Fall 2009
1950
Secretaries: Jake Wade, 2917 Hanson Dr., Charlotte, NC 28207; 704-334-8164
Bo Roddey, 2124 Sherwood Ave., Charlotte, NC 28207-2120; 704-372-0917; ofroddey@carolina.rr.com
This class note is written during this year's celebration and commemoration of the World War II Normandy invasion of Europe and brings to mind the inspirational story of the late Doug Rice and one of our other World War II heroes, the late Hal Mapes, who, as you will recall, also passed away some several years ago. Doug and Hal were World War II veterans of the U.S. Air Force. Both were gunners on B-26 bombers, both were shot down during combat missions in Europe, both were wounded, and both parachuted from their respective planes and were later captured by the German army. Both ended up in the same prisoner-of-war camp in Germany where they both remained until the end of the war, and then they both attended Davidson. While here, both were outstanding members of our varsity football and baseball teams-yet, they had never met until after the war when they met on Aug. 1, 1946, when they both attended the first football practice of the varsity football team, which had been suspended for the duration of the war. It also serves to remind us of the many other members of our class who served in World War II and the Korean War and that our class was sandwiched in between the two wars.
Keep in touch.
1951
Secretary: John D. Hobart, 1009 Chestnut Dr., Smithfield, NC 27577-1009; 919-934-7016; fhobart@nc.rr.com
John and Paula Kelton received the 2008 G. Jackson Burney Community Service Award in recognition of their leadership skill, extensive efforts, and dedicated support given over many years to a wide variety of community projects that have enhanced the quality of life for the citizens of the Town of Davidson.
Blaine and Sylvia Kelley were honored at a triple celebration put on by daughter Katharine and son Blaine III in May at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. It was their 50th wedding anniversary, Blaine's 80th birthday, and the announcement of son Alan's engagement.
In May John Crosland received the Founders Award from Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte at its 25th anniversary luncheon in recognition of his work in creation of the Charlotte affiliate.
Woody and Linda McKay enjoyed a weekend visit in April back to campus to see granddaughter Peggy McKay '10 perform with the dance ensemble. She also organized Reptile Day on Saturday for the community. While there they also visited his old roommate Bill DuBose '50 and wife Sally, who now live in Davidson.
Dutch Hengeveld was surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses at his "Low Country Boil" 80th birthday celebration at the home of son Bill and wife Karen. Philip McGill '56 and your scribe were in the crowd to recall old times growing up in Davidson and to wish him well.
Bill Stokes stays involved with church, Kiwanis, family, and gardening. He serves as treasurer of First Presbyterian in Wilmington, N.C., and continues to be active in Kiwanis as club secretary. He and Lydia enjoy flower gardening and keeping up with their daughter, son, and five grands.
We extend our sincere condolences to Bill Blue Ray and wife Miriam, whose son, William B. Ray, Jr., died in June.
A May gathering hosted by Ray and Jane Cunningham at Figure Eight Island on the N.C. coast included Bill and Marianne Mebane, Ben '54 and Janet Barker, and John '86 and Mebane Archer.
Speaking of Bill, his name and that of Jack Payne '49 came up when John Miller '49 and your scribe, with wives, met for lunch in June in Smithfield. John (of long memory) produced old snapshots of a memorable 1946 camping trip we four went on with biology professor Elmer (E square) Brown '28, and our scoutmaster at the time.
From the Alumni Office:
Our sincere condolences to the friends and family of Robert "Bob" C. Burroughs, Jr., who passed away on July 15.
1952
Secretary: Jack Stevenson, 216 McGregor Ln., Easley, SC 29642; 864-442-9070; jps28@bellsouth.net
Bob Erwin wrote that late last year he and Sis made a big move. They sold their home of more than 41 years and moved to a two-bedroom cottage at Grace Ridge Retirement Community in Morganton. They are glad they made the move. They are still traveling, including a planned trip to the west coast of Ireland.
Ted Daniel wrote that his son, William, and his wife, Julie, recently had twin daughters, Kathryn and Jillian. William is a civil engineer with Turner Construction and travels up and down the East Coast. They have restored the home of the former Dr. Samuel Mudd, who treated the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth fleeing from the assassination of President Lincoln. Ted's older son, Ted Jr., is assistant to the Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. House of Representatives. He and Linda live in Silver Springs, Md. Linda is involved in designing settings for all exhibits to be shown at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
John Gibbs wrote some time ago. I misplaced it, and neglected to print it. He led a workshop in 2007 on the Biblical creation texts, and gave the message at the opening worship of the sixth annual conference of Presbyterians for Restoring Creation. For those interested, his writings can be found by Googling Presbytery of the Northern Plains or Prairie Climate Stewardship Network.
Joe McClure sent me a copy of Don Neal's recent letter to "the seven surviving members of our original 17 classmates from Mecklenburg County." Basically words like: "be aware, be grateful, and think about what is the reason the good Lord has left us here." Joe responded to this very sobering experience with the 10 significant changes he has made. These include several legal documents he and Jean have made, including a living will, and the three unfinished grandfather clocks and several boxes of old sermons he has taken out to the curb, since he realizes he will not work on or use any of them again.
Joe Neel recently swam two miles in two hours and 15 minutes in a fundraising effort to help raise money for Macon's Hospice of Central Georgia. Most of us can't swim over 10 yards or four minutes, Joe. Good work!
Al Davies sent in his annual contribution in April '09. He also commented he is "in his 80th year of life and 54th year of marriage. What a wonderful journey it has been." He had a mild stroke a year ago, but still preaches now and then and conducts funerals for a local funeral home. He retired last year from doing counseling for the Presbyterian U.S.A. Board of Pensions and from a travel ministry for a group in Florida. In April, he and Wylene had two houses for sale, and when sold they planned to move into an Erickson retirement community outside of Baltimore, The Charlestown, near where their daughter's family lives. He quotes his Colorado son, "It's all good." To us in his '52 class, he says, "Love life, stay well, thank God."
1953
Secretary: Harry F. Wolfe, Jr., 2210 Roswell Ave. #303, Charlotte, NC 28207; 704-335-1848; hfwolfe@carolina.rr.com
Had a nice talk with T.W. Aldred when I found him on a two-week vacation in Alaska. The main interest he had was going salmon fishing, and he said he was doing pretty good. Also talked to Chuck Mann who lives in Austell, Ga. His wife, Eleanor, is in the hospital at the Presbyterian Village in Austell, which is in Cobb County.
Dick Liles is a retired doctor and lives in Albemarle, N.C. He does a lot of volunteer work at a free clinic, seeing 16 to 18 people once a week.
Phil Sellers is a retired doctor in Hendersonville, N.C. He has lived and practiced there for a number of years. Paul Eastman retired in Concord, N.H. He spent 29 years in Long Island, N.Y., as a coach and teacher.
1954
Secretaries: Gene Witherspoon, 200 Tabernacle Rd. G-205, Black Mountain, NC 28711; 828-669-0197; gene.witherspoon@att.net
Mike York, 2488 Dellwood Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30305; 404-355-1856; cmikeyork@aol.com
Marlene and Joe Neisler are now living permanently on Lake Wacca-maw, a bit inland from Wilmington. Joe is currently healing from hip surgery.
Dick Roper is still active in his Los Angeles office involving public relations work. Mike [York] tells me that after duty in the army, Dick joined the United Press in Atlanta, then in 1959 joined the Wall Street Journal. Now Dick has the Roper Company. He and Christine, whom he married when he was 49, have a daughter teaching English in Europe and a son entering graduate school. Dick is excited about finishing a book on Andrew Jackson.
I talked with Shirilee Little, and she tells me that Dick Little is still preaching and teaching in his retirement (better known as retread!). In June they attended the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Michigan. Both are in good health and enjoying life.
I called Bill Glidewell, who was out, but talked long enough with his wife to find out that Winterville, N.C., was just outside Greenville. I thought maybe with a name like that they would be in the mountains, but I guess it was named for someone rather than the climate!
Had a good conversation with Bill McElveen, a resident of King, N.C. Know where that is? Just north of Winston-Salem. Bill bought some property there just after graduation from seminary (Moravian) and spends about 25 hours a week, year round, tending to all sorts of fruit trees and plants. He has spent-and still does-a lot of time throughout his ministry in ecumenical work.
Stan Topple '53, who left Davidson in 1953, writes about his harrowing "taxi" ride from Rwanda to a 150-bed Christian hospital in the Congo. He slept by Lake Kivu. A recent surgery day served five disabled refugee children-the costs covered by Samaritan's Purse. Stan says, "It's good to be here under God's gracious, protecting hand."
Kent Mitchell continues to have hallucinations of mold in the walls of their Katrina-ravaged Metairie, La., home. He and his wife ran westward and gradually began the rebuilding process.
1955
No class secretary
If you are interested in this volunteer position, please contact Jennifer Mattocks (jemattocks@davidson.edu or 704-894-2110).
From the Alumni Office:
Our sincere condolences to the friends and family of Christopher Douglas Murphy, who passed away May 25. Our condolences are also extended to Joe Burroughs, on the passing of his brother, Robert C. Burroughs, Jr., on July 15.
1956
Secretaries: Hobby Cobb, P.O. Box 2166, Davidson, NC 28036-2166; 704-894-0104; holliscobb@jrcoleinds.com
E. Thomas Miller, 143 Picwyck Dr., Mooresville, NC 28115; 704-799-1412; etmiller@roadrunner.com
We spoke with Curtiss Cates recently, catching up with him on his cell phone in the middle of a cucumber field somewhere near Laurinburg, N.C. The pickle business is a precise industry, and like all things, you have to start with good materials. In the pickle world, the cucumber is king, and each cucumber must meet exacting standards in order to end up in a Cates Pickle Company jar. Curtiss' son, John, was along to make sure Dad did not pick up a sub-standard cuke.
DeWitt Helm and his wife are still living and loving Beaufort, S.C., where Dee could probably be mayor if he had political leanings. He reports no recent John McLauchlin sightings. At last check, John was living in and loving Hilton Head.
Jon Regen was recently spotted on Fripp Island, S.C., visiting friends. It appears that Jon has settled into his home in Davidson in a big time way. He is well known here in Davidson by his friendly demeanor and his many walks with his dog, J.T.
Larry Parrott is now published. Not about his life as chief pathologist in a Camden, S.C., hospital, but about his love for the game of golf. Larry affirms "golf has a great affect on your physical, mental, and emotional well being."
John Child is still missing. Classmates, help us locate him. Where are you, John?
Tom Miller and his wife, Yvonne, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Davidson with a gathering hosted by their children on June 20. Their actual wedding date, those few short 50 years ago, was June 17, 1959. Congrats to Tom and Yvonne on the occasion of this terrific milestone!
OK, all you Davidson basketball fans, now is the time to get excited and get behind the 2009-10 team. Steph Curry '10 is gone to the NBA, and we will not have #30 to pull us out of all those tough spots. The returning team will be a mixture of veteran players and talented freshmen with a lot of "upside" potential. Renew your season tickets early, and if you do not have season tickets, go ahead and apply. We need a fan in every seat. It is going to be an exciting year!
1957
Secretary: Jack Kerr, 36W718 Oak Ridge Ln., St. Charles, IL 60174; 630-584-3671;
jackkerr358@sbcglobal.net
I just heard from the Alumni Office that Nat Daniel, Jr., had suffered a stroke some 10 months ago, and is presently residing in a convalescent home in Wilmington, N.C. I have spoken to his wife, Susie, who stated he is doing fairly well, considering. She even gave me his address, which is the following: Silver Springs Occupational Therapy, Bldg. #210, Silver Springs Rd., Wilmington, NC 28409. She said he would love to hear from everybody.
Gordon Bondurant, the former Montgomery Bell Academy principal, has been named interim head of school of the Webb School in Bell Buckle, Nashville, Tenn., for the 2009-10 school year. Gordon has worked at private schools for more than 40 years and was headmaster at Montgomery Bell from 1979-88. Recently Gordon headed up the Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, S.C. Gordon will lead Webb's academic and community initiatives while the board of trustees conducts a nationwide search for a new head of school.
I spoke briefly with Bill Morrow of Mooresville, N.C., who says that he has seen on occasion our classmates Bob Shaw and Bill Jackson in and around Davidson.
Bill McCaskill, who resides in Montreat, N.C., has seen and talked with the following classmates who were visiting or live in Montreat: Dr. Mack Calcote, Bob Shaw, Dr. Bob Majors, and John Winfrey. I spoke briefly with John Winfrey, who relates that he and Barbara just love to visit their grandchildren in Charleston, S.C.
I received an e-mail from Lawton Posey, who writes that he continues to write for publications, having several pieces published in the local papers as op-eds and religious features. He says he appears regularly in the Presbyterian Outlook. Since he has lost most of his remaining hearing recently, he hopes to get a cochlear implant this summer. He and his wife, Bridget, attend St. John's Episcopal Church in Charleston, W.Va. They enjoy the team of ministers, all of whom are women. Although he can no longer sing aloud, he remembers the words and tunes of many of the anthems he sang in the Male Chorus over a period of four years.
Our condolences to the family of J.L. Barksdale, of Waynesboro, W.Va., on his death June 5.
I am always in search of news about our very talented classmates. Please... won't you do your part and contribute to your class notes?
1958
Secretary: Hayden Hollingsworth, 6107 Sulgrave Rd., Roanoke, VA 24018; 540-725-1340; jhayden2003@cox.net
Lloyd Chapin was recognized for 30 years as vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty at Eckerd College. He will retire next year having served longer in his post than almost any academic dean in the country. Alex Gardner has been retired from radiology for nine years and continues to "live in harmony with my first and only wife." He and Arlene travel extensively, often with the Davidson or Johns Hopkins groups. They have established a scholarship at the Hopkins School of Medicine and say donations are welcome. Their daughter, Carolyn, and family (two daughters and husband, Ryan) live in Denver.
Jim Traviss and wife, Liz, "belong to a heretical Christian group (United Methodist)." They travel extensively with their church group in an RV doing mission work where needed. In addition to five months in Mississippi after Katrina, they have worked in 11 states, some of their team making six or seven trips a year. He retired from law practice to do this kind of work, which has always been a first love. His group is called NOMADS. If you're looking for adventure, Jim says look them up online.
Fred Butler sent a handsome picture of the wedding of his son, Freddie '84, to Catherine Coxe. Lee Hand has retired from his teaching position in El Paso and hopes to join the staff at a government hospital in the same area.
Keep in touch.
1959
Secretary: Richard Rieger, 254 Sea Marsh Dr., Kiawah Island, SC 29455-5528; 843-243-9655; r_rieger@bellsouth.net
I hope those of you who attended our 50th Reunion back in April enjoyed it as much as I did. Kudos to John Caldwell for editing the 50th Reunion edition of Quips and Cranks, containing current biographical information about a large number of our classmates. If you did not receive one, please let me know.
Tommy "T-Bone" Morrison went back home to Hartsville after graduation to run the family oil business and is now retired; and, among other activities, enjoys time in his woodworking shop. He and his wife raised four children. John Bennett is living in Oregon, where he has retired.
Before our reunion, John Nix e-mailed the following: "We live in a great place-Peachtree City, Ga.... our daughter, Mary [Nix Hollowell] '86, son-in-law, and two young granddaughters live four miles via golf cart. Our son, John, Jr. '91, lives in Evanston, Ill." John and his wife, Kemie, have been married for 47 years.
In spite of most of us being retired, I sure would appreciate your sending me a quick e-mail about your "goings-on," so I can pass it along to our classmates who, as I've learned, really enjoy hearing about their classmates.
From the Alumni Office:
Our deepest sympathies are extended to the family and friends of Thaddeus E. Kelly, who passed away July 2.
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