1952

The Ford Motor Company announced recently the promotion of Phil Benton to executive vice president in charge of Ford Diversified Products Operation, effective February 1. Phil had been vice president of sales operations for North American Automotive Operations, which includes sales of all cars and trucks in the U.S. and Canada, since 1981. In his new job he will be responsible for nonautomotive divisions and subsidiaries such as glass, aerospace, and tractors. Congratulations, Phil!

Charlie Blakemore phoned, looking for business. He has left Benton and Bowles to form his own ad agency, Blakemore-Killough. All he needs is a client like Miller's beer to get him started. Anyone who has an account available can phone 212/790-4816. Good luck, Charlie.

This is the season for announcements. JoeBaute was recently elected a director of the Federal Bank of Boston. Now you know who to contact for hot tips on interest rates and the M-l projection. Joe is CEO of the Markem Corporation in Keene, N.H. Congratulations, Joe.

Clorox named John Collins executive vice president, operations, a newly-created post. John is responsible for grocery products operations in the U.S. and abroad. Nice going, John.

Old Harry Bingham has joined International Investors Incorporated as executive vice president in charge of marketing. III is the large mutual fund specializing in the common stocks of gold mining companies. The Binghams moved from San Antonio to Rye, N.Y., where, I.am sure, he is bound to bump into some of the class, among whom would be the aforementioned Charlie Blakemore. I heard a hot tip today that, at $300 an ounce, gold is a bargain, so load up with Harry!

A piece in The Philadelphia Inquirer by that city's leading theatrical critic cites the direct- ing by Dugald Mac Arthur of the play TerraNova as a milestone in the ascent of the city's smaller theaters. Dugald is co-chairman of the department of theater at Temple University, where he concentrates on the graduate actor training program. This is a professional regimen similar to Yale's and Juilliard's and is associated with these schools in the League of Professional Theater Training Programs. Dugald directs a couple of plays a year around the country, which isn't all bad for a fellow who sports an M.B.A. from Harvard. How he went from business to bard must be quite an entertaining story.

Ceb Benisch included a message with his class dues payment to our treasurer, which reports that the Benisches are still on Long Island. He and Nancy just celebrated 25 years of marriage and 25 years in the travel busi- ness. They still have a young family of three boys and a girl (13 to 21 years), and wonder where the time has gone. You are not the only one in the class asking that question, Ceb!

Bob Lord was promoted recently to the rank of professor at the University of Pittsburgh, which was accompanied by his be- coming the chairman of the department of music. Nice move, Bob.

This past Saturday Bill and Wendy Randall, Jon and Sis Walton, Vic and JoanneTrautwein, Bob Schuldt, and yours truly got together for a little grog and some reminiscence over a few faded slides of life at the Fiji House. Since Bob was a Sigma Chi, I was able to dig up an appropriate picture of him in action at that house. It was a typical Schuldt pose arms around two lovely visitors, cheering on Dorn McGrath, who was putting the finishing touches on the top of the Sigma Chi snow sculpture. (Lest there be trouble in the family, Laura, one of the lasses was you.) Perhaps in a later issue we can run the group photo that was taken to commemorate the reunion, if it comes out.

In a world of financial deficits it was, as you might imagine, surprising when treasurer Jon Walton asked if I could help him get some direction on how to spend some surplus class money. I suggested he pay for the drinks, but he was wearing his banker's suit and the ethics that are imbedded in it. It seems we have $5,000 or so rattling around some bank account, which represents earnings on the memorial book fund. Apparently, the longevity of the class has befuddled the actuaries thus the surplus. He doesn't want to just turn over the surplus to Baker Library, which is one available option. He would prefer that we undertake a class project, two of which were suggested by Baker as follows: a contribution to the history of the American film industry as an art form or something on the order of art and architectural renovation (the notes were from a soggy cocktail napkin).

Jon requested that I ask you if you have a preference. If you do, let Jon know (40 Oldbrook Lane, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236). Jon, if you are not buried by an avalanche of returns, I suggest you decide what to do with the money.

I was alerted to a party in Lincoln, Mass., at the home of Ed and Julie Hibben. Seen being escorted from the Hibben home by police (just kidding) were Sam Daniell, CharleyClough, Bob and Pat Brace, Ev and SallyParker, Ron and Barbara Marcks, Jack andDodie Boyle, Bob and Penny Binswanger,Rem and Joan Kinne, Father Ed Boyle '53, S.J., brother of Jack, Charlie and Alison Curtis (he brought the football movies but never showed them), and Alan and Gay Reich. The occasion was the Reichs being in the Boston area, and the guest list was composed of those who used to party together after the Harvard-Dartmouth game each fall. Apologies to those in attendance who were not listed herein.

I'll be back in the spring.

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