1948

While many of the rest of us have made our travel agents and golf pros rich in our retirement, Gene Finke is staying home, working for the citizens of El Paso, Texas, as a school board member. As we talked, the phone was buzzing with calls waiting, the result of the boards having fired the superintendent. What is more, he's running for another term as a city councilman. Gene also plays tennis regularly and can probably pick up a game in Hanover because he promises that he and Connie will take time to be with us for the 55th.

Honeydew, California, is a grocery store, post office and school—the address of Ken Carpenter, who retired from Lockheed at age 55 and headed for the hills of Humboldt County. On his 12 acres he grows apples, pears, kiwis and vegetables. (For those of you acquainted with California, you will recognize that many of Ken's neighbors grow another cash crop.) He has used his engineering back-ground to equip his home with solar panels and to dam a creek for hydro power, making him independent of the power grid. He admits to enjoying his country life and keeps in shape paddling his kayak.

Moose Concannon may be down but he's far from out. He suffered a broken hip, complications and the physical therapists beating him up pretty well last year but he's climbing back from that. A stroke in May didn't help, either. We had a good chat recently and he is on the mend but still sounded somewhat weak. Hopes to be able to make the 55th.

The indefatigable Gil Shattuck is on the campaign trail again for the New Hampshire legislature. He wants to shake up the state tax structure and make prescription drugs more affordable, which probably elicits mixed emotions from our New Hampshire retirees. Those in favor send a check.

Ray Richard and his committee are making great strides to provide the very best reunion of all for us next year. Sonny Drury will proba- bly lead an assault on Mt. Moosilauke or Mt. Washington before or after the main event. Ray predicts the good weather that could make pos- sible a lot of outside activities. Not like our 50th, where it rained so much we had to stay inside and visit with one another.

It will come as a great relief to those class members who do really not keep in touch and don't bother to pay dues that they soon will not have to relegate these pages to the recycle bin. The class executive committee has decided that dues payers should not have to subsidize circulation. On the other hand, if you've been interested in the Alumni Magazine but were willing to accept it without paying dues, you can get right back on the mailing list by sending in your check when the dues notice comes later this year. After our 55th reunion next June, our senior alumni status will reduce the available space each issue from 500 to 375 words. We are fortunate to have Dick Dahl and Bob Huke and/or their successors to publish a great newsletter.

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