Letters to the Editor

Insight into Dr. Hartman

I was a student under Dr. Hartman and a philosophy major. It was good to hear of his extensive accomplishments ("The ‘Father’ of Profit-Sharing," Fall 2003). Our class used to visit him and his wife, Rita in their home for bull sessions. One of his favorite sayings was, "Life is but an interruption of sleep." Thanks for a great issue.

Joanne Bender Regenhardt ’46

La Jolla, California

What a relief, after all these years, to get some insight into what Prof. Robert S. Hartman was all about! I was an econ/ religion major and enrolled in his ethics course in 1945-46. Or maybe I audited the course? It was all very confusing. I hadn’t exactly ace’d Prof. Ferm’s "Intro" and knew I wasn't very good at "philosoophy," but Hartman sounded so good yet didn’t make any sense to me. To use a more contemporary term, it all seemed so airy-fairy! I sensed some faculty uneasiness about Hartman. I had heard that President Lowry had said that hiring Hartman was either the most brilliant move or the greatest mistake of Lowry’s career.

It was in Hartman’s classroom I first heard the term "Krystal Nacht" (the Nazi "night of shattered glass"). I thought it had triggered his abrupt departure from Germany. The most concrete thing I recall about Hartman was his comment at the start of class one morning, "I must push my English button now." We knew he was German, that he was married to a Swede and had lived in Mexico, so we grasped his sense of humor. That comment has served me well through life.

Anne Austin Murphy ’47

St. Petersburg, Florida

Name those musicians

Hold on! That’s not just some unknown "student trio" in the photo on page 9 ("Why We Love Music," Fall 2003). That photo depicts part of Appalachian Spring, the College’s legendary bluegrass group of the late 70s. That’s Don Snow ’77 on guitar, Deb Schwinn ’79 on fiddle, and Bob Amos ’79 on banjo. Missing from the photo is bassist Dave Shugert ’80. 

Bob Amos would have been a good addition to the "Alumni of Notes" features. Bob fronts a primo bluegrass band called Front Range and has become a highly regarded songwriter in the bluegrass world. Front Range just released its sixth CD, a live recording called The Real Thing (www.frontrangenews.com). Bob’s solo CD, Wherever I Go, is a favorite of mine; a second solo CD is due out soon.

Bob and I met during freshman orientation and we teamed up to win second place in that week’s talent show. My music career peaked right then and there. Bob’s star continues to rise.

Dan Hunter ’79

Medina, Ohio     

Did I miss some comment on the gum shoe hops that were a regular musical happening, at least during my period at Wooster? I recall one gum shoe hop, maybe in the fall of 1950 or ’51, when I played in the pit band (saxophone) along with Ron Price ’53 (trumpet), Bill Murphey ’51 (drums) and Ed Lauchenager ’54 (piano). I forget the name of the show, but these were totally done by the students.

Rev. David D. Mellon ’53

Ormond Beach, Florida

I had no idea that Caitlin Cary ("She’s Staying Out," Fall 2003) went to Wooster, even though I’ve seen her perform a good half-dozen times down here in North Carolina. The next time I see her, I’ll have to make the connection. Maybe she needs to plug Wooster more on stage!

One purveyor of music on campus was left out of the last issue: WCWS. For those of us without instrumental ability, the campus radio station was the best way to share our love for music with others. I probably spent more hours in that radio studio than anywhere else on campus.

I always enjoyed dj’ing the midnight to 2 a.m. shift. Nothing was better than spinning some obscure tunes and having a random late-night listener call in to ask what song I had just played. It felt great to bring the music to the masses. Well, the masses of Wayne County at least.

Graig Meyer ’96

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I loved this last issue of Wooster! I was a music history major and couldn’t have received a more comprehensive and wonderful education than what I received at Wooster. Small classes; professors who knew each of us by name, greeting us daily and encouraging our efforts; a feast of opportunities for participation in various music groups ... none of these have an equal in a larger conservatory atmosphere. I participated in the marching and concert bands, the Symphony Orchestra, the Concert Choir, Wooster Chorus, Madrigal group, a recorder ensemble, opera workshops, the Westminster Choir, a string quartet, and probably other groups I no longer recall. I took lessons in voice, viola, french horn and piano.... I had so many wonderful chances for one-to-one conversations with faculty members.... I am heartbroken that so many of my own students have chosen large conservatories over Wooster and other liberal arts colleges, often to return home disillusioned after the first year of not being able to gain access to a good teacher for their main instrument or being able to participate in even one major ensemble.

I was especially delighted with the article about Dr. Richard T. Gore (Family History, Fall ’03).... One evening the Concert Choir was rehearsing the "German Requiem" of Brahms and came to the fifth movement, a soprano solo. Our soloist was absent, so Dr. Gore held forth on this awesome piece in his somewhat timeworn tenor voice. He sang with an indescribable passion those soaring, exquisite notes, as if they had taken over his entire being. At the end of the movement, he set his baton (I think it might have really been a pencil) down on the stand, and just sat, as the stunned and amazed choir took in not a breath. Finally, an applause burst out, and Dr. Gore looked as if he hardly expected to see anyone else in the same room that he and Brahms had just shared. No silver-voiced soprano has yet to bring that same level of passion to that piece, though I must have heard it more than one hundred times since.

....Thanks for the centerfold, too! I can still smell the wet sporran hair!

Nan Beth Walton ’71

Seattle, Washington

Let me add to the data on the beginning of the pipe band. We did have kilts in the forties, but in the ’49 Index a notation says that the first pipers appeared in the fall of ’48. I remembered that it must have been in our "era" because when we went for country walks, we could hear a piper practicing. The early sounds must have been so unpleasant that he felt that he had to get away from civilization and critical ears. The effect on a brisk fall day was thoroughly Scottish and entirely appropriate.

Elaine "Willi" Williams Campbell ’49 

Solvang, California        

I remember ‘how it felt’

Seeing that picture on your back cover ("How it Felt," Summer 2003) of Reggie, Mint, and Jet [Reggie Williams, Reggie Minton, Jim Turner, ’63s] along with Prof. Ted. Williams stirred my memories and emotions.... Having those three guys (along with Lu Wims ’61, Don Baker ’64, Gerry Collins ’62, Dale Perry ’62, and Rod Dingle ’66, among others) as teammates, Kenarden crew mates, fraternity brothers, classmates, and friends taught me some of life’s most important and enjoyable lessons. The administrators, coaches and others who had anything to do with their attendance at Wooster will never know fully what good decisions they made.

We made a road trip to my home to attend the Penn Relays. My friends made a great impression on my parents.... I wish that I had made more of an effort over the years to stay in touch with them.

Guy Dicicco ’64

Ithaca, New York

I.S. list

I strongly agree with Bob Zimmerman (Letters, Fall 2003). Wooster should return to printing a list of I.S. titles and offer more pictures of the campus. I really miss reading all the I.S. titles.

Matt Kaiser ’94

Silver Spring, Maryland

For the past two years, we have steered readers to the College Web site for the complete list of I.S. titles. We try to use the Web in ways that complement the print magazine, not duplicate it. Long lists of names, numbers, or other such information are tailor-made for the Web, as are interactive features such as submitting a class note or a letter to the editor. On the Web, for example, you can sort the I.S. list by majors, by names, or by project title. The College Web site also features a wealth of photographs, refreshed almost daily, of campus goings on. – Ed.

More headline acts

Thanks to all who wrote to let us know of more big concerts on campus ("Headline Acts," Fall 2003). Some of their responses:

Rusted Root played in the fall of ’98 in the PEC. Good show. – Tom Pilon ’99

Student body vice president Ansley Coale ’66 brought Jose Feliciano to Wooster for an event attended by perhaps 25 to 50 students, before Jose’s first record. Ainsley brought some phenomenal talent to campus, talent that simply hadn’t gained widespread recognition yet. I’ll never forget the evening with Jose Feliciano. We gathered in the front few rows of the chapel (so few people had bothered to come), and Jose played as long as anyone wanted. – John W. McCreight ’66

Here are some concerts that I attended while in high school and while at COW: 1974, Michael Stanley Band at McGaw; 1975, Styx at PEC; 1977, Phil Keaggy of Glass Harp fame at McGaw; 1977, Michael Stanley at McGaw; 1980 Michael Stanley at the PEC; 1981, Jonah Koslen and Breathless, McGaw; and 2000, Commander Cody and His Lost Airmen, the Cage. – Sam Steimel ’80

In 1943-1944, Tommy Dorsey’s orchestra came to campus, along with his famous drummer Gene Krupa, to entertain the Navy V-5 unit stationed here. We students stood around the balcony of the old gym to experience it. Wow! – Marilyn Lilley ’47

I remember KISS playing on campus, maybe 1975 or so (they were just becoming popular). – Andrea Ettingoff ’76

What about the Party on the Green bands? Blessid Union of Souls was here in fall 2000, Naughty by Nature in 2001, Red Turning Blue in 2002, and this year the Pat McGee Band. Also, my Dad says that Emerson, Lake and Palmer played at the PEC in the early 70s. And Donnie Iris played in McGaw Chapel in the mid-80s. – Mindy Horst ’05

In the fall of 1986, Buckwheat Zydeco played for Party on the Green. It was head and shoulders above Howard Jones’ show the following spring.– Scott McLean ’87

Four concerts that I remember:

• The Four Freshmen (Group #3: Ross Barbour, Don Barbour, Ken Albers, and Bob Flanigan);

• The Dave Brubeck Quartet (original group: Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello);

• The Woody Herman Big Band;

• The Les and Larry Elgart Big Band.

The Elgart Orchestra played for a dance in the gym. I didn’t have a date, but I listened through the open windows.

Dave Brubeck played an extra long concert. Hard to believe, but the accoustics in the gymnasium were extraordinary that night and the audience was responsive. Brubeck said he played much more than his usual time because of the sound quality and the audience. – Frank Davis ’61

I’ll never forget 1943 and the big Seventh Section (Kappa Kappa Kappa at the time) formal dance. Oscar Schrader ’43 was working to book bands and he learned of the availability of the one and only Bunny Berrigan Orchestra for a Friday night. Oscar was able to book them – I believe for a total of $300. Seventh Section got the OK to hold the dance in Severance Gym. Using a little ingenuity, and recognizing the tremendous popularity of Berrigan (undoubtedly the most outstanding trumpeter in the world at that time), we sold tickets for observation only for the balcony (the indoor track) for 25 cents. The balcony was mobbed. Seventh Section members had the gym floor to themselves as they danced to Berrigan and his orchestra. He sung his legendary, "I Can’t Get Started With You" twice. – Stan Morse ’45