1945

Joan and I celebrated last Christmas at our son Paul's home in Antioch, Calif. We didn't get to see Jean and Art Pounds in Orinda, or Bed and Hope McCrum in Sausalito, but I did phone them Christmas greetings. The Pounds had their son and wife from Winston-Salem, N.C., with them for the holidays and were still saying thankful prayers that they were spared the ravaging fire in the East Bay area last year; it was contained over the hill just west of them. Dr. Ted reported they had managed a short get-together in the area with Rick and Dot Crabtree of Pittsboro, N.C., not long before. Missed BudElder, Bob Taymor, Jim Eckels, FredCamberlin, Bill Adams, Fred Hofftnan, BillHardenstine, Jim Field, Art Backer, HuntBennett, Ted Douglas, Ed Wilson, DickLewis, and Art Nichols, all in the San Fran Bay area. How about hearing from you guys with some words of wisdom or just plain news?

There should be a "'Round The Girdled Earth" section in this column. The reporter would be Frank Aldrich, who is everywhere. In Curacao last January, Frank helped celebrate the three-year anniversary of the McLaughlin Bank, N.V, of which he is president. Then, on to visit John and Ana Maria Phelps in Caracas. John puts together development construction projects in a difficult economy, but he spent the Christmas holidays in Quechee.

Wiley McMinn surfaces after many years of silence to say he's been in Baton Rouge for 31 years as assistant director of economic development for Lousiana. He is now retired, but his children have been active: he and Mary have 18 grandchildren! Fiftieth Reunion Chair Barr, addled as he is, will be glad to hear they'll make that bash (just Wiley and Mary).

On sabbatical duties as prof, of geology at Illinois State John Foster and his wife, Sylvia, are embarking on a global lecture tour including Thailand and Australia. There will be a 66-hour train ride from Sydney to Perth and visits to Singapore, London, and Glasgow. All this in five weeks!

The annual '45 Florida-Midwest-Coast Snowbird Mini-Reunion was hosted by Pegand Harry Hampton at their condo at Beer Can Beach on Long Boat Key. Attendees were Barney and Molly Oldfield, Anne and DickConklin, and Joan and Chas. Rowan. Good conversation of Dartmouth and world happenings was followed by an Epicurean dinner at an eatery overlooking the Gulf. The group then repaired to Harry's to demolish a very special Calemonden Cake, baked by chef Barney himself. Delicious!

Although retired from the wool business, Fred Perry finds satisfaction in consulting work for foreign firms. From February through April he and Virginia were at their home in the beautiful Uruguayan resort city of Punta del Este.

Frank Hutchkins had an operation to correct a cataract operation performed some years ago, when medical techniques weren't as advanced as today. He reported that all seemed well, and he should be 20/20 long before you read this. (From experience, I'll tell you it doesn't better your putting. Sorry 'bout that.)

Thought for the month: "People Change. And, hygienically speaking, we should all be grateful for that."

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