1961

Bob Naegele has got himself a hockey team. Bob is listed as the "lead investor" of the Minnesota Wild, a National Hockey League expansion team that will start play in the fall of 2000. According to a cover story in USA Today, Bob committed $35 million for 70 percent of the team. Since then the team has sold out all 64 suites in the new St. Paul arena in a record eight-week span. And 2,000 "club" seats, with an exclusive concourse and special features, were to go on sale in late August. But just as Bob was always demonstrating and promoting Rollerblades after he created that company, Bob's strategy this time is to promote amateur hockey throughout Minnesota rather than simply promoting the Wild. According to USA Today, team employees visit hockey rinks, attend high school hockey games, and support youth hockey organizations. Aid none of his classmates would be surprised to see Bob, who's still in tremendous shape, taking a stint in the nets during practice.

"My town is being transformed," says St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman. "Bob Naegele has done a tremendous job. This is marketing in the new millennium."

But ever-modest Bob says, "I'm a follower of Christ, so I take time to pray and consider I'm at peace about this project."

In other news, Doug Zipes, a cardiologist at the Indiana University School of Medicine, has been elected vice president of the American College of Cardiology, putting him on the escalator to lead the 25,000- member organization. He will become president-elect next year and president in 2001. Doug raised $3 million for the organization last year as chairman of the development committee.

R. Bruce Callahan, a founder and managing partner of Partners Financial, one of the largest and most successful producer groups in the country, has sold the firm to National Financial Partners, a newly created firm to create the nation's premier independent financial services distribution system serving high net-worth individuals and the corporate market.

Bruce, who will be a director of the new firm, has been in the insurance business for more than 30 years. He is a former president of American Founders Life and chief marketing officer of CNA.

You may get a personal call from actor and class projects chair David Birney, who is campaigning for the Class of 1961 Legacy: The American Tradition of Performance, which will provide a performing arts endowment for the Hopkins Center. He's gotten several unexpectedly big checks recently. If you want to contribute without waiting for "the call" send your check to Dartmouth Class of '6l Legacy, Attn: Elizabeth Spencer, PO Box 6068, Blunt Alumni Center, Elanover NH 03755.

Remember the Dartmouth Night weekend mini-reunion begins on Oct. 22 with the traditional Dartmouth Night parade, followed by a cocktail party.

The Saturday football game is with Cornell. We'll be following our standard pattern—block of rooms at the Airport Economy Inn (call NOW if you haven't already reserved), pre game brunch at the Fayerweathers, post-game keg at the Frost statue, Saturday night dinner at the Sumter Inn catered by I'Tasca, and probably a Sunday brunch as well. Athletic Director Dick Yeager will be our dinner speaker.

Office of Public Relations and Marketing, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1015;

Bob Naegele committed $35 million for 70 percent of the NHL expansion team Minnesota Wild. BOB CONN '61