Thayer School
First outside lecturer of the year in ES 21, the Engineering Sciences sophomore course "Introduction to Engineering," was Overseer Henry Beck '39 who spoke on "The Housing Industry** from the point of view of the builder. His lecture was reported to have been a masterpiece in spite of recurring power failures which handicapped the projection of his motion pictures. In addition to being President of the Henry C. Beck Company in Dallas, he has served on the Department of Commerce Technical Advisory Board Panel on Housing Technology, of which Dean Ragone has been chairman, since 1968. The ES 21 projects this year are required to produce innovative solutions to subelements of the nation's housing problem such as space design, structural design, materials, construction, utilities or services.
Gordon Rule '69 is in the Quality Control Department of George Banta Co. in Menash, Wis., and also keeps in condition by playing on defense for the Green Bay Packers.
Dr. Jim Wakelin, D'32, member and former chairman of Thayer School's Board of Overseers, has been named head of President Nixon's special task force on Oceanography. In this capacity he was involved in developing the President's 1970 Reorganization Plan establishing an Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce.
F. Byron "Barney" Tomlinson '36 and wife Kay left their longtime Connecticut home a couple of years ago to retire in idyllic, restful Vermont. Instead, Barney acquired Vermont Tables and Handicrafts, Inc. in Groton. Having doubled the company's business in a year, they returned last spring to the relative peace and quiet of Monroe, Conn., "where family and friends and associates of 3 years are." Vermont Tables and Handicrafts, Inc., however, remains in the family, having been taken over by two Tomlinson sons (adv.).
Prompted, it is my belief, by a concern for the directions of developing national poli- cies, or the lack thereof, the students of Thayer School sent a letter last May to all Thayer alumni expressing the students' concern and requesting alumni views. Of the 56 replies received, many expressed contrary views varying from reservation to condemnation. It may be appropriate to report more fully on the replies in a future column. At this point, however, in the department of recommended reading, I can't refrain from mentioning the interest I have found in recent months in the bulletins of The University Center for Rational Alternatives headed by its President, former Great Issues speaker and professor at New York University, Sidney Hook (details on request).
Alan Jackson TT'53, founder and President of International Research Consultants, Inc. and Venture Capital, Inc., in Geneva, Switzerland, visited Thayer School last spring on a rare week's vacation trip.
Robert "Mo" Menahan ME'60 is one of many Thayer alumni engaged in industrial anti-pollution efforts. An account has been received here of a meeting last spring in Powell River, British Columbia, sponsored by the Anti-Pollution Association of that area, at which Mo, who is Technical Superintendent for MacMillan Bloedel, Inc. there, was principal speaker. Among the many Monahan quotes published in the Powell River News was a warning against "overnight" decisions for change in industry resulting from "public pressure." "If we are irrational in our behavior," he said, "we will lose the opportunity to provide both a healthy climate and clean environment."
Prof. Russ Stearns '3B received a letter last spring from Lt. Bill Allen Jr. BE'69 describing his assignment to the Institute of Systems Analysis, Combat Developments Command, Fort Belvoir, Va. 22060, and offering to provide information to anyone interested in applying for a technical assignment such as his. He wrote that "This option, called 'Volunteer indefinite' is open to any officer with a U. S. Army Reserve commission who can get a request for assignment to the position that he wants."
Some time ago Russ received a letter and brochure from Alan "Lefty" Terrill CE'55 who is a Construction Engineer for MacGregor Triangle Co. based in Boise, Idaho. The brochure includes a picture of a very satisfied-looking, pipe-smoking, blueprint-reading, hard-hatted "graduate of Dartmouth College and . . . Thayer School" who, it says, "has served as Project Engineer on three major concrete and earthfill dams and a missile facilty. Al is also very active in the bidding of new work." Alan (I'm getting old—nobody calls me Lefty any more'") and wife Sally live with their three daughters, aged 8, 6 and 4, and their two Labrador retrievers, at the titillating address of 3219 Wagon Wheel Court in Boise.
