1971

Thanks to Alex G. Bell, we've scraped up some tales, but you'll have to put up with an inordinate amount of my own news O.E. S.) this time around.

After having been RIF'd (subjected to a reduction in force) last fall, I've just accepted a position with National Westminster Bank, U.S.A., as the head of credit review for real estate—and yes, that cow is pretty well out of the barn already.

I'll bet every one of us knows someone who has been "restructured" out of a job. From first-hand experience I can say that any effort you make as a friend or colleague to keep in touch and to offer contacts, ideas, and encouragement is greatly appreciated. Thanks, guys—you know who you are.

I've done a lot of visiting lately. 1 saw Malcolm Jones, who was in N.Y.C. as the L.A.-area coordinator for special gifts, at the kick-off ceremonies for the capital campaign. My family and I spent Columbus Day weekend with Jon '70 and Janet Oplinger and their three kids at Jon's fisherman's cottage on Cape May Point, N.J. At least this fall's Atlantic storms didn't wash it away. We also visited with Rick Shepherd '70, his wife, Lucy 8., and their two and a half kids (should be a fall three by the time this is in print) outside of Raleigh, N.C., in December.

Tony and Julie Fitzpatrick report having had a blast at Jerry and Margueritt O'Brien's Christmas party. Jerry also attended the Harvard game with Dave "Cat" Conlon, and they spotted or heard of Dick Wooster, Jon Osgood, Rick Carleton, and Mike Maynard attending the game.

I had occasion to speak with John Hammerschmidt, who may still refer to Harrison, Ark., as home, but who has worked in Washington, D.C., since the early eighties and now resides in Arlington, Va. Originally a member of then-Vice President Bush's staff, he joined the National Transportation Safety Board as an employee seven years ago and was confirmed by the Senate in June 1991 as one of the five board members after being nominated by Bush in April. What? No juicy confirmation hearings on C-Span? John states that the board investigates all modes of mass transit and many unique accidents and crashes. This includes all civil air, rail, and subway events, and many other particularly interesting events such as the collapse of the Mianus River Bridge on 1-95 in Greenwich, Conn., the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and the space shuttle Challenger. The board was put in charge of all recovery and reconstruction of the solid booster rockets, the shuttle, and the external fuel tanks because of their expertise gathered from investigating aircraft crashes. John still runs 10-K races and has run some triathlons back home in Arkansas. He keeps apprised of the activities of Fort Smith's Tim Risley via his own and Tim's parents, and he recently looked up to see the smiling face of Bill Brooks on CNN explaining various aspects of Hyatt Prepaid Legal Services.

As you probably know by now, MurryBowden has been nominated as a candidate for the Board of Trustees. As head of the Alumni Council, Murry was instrumental in revising the procedures for nominations to the board, particularly affording us a choice of candidates for each position. The ballots will be mailed about the time you read this, and I hope we all actively promote and support Murry's election.

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