1969 – Spring ’23 Class Letter

Hello Everyone!

Wow! It’s 2023. Time seems to be moving at warp speed. I feel like it was only a handful of years ago the class graduated from Ripon and scattered across the country and beyond. Here’s the latest news I have for you about Ripon College, along with some notes from members of the class.

COLLEGE NEWS

Ripon College Announces $35 Million Infrastructure Investment
Ripon College has announced plans to move forward with a $35 million strategic infrastructure plan which will address the renovation and expansion of the 61-year old Farr Hall of Science, creation of a new on-campus stadium, and upgrades to residence halls. The first phase will prioritize a $24.5 million investment in the science center and an $8.5 million investment in the campus stadium, both of which are projected to break ground in the spring of 2023. Planning for upgrades to the residence halls has commenced and the College hopes to finalize plans within the next year.

The renovation and expansion of the science center, scheduled for completion by the Fall of 2024, will provide more than 19,000 square feet of new construction, with innovative laboratory, classroom and collaboration spaces throughout, as well as renovation of the existing building areas.

The new on-campus stadium will be built on lower Sadoff field between Willmore Center and the Quads. The mixed-use space will be the home field for the Ripon College football team and men’s and women’s soccer teams, as well as serve the entirety of the student body and Ripon community through potential intramural offerings, concerts and other student life programming. The new facility will feature a 2,000-seat grandstand and press box, a formal entrance on the corner of Thorne and Union streets, viewing opportunities on Sadoff Hill, and lighting for evening programming. Ripon College is the only school in the Midwest Conference without its own campus stadium. The stadium is projected to open in the Fall of 2023.

More information about the infrastructure projects, including architectural drawings of the proposed renovations and new construction, go to ripon.edu/infrastructure/.

Ripon Student Athlete Named Academic All-American
CORMAC MADIGAN ’22 of Rosendale, WI, was named Academic All-America Division III Football Team Member of the Year in recognition of his achievements on the competition field as well as in academics. Madigan, a chemistry-biology major, holds a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. On the football field, he was one of the most dynamic players in the country this past fall, putting up a league-best 1,491 all-purpose yards to go with 14 touchdowns in just 10 games. He led the Midwest Conference with 1,150 yards on the ground, ranked second with 115.0 yards per game and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. He was the cornerstone of a Ripon football program that turned in its best season in more than a decade, posting a 9-1 record and scoring nearly 40 points per game.

Ripon Music Dept. Holiday Concert
A spectacular holiday concert was presented by the Ripon College Department of Music on Sunday, Dec. 4 in Great Hall. All of the musical ensembles of the College performed: Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Choral Union, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo. Pre-show music was provided by the Ripon College Brass Quintet and by members of the guitar studio.

PoliSci Prof. Quoted
John P. Harden, Assistant Professor of Political Science, was quoted in two recent articles.
“How Can We Predict a Nuclear War?” ran in Newsweek. He also was interviewed for “Narcissism and War,” published on Political Violence at a Glance, which is run through the UC Institute of Global Conflict and Cooperation.

History Prof. is Panelist at Chicago Conference; Presents Talk at Oshkosh Public Museum
Professor of History Rebecca Matzke was a commentator on the panel “The Social World of Jack Tars: The Royal Navy and British Maritime Culture 1815-1940” at the North American Conference on British Studies annual meeting, The meeting was held in Chicago Nov. 11-13, 2022. On Dec. 7, 2022 she presented the talk “More than Rosie the Riveter: U.S. Women in World War II” at the Oshkosh (Wisconsin) Public Museum. The talk was linked to the museum’s current traveling exhibition called “Manufacturing Victory: the Arsenal of Democracy” about American industry that supported World War II. The exhibition is on loan from the National World War II Museum.

Student and Prof. Present at Conference
Henrik M. Schatzinger, Professor of Political Science, and AARON O’HALLORAN ’24 of Oshkosh, WI, presented new research at the annual meeting of the Southern Political Science Association in January in St. Pete Beach, FL. Their presentation: “The Effects of Outside Money on City Council Elections in New York.”

Ripon Athletic Director Leaving
Ryan Kane, Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Ripon College, has been named the next athletic director at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He will coach the remainder of the basketball season and continue to serve as athletic director at Ripon before assuming his new role at Carthage April 1.

Ripon College Honored in National Rankings
Ripon again has been placed on national rankings lists of the best institutions for undergraduate education.

  • Ripon is ranked the top school in Wisconsin for promoting social mobility by U.S. News & World Report. The ranking is included in the 2022-2023 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings. It ranks 38th among colleges nationally.
  • Ripon is included in The Princeton Review’s 2023 edition of The Best 388 Colleges. Ripon also was named to its Best Regional Colleges list for the Midwest.
  • Ripon was named to Money Magazine’s 2022 Best Colleges in America and Best Liberal Arts Colleges lists. The list ranks schools that successfully combine quality and affordability, based on factors such as tuition costs, family borrowing and career earnings.

CITY OF RIPON UPDATE

The Republican House was torn down December 19 and 20, paving the way for the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area to build a facility in Ripon. The Boys & Girls Club purchased the more than 165-year-old building after it sat vacant for around 14 years. With demolition now complete, the club has its eyes set on moving forward in 2023. NOTE: Information above from the Ripon Commonwealth Press newspaper.

FUTURE DATES TO SAVE

Inauguration
The Inauguration of Dr. Victoria N. Folse as the fourteenth President of Ripon College will take place on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. All alumni are invited to attend. In addition, there will be special events taking place that entire weekend. More details will be available soon at ripon.edu/inauguration. There will be a special giving event in conjunction with inauguration weekend, April 20-23, and will be an extension of the #OneDayRally brand and experience.

55-Year Class Reunion
I am planning to organize a reunion for our class on Saturday, June 22, 2024 over Alumni Weekend. Please save that date on your calendar and make plans to attend. More info as it becomes available. If you would like to help organize the reunion, please contact me.

SAD NEWS

Jack W. Powers of Brevard, NC, a professor of chemistry at Ripon College from 1957 through 1969, died Oct. 28, 2022. He also served as a Scoutmaster for Troup 40 while in Ripon. He earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from Purdue University in 1957 and completed post-graduate work at the University of Utah and the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. He later worked for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, as well as Davidson College and St. Andrews Presbyterian College in North Carolina. He also ran a consulting firm, was active in arts and historical societies and church activities, and enjoyed golfing, camping, fishing and creating artwork.

Personal Note: Knowing Jack Powers got me my first job. In 1970, I was interviewing with a Ph.D. of the R&D Department for a lab job at Corn Products Co. when he said to me “I see you went to Ripon College. My college roommate was Jack Powers. He teaches Chemistry at Ripon. Did you take any courses from him?”

DANIEL DYKSTRA JR. ’69, of El Macero, CA, passed away on January 4, 2023. Dan was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity and participated in music and student government while at Ripon. He was born in Madison, WI. His family later moved to Salt Lake City, UT, where Dan’s dad became dean of the University of Utah Law School. Dan’s many accomplishments include an immensely distinguished career as the Deputy District Counsel for the San Francisco District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“the Corps”). After earning his B.A. in History at Ripon while serving in ROTC, he was commissioned to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona College of Law, then went on to earn a Masters of Law in Labor Law from George Washington University Law School. After law school, he served as an Army Judge Advocate General (“JAG”) Captain where he worked as a Claims JAG for the U.S. Army Claims Service, Fort Meade, MD and then for the Claims and Medical Care Recovery Judge Advocate, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA. He began his distinguished career with the Corps in the Norfolk District in 1978, transferring to the South Pacific Division in 1987. In 2004, he began his career in the San Francisco District where he served as Deputy District Counsel and served in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010, 2011, and 2012. His awards include the De Fleury Medal and Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, three times. Of all his numerous accolades and awards, his most coveted was the San Francisco District’s “Gallery of Distinguished Civilians” that Dan received in 2017. Beyond his love of the law and public service, Dan deeply loved his wife, Moira (Mitty). They married in 1972. Dan and Mitty raised two sons, Jack and Sam, in Rohnert Park, CA, where he served as a volunteer soccer coach for years, traveling with his team throughout Northern California. After Dan retired, he and Mitty moved to the town of El Macero, CA, where he joined the HOA Board, eventually serving as President. He made the most of his retirement years by traveling the world with Mitty, playing golf at the local Country Club, summering in McCall, ID and relishing quality time with his wife, his children, and his grandchildren. He will be sorely missed by his family and many friends and colleagues.

NOTE: Dan is the 30th member of the Class of 1969 known to have passed away.

CLASSMATE NEWS

Here are the updates I received from members of our class. I love hearing from you guys.

MARK BAUER ’69 of Pewaukee, WI: “Watching my three grandsons playing basketball, 19 year old at Concordia College, 16 year old at Pius XI high school and an 8 year old 2nd grader. Future travel plans: Viking cruise around Iceland, with shore excursions, in early June. I stay busy with my two main hobbies: carnivorous plants and German language, plus reading (history, philosophy, sports) and listening to various types of music. Occasionally attend musicals. Enjoy videotaping and editing. May seem boring to others, but I like simple things.”

DON CHESTER ’69 of West Palm Beach, FL: “Greetings from sunny and occasionally very windy/rainy south Florida. My sympathy goes out to all of you who were impacted by Hurricanes Ian or Nicole. Recently did a video promotion for the weather team at our local NBC affiliate. Friends now asked me for the forecast.  Very few frozen iguana so far this year, but it’s early. In spite of my boosters having boosters I still got COVID. Why am I still working full-time? During the first wave of COVID I was told to work from home since I am considered high risk. Very busy for the first few weeks, but in week five, I suggested to my wife that I wanted to go back to my office at the medical center. Her response was, ‘over my dead body.’ In week six I asked again, her response was, ‘I think that’s a good idea.’  Lesson learned.”

TERRY BROWN ’69 of Richmond, VA: “I have just returned from a cruise around the bottom of South America and into Antarctic waters. Although I have cruised twice before, this one is worth mentioning. My best friend from fifth grade (he went to West Point) and I flew to Buenos Aires to start the cruise. After leaving the mainland, we stopped at the Falklands before crossing the Drake Passage. Elephant Island was the first land we saw, then Deception Island, so named because it seems like a solid island, but is actually a caldera (last erupted about 1970) and is home to massive penguin colonies. After returning to Argentina, the ship followed the Magellan Strait to Ponte Arenas, Chile.”

BOB FERNBACH ’69 of Castle Pines, CO: “Since October, when we took a trip to visit our son and daughter-in-law in South Carolina, we have been at home. We did stop in Nashville and went through Great Smoky Mountain National Park on the way home.  We visited our favorite guitar stores in Nashville and really enjoyed the Country Music Hall of Fame. We hope to go to Seattle and Portland to visit friends and family in a few weeks, weather permitting (since we drive on all these trips). Stacy and I enjoy seeing our grandchildren about an hour away, playing music most days, reading, and keeping up on news/national/international events.”

ALICE HALL HAYES ’69 of Washington, D.C.: “With Covid still around, we have changed family tradition and did not host large family Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings. Then in mid-January, 2023, after believing that we were being passed over, Covid caught up with Ed and me. It was mild but it shut us down in isolation for a while. Now, we are looking forward to the rest of the year because we will be celebrating our 50th Anniversary throughout the year. One event will be a train trip from DC through Chicago to Minneapolis, Seattle, Vancouver, and San Francisco – visiting family and friends along the way.”

ERIC “RICK” HENRY ’69 of Longboat Key, FL: “I’m enjoying retirement most months of the year now on Longboat Key in Florida, working on a couple of boards, writing Apple apps, playing golf/pickleball/drums in a band, and visiting kids in NYC.”

DAVE LEACH ’69 of Mesa, AZ: “December 3rd I took off with a group from my Congregation to Israel for 10 days! Amazing bucket list trip of a Lifetime! Spent four or five days in Jerusalem and Judea (including Masada and the Dead Sea), then the rest of the trip in the Galilee. I will go back again, hopefully next year. It was amazing to stand and walk and experience the sites the Bible describes and where our Savior/Messiah taught, healed and sacrificed himself for us. And in addition to that, Israel is an amazing country to visit with an exciting wonderful life of its own. I can’t recommend a trip there highly enough. After Israel, I continued on to France where I visited my sister-in-law in Brittany. We went to the Normandy Beaches and the American Cemetery there; an overwhelming experience. Lastly, I traveled to England and stayed with a friend who was our exchange student from the former East Germany in the early 90s. He is now a ‘Fellow’ at Selwyn College at Cambridge University. I stayed with him and his family for Christmas and until the end of December. We visited Cambridge, several museums, The Biggin Hill Memorial Hanger (where they restore, rebuild and fly Spitfires) and the Battle of Britain Memorial. All in all, quite a trip. Generally life is very good, I’m busy and healthy and keeping on the go.”

ARTHUR “SANDY” LEE ’69 and HELEN USITA LEE ’69 of Portsmouth, RI: “We have moved to: 11 Pocasset Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02872. It was just a two mile move from our Bristol home across Mt. Hope Bridge. But it’s a move from an 1850’s home with steep narrow stairs to a condominium with potential MBR on the first floor — though we intend to use the MBR on the second floor as long as we are able. New place also has a large walk-out basement for Helen’s big loom and basket-making and my model ship hobbies. And, of course we no longer have to mow grass and take care of house exterior!”

PAUL GELB ’69 of Palm Springs, CA: “Greetings from Lisbon. I’m here for three months to see if I want to move here permanently and so far it is a strong contender. Because I have to leave the Schengen Area after 90 days I rented a flat in London for three months starting mid-March and will overdose on theater since I haven’t been in NYC since 2019 mainly due to the pandemic. Then, to cross another item off my bucket list, I’m spending the month of August in Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival.”

BOB KAHN ’69 of Portland, ME, writes: “Greatly inspired by a recent Class Letter update of JIM LEATZOW ’69, I am offering my humble back-of-the-envelope life’s sketch memoir; thus beginning on my first Friday evening at Ripon on my hands and knees outside the SAE house dorm easing my stomach of its disagreement of all contents from The Spot. The indignity of my compromised situation was somehow witnessed as promising, therefore being pledged by that fraternity. A more interesting, fascinating, intelligent (scratch that), amusing, debauched group of individuals I have yet to meet. Mostly because I now avoid those with depraved indifference.

After Ripon, there was soul searching (euphemism for good times) in Boulder, CO, where I was a partner in a handcrafted wood working shop. This led me to Boston for a grinding work/study program in architecture, which led to a MA degree in the same at California Polytechnic University, Pomona. Somewhere in my youth almost gone awry, I got married. Big surprise. We have two children. All three are much, much smarter than me. No surprise. It has been an honor, but often humiliating, witnessing their achievements.

But enough about them. You might be wondering, how did a lackluster bio-major end up an architect and why? Well it was somewhat due to Karen Wienke, with her robin’s egg blue Jaguar XKE, teaching her first cell-bio class. It was the structure and function of living cells that stuck, contributing to my contemplating a career in design. You might be thinking of architects like: Paul Newman (Towering Inferno), Woody Harrelson (Indecent Proposal), Tom Hanks (Sleepless in Seattle) or Wesley Snipes (Jungle Fever). Forget about it. Think Wilber in the TV show, Mister Ed. I got my talking horse from: [email protected]

Many years later, Karen Wienke (now Karen Holbrook), Ph.D, then president of THE Ohio State University, gave a commencement address at Ripon. Afterward, ignoring the sensible advice of my wife, I wrote to say that it was her first cell-bio class which influenced my future architectural career and that all the guys in class thought she and her Jag were hot. Amazingly, she wrote back on THE Ohio State University letterhead saying how she and her staff had a good laugh from my letter and that she still drives a Jag. Remaining somewhat shy, I didn’t write back asking if we could meet up for a ride in her new Jag. An opportunity lost? Oh well.

Anyway, I’ve met some interesting, creative and smart people along the way: artists, scientists, shiftless philosophers, you know, creative people. Some I met in bars, others panhandling, but all showed some tolerance towards me. I’ve been fortunate that way, even with my family. For inexplicable reasons, I’ve had Forrest Gump-like run-ins with notable politicians since living in Maine. Mostly with our state delegation, but also Ted Kennedy and Nancy Pelosi. Before she became Speaker of the House, I arrived late to a function and ended up standing six feet behind her. Not today. But who cares?  My wife got personalized, after-concert autographs from most of the British Invasion during the early 60’s, including The Rolling Stones. She was at Candlestick Park, up against the stage for the last Beatles concert, and made eye contact with George. From a college roommate, whose father had ‘connections’, she got a pair of Nancy Sinatra’s knee high boots. Concert tickets, autographs, boots and all that memorabilia thrown away over the years. Good grief! Sometimes watching rock memorabilia appraised on Antiques Roadshow I end up weeping. And then there’s our son. During college he worked summers at Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. I asked him, ‘Have you met Paul Newman?’ ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘Sometimes he comes by and shoots pool with us’. Hardly containing myself, I asked, ‘You mean you’ve shot pool with Fast Eddie Felson?’  ‘Who’s Fast Eddie,’ he wanted to know? That was crushing. While working in Boston, our daughter had mafia clients, but she won’t talk about it.

Well. I guess that’s about it – so far. Leave it to Leatzow to keep reminding me that, ‘It’s a short parade.’ Thanks Jim, that’s always an uplifting notice. Oh, and my luck with beer has gotten better. I live in Portland, ME. Per capita, it’s got the most craft breweries in the nation. Living here is a daily reminder of a quote from one of our nation’s most intelligent founders, Benjamin Franklin: ‘Beer, it’s God’s way of saying he loves us’. Ben, the nation in your debt. So, should any of you ’69ers’ (SAE’s not sure) be passing through Portland, I can show you around our Beer Mecca. But you’re buying.”

PHIL MCCULLOUGH ’69 of Woodstock, IL: “Still seeing patients and doing a little teaching at Northwestern med school. Have been busy with my retirement job as partial owner of a golf club in Woodstock. Daughters are all doing well. Karen is teaching on-line classes for Rasmussen University and living frugally on an adjunct’s salary with no benefits, KRISTEN ’04 has a busy psychotherapy practice and is raising three boys in Evanston, and Kate currently in Wales doing a post doc and taking care of two young daughters. She is an archeologist. My wife, Patricia, is doing well after three joint replacement procedures.”

BARRY MORTON ’69 of Laguna Hills, CA: “In a number of uplifting ways 2022 was not like the prior year or the year before!  If those years seemed, somehow, ‘misplaced,’ 2022 was a welcomed reawakening. Here at The Willows (our senior living community), we’ve progressed from being quiet with all the social functions and spaces set aside, and with our dining room staff delivering everyone’s’ nightly meals right to our doors. Now we’re all back outdoors having block parties to get reacquainted with one another, and to meet with the many new neighbors who moved in over the past couple of years. As they say at hockey games after the penalties have been served, we’re ‘back at full strength.’ Jane & I are back to our pattern of heading up to the mountains to our little lake cabin at Big Bear Lake most weeks and helping out each week with our little twin grandchildren – I guess not so little – they’ll be four in February! We also love seeing our other five grandkids, too when ALL the schedules allow. They range in age from 24 to 13! Sidney moved out on his own, Maya graduated from High School in June, and Lucas, her brother was promoted from middle school to Glendora High School. Zurhi and Ameenah had a full season of volleyball. All the cousins love the few times they can get together across town. We also entertained BOB FERNBACH ’69 and his wife, Stacy, at both our home in Laguna Hills and the mountain cabin on Big Bear Lake. Lots of reminiscing, bragging about all our grands, and a little music.”

SCOTT NYQUIST ’69 & CYNTHIA SANBORN NYQUIST ’69 of Naples, FL: “In mid-September, Scott flew into Chicago and spent a night with fraternity brother MASON SHERWOOD ’68 in Milwaukee, before heading to Ripon for a long weekend. He got to meet Vickie Folse, Ripon’s new president, and spent some time walking around campus. He saw a Milwaukee Brewers game (complete with pre-game tailgate) with his dear friends and fellow baseball fans Professor of Biology Emeritus Skip Wittler and his wife MICHELE BARAN WITTLER ’76. In October, Scott and six Beta Sig fraternity brothers took their annual “Brocation.” This year they rented a house in Gainesville, GA on Lake Lanier, about 40 miles northeast of Atlanta. Amazingly the logistics of five guys flying and two driving into Atlanta came off without a hitch. The weather for five days at Lake Lanier was perfect: daytime highs in the 70s, overnight lows in the upper 40s. As usual, the guys passed the time mostly talking and laughing (a lot of laughing), along with daytime walks and evenings cooking together. January 2023 they celebrated 57 years since they all pledged Beta Sigma Pi and became friends. Cynthia continues to volunteer at the Naples Botanic Garden and make stuffed animals for the Golisano Children’s Hospital. She still has not missed a day of online German class in 2 1⁄2 years. Most mornings you can find her gardening in the many areas she planted around our Naples home. Her orchid collection has grown to more than 70 plants. Her daily FaceTime chats with our 11-year old granddaughter continue. We are planning a trip to Germany in August to visit our daughter and granddaughter. Haven’t been there since 2019.”

BOB “OTTO” WACHHOLTZ ’69 of Papillon, NE: “Not much has happened since the last Class Letter. My bride and I ‘summered’ in New Hampshire arriving in early August waiting for the trees to change color. It was a long, but relaxing wait as the colors “popped” around October 10th, but perhaps the best colors we have seen during our almost annual visits beginning in the 1990s. Other than that we survived Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year.”

CHIP RETSON ’69 of Aiken, SC: “My fiancé Kawanna Durden and I are in Jerusalem on a Greek Orthodox Church-sponsored pilgrimage. We spent five nights in Jordan beginning with her being baptized in the River Jordan at the same location where John baptized Jesus. Other sites including Petra and desert camel rides. We are winding down nine nights in Israel and Palestine visiting all the locations where Jesus was born, lived his ministry, was crucified and resurrected. Tonight we will attend a Greek Orthodox service in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which will include Kawanna taking her first communion.”

ART SCARLETT ’69 of Glenshaw, PA: “I made a total career shift at the turn of the century, went back to community college to get my associates degree and a license to release ionizing radiation. After my clinical training, I accepted an offer to join the radiology staff at the Veterans Administration Hospital here in Pittsburgh. I retired from my radiological technologist’s position 15 years later. (FYI: a rad tech runs the very expensive technology that provides radiologists with the images they interpret.) Fascinating experience. Say what you will about the V.A. administrators, but the MDs, RNs and other healthcare providers are excellent, second to none, and the V.A. didn’t skimp on buying the latest technology. I could show you body parts you didn’t know you had. I miss the people I worked with, but not the screwy hours. SHERRY SWENNES SCARLET ’70 and I have one son (Jim). He and his wife will be celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary this year. This past May, our favorite daughter-in-law, Nichole Anne Scarlett, was awarded her Ph.D. Her dissertation was titled ‘Instructional Technology & Leadership’ and each time she attempts to explain it to me, I understand just a little more. Seriously, her area of study will affect how your grandchildren will be taught.

So what do I do now that I’m retired? About 15 years ago I bought a 1988 mid-engine, Pontiac Fiero. Yeah, yeah, I know! Trust me, I’ve heard it all, but what a fun little car! It’s not only a fun machine to drive but fun for the adventures it has taken us on and the people we’ve met. Lots of local car shows and cruises where kids look in the front and then ask, ‘Where’s the engine?’ I’ve driven it to car shows and fundraisers from the East Coast to the Midwest and even won a couple of trophies along the way. One of my favorite Fiero gatherings is held in Frazee, MN, to help raise funds for families coping with catastrophic illness. St. Charles, IL’s annual Fierorama show, Davenport, IA, and The Heartland’s Fiero gathering are some of the Midwest’s better shows. I was asked to Harrisburg, PAto support The Wounded Warrior Project. The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is actual racing of vintage cars on city streets. And no, 1988 is not old enough to qualify as ‘vintage.’ Lots of food, fun and over 2500 cars, old, new and exotic machines, to admire. Every five years there is a five-day extravaganza celebrating GM’s birth of the Fiero. One was held in Indianapolis, IN. We had the opportunity to spend a day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and I drove my car on the track! Unforgettable. The Fiero 40th is happening in July 2023 in Pontiac MI. Tours of GM facilities, presentations by Fiero designers & engineers and a day at the test track are planned. I already have my reservations. Will Sherry and I see you at Alumni Weekend this year? Hope so.”


Standing (l to r): Frank Anders ’69, Don Park ’69, Art Scarlett ’69, Rob Handeyside ’69.
Seated (l to r): Mason Sherwood ’68, Scott Nyquist ’69, Rick Brandt ’69.

AND IN CONCLUSION . . .

Ripon College (and I) would like to thank all of the members of our class who sent a gift to the College in the past year. Some of you donated more than once! Thank you! Thank you! If you haven’t donated and would like to give to Ripon, visit the College’s website, ripon.edu, or call the Advancement Office at 920-748-8351.

You can give unrestricted, allowing the College to use your gift where most needed, or you can direct where your gift is to be used: scholarships, endowment, faculty, building fund, library, athletics, etc. You can also give in memory of a favorite professor or a classmate. You can give annually or have a gift sent to Ripon monthly from your bank account. Ripon College accepts check, cash or credit card payments (and probably even bitcoin). You can also give a gift of stock, real estate or any of your other assets.

Please support Ripon College by making a gift. I could write pages on why you should give back to Ripon. My own experience at Ripon shaped my life in so many ways. I know many of you feel the same. This year, in addition to the Ripon Fund, please consider a second gift to help fund the renovation of Farr Hall, the new campus stadium or the upgrades to the dorms.

Keep in touch. Please let Ripon College (or me) know if you have a new address or new email.

Always for Ripon,


Scott ’69

P.S. Enjoy the RC 1960s Trivia Test. No Googling for answers!

Ripon 1960s Trivia Test
(email [email protected] for answers)

RC Sports Trivia

  • 1968 RC football team starting RBs ______________________________________________________
  • Where RC plays football __________________________________________________________________
  • RC Head Football Coach in the 60s _______________________________________________________
  • RC Basketball Coach in the 60s __________________________________________________________
  • Where RC basketball games were played before 1968 __________________________________

RC Celebrity Alums

  • AKA Hans Solo and Indiana Jones (Class 1964) ___________________________________________
  • 8-Time Grammy Award Winner (Class 1962) _____________________________________________
  • Made films with Katherine Hepburn (Class 1925) ________________________________________
  • RC’s Second Rhodes Scholar (Class 1968) ________________________________________________
  • RC Biology Prof. for 40+ years (Class 1960) ______________________________________________

RC Buildings

  • Oldest building on campus _______________________________________________________________
  • Tri Dorms names _________________________________________________________________________
  • Demolished in May 1969 _________________________________________________________________
  • Original use of Kemper Computer Center building ______________________________________
  • Newest building on campus ______________________________________________________________

Anagrammed RC Professors

  • LESSA DOES (Philosophy) ________________________________________________________________
  • GILLOGRE REEM (History) ________________________________________________________________
  • BLITZ ALRM (English) _____________________________________________________________________
  • ODIN IZE (Physics) ________________________________________________________________________
  • SONJE PYRRMOTH (Religion) _____________________________________________________________

RC Women

  • Elderly women dorm residents __________________________________________________________
  • Frosh female star of Homecoming parade _______________________________________________
  • First female chair of the RC Board of Trustees ___________________________________________
  • Percentage of women in RC’s first graduating class (1867) ______________________________
  • Known as the “Mother of Ripon College” _________________________________________________

Around Ripon

  • Favorite place to hang out 1965-1969 ____________________________________________________
  • Off campus site of keg parties ___________________________________________________________
  • Name of bar that sold “greeker” dogs & burgers _________________________________________
  • Bar & grille at Watson & Seward Streets 1965-1969 _____________________________________
  • Grease pole fight location Homecoming 1965 ___________________________________________

Posted April 7, 2023 in .