1957

I have received several news items since last writing. By this time many of these are old but nonetheless interesting. I mentioned last month that we were going to try to change our 40th Reunion to a weekend reunion and that Clark Griffiths would be trying to make that change. I also received a copy of a letter from Hanny Mason that he had sent Nels Armstrong pointing out the major difference in air fare if you can stay over a Saturday night. Letters from other classmates may well be helpful so please send them on to the college, c/o Nels Armstrong, director of alumni affairs.

Bill Muldoon got some press, as well he might. He is currently publisher of the Sterling Colorado Journal Advocate and formerly published newspapers in Augusta, Ga., and Copperas Cove, Tex.

He has been selected to serve on the Colorado Press Foundation board, which has been established to fund educational projects for journalism students and state newspapers. Sounds like a great idea funding scholarships for journalism students and for guest publisher fellowships at community newspapers. Gosh knows my local paper could use some advice from a competent guest.

Bob Towbin, whom we heard a good deal about as vice chairman of the U.S.Russian Investment Fund in Moscow, has come back stateside to become one of 13 managing directors at Unterberg Harris LP, where he will also serve as one of the three senior bankers. The U.S.-Russian experience must have been both mind expanding as well as frustrating and it will probably be good to be back in the good old U.S.A.

The Irish-American magazine rightfully bragged about James R. Donnelley pointing out the family roots in Belfast, Northern Ireland, but also speaking of the recent growth of R.R. Donnelley's software services business. In 1995 Donnelley merged its global software services unit with Corporate Software of Massachusetts to form a new company, Stream International. Jim is vice chairman of the board of the parent company.

Michael Lasser, who we spoke of in this column when he won the Peabody Award for his syndicated radio program, Fascinatin'Rhythm, continues his premise that popular songs are the richest and most accurate mirrors we have of our culture. In a recent talk he discussed popular American music and its impact on Jews, claiming that the coming together of cultures in New York City with its emergence of ethnic songs encouraged the Americanization of an immigrant population.

Eugene Booth is executive director of the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights, which is responsible for administering the state's anti-discrimination laws in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, and credit. Gene was recently the keynote speaker at the Eastern Regional Conference of United Neighborhood Centers of America. He spoke about affirmative action, certainly a hot topic on our political agenda today.

Based on a December analysis, MartinAnderson, who with perfect accuracy predicted the Republican takeover of the House in 1994, now predicts that if the 1996 congressional elections were being held in December of 1995, the Democrats would win 250 of the House's 435 seats and would dump Newt Gingrich as speaker. Marty, a stalwart conservative, must find this tough to put to print but recognizes it's easier to make the broad statements about a Republican Contract with America than it is to carry out the nitty gritty of a program change. Wonder what attitudes will be by next fall.

I received notice that Frank AlbertSauter, our classmate who lived at 570 Union St., San Francisco, died last fall. The last college contact with him had been in 1971, at which time he reported he was a freelance writer. I hope one of you can bring us further information. I am out of news so please help me out with some.

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MichaelLasser sayspopular songs are the richest and most accuratemirrors of ourculture. RICHARD F. PERKINS '57