1922

Dartmouth's to of the line reputation in computer utilization for educational purposes is generally acknowledged. Today the computer is an accepted fact of life in Hanover. Virtually all dormitory rooms are connected to Kiewit Computation Center. Most students are now using personal computers as frequently as they previously used slide rules. And this acclaimed prominence is due primarily to the class of 1922 and two of our classmates: John G. Kemeny and PeterKiewit.

Twenty-two's adopted classmate, President Emeritus John Kemeny, distinguished scholar and eminent teacher, had the computer potential in mind when he first arrived at Dartmouth 30 years ago. Indeed, at the 1965 dedication of Kiewit Computation Center he predicted that 1990 would come with personal computers in millions of American homes.

And, though John Kemeny will disagree, the listing of his credentials could be a computer project. Besides his B.A. in 1947 and his Ph.D. in 1949, both from Princeton, he has received honorary degrees from 15 colleges or universities. He is the author of numerous books and articles. He is a Dartmouth professor of mathematics and computer science. He and professor Thomas E. Kurtz collaborated in the invention of BASIC, the machine language whereby humans can communicate with computers. After two onehour lectures and reading a short manual, Dartmouth freshmen begin telling a large computer to start working. In addition to teaching, Drs. Kemeny and Kurtz are also presently the head officers in True Basic, Inc., an enterprise supplying a basic language system compatible with many of the new personal computers now coming off the lines.

Some knowledgeable people say John Kemeny's book Man and the Computer (Newyork, Charles Scribner Sons, 1972) is still the best introduction, especially for the uninitiated, to the computer concept. John's latest book, Back to Basic, has been published recently.

But John is not the only Kemeny writing books. His wife, Jean, is the author of the enchanting It's Different at Dartmouth (Brattleboro, Vt., Stephen Green, 1979). Her new Strands of War (Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1984) has just come out. It's espionage, World War 11, sited in Europe and on the coast of Maine.

Seems as if a Kemeny is magnetized by words, numbers, and symbols. And, if you have any progenies coming to Dartmouth, tell them some math and computer courses taught by Dr. Kemeny are open even to freshmen. Where else but Dartmouth!

Next issue, Peter Kiewit and his part in the Darmouth computer evolution.

Twenty Twoters had lunch at the Hanover Inn before the Porgame, September 22. RayAtwood will undoubtedly publish a list of all present. In addition to the regular Hanover contingent, however, it was very pleasant to have Killie and Helen Kilmarx, Ed McNamara and son Tom, Betty Mann, DickLitchfield, and Spenny and Marj Smith with us. Three generations of Dwights, Carrolland Nan, their son Peter '54, and grandson Rickey '88, were especially welcomed. With representatives from the classes of '19, '20, '21, and '22 it was a congenial gathering on a day that was beautiful except for the game.

One of 1922's three Rhodes Scholars, Ned B. Allen, professor emeritus of English at the University of Delaware, has left us in sorrow. An obituary will follow.

The well written and appreciated obituary on Chris Suttmeier which recently appeared in these pages was requested from and written by his son, Richard P. Suttmeier '63. Richard received his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1969 and is a former national fellow at Stanford-Hoover Institute. He is now a professor at Hamilton College, Clinton, N.Y., and is the author of three books on China. Our Sutty also has a grandson, William P. Suttmeier '74, Thayer School '75, now an engineer with Boeing Company, Seattle. And our departed classmate William F.Haas was Sutty's brother in law.

And even now during the winter, if you listen very quietly, you may still hear sleigh bells in your memory, but never at a cocktail party.

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