Clay Houchens

Our condolences to Clay Houchens on the loss of both her mother and father during the past year.  Here is a link to a story about her father, Professor Douglas Houchens who taught art during our years at Davidson.  Douglas Houchens.

Henry Lomax

I haven’t written in years, but enjoy reading about our classmates spread around the world so thought I’d contribute. My wife Donna and I have stayed in Charlotte, and I’m still slogging it out in the real estate business. Kevin (KD) Doherty and I have ridden it out about 14 years now down the hall from each other – it’s been quite a ride. Even with a challenging business climate, I’m staying busy with several volunteer activities.

Our son Charlie is back in school again at CPCC, after working for several years on figuring out what direction to take. Our daughter Deanna (photo attached) just started her senior year at Davidson. As captain on the cheerleading squad, she had a front row seat for the tournament run – amazing. She’s a bio major (pre-med), so obviously got her brains, work ethic and athleticism from her mother. Last year she was a hall counselor on 1st Richardson (my freshman hall), living in Bill Lloyd’s ('76) room. Bill and his wife Carol just moved to Charlotte from Pittsburgh, so we’re looking forward to seeing more of them.

Keep up the good work.

Henry C. Lomax, Jr.

Meg Campbell Haynes

So, Sarah is a junior at Davidson now. She had a wonderful summer in Australia and is now checking out the scene in Italy, doing her fall semester abroad. Will, is a senior at Davidson and just completed the required ROTC leadership training this summer in Washington and then did an internship at Southern Command. He worked with Jorge Silveira (another Davidson grad. Jim's class I think) and loved it.

Jim and I have now been in CA a month. But still same old me -- no botox, no bleached hair, no "enhancements". Of course, we're in East Bay area. So I'm more likely to come back to Davidson in Birkenstocks. We're renting a house in Piedmont, CA. It has great views of the bay. Even has a hot tub and small pool so you and Debra should definitely come out! Boxes are still everywhere despite visits by two of my siblings to help. I'm working very parttime but hope to be on a more regular schedule this month. Still doing child support policy and training, but with a different consulting company -- one owned by a long time friend of mine.

Biggest thing in work area was my participation in Nov. as member of US delegation to final diplomatic session at Hague, negotiating an international treaty on child support enforcement. US signed treaty, indicating our intent to pursue ratification. Now treaty is before Senate. I've also been involved in drafting implementing state legislation. International child support enforcement will continue to be my major focus with new employer.

Jim seems to like Chevron. He seems much more relaxed. Getting home every night for supper at 7. Taylor and I don't quite know how to handle it!

Hope things are well at your household. Come see us soon.

Meg

Jack Wilson

Oh you made me laugh with the two month delayed response comment. It is strange that I received the original message since that is not an e-mail address I ever had.

I went there to Davidson for just my freshman year. Even though I did not graduate with the class of 1978, I still get treated with mailings and communications as though I did. I suspect once a Davidson person, always a Davidson person.

I was a bit more motivated by girls and football so many years ago and I transferred back to Penn State University who had recruited me out of high school to play a little better quality of football and to be with a girl I met in the spring of 1975 and who was attending Penn State. I played at Penn State for the next two years and then left the team my senior year. I never married that girl either, but I did get a great Business degree and have spent most of my career with The Coca-Cola Company.

I am an early retiree at this point and I am enjoying the rest after 30 years of grinding it out.

Yes I did know the Namath family, Joe's brother Frank was an insurance agent in the town and I went to high school with Joe's nephew Mike Namath. We even played a game of basketball with Joe in his nephew's driveway so many years ago.

The two who I have stayed the closest with is Joel Golmont who went to Davidson with me back in 1974 to play football. Joel is also originally from Beaver Falls and we were on the same high school team at Blackhawk HS. Also Jim Murphy of course because he has now been the AD there at Davidson for quite a while.

Lastly, my son played football there at Davidson and played the exact same position as I did when I started at left guard as a freshman in the fall of 1974. He just did it 32 years later in the fall of 2006 in what was then supposed to be his senior year.

All the best Bruce, and now at least you have my correct contact information.

Jack

Kris Childress Update

Dear Family and Friends:

Yes, the "buzz" is true.

My fiancee, Lynette Leong, and I will marry here in Singapore on November 15, 2008.

The wedding will include both a traditional Christian service at our church that morning AND a wonderful Chinese dinner party in the evening at the Amara Sanctuary Resort (http://www.amarasanctuary.com/weddings/information.html ) on the Singapore island enclave of Sentosa.

All of my family and friends outside of Singapore are, of course, VERY WELCOME to come to our wedding. IF you can make the lengthy trip to attend please let me know as soon as possible so that I can send you a formal invitation with more details and suggest hotel accomodations here. Whether you can come or not, we appreciate your prayers for our wedding and future together.

We also hope to have a post-wedding party in Charlotte, North Carolina (USA) between Xmas and New Year's 2008.

Please feel free to bring/send "Ang Pao" in any case ;-)

Thanks to everyone for their encouragement and support throughout the process of Lynette's and my courtship and my relocation here to Singapore.

Warmest regards,

Kris Childress

Eric Wruck

Here's a photo of Alice (6) with her sidewalk chalk creation, made a few days before the Wisconsin game: Daughter Louisa took the picture & cut off the O & N from Davidson

We were in Davidson before the 4th for my mom's 80th birthday. Had a nice time. Karen & I stopped in to visit with Louise Nelson in the Pines. She just turned 90 herself but is as sharp & vibrant as ever.

Hope you're doing well.

Adios,

Eric

Bruce Kemp

Bruce… all is well here.

I had not seen the news about Tony Snow’s death until after I e-mailed you… really really sad.

On bright note, I have enjoyed wearing my Davidson hoops t shirts and cap that came weeks after because the sales volume was so high, really cool that so many sold. Get a fair number of comments, all positive. Really enjoyed your stories on that wonderful adventure. I watched Detroit from the Davidson gathering bar in DC (crowd was upstairs, room so full could barely see the TVs) I watched downstairs where the view was much better, then hopped the Metro to watch the Nats beat my favorite team the Braves with walk-off in bottom of the ninth by Ryan Zimmerman on opening night. Two tough losses in short time that day, but very exciting games.

Thanks again.

Bruce Kemp

Luis Abreu

Hi Bruce. if you ever get back to Danville, give me a call so we can chat.

"Luis Abreu and wife Sallie (Queens College 1976) say hello from Danville, Va. Luis was named for the 6th year in a row as one of Virginia's Legal Elite for his practice in the area of Family Law. In addition to practicing law and Sallie being a realtor, Luis and Sallie are also first time developers of a 33 unit luxury residential project known as The View At Country Club Place located on the Dan River in Danville. They have 2 daughters, Sarah (UVA 2006) and Maria (UVA 2010). Between maintaining a full time practice of law, selling real estate, and visiting their daughters, Luis and Sallie stay very busy but would welcome Davidson Alumnii visits. Luis also got his first pair of cowboy boots this past April during his visit to Dallas to join in the celebration of Greg Hammons (1980) 50th birthday along with Dave Donaldson (1980)."

I hope you are doing well and that you do not have to pull an all-nighter to finish your column.

Luis

Jonathan Washburn

Man, you really are begging !!! I couldn’t help but get sucked in.

Just looking in my directory quickly, I found a picture for you, if you really want one. That’s my mom, who married my dad, Benjamin M. Washburn, III, right after he graduated from Davidson in 1943. My daughter Julia is directly behind Mom with the big smile, thinking “Dad, don’t take that picture”.

My daughter Julia just graduated from New Hanover High School, after finishing a career of cheerleading and gymnastics. She has enrolled at NC State, and will be a freshman staying at University Towers in the fall. She didn’t consider Davidson, but my younger daughter Cameron just finished her sophomore year of high school, and has already taken a campus tour at Davidson and is interested. She has been swimming competitively for several years, and I totally support her but did nothing to push her into the sport. She’s getting pretty good, particularly at backstroke, and if she earns an invitation to swim at UNC-Chapel Hill, that would be sort of the holy grail. Otherwise, she has said she would like to go to Davidson, and swim for the team.

Bruce, I wouldn’t have your class notes job, even if they tripled the salary…

JONATHAN

Greg Crawford

An update that may be useable? Don't know, but here some stuff.

My son Christopher graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in May after which we took a cruise around Hawaii to celebrate both his graduation and his engagement to Alyssa Ackerman, also an F&M student. Last fall, my wife, Merle, and I took a trip of a lifetime to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador to celebrate her 50th birthday. And, finally, I start a 6 month sabbatical on July 1 to work on a book -- one of the major perks of an academic career.

Greg Crawford

Don Richter

You are the best class secretary ever!!! I seriously think you should be writing a newspaper column ala Dave Barry.

(Eds. Note: Another classmate terrified that if I quit, he might be tapped as Class Secretary. Regardless...thank you!)

Just now I'm sipping a Caribou cappuccino in Chicago before a morning stroll along the lake shore. With my ancient knees I don't even pretend I can still jog. The only news-worthy tidbit is that my son Jonathan -- a rising Guilford junior -- is spending the summer in Shangri-La, China before attending University of Beijing fall semester. I thought I was hot stuff going JYA to Marburg, but for our kids Europe seems so last century. I was able to use my rusty German on a recent trip to San Francisco. Because of the favorable exchange rate, the hotel was flooded with vacationing German families. Wir haben nur Deutsch geplaudert!

Don Richter

Kathleen Golding Boyce

Here’s the news from the Boyce household – probably more than you want or need to know, so feel free to edit.

Richard and I have just returned from a 2 week trip to the Holy Land; the trip was an anonymous gift from a member of the SS class he teaches at MPPC. We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary while there. It was an amazing journey. We had an Israeli Jew, who was very knowledgeable about history, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, archeology, culture, wine, geology, you name it, as our private guide. We can tell more stories and show more pictures than you would ever want to endure.

Laura and Sarah are one year out of college and both pretty gainfully employed w/ Teach for America. Laura teaches at West Philly High, and Sarah teaches at Gholson Middle School in Landover, Md. Teach for America is a fabulous program that I do believe is making an impact on education throughout our country (from yesterday’s Charlotte Observer: http://www.charlotte.com/409/story/690136.html)

Virginia has finished her sophomore year at Georgetown, where she is majoring in English and minoring in Spanish (we keep cranking out the English majors.) She started the summer w/ a mission trip w/ the Presbytery of W. NC. to Malawi. She is now on a 7 week Quaker-sponsored program in rural Mexico.

Caroline has spent two weeks at conferences in Montreat and a week babysitting in Blowing Rock. She has a mission trip to Puerto Rico ahead and a visit to Martha’s Vineyard w/ her cousin.

My mom died four weeks ago today. It was both expected and unexpected. She had had a number of health problems for years but seemed stable. But a week prior to her death, her heart became very arrhythmic, and she stopped breathing for about 30 minutes. We had a long, hard week of waiting at CMC before her death. I am hoping I can persuade my dad to move to Belmont now. We had been trying to talk Mom and Dad into moving closer, but we got nowhere. Maybe Dad will reconsider now. He does not like to be alone.

Richard is still teaching at Union-PSCE at Charlotte and being mayor in Belmont. I still have too many part-time jobs and no real jobs. I teach machine embroidery and embroidery software classes for the local Bernina dealership, and I represent a line of beautiful but overpriced ladies clothes. I have applied for a real job that I hope I will get.

I have two reunions scheduled for the fall – one w/ the North Main girls and one w/ the Carnegie girls. I am excited.

Now I’m going to put my jet-lagged body in the bed.

Love,
Kathleen

PS – Daughter #4 is now out of braces. Four girls w/ perfect teeth thanks to Holt Foushee.
We are still riding high from the basketball season. We made it to Raleigh. Sarah went to Detroit (courtesy of Jerry Taylor.) What a year! And next year promises to be better.

Billy Hutchings

Alright, Bruce, here is some dirt on the kid!

I still practice Family Medicine in Macon, Ga., and just finished my masters in theology from Beacon University in Columbus, ga. My wife Mel teaches High School Journalism and English. My 19 year old daughter Sasha is studying Dance Performance Arts at Oklahoma City University, and my 16 year old Kayla studies Art and plays soccer here at Central High School.

Bill Vinson

Not sure I can be of much help.

I did celebrate my 30th Anniversary with Blue Bell/Wrangler/VF this past March. Still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, but in the meantime, the blue jeans things has been pretty good to me.

On pretty days I enjoy flying my pretty red and white Decathlon airplane, and wife Barbara has become a treasured co-pilot.

We enjoyed reconnecting with classmates Matt Wall and Joe Craig and their families during the Wildcats' run on the NCAA.

Now it is Summer, and quite hot. We have a boat up at Smith Mountain Lake near Roanoke, so if anyone wants to go boating for a day, give us a call.

Hope you are well.

Bill

Paul Schleifer

I just got back from spending several days hanging around the DC campus while my 10-year-old son, Kit, was at the Junior Advanced soccer camp. He had a great time, and I really appreciate Matt Spears, class of '93, and his staff, many of whom are former players.

I hung out on campus while he was there, trying hard not to be too much of a helicopter parent. I did some research at the library; I ate lunch in the union. If you anyone hasn't been to campus in a long while, you gotta come back and see what has been done. Frankly, Little Dorm, where Kit stayed, hasn't changed much, but so much of campus has, and it's marvelous.
I also got to see Professor Holland; he'd come to the union for a bite, and we sat and talked for more than an hour. It's been 30 years since I was a student at DC, but I am still learning from my professors. It was a wonderful opportunity.

Well, that's all I can think of.

Paul Schleifer

Bev Jones Upshur

Hi Bruce. Hope this helps. John ('76) and I just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary with a perfect vacation week in Canun, Mexico. Our daughter Kate, half way through masters degree program in social work at Washington University in St.Loius, will attend the China Insitute of Wash U. this July. Eleven students will join students from Hong Kong U., Xian U. and Peking U. for a week in Hong Kong and and a week in Xian colaborating in issues of mental health. In Aug., our son Will begins a 2 year master degree program with Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in national security. Located in Washington, DC, he will be "away" but close enough for us to "keep" his car.

My best to all my classmates and all friends from Davidson.

Bev Jones Upshur

Jarry Taylor

Got back from golf heaven a week ago--Scotland. 9 days of golf, 14
rounds, sore feet, a sweet tired I can tell you. First half of the
trip was up above Inverness in the Dornoch area, second half in St.
Andrews. No Davidsonians on the trip, but fun nonetheless.

Janet and my 25th anniversary is coming up in October--that plus the guys' golf
trip to Scotland may require some serious bling on October 1. I've
used the "isn't this the tupperware year" statement one too many
times. The cashmere sweater from the Old Course Shop just meant I
didn't have to sleep in the shed when I got back.

Our 2007 Davidson grad son finished one year as a paralegal at Williams and Connolly in
D.C., took the LSAT last week, and likely will apply to law school
this winter to start in 2009--despite his parents trying to talk him
out of it. He's applied for and appears likely to start a new
paralegal job in California in July--I'll update you if he gets it
because it's way cool, or as the younger generation says, it would be
"sick".

Our Naval Academy rising junior is in the middle of
"PROTRAMID"--Professional Training for Midshipmen. One week of
surface warfare training, one week at a Marine Corps base, one week at
a submarine base, and one week at an aviation base. We'll then get
him home for about 3-4 weeks. He spent most of June in a study abroad
program--Paris, France (and thanks to all you taxpayers for sending
him to France for me).

Hope you can use some or all of that info. Anyone else still high off
the Elite Eight in March?!!!

Jarry

Stan Brown

Well ......

It was a great year to be a Wildcat hoops fan. My two sons and I drove over
the mountains to see the games vs. Duke and Furman. Drove to Chatt to see the
Cats play UTC. I loved seeing them go to school wearing their Davidson gear.

We were in Raleigh and Detroit for the NCAA games. As the final seconds of the
Gonzaga game ticked away and our first tournament win since 1969 became real, I
found myself hugging my 8 year-old tightly while my face got wet and my chest
heaved. What an awesome time! Bunch of classmates in Detroit.

For some reason, the shirts that seem to end up in my bag for the fitness center
lately seem to all have Davidson on them.

Stan

Joe Craig

In April, 2006, I reacquainted myself with the fine art of cramming for an exam at the last possible moment and managed to pass the North Carolina Wildlife Commission's examination to become a licensed falconer. In September of '06, I trapped a wild juvenile Redtail hawk, named her Fiona, and trained her to hunt squirrels. I had a blast with her for nearly a year and a half, until I broke my leg on December 17 while hunting with her in somewhat rough terrain. It was slow to heal and so I felt it best to let her regain her freedom.

On April 20 of this year, I took her to the D.C. campus, where I met Dr. Mark Stanback, a professor in the Biology Department who has an interest in raptors. We let her go right in between Phi and Eu Halls after giving her a big sendoff meal of freshly-thawed roadkill squirrel. I chose Davidson because I've never seen so many of the varmints in my life than right there! In fact, I'd obtained permission to hunt her on campus during the Christmas break just before my unfortunate mishap.

I plan to trap another young Redtail in September and do it all over again ...

Joe Craig

Banks Robinson

Everything is going well in Columbia. Recently returned from Tuscon, AZ visiting my daughter Sarah who is serving her second year as a YAV (Young Adult Volunteer) for the PCUS. She is serving at Southside Presbyterian in various capacities; helping in worship, shower program for the homeless, clothes closet and a day labor program.

Loved watching Davidson basketball this year. Brought back old memories of glory days.

Banks

Matt Horne

In the spirit of solidarity with your looming deadline (I preach every Sunday, it's a common occurrence with me to be figuring out the sermon's conclusion as I step to the pulpit).

After 30 years commissioned service in the Regular Army and Army Reserve, I retired as a Chaplain in the Reserves at the begnning of June. Little did I suspect when I signed up for the ROTC Military Science 1 Course in the basement of Belk in 1974 that I would travel this road and get to see so many parts of the world on the Army's nickel. The week of my retirement, my 16 year old daughter Sally was elected to be State Adjutant General at South Carolina Girl's State. It took me 30 years to finish as a colonel, and here she was a major general after one week's work! I was a proud poppa at her swearing in, and have been adjusting to calling her "Ma'am." I don't draw retired pay until age 60, when I get to stick it to my fellow classmate taxpayers, and (of course) up my Annual Fund pledge to Davidson. Go Cats!


Matt Horne

David Tinkler

Good to hear from you, and glad to know that your work style hasn't changed in 30 years -- neither has mine.

It was a pleasure to see you and Debra at the basketball celebration in April. As I said at the time, I really enjoyed reading your report about your Detroit experience.

As for my report:

The Tinkler family is in our ninth year of enjoying life in Davidson. Brigid continues with her medical practice in Kannapolis, and Joel, Erin and Laura all are finding small town life to their liking (especially being part of the loyal fan base at Wildcat basketball games). I'm working in the legal department at the "red" bank, having switched from the "green" bank last summer.

My thanks to all classmates who donated to the Annual Fund.

Best regards.

David

(Eds. Note: A heartfelt thanks to David for taking on the mantle of Annual Fund Class Chair. When David writes this year, give generously. Remember, if he retires Davidson may be calling you to be Class Chair!    And you know you don't want that to happen!  Thanks David and my check is in the mail!)

Jerry Suttles

To have mercy on a fellow Davidsonian, consider the following mundane items about the uninteresting.

After 17+ years near Asheville, NC, living near former Davidsonian and best friend, Charlie LaBaw, Glenda and I moved to the Charlotte area with our two boys, Cory and Colton. This was to avoid moving to the new location of my BASF programming job, Mt. Olive, NJ. We currently reside in Mt. Holly and I work for Coats North America (world's largest thread maker) in Charlotte as an Oracle (database) developer. I also teach Math and Database Development on the side. Cory is attending Liberty University as a sophomore this fall and Colton is entering the 7th grade.

I hope you are not really desperate enough to use this, but if it helps...

Seriously, thanks for doing such a good job.
Jerry

(Eds. Note:  Jerry, as Class Secretary, I do not know the meaning of "mundane".  All news is good news.  Thanks and good luck in Charlotte!  B)

Kris Childress

Well. Not much is happening (LOL):

I became engaged to my lovely Singaporean girlfriend in January - we are going through preparations and hopefully gettting married this fall in a series of ceremonies in Singapore and the US. (Unfortunately the Davidson College Presbyterian Church is only available to recent Davidson grads for their weddings). We currently intend to remain in Singapore.

I am now a marketing and sales advisor for several startup companies associated with the National University of Singapore (NUS). As such, I have been privileged to attend a launch of the new iCenter incubator in Brunei (below is a link to a photo the brief session when I shook hands with the Prince of Brunei - the Sultan's brother). I also visited TiECON - The Indus Entrepreneurs - conference in Silicon Valley, CA in May with a contingent from NUS and other Singaporean organizations - representing two of my advisee companies. In my role, I carry a nice NUS name card (makes me look a bit like a lecturer, ha ha) and I have an office in a lush corner of the campus where wild local monkeys ocassionally perch on the roof.

Finally, I got a US phone number as part of my Skype package in . . . Davidson! (Local call for my family in Charlotte).

Blessings and good luck on the notes,

Kris Childress
Singapore

Robert Carlton

I am going on the Davidson Galapagos trip next week, went to alumni summer school in June, and applied for basketball season tickets for the first time (can't wait!!!). Hope this helps - are you that desperate?  

(Eds. Note:  Yes.  Yes I am.  Thank you for asking.  BH)

Debbie Dillon Darden

Bruce and I haven't done anything terribly interesting, and have probably maxed out our quota of appearances in the class notes for a while, but here are some leads for you.

Meg and Jim Haynes moving to San Fran in July.

Rees Jenkins and Vic Gilchrist attended the Lilly Theological Exploration of Vocation weekend at Davidson in June.

Cliff and Erin Napper Hester's daughter, Catherine, graduated from Davidson in May, as did Frank and BA Summerrell Hamilton's daughter. I'm sure there were others as well.

Marc(k?) Jackowitz and his daughter attended the McNab Legacy Program at Davidson a few weeks ago. Mark's son, Ben, will be a freshman at Davidson in the fall. I was there with our youngest, Steven, along with Phyl Justus and their youngest, Sara. There may have been others--I'll check and let you know.

Will Miller is on the Board of Visitors now--Joanne Mitchell as well--may be others.

That's all I can think of at the moment--hope this helps.

Debbie

Bruce Brown

Bruce,
You sound mighty down on your luck but I know that is not true. But I will still help you out.

I saw Bruce and Debbie Darden down at Pawleys last week. They seem to be doing well. Bruce had just returned from Poland where he and his daughter Suzanne went to the wedding of their foreign exchange student. Bruce said the reception was 12 hours along.

I am sitting on the deck at Will and Missey Miller's house at Atlantic Beach. They were gracious enough to invite the kids and me down for a long weekend. All the news for now.

Bruce

Jane Childs Carr

Hi, Bruce. Hope you are doing well. My life has been fairly chaotic
lately.

I got married(!) May 25 here in Decatur, Georgia. His name is Josiah B.
Hibbitts IV (but he's just called JB). He's Chief Pilot for the State of
Georgia Flight Department. He has two kids - son in college and daughter
in law school. My 9 year-old son Curry is ecstatic. JB and I met on
eHarmony, and clearly would never have met but for that, as he lived in
East Cobb (outside the perimeter highway that encircles Atlanta) and I live
in Decatur (inside the perimeter) and OTP and ITP folks just don't frequent
many of the same venues. Somewhat against his better judgment I think, he
has graciously agreed to live in my house in Decatur.

Oh, and then a couple of weeks later (once we got back from the honeymoon)
we closed on a lake house at Lake Hartwell, which is on the Georgia/South
Carolina line, and now we are busy furnishing the lake house, mostly with
the furniture and other items from JB's old house.

And also my mom died May 8, two weeks before the wedding. She was 90 years
old, and had been in failing health for some time. She wouldn't have been
physically able to attend my wedding, and I like to think that this way she
and my dad were able to watch together.

And Curry thinks it's pretty cool that Stephen Curry's last name is like
his first name.

Is that enough news?

Take care -
Jane

Charlie Law

I was going to send something in to Eric Wruck when he was covering for you, but I'm not sure that I ever did.

My wife Kathy and I teach in Casablanca, Morocco. We have our 17-year-olddaughter with us. Our son recently finished two years at Furman but this summer is driving his 300,000-mile Toyota to California, where he hopes to find whatever it is that 20-year-olds are looking for. His parents hope that'll include finishing college at some point. We've been in Morocco since 2000 and like it very much.

Thanks for keeping up with all this stuff.

Greetings to your family.

-Charlie Law

Clark Candler

Normally I wouldn’t answer your request for news as I don’t usually have much to say, and I still don’t have much to say, but you sounded so desperate I thought I would chip in a couple of words:

Enjoyed the REM concert in Atlanta last Saturday night and got to visit briefly with my old roommate (roommate all 4 years) Bert Downs; also spotted Robert Banta (Class of ’74 maybe?) in the crowd. Also in the crowd were my son Clark (’07), my daughter (’10), and my youngest son Blake (hopeful Class of ’13).

My wife and I are taking our 25th wedding anniversary trip this summer (been married 27 years but recognitions running 2 years behind reality; some kind of time/space warp I think); taking a cruise around Italy coast for 2 weeks, culminating in a hook up with Bert Downs and his family in Verona, Italy for the REM concert there. Looking forward to it!

That’s all for now. Enjoyed your e-mail; it was so clever I was moved to respond. Great job!

(Editor's Note: I'm Bruce Holliday and I approved (and paid 20 bucks for) this ad. Thanks CC. )

John Huie

ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY LIFE WAS THE TRIP TO DETROIT FOR SWEET 16 WHERE I MET MARC JACKOWITZ, TIM PURCELL, AND KEVIN "KD" DOHERTY.

THE NIGHT AFTER OUR VICTORY OVER WISC SITTING IN THE BAR AT THE MGM WITH 5 OTHER CLASS OF 77 DELTS HAVING COCKTAILS AND SMOKING CIGARS. THREE BIG DUDES AT THE BAR GOT UP WITH 9 BASS ALES. PASSED THEM OUT AND SAID WE ARE MICH GUYS AND YOU KICKED WISC ASS!!! I SAID DOESNT GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS!!

AGAINST KANSAS HAVE ¾ OF FORD FIELDS ATTENDEES CHEERING FOR US AND 90% OF THEM NOT HAVING A CLUE WHERE WE WERE FROM WAS PRETTY FRICKIN COOL AS WELL.....REST OF LIFE THE SAME BOOKING TOUR AFTER TOUR. SUGARLAND BREAKING THRU . ZAC BROWN BAND WILL BE THE NEXT!

Roy Grier

Hey Bruce.

Got your message on my crackberry in a hotel room in Athens. I am here with my wife and daughters winding up a quick cruise of the Greek Isles, including Mykonos, Patmos, Ephesus, Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini. This morning we visited the Acropolis in Athens.

Our big news is a grandson, born in Charlotte in mid-May, 2 months early. He is doing extremely well. He came home about 3 weeks sooner than expected. Here is a recent photo of the young man, Wesley. The grandfather thing hasn't really sunk in yet, but I'm sure it won't take long.

Yeah, I gave up basketball about 10 years ago because I was playing with teenagers and I kept getting older and slower, and they just kept coming. Cunning and guile were not enough to overcome their youth. I've gotten into endurance events in my old grandfatherly age. The last marathon I ran I was able to stay on the course for 4 and a half hours. The wimpy Kenyans quit after two.

Thanks for being the class secretary and doing a great job keeping up with everyone. I enjoy reading the class notes.

Roy

(Eds. Note:  The good news - Roy is a grandpa!  Congrats!   The bad news - one of our classmates is a grandfather.   Dang.   And I feel so young - as long as I stay away from mirrors, recent photos, and any dish involving beans and hot spices.  Yipes!)

Mark Gergen

Happy to comply since we have news. I will be leaving University of Texas School of Law after 23 years to take a tenured position at Berkeley Law School starting in August. My wife, Susan Whitman, will be Assistant Dean for Academic Planning and Curriculum Coordination at the law school. While we are leaving Austin, our oldest son, Ben, will be starting law school at UT. Our second son, Danny, is off to Johns Hopkins where he will play basketball. Our youngest son, Jonathan, will become a Californian and a sophomore at the Jewish Community High School of the Bay in San Francisco.

Roger Brown

Bruce,

Your "brilliantly crafted" message incited me to bail you out --

My oldest daugher Farrell will go to Oberlin in September after spending a semester studying Arabic in Jordan. She is currently bussing tables in our classmate Steve Johnson's wonderful restaurant, Rendezvous, in Cambridge and reports that it is the best run restaurant one can imagine. According to Farrell, they save the residue from slicing bread to have fresh bread crumbs, grow their own herbs on a rooftop herb garden, and all the food is fresh and delicious. So come patronize a classmate when you are next in Boston.

Roger

Will Work For Notes

Will Work for Class Notes...

If I learned anything at Davidson, it was how to get stuff done at the last moment. My class notes are due and I am scrambling to come up with some news.

So here I am panhandling at the busy intersection of your work, and family, and life.

Keyboard in hand, unshavened, rumpled clothing, large patches of hair standing at right angles to my head, mismatched shoes, smelling faintly of tuna and cigarette smoke, asking if you can spare a word or two.

Just a few words that will get me on the literary bus back to Davidson. I won't spend them on inappropriate musings in some internet chat room. I swear. Can you help a guy down on his luck?

And I don't need much. Three or four lines would be great. What are you passionate about these days? Done something interesting? Changed jobs? Retired? Gotten tired? Have you moved? Taken an interesting trip? What's up with the family? Big anniversary? Do you just want to say hello to your old classmates?

I'm not looking for New York Times front page top of the fold stuff. Just a few words that will help us all think of you fondly and remember when you wore plaid and listened to music by Foghat.

Email to hollidaybr78@aol.com.

I hope you are doing well and thanks in advance for your help.

Bruce Holliday
Class Secretary '78
hollidaybr78@aol.com