1942

Robert C. Crane announced in November that he will resign from his seat in the New Jersey Senate sometime during January. The New York Times of November 14 reported Bob is making this move on the advice of his physician. He underwent a serious operation a year ago and since then has been unable to play an active role in state affairs. To honor Bob's service to New Jersey a move is underway to elect him President of the Senate before he resigns. I speak for the Class in extending sincere best wishes to Bob in his struggle to regain his strength and health. Bob plans to continue in his public relations counseling firm, Robert C. Crane and Sons, of Elizabeth, and as chairman of the New jersey Tercentenary Commission.

A pleasant letter (expense check enclosed) was received from Class Treasurer GuySwenson Jr. He called to my attention to the position of two '42s in the center of recent newsmaking situations: Dick Geppert is the United States consul in Belize, British Honduras, which took such a beating from Hurricane Hattie in November, and Dr. StuFinch, serving as Chief of Medicine with the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission in Hiroshima, Japan. There is a striking parallel in these disasters of man and nature in their ugliest moods. Perhaps Dick and Stu will assist in arriving at practical solutions to these problems.

It is a pleasure to report the following items relating to classmates' activities on the industrial front. Ernest D. Grinnell Jr. has been elected vice president and general counsel of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Co. Ernie graduated from Washington University Law School, has been with Frisco since 1951 and resides with his family in Webster Groves, Mo.

The Board of Governors of the Association of Stock Exchanges has elected to its membership a man who richly deserves the honor, Harry Jacobs. Since 1946 he has been with Bache and Co., New York, and in 1955 was elected a general partner. In 1952 Harry was elected president of the Investment Association of New York. No doubt Marie and the children, Nancy, 16, and Harry, 14, share in the pleasure over Harry's election.

A news release from Hooker Chemical Corp. reports the progress of two '42s, which is something of a record for a single release. Neil M. Barber moves to division headquarters in Niagara Falls, N. Y., as manager of market development. Replacing Neil as manager of the Philadelphia district sales office is John M. Glaze. John had been supervisor-organic chemicals in Niagara Falls. Both have been with Hooker since 1942. During the War, Neil's work was related to the Manhattan Project. John was in research prior to transfer to the sales department. I ran into John at Letch worth Park, south of here about forty miles, several autumns ago. I swear he appeared just as he did twenty years ago when he was an active chubber.

The Kent-Moore Organization, Inc., and its president, J. Douglas Adair, were subjects of a financial page article in the Detroit Free Press not so long ago. This company is the nation's largest developer and producer of special tools for the repair of just about everything from electric stoves to locomotives. Under Doug's direction the company has expanded and is moving into ever widening related fields, such as vacuum cleaners for furnaces and boilers, and pumps that mix and dispense plastic foams and adhesives. Doug has been president since 1947. With his family he lives in Grosse Pointe, Mich., where he is active in civic affairs.

Other activities of note which have been forwarded to me concern John D. LeSeur, city attorney of Batavia, N. Y. J.D. is serving as co-chairman of the special gifts committee for the Genesee United Fund campaign. For J.D., who is practically a neighbor of mine, this is the eleventh year as part of this annual undertaking. He received his law degree from the Cornell University Law School and has been active in a wide variety of civic functions in Batavia.

The Worcester, Mass., Gazette recently carried an interesting and informative article about Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Edward F. McLaughlin Jr. The article reported there is considerable speculation that Ed will have a try at the governorship next time around. Among his political assets were listed (1) his public office experience in the city of Boston and in the state, and (2) his long-time friendship with President Kennedy. Although I have long been suspicious of close friendships with Harvard men (somewhat strengthened of late), I wish Ed all the best in trying to solve the problems of the Commonwealth. As you may imagine, Ed is busy with speaking engagements, and reports of these are frequently crossing my desk.

This column was produced under the most trying of cumstances - during an invasion of Montana in-laws. Believe me, few things men face are more difficult to survive! Although somewhat groggy, I'm confident of pulling through, thank you, and look forward to preparation of next month's edition under more favorable circumstances.

Secretary, 154 Washington Ave. Rochester 17, N. Y.

Treasurer, 18 Ridge Rd., Concord, N. H