February, 2000

On the inside of the back page of the last Westwind you have my picture as one who taught at Walla Walla College. I graduated in 1965, but I didn't ever teach there. I had a teacher named Lois. I don't remember her married name. I don't know if she taught for 30 years or not. I think you must have meant to put her picture in instead of mine.

Thank you for your letter. We did make a mistake. We meant to include a photograph of Lois (Smith) Whitchurch, assistant professor of nursing at WWC since 1967. My apology to both you and Professor Whitchurch. - Editor

Thanks for printing Dr. Dickinson's article. I cannot forget his impact on my life, either. Yes, I wanted to take his speech class, but it was full, so I never took any classes from him. But our daughter, Jennifer, is taking speech from him this quarter, so it's okay. We loved Evensong and his choir Sabbath School class, taught in the practice vault under the sanctuary of the College Church. And so many other times and places too numerous to mention. He will be missed!

You have done a great job on the Winter 2000 Westwind, something to be really proud of. I only have one quibble. On page 15, there is an advertisement titled "Come celebrate the first homecoming of the new millennium."

I'm sure I'm not the first to ask, "What will you say for next year's homecoming when the new millennium actually begins?"

It was great to to see a picture of Gary Wiss on your back inside cover. I read the column and could hear him say every word. Could you sometime put in a picture of him the way he looks now? I'd love to see him in person, but a picture would be the next best thing. Tell Gary that whatever they're paying him, I'm sure it's not enough. He's the best.

The editors of Westwind, Winter 2000, made a spectacularly beautiful issue. I want to give a special thanks to Steve Welsh for the front cover photograph. Thanks to Terrie Aamodt for a tribute to Bud Dopp. It warmed my heart. Through Bill Dopp, a classmate and fellow worker, I became acquainted with the Dopp family. They were all good down-to-earth people. By God's grace, I plan to renew my acquaintance with them in the coming kingdom.

Last Sunday evening, as my wife Carolyn (Hayden) '59 and I were propped up in bed reading. The phone rang. Our daughter, Cynthia '93, was on the other end of the line asking, Have you received your latest issue of Westwind? No, why? Well, I am looking at a picture of someone who looks like my father, standing next to a woman who is wearing a corsage. Oh, I replied, I wonder where they got that picture. That must be Deanna Bish (Ellison) '62.

Suddenly a flood of memories flashed through my mind. Conard Hall parlor, parties at faculty homes, night (well...evening) walks to the old cemetery, spring break and coming down with the chicken pox while visiting her family in the Portland area. How the clouds lifted when I had a chance to spot her across the campus. These were some of the immediately related memories, but then other events resurrected themselves from the dusty catacombs.

After Carolyn and I had turned out the lights, I lay there unable to immediately slip into my usual coma. Scenes of staying up late at night with some of the Canadian fellows, spraying water into the air over the tennis court, so that it would cool and freeze on the surface. We could then ice skate and play hockey if the temperature would stay below freezing for the next two weeks. Going to Columbia Auditorium during exam week to play a game of basketball (no rules allowed) just to let off steam. The fish ponding of a notorious Sittnerite, which instigated the immediate assemblage of the administrative council next morning, to consider my suitability to participate in graduation the following week. The night that we installed an outhouse in front of the above referenced fish pond and Conard Hall. Pranks and fun times were not all of the memories housed on those dusty shelves. The Asian flu of 1957 with it hallucinations, fever, aches and pains, the health clinic overwhelmed with afflicted students, and the temporary housing of sick students in Conard Chapel. Nights spent assembling all the pictures for the MASK so that we could get it out in record time. Physics class with Dr. Barnett, and my jacket catching on fire. Dean Meyer addressing the student body in chapel after the whistle from the top of the powerhouse was, as he put it, borrowed. He respectfully requested in his most dignified manner, that if it would be returned before the next chapel time, he would not find it necessary to contact the local police regarding the theft. At the next chapel, he announced that the whistle was returned, brightly polished, and would immediately be reinstalled on top of the powerhouse. I still haven't figured out who accomplished that maneuver.

Well, I am sure that I could go on and on, but these events would only have relevance to those who were involved or in attendance during those years. Yesterday, our copy of Westwind arrived and sure enough, in the announcement for homecoming on page 15 I found Cindy's observation to be correct. Oops, more dust from those storage shelves. The year 2001 will be our 40th class reunion and I plan to be there, gotta finish checking out the catacombs with my classmates. I still havent figured out where you got that picture, unless it was from the 1961 Mountain Ash.

Carolyn, which box did you say those old year books are stored in?

Thank you for letting an old grad reminisce. Looking forward to the WWC homecoming of 2001.

Previous issues
Winter 2000
Spring 1999

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