be engaged in some phase of the Navy missile program. John Fondahl CE'48 will be chairman of a panel at the annual ASEE convention held at University of Kentucky in June. He will lead a discussion on construction engineering education. John is an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Stanford University.

At the start of the year, Fred Parker CE'07 came out of semi-retirement to return to the job of superintendent of the Hanover Water Works Co., a position he held for many years following in the steps of Bobby Fletcher. Fred has also been active in his surveying and mapping work. His, assistance to various town committees, particularly the Hanover Planning Board, and the Zoning Board of Adjustment, has been most valuable.