1959
Now spring is in full force ... the floods have gently covered the countryside in the Midwest, California, and New York ... the coastal birds are wallowing in oil spills ... the Yankees are trying to win it again ... all of the signs of a healthy spring!
It's the kind of environment that Jim Rex was recently used to surveying. Because he was so in love with the countryside, he used to survey dilapidated housing. However, Jim is now back in the ranks of the unemployed because "official paperwork cited a Starwars-ish 'reduction in force.' " We must also acknowledge a technical, but important, correction to Jim's birthplace. In the November '77 column, Dewitt, N.Y., was cited as Jim's birthplace. I received an outcry from that town - in the form of bomb threats, urgent telegrams, and obscene phone calls, in addition to a copy of Jim's birth certificate, which more than alleged that Jim was born in the Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago. Dewitt - you can breathe easy! The eight years Jim spent there in the '50s are long behind you. And Jim, call Mike Hurd in Norfolk, Va. - he's looking for 20th reunion help!
A follow-up on another previous article about a classmate: I hope you remembered the story about Dick Sanders and his family and how they tried unsuccessfully to make the 1976 Olympic luge racing team. Well, it seems Dick, his son Ed, and daughter Debbie are trying for a comeback. At least Dick and Ed, who competed in the senior division of the national championships at Lake Placid in January. Dick, we're anxious to hear how it went!
Fred Webster, tucked away up at Tuck, gave us an interesting and possibly record-setting piece of news: On October 1, 1977 he and wife Mary Alice became grandparents! Imagine that - a father at 20 and a grandfather at 39! So, today's challenge - can anyone beat that? If so, advise Mike Hurd - we may have some kind of award for it at our 20th next June ('79).
Speaking of the Hanover Plain, the Dartmouth Anthropology Notes (Nov. '77) provided us with some news about Cliff (Karl)Lamberg-Karlovsky. Here are some excerpts: "He and Martie have not only continued work on the rich Tepe Yahya site in southeastern Iran, but he has been involved in a program of research in Saudi Arabia which he says is very exciting. ...'... of 5 years duration. The first really systematic work in a country larger than the United States.' Cliff has been curator of Near Eastern archaeology in the Peabody Museum at Harvard since 1969. This summer, he assumed the directorship of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard. He is a prolific writer, and his wife Martie is associated with him in some of his publications. In addition she is busy with the League of Women Voters, most recently as public relations director of the State Board for the League."
Finally, we should acknowledge one of our more prominent (in the sense that he is occasionally in the national spotlight) classmates - Dave Gavitt, basketball coach of the Providence Friars. There was an article in the local paper about Dave's ability to take what appears to be average high school players and build a strong competitive team. When the article was written in late January, it said, "All I know is that Gavitt and his Friars, once again, have a lot of people shaking their heads in wonder. At the moment, they're 15-1, and they're nationally ranked and only a fool, or an incurable optimist, would have dared make such a prediction when the season began. ... if you're looking for reasons, it might be a good idea to start with the coach." Although Dave is probably not satisfied with his team's performance in the playoffs, there is no question that he can stand tall with any college coach in this country for the performance his teams continue to provide. Dave, we applaud you and look to greater successes next year.
Finally, some news that I give you with mixed emotion: I have advised Mike Hurd that I have to resign as class secretary. Not because of a personal desire to do so, per se. Rather, because of geography. You see, for the next three years, I'll be in Tokyo where I'll be managing the Coca-Cola account for McCann-Erickson. It is an opportunity that Joanne and I are looking forward to. The sad part is that I'll have to give up my class responsibilities. I'm gonna try like hell to make our 20th next year - which may set some kind of class record! Anyway, it's been a most rewarding experience for me - being class secretary. If I have any parting words for you folks and my successor (who will be named shortly by Mike Hurd), it's: "Support your local class secretary." Keep those cards and letters coming in. And best of luck to everyone.
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