1940

The 100th anniversary of the family business founded by his grandfather was celebrated last fall by Bob Weil and his brother, Adolph '35 ("Bucks"), in Montgomery, Ala., home of Weil Brothers Cotton, Inc.

The occasion was noted in a letter to Bob and Bucks from President Kemeny, who wrote, "A family business that has flourished for a century is an uncommon institution. The steadfastness and stability required for such an achievement are all too rare in this age, so you have much to celebrate. You should be particularly proud that, as the third generation, you have added new distinction to what your grandfather, father, and uncle had already done so splendidly."

In the realm of good works recognized, Bob Brooks was the subject recently of high praise from the executive director of the Loring Nicollet-Bethlehem Community Centers, established to "strengthen the quality of life" for residents in the Whittier and Loring neighborhoods of South Minneapolis. The writer, Jim Storm, noted that Bob had served 10 years as president of the board of the community centers agency and that "he, more than any other individual, worked tirelessly with the agency, developing it from adolescence to the point of full grown maturity." Noting he had "personally observed and felt the great human commitment that this man shows for others," Mr. Storm stressed that Bob's "outstanding work" in the arena of social and individual betterment extended far beyond the South Minneapolis neighborhood centers. Bob, he said, was a board member of a major hospital out there, a member of the United Way allocations panel, a long-time volunteer hockey coach with the city, and a director of the Minneapolis Age and Opportunity Center. For his many services last year, Bob earned the distinguished service award of United Way.

"People like Bob Brooks," he continued, "don't give, of themselves as a means of being rewarded. His is a much more basic commitment to the well-being of others in our society." A rouse also for Bob Brooks.

Showing the Big Green "flag" at the inauguration of Thomas N. Bonner as president of Wayne State University in Detroit was none other than our own Jack McDonald, who represented Dartmouth. Coincidentally, Bonner is a former UNH president, so perhaps he and Jack will both have taken in the Dartmouth game(s) at the NCAA championship in March. As all of you know by now, the hockey team, like the football team, had a Cinderella season, winning the Ivy title and losing the ECAC title by only one point (3-2) in the all- New Hampshire final with UNH, after having unseated former national champion BU in the semi-finals.

In the nature or nurture controversy, BobTatgenhorst offers some evidence in behalf of both positions. He reports that he took time from his law work in Cincinnati to drive his son, Jim, just graduated from Wooster College, east to start the southward trek down the. Appaiachian Trail. After about a month on the trail, he reports, Jim reached Hanover and liked what he saw and felt about his father's alma mater so much that he decided to stay. He worked through much of the winter with Dennis Meadows, professor of engineering, authority on systems dynamics, and co-author of Limitsto Growth. Was it that Jim was conditioned to like the College on the Hill from all he'd heard his father say, or was it a genetically-based penchant for a college in the hills?

Of Cincinnati classmates, Tag reports Herb Landsman has been quite ill recently, and we wish him a speedy recovery. Tag also notes that Bob Lake's latest hobby is raising zucchini pickles. Maybe he'll bring some to reunion a year from June. Tag promises he'll be there when 40 celebrates its 40th in '80. The arithmetic just says it's got to be double the fun of past reunions, if that's possible.

From Torrance, Calif., where he is still vice president and manager of the Airesearch Casting Company of the Garrett Corporation, supplying parts that keep America flying in the jet age, Jim Kuhns reports that he's bought a summer home in Blue Hill, Me., with an eye also toward retirement. "Blue Hill seems a little more peaceful than Los Angeles for the golden years when it is no longer as much fun dodging motorcycles with a car," he writes, as he begins to re-orient to the Northeast.

As we go to press Art Ostrander reports two heroic activities. He's on a diet to lose 50 pounds so that the doctors can do whatever is necessary to mitigate the pain in his game leg that nags him constantly, while also launching the '40 alumni fund drive with a stretch goal of $100,000. He insists we can make it, if all who possibly can join the '40 Century Club and those already in that category double their gifts to Dartmouth.

He says the cause, Dartmouth, "is worth the effort," and lest you had doubts in the wake of the troubling news reports about fraternities and minority unrest, let me testify that those stories are largely products of journalistic sensationalism. The place is sound, and most of the students are happy, doing well, and will go on, as you have, to be credits to the College and country. As Art argues, the College indeed is worth the effort.

303 McNutt Hall Hanover, N.H. 03755