1967

It just seems you cannot pick up a newspaper without reading about our classmates. Gerry Petitt was the subject of a big spread in the Wall Street Journal recently. The story of how Gerry and his partner, Robert Hazard, first built Best Western into the nation's largest lodging chain and then left to build the even-bigger Choice Hotels group is a fascinating one. One of every ten hotels in the United States now belongs to their chain, and their international holdings now include a Quality hotel in the Himalayas reachable by elephant. Gerry is con sidered to have revolutionized the lodging industry, and his story makes a great business case study.

Then I picked up a paper here in the New York area to find a profile of Dave Houston, who has been named Instructor of the Year by the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. Dave's commercial real-estate firm, David T. Houston Co., has also been named Firm of the Year by Colliers International. Dave's prognostications on the economy and its implications for the local commercial markets seem to be in high demand. In the same week, I read an article about Arthur "Pete"Linkins's appointment as a director of the Adirondack North Country Association. Pete just assumed the presidency of Paul Smith's College back in July. As a director of ANCA, Pete will coordinate events and linkages to economic development activities for one of the four Adirondack regions.

Finally, from the book reviews we have word of Pete Golenbock's latest triumph. It is good to know that a strike in any particular sport will never leave Pete out of the action. His American Zoom,: Stock CarbacingFrom The Dirt Tracks To Daytona has just come out in paperback. Pete has added new material to the hardcover, which sold 45,000 copies last year. The Chicago Tribune declared this book "a lively, literate, and loving look at the men, the machines, the machinations and the magic of stock car racing." From Casey Stengel to Billy Martin to Jim Valvino to the Dodgers to senior baseball to Fenway Park to stock cars. What's next, Pete?

Finally, a reminder to everyone. The Alumni Fund really matters. Tuition (most of us know how much that is) really doesn't begin to cover the cost of a wonderful education at Dartmouth. Our support is essential. DaveLowenstein and Sam Ostrow need our help. In addition to making your pledge now, call Dave at (201) 228-5100 or Sam at (212) 5278824 if you can lend some support in this year's campaign. Every bit of help is appreciated. We want to wrap this up with a record amount.

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