1965

3610 Oriole Drive Columbus, IN 47203

I sometimes wonder if "reunion" is the proper term for the annual gatherings of our class. How can we have a reunion when so many of us were never well acquainted in the first place? For example, at this year's event at Pierce's Lodge, I had an opportunity for my first conversation with three classmates.

I met Dick Horton while we were trying to restore order in the boys' bunkroom on Friday night at Pierce's. I recalled reading about Dick's minor league baseball experiences after graduation and mention of this led our sons into a quiet discovery of their mutual interest in baseball cards. Later in the evening, Dick told me that, while playing in the Orioles organization for three years, he had worked on his M.B.A. from Boston University in the off-season. Eventually deciding a career in a major oil company was more likely than one in a major league, he joined Exxon and advanced through a series of positions in petroleum marketing. In 1983, he and his wife, Louise, decided to leave Exxon in order for their family to remain in New England. Dick accepted a position as the general manager of Connecticut-based Ultramar Petroleum. Early this year, the ownership of Ultramar liquidated the petroleum assets of the company and Dick presently finds himself looking for a new career opportunity. I strongly recommend Dick, but have to caution any of you expecting an Ivy League mechanic that the Horton family spent much of the weekend stranded by a defective radiator cap.

Andy Gundlach and I became involved in a discussion of new pension accounting rules while stealing celery from the hors d'oeuvres tray of an adjoining class of '46 party. Andy, captain of the cheerleaders our senior year, is now an actuarial consultant with Peat, Marwick and Main in Short Hills, N.J. He spent eight years with the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company after receiving his mathematics degree from Dartmouth, was an employee benefits consultant for Johnson & Higgins, and was with a small actuarial consulting firm before moving to his present position. He and his wife, Addie, grew up together in northern New Jersey and found the mini-reunion to combine nicely with a series of college visits for the eldest of their three children. Andy says the whole family enjoys coming back to Hanover and, if he had no need to make a living, he would spend much more of his life in New Hampshire.

Betsy Wagner and I were talking about violas, symphonies, and Columbus, Ind., when her husband, Bruce Wagner, emerged from the working side of the bar. As the conversation continued, I learned that Bruce received an M.B.A. from the Wharton School while holding a part-time job as line coach of Penn's freshman football team. With the exception of a period leading the advertising campaign for President Ford's reelection effort, Bruce spent 15 years with Grey Advertising in New York. He joined the Ross Roy agency in Michigan in 1981 as executive vice president and director of client services. The agency's major accounts include Chrysler, K-Mart, and Stroh Brewery. The Wagners live in Birmingham, Mich., and the family includes two children, Sage and Alexander. Bruce's most recent personal challenge was being named the new head agent for our class. He says his major objective in the coming years is to increase our participation and bring everyone back to the Alumni Fund at whatever level they feel they can contribute. He says, "Beginning with our Hanover days, we share so many common experiences that our class has much to gain from listening to each other."

I agree with your thoughts, Bruce. Regardless of what we call our meetings or how long we may have been acquainted, we can look forward to time with Dartmouth friends—both old and new.