1971

Pete Webster called to commiserate about getting his "bio" done for the Reunion yearbook, and in the process filled me in on what he's been up to. Once known to some of us as the "Midas Muffler King" of Connecticut since he'd developed quite a large string of franchises around the state, Pete a few years ago decided that the whole thing was too managementintensive and decided to sell his operation. Retirement didn't last long, though. He informs me he has embarked on a new career in the political arena at the very local level. He's recently been elected first selectman in Essex, Conn., home to the famed Griswald Inn (the "Griz"), the steam train excursion, and Currier and Ives scenery. He claims that the learning curve is steep but he's busy climbing it. So, give a rouse!

Jim Smith had led WaterburY, Conn. based Webster Financial since 1991. The period since then has seen great turmoil in the state's banking system, with the failure of Bank of New England and its subsequent takeover by Fleet Financial, followed by Fleet's merger with (say again, takeover of) ShawmuT Bank. During this time, Jim has (as American Banker put it) "taken a sleepy, local thrift founded by his father through five acquisitions, progressively shifting its asset mix toward more profitable commercial banking and making Webster the second-largest financial institution headquartered in Connecticut." The latest acquisition involved 20 of Fleet's overlapping branches which had to be sold as part of the state's approval of the merger. "We are trying to become more like Shawmut was in many ways," Smith said. "Our bank will look like some of the leading Connecticut franchises did 10 to 15 years ago"

In the world of academe, Frederick H.Harris has been named associate dean for academic affairs at Wake Forest University's Babcock Graduate School of Management. Harris will oversee faculty personnel, faculty workloads, and research support. He joined the Babcock School in 1990 as an associate professor of management and has held a Babcock research professorship since 1992. And JohnHeinbokel, a professor at Trinity College of Vermont, has been named a participant in Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL), an informal national alliance of individuals, institutions, and organizations committed to strengthening undergraduate science and mathematics. PKAL has held more than 25 workshops and meetings on issues surrounding curricular reform, administrative leadership, and facility renewal. PKAL, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, and several private foundations, incorporates activities that are directed toward the future of undergraduate programs.

In closing, let me say how much I'm looking forward to seeing all 150 of you who have so far indicated you are definitely coming to Reunion along with, I hope, a good percentage of the 100 "maybes." This is shaping up to be a well-attended event, taking David Orr's "reunion probability theory" into account, we re still expecting over 500 classmates, spouses, guests, and children (including in a number of cases, children who are Dartmouth students)! If you haven't responded and are still "thinking about it," I hope you will decide in favor of making the trek and sending in your preregistration materials. Come one, come all; it's going to be a great time.

And look for the class of '71 on the World Wide Web courtesy of Dartmouth's alumni page at . We're planning some special stuff so get digital and look us up! Best regards,

20 Den Road, New Hartford, CT 06057

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE 25 TH REUNION THE CLASS OF 71