1975

June 11,1995. On the 20th anniversary of our graduation from Dartmouth, I found myself sitting in Memorial Field stadium in a light drizzle. A helicopter hovered overhead. Secret Service agents clad in black occupied the roofs of Leverone and the press box. The stadium was packed. A scene from a Sylvester Stallone movie? Not quite. Rather, the scene of this year's Commencement exercises, featuring President Bill Clinton as the keynote speaker. In addition to giving a speech, Clinton actually shook hands with every graduating student. This would have been a good year to graduate from Dartmouth.

I received a very thoughtful letter from Jeff and Kathy Barndt. Believe it or not, the Barndt family, including sons Paul 9 and James 6, will be moving to Lagos, Nigeria, in mid-August. Amoco has asked Jeff to serve as managing director of its subsidiary in Nige- ria, to open an office there, and to look after the company's intended $100 million invest- ment. Jeff will be determining how feasible it is for Amoco to become an oil operator in Nigeria, an OPEC country. The Barndts will be living in a housing compound owned by Mobil. Their apartment is on the top floor of a ten-story building, with three bedrooms, several terraces, a swimming pool in the apartment, and great views of Lagos. The children will attend an excellent international school. Nevertheless, this is a tough assignment. Because of the high crime rate, Amoco has provided an armored car and armed security for the Barndts.The weather is always hot and humid, and basics such as electricity, phones, and water can be undependable. Sounds like a good opportunity for Indiana Jones. The Barndts go with the support and best wishes of '75.

Robbin Deny Darnell teaches business ethics at Wharton to undergrads and MBA students. Robbin married Don Darnell in 1993 and gave birth to son Dylan in 1994. Don worked for P.R.T.M. Consulting until Dylan was born and is now a fulltime Dad. Robbin tells me there is much love in her family, and Dylan is a very happy kid. She is not currently affiliated with a church - a big change for Robbin, who was an ardent Christian Scientist when we knew her at Dartmouth. Work conferences have taken Robbin to New Zealand and Vienna recently, and when I last spoke to her, she said the family would soon be moving to Rutledge Pa.

Ron Akie wrote to let us know of his recent appointment as senior vice president, marketing, for Dawson North America. The Dawson companies provide a variety of information services to libraries and businesses. Yes, Dartmouth libraries are a client. Dawson acquired the Faxon Co., where Ron had worked for eight years, last fall. Ron is still living in Boston. He had hoped to make it to our last reunion, but claims business got in the way. Ron had lunch last year at Christmas time with Stan and Gail McDermott. Gail spent her junior Wheaton year with us at Dartmouth. The McDermotts live in N.Y.C., where Stan practices law and Gail is a senior vice president at Prudential Capital Group.

429 E. 52nd St. #22E, New York, NY 10022; (212) 980-2267