1958
Let's hear it for air safety. We nearly lost two classmates in one accident last February. Coleman Colla reports the incident this way. His flight from San Jose to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif., crash landed. Everyone staggered out all right, and as he wandered about, dazed and shaken, LarrySchwartz, coatless but unhurt, greeted him. He was also on the plane. They had last met in June 1979 in Hanover at the 20th. Larry subsequently told Coleman that his son was an enthusiastic junior at Dartmouth. Coleman believes he will take a train to the 25th.
A trip to San Francisco permitted me a few hours with Phil McClanahan, who recently married a lovely California brunette. Phil and I sipped expresso while studying the Bay as he told me that during the last year he and the group of Fireman's Fund employees that he supervised invested over $400 million, mostly in real estate. The McClanahans have a cheerful duplex from which Phil bikes to work. He reported that Peter Haas also lives in San Francisco and is doing well. Phil Bell is in business for himself and prospering in Phoenix, Ariz.
Phil Larson, a man of great energy, is working in Minneapolis as a contract manager for Servicemaster at Mount Sinai Hospital. Phil also coaches his son's hockey team, plays indoor tennis, and does some cross-country skiing. This winter he took part in the Telemark, Wise., Birkebinder race.
Recent interest in fraternities at Dartmouth is demonstrated by a 60 per cent membership, which is back to the 1960s level. Three house corporations have been reorganized, there are major capital improvements going forward, financial stability has improved greatly, and the behavioral problems of years past are down dramatically.
Our classmate on the Dartmouth Board of Trustees, Harry Dodds, spoke enthusiastically to me about the choice of the new College president. Harry asks that all of us do our utmost to support David McLaughlin '54 and the College in the year ahead. The job of college president is murderously difficult to perform to everyone's satisfaction. All of us remember "our" president with fondness, although some of us were quite critical when we were in college. The times are much more complex today. It is our responsibility and privilege to work together to make our school ever better. Anyone can criticize, drop out, cut off giving, etc. That is easy. The better alternative is to pitch in and make Dartmouth everything it can and should be. Good selection, Harry.
Trygve Myhren is the new president of American Television and Communications Corporation (A.T.C.), a Denver company that is one of the largest in cable TV and communications. Those who know Tryg can agree with the company chairman who praised his sound knowledge of the business, his vision, management skills, and ability to motivate. Tryg's interesting background for this latest promotion includes an M.B.A. from Tuck, service with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific, a stint with P&G, and posts with consultants Glendinning and then Herron-Kienzle Associates. He next worked for the publisher CRM (Ziff-Davis) before joining A.T.C. as vice president of marketing. He has served as president of the Cable Television Advertising and Marketing Society, the professional organization. A.T.C. is a subsidiary of Time, Inc., and has about 1.3 million subscribers, second in the industry and growing fast. This is a tremendous responsibility and Tryg is the man to do the job.
Dan Dunkle, who is a class agent here in Chicago, reports that he is enjoying the challenges of the retail business with Marshall Field & Cos., one of our prestige local retailers. Dan and his family live in Hinsdale, I11.
Let us close by considering the difficult decisions confronting our class congressman, Allen Ertel, a Pennsylvania Democrat from the Harrisburg area. A1 is a former Navy man, a Yale Law School graduate, and a dedicated public servant. He serves on the House committees for public works and transportation and for science and technology. As this is written, he is making decision after decision on administration budget-cut proposals which reduce many programs traditionally important to Democrats. In response to my inquiry, Allen stated that he "is supportive of a fair and equitable across-the-board budget cut of meaningful size." One can scratch one's head about difficulties in deciding what is fair and meaningful, but certainly the tenor of Congressman Ertel's remarks can be applauded. It is a fact that neither the College or the government can operate without our support, our money, and our participation. Nothing worthwhile is cheap, although it may be free.
Suite 2271, 20 N. Wacker Dr. Chicago, I11. 60606
