1930

Unless the Dow takes a dive before you receive this, you can consider Gene Jay Seagle a prophet and, probably, a profiteer as well. According to the West (Conn.) Forum, Gene predicted the 5,000-point Dow over a year ago, when it was under 4,000, and thinks this bull market "will carry into 1996." Not bad for an 89-year-old. As I write this in mid-February, the Dow has just had its seventh-straight record breaker, closing above 5,600.

Gene and Jessie, his wife of 62 years, have lived in Weston for 30 years. Since 1994, when he left Gruntal & Co. as its techniresearch director, Gene has run his own firm, Tactics & Technics Consultants, from his home, dispensing advice to money managers and large investors. But now, he says, more bulls are rushing in, predicting peaks of 6,000, 7,000, and even 10,000 by the end of the decade. Gene says he used to be one of the high men on the totem pole, but now he's a cheapskate. In six months, he predicts, we'll see who are the boobs and who are gurus.

If anyone would like a copy of this longish article (for which I thank Christen O'Connor Fitzpatrick '87 and our DAM), let me know. Better yet, maybe BurtCrandell could entice Gene to our May 3 mini, to share some of this with us after dinner.

Speaking of which, Bob Keene says Wally Wasmer is the only officially declared mini participant so far. I know there are more of you lurking in the woods, as I am, so let Bob or Burt know your intentions.

The class of 1930 is being swept by a new fashion: replacing joints. We all know about Burt's shiny new brass knees, and there's also the modest unidentified class treasurer. A recent communication from Bill Fenton says he is planning a replacement to facilitate his pursuit of a hooked trout up (or down?) stream. And on December 28 Betty Wolf had a hip replaced, I suppose to facilitate pursuit of her wolfish husband up or down the street.

318 Los Rincones, Green Valley, AZ 85614