1975

The new season for class notes has begun on a pleasant note for me with my reacquaintance with Tom Thompson, who joined me in a joint business transaction. From his senior position at Wheat First Securities in Richmond he not only helped orchestrate a successful transaction, but a delightful dinner as well. Although Tom was, of course, unwilling to show a competitor all of his cards, it appeared to me that he was virtually responsible for all corporate finance activity at the firm. If that is incorrect, Tom, don't bother correcting me.

It seems that the investment banking community is ripe with '75s. I recently caught up with Peter Darbee, who is also at Salomon Brothers in the telecommunications corporate finance area. Peter has moved from his post at AT&T. His hightech orientation is way beyond me, but I can relate to his interest in the ocean, where he enjoys time on his boat. Peter is presently living on Long Island with his wife and (I believe) two children.

Continued successes are in store for Rick Black, who Travelers Insurance apparently thinks must have learned something at Dartmouth. Rick joined Travelers in 1978; I can remember he and Annie agonizing in our dining room over their new house. Most recently Rick was assistant to the president, but on May 13 he was appointed second vice president in the business diversification group. As Rick explains it, "Now I have to go out and execute some of these ideas that I recommended last year." I don't think he meant kill, either. Eliza and I visited briefly with Anne and Rick on a trip to Hartford and found them in good spirits and health as well as in a new home in Simsbury, Conn.

From the entrepreneurial front, MichaelHollis provides the typesetters at the WallStreet Journal with an annuity equivalent to their pension funds, I'm sure. While Mike's Air Atlanta makes headlines, JimBildner attacks us from the pages of YankeeMagazine (June 1986). If you haven't seen the article, it really is worth searching for. Jim has established himself as a retailing power in the specialty end of the grocery business with his multi-location J. Bildner & Sons. The article compared J. Bildner to a close competitor in Boston proper, elaborating on the French pates, lamb curries, and Gaspe salmon at Jim's shop. Frankly, I think that the 32 kinds of mustards and ten kinds of baked beans at Brand X sounded more like a typical Dartmouth meal to me. Despite this, I wish you good luck in your efforts and hope you open a store here soon.

To round out our business accomplishments issue, word arrives from Memphis that Larry Conley will become MemphisMagazine's executive editor. Larry, watch out, you'll be hearing from me for pointers. An instructor in the journalism department at Memphis State University since 1982, and a contributing editor of Memphis since 1983, Larry is a Memphis native. He will be responsible for day-to-day editorial decisions at Memphis and for contributing to the overall editorial direction of the publications.

While I am sitting here this summer and fall waiting to rush to the hospital for the arrival of number two, I expect to hear from some of you laggards.

3 Avon Road Bronxville, NY 10708