1962

Can you identify the Prominent '62 in the photo below? (Hint: he's the one on the right.) If you said it's Gordy Williamson you are Phi Beta material. In July and August of last year Gordy and Virginia took their son Derek and daughter Lianna and friend to Africa for a wildlife safari. Their first destination was Kenya, with stops at Tsavo East, Amboseli, and Lake Nakuru. Then on to Rwanda where the gorillas first appeared. In Gordy's own words:

"While we saw much of interest in Rwanda, for me the highpoint of everything was the trip to the mountain gorillas. There are fewer than 400 left in the world and most of them are in the Volcanos National Park in Rwanda. We were driven up to about 9,000 feet and then hiked, both up and down, with a guide and with porters to carry backpacks and food until we found the 'family' that we were seeking that day. of the 16 remaining families, four have been acclimated for visitors. It's interesting that the movie about Dian Fossey's work was just released. While I'm not sure I'll see it, I was interested in the half-hour TV show on the making of the movie. The crew made exactly the same trip that we took and were subject to the same rules (e.g., no more than six in a group, no more than an hour a day with the gorillas).

"It was a physically exhausting climb in the rain and mud. When we got back to the van we just peeled off clothing and shoes and gave them to the porters as gifts. We couldn't deal with the mud, and the porters were very grateful to get the clothing. I believe that this is a common ritual after completing the trip.

"We saw about 12 gorillas for a period of about an hour. With most we got within a few feet of them. For me it was an overpowering experience. Especially being near a large silver back male (about 400 pounds) who had lost a hand to a poacher's snare. I think I cried, but the rain hid it."

A report on another 1962 Gordy: GordyAydelott teamed with Jim Biggs in the National 40s tennis tournament last summer, but suffered defeat at the hands of a younger California team that included Charles Hoeveler '67. Our guys lost, but not without a crowd-pleasing fight. A sobering thought: the National 50s tournament looms ever closer for our durable net duo.

News of still another Big G (though not a Gordy):Charles Gaillard has been named senior vice president and head of the international food operation of the General Mills Big G cereal division, with headquarters in Minneapolis. It is not known at this time whether the promotion will mean a move for ol' Nut 'N' Honey and his wife, Jane, out of the wilds of Minnesota.

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