1961

A profile of David Laughlin in the Vermont Standard tells of the almost breathless variety of activities that have entered his life during his 30 years of dentistry in Woodstock, Vt. Some examples: In 1970 David spearheaded the cleanup of the Ottauquechee River. In 1972 he founded and was first president of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, then was finance chairman for 15 years. Beginning in 1975, David raced autos professionally. He competed in the U.S. Endurance Firehawk Series for several years and won it in 1989. He started Woodstock Motor Sports, originally a garage for his race cars but now a regular auto-repair shop. He was a member of a small committee that founded the Vermont Raptor Center and has taught classes in birdwatching.

"He has tremendous energy, and he is an innovative thinker," said Jen Lingelbach, current director of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. And yet, David still finds time to treat patients. "I really find it fascinating, and I still love it."

John White's longstanding interest in UFOs is back in the news, the subject of a story in the Meriden (Conn.) Record Journal. John has now written 15 books on metaphysical topics, and back in October he held his seventh annual international conference for people who have researched, sighted, or claim to have been abducted.

"UFOs are a fact," he said. "Anyone who disputes that can attend my conference." In the newspaper account, he describes his own encounter in 1987 in Pine Bush, N.Y. "I saw an aerial light which I'm fairly certain had no earthly origin," said the former navy pilot. "It was rectangular, self illuminated, ruby red light which rose behind distant trees and across an empty corn field." I recall John talking about UFOs at one of our reunions.

John King is now chief executive officer of Legacy Health System in Portland, Ore., according to the Portland Business Journal. He's been a health-care administrator for 31 years, Mosdy in top-level positions. His favorite book touching on health-care issues is Re-engineering the Corporation, by Michael Hammer.

In other news John Tyson has been named vice president of specialty woven fabrics for Highland Industries Inc. in High Point, N.C. Piero Melchiorri is now president of Logical Communications Inc. after a career in sales, marketing, and advertising. David Dickey is a partner in the law firm of Bell & Dickey, headquartered in Berlin, Pa., which has recently opened a branch office in Salisbury, Pa. John abriskie has been elected to the board of the Kellogg Co. He's chairman and CEO of the Upjohn Cos.

John B. Starr, president of the China Institute, spoke on "How do the Pacific Nations Look Today?" as the opening lecturer for the Darien Community Association's 1995 Academic Lecture Series on the Pacific Century.

Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem NC 27157-1015