Matthew Algeo has a book out called: Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure.  The book chronicles Harry and Bess Truman's exploits on a post--presidency road trip from Missouri to Broadway and back, plus a few detours.

In July, 1953, the Trumans stopped in Indianapolis and stayed at the home of the McKinney family who lived on North Meridian.  In the process of a reception that evening for the Trumans, the McKinney's daughter Claire met the mayor of Indianapolis, Alex Clark.  Later that evening, Claire went out with some friends and ran into Mayor Clark.  Alex introduced Claire to his brother, Jim Clark '51.  It wasn't quite love at first sight...but close.  Jim and Claire are still together today - living in Indianapolis.

Harry and Bess Truman were the reason the couple met...and have lived happily ever after.  And "that's the rest of the story", as Paul Harvey says...

Book supplied by the ubiquitous Jon Pactor '71...

Posted by Tom Runge at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So it's Friday, and I am reflecting on the fact that the group of freshmen who started class yesterday are members of the Class of 2013.

Yep, 2013.

Born in the 1990s.  
What first Gulf War?
Elementary school during the attack on 9/11.
Cameras used to have film?
Gas could never have been 29.9!

Speaking of young...

That's young Jack Chase in the picture.  He's the son of Kip (Wabash '03) and Nicole (DePauw '01) Chase.  Kip's a great guy and Nicole is world class.  Jack has the best of both.

Kip says "Wabash" for young Jack and Nicole just smiles.  That means it's far from decided...but Jack looks pretty sharp in that t-shirt. 

Posted by Tom Runge at 03:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our own Charlie Blaich, Director of Inquiries at the Center of Inquiry in the Liberal Arts, is scheduled to give the keynote speech at an upcoming conference at Lawrence University.

The conference is entitled "Researching Assessment Methods in Tutorial Education".  Much of the Center of Inquiry's work is directly related to assessment focused on measuring the impact of a liberal arts education.

For the full story, click here.

Posted by Tom Runge at 07:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For Jeremy Bird '00 it's been three years of Big Moments, coffee (leaded, of course), and adrenaline.  While the economy is turning around, this health care "thing" is keeping him on his toes.

Thanks to a note from Bert Salinas '97, we're able to pass on that Jeremy was featured in the Washington Post recently.  Regardless of your side of the political spectrum, you have to be impressed with Jeremy and his accomplishments.   For the article, click here.

Posted by Tom Runge at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ryan Daming '02 reports that he's done a qualitative study on the new Sun King Brewery on N. College in Indianapolis and reports the product is exceptional.

The Sun King brewery recently made the news (for the article click here.) What you won't see in the article is that Omar Robinson '60 and his son Clay '97 , who are principals in the brewery along with Dave Colt, are Wabash men.

In typical liberal arts fashion, the article closes with: "But Colt and Robinson are doing what they love, and when the cold beer meets empty glass, the whole process seems more art than science.  'You can look at art,' Robinson corrected me once. 'But you can taste beer.'

Photo: Clay Robinson '97 making some adjustments at the Sun King Brewery.

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By now you've seen the coverage on the web site of Freshman Saturday and know that Greg Castanias '87, vice president and president-elect of the alumni board, served as part of the official welcoming ceremony for our Class of 2013.

Many other alumni were also on campus.

As you might imagine, my good friend Jon Pactor '71 was everywhere.  Welcoming freshman of all kinds especially those pledging the TKE house. (I think he actually lives over there!)

Craig Green '59 and Greg Miller '83, as representatives of the Sugar Creek Association of Wabash Men, passed out t-shirts to all the new freshmen.

At the Beta House, several alumni kept the tradition of Beta alumni cooking burgers for the new pledges and their families.  From the looks of it, there was also some pretty deep philosophical discussions as well.  Pictured: Jim Engledow '78, Jack Wyatt '58, Mel Machuka '66, Ron Nichols '64, and Sam Hildebrand '61.

Does it matter?  You bet.  One lady, who was sending her fifth grandchild off to college, remarked that she had made every trip.  "No one is more welcoming than Wabash" she said. 

Amen!

Posted by Tom Runge at 07:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I hope you've been following the web blog of our Freshman Tutorial: Fly Fishing in Montana.  You can find it at:  http://www2.wabash.edu/blog/frt_flyfishing_montana/ 

It's Prof. David Hadley's class and they have been in Montana learning the finer arts of life, learning, and fishing.  It's the fishing, of course, but it's also a whole lot more.  A part of me thinks this might be one of the best college classes ever!

Some might wonder how, in these tough financial times, Wabash sends a bunch of students off to Montana.  The answer on an academic level is easy - they are in search of knowledge...judgment...life...and the concepts behind proving beyond any doubt that truly pigs can fly.

On a financial level, the answer is just as simple...and time-tested.  It's been this way at Wabash for decades.  These young men from the Class of 2013 are there because Wabash alumni care about their education and had the vision to help create a teachable moment both historic and fun.  This wasn't just positive verbal support - the alumni cared enough to provide the resources for the trip as well as participating in the educational journey.  Those Little Giants are Jeff Perkins '89, Brian Grossenbacher '90, and Geoff Faerber '98.  Jeff, Brian, and Geoff teamed with David Hadley to provide this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Jeff Perkins'89 (with the perfect cast in the boat) was a big part of making the trip happen.  Brian Grossenbacher '90, who runs Grossenbacher Guides in Montana,  and Geoff Faerber '98 of Flying Pigs Adventure Company, also in Montana, were also actively involved with every phase of the trip.  

Bottom line:  Young Wabash men standing on the shoulders of their big Wabash brothers.  Does it get any better?  

Not in the Grunge's book. 

Posted by Tom Runge at 03:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Stopped by football practice yesterday.  Wanted to get a couple of shots of the guys practicing without giving away any secrets or any killer plays.  Rounded the corner and caught sight of our stellar center last year, Tony Neymeier '09.  Did a double-take - Tony wasn't lining up at center - he's a coach!

You see him in the photo (right) working with the "O" line.  In the back is head coach Erik Raeburn. 

Posted by Tom Runge at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Had a chance Monday night to watch the entire Giants - Panthers game...in an airplane! (Didn't watch any TV when I flew!)  We were "stuck" on the ground in Denver for over an hour in the airplane - Frontier (highly recommended!) offers Directv.  Stuck was weather all around, not Frontier.

While the Giants - Panthers game was typical for a pre-season game, it got the juices flowing.  Won't be long until the Little Giants get rolling...hope to swing by practice in the next couple of days for some shots...will try to get some of the soccer team as well. 

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wabash track and field coach Clyde Morgan is a rising star in the coaching world - of course, we've known that at Wabash since he arrived.  However, the USA Track and Field Association has also spotted Coach Morgan, thanks in part to our own legendary coach, Rob Johnson.

Coach Morgan recently took part in an Elite Coaches Camp sponsored by USA Track and Field.  For more of the story click here.  

Congratulations Coach Morgan!

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

INC. (www.inc.com) is The Daily Resource for Entrepreneuers.  They post a INC. 500 and an INC. 5000 - top performing companies if you will.  As you can imagine, any organization these days would love to make one of those lists.  Well...

As it turns out, Apparatus, founded in 1999 by alumnus Kelly Pfedderer '96, is one of those companies. Click here for more info.

Apparatus last reported a 135.8% growth rate...think about that one.  Somehow, Kelly finds time to help the college with career services while running this company - a real benefit to our students in this economy.

Congrats to Kelly and the entire Appartus team. 

Posted by Tom Runge at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last July, Bruce Gras, Class of 1968, was hired by Longevity Consulting as a Managing Director for their Enterprise Resource Management Practice.  Longevity is a Washington, DC based company that does a lot of work for the US government.

Of course, Bruce was, and is, also the president and CEO of his own company, Trirock Enterprises.

We have just heard that Bruce has also been named as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Longevity.  He'll assume the new role in addition to his current duties.

For most human beings, three full time jobs might seem like overkill - especially for a guy in his 60s.  However, for those of us who know Bruce, well...we know he'll be more than able to handle the additional responsibilities.  In you look up "motor always running" in your Funk and Wagnalls, you'll see a photo of Bruce right on the page. 

Congratulations, Bruce!

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As I reported last week, Greg Castanias '87 and his beautiful wife (Jane) and daughter (Alex) were also in Colorado last week and joined Jim Roper '68, his lovely wife Liz, and their crew for dinner. 

That photo is Greg with Jim's twin sons Seth and Will.  The boys obviously took to Greg very well and Greg obviously had a good time.  Fast forward another 10 years or so and Greg will probably greet young men at the front door a little differently.  

But that's a story for another time.

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ok...I have taken my red hat off for just a second or so.

Friday it was annuounced that Matt Walker had resigned as head coach of DePauw's football and baseball teams.  The resignation took place immediately.

An immediate resignation usually means there's more to the story.  But that's for another time and someone else.

The news really caught me off-guard.  My first reactions were surprise, a little glee (we won't play his teams anymore), and then the sad and concerned parts set in.  Sad in that Coach Walker had a big impact on the DePauw teams and thus on our legendary rivalry.  Concerned in that I genuinely hope the resignation isn't because of a health or family issue.

So today (it's Saturday) as I was mowing, I thought about our rivalry.  I know we'll remain bitter rivals until h--- freezes over.  I also know that any one of us, DePauw and Wabash alumnus alike, knows when we meet an alumnus of the "other" school we are meeting someone with brains and drive.  I know that the rivalry prepares both student bodies for life after college, as every time our teams enter the field or court, they'll need to be at their best to win.

All that is to say good luck to Coach Walker and to DePauw.

OK - red hat's back on...

DePauw To Hell - Get The Bell! 

Posted by Tom Runge at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Jeff Sostak '06 let us know that Evan Brown '97, an attorney for the Illinois law firm of Hinshaw and Culbertson, recently appeared on CNN discussing a lawsuit over a posting on the hugely popular social networking site Twitter.  As you can see, it could turn out to be an expensive 140 characters.

For the entire interview on You Tube, click here.

Posted by Tom Runge at 09:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Every day it seems I hear from another alumnus who is out of work and looking for a new opportunity. Just yesterday I talked with a bright, talented, young alumnus who had been "downsized".  

Wabash can help.  The partnership of Career Services and the Alumni and Parent Relations office is providing a set of tools to help alumni with their job search.  The web page to start is: http://www.wabash.edu/careers/alumni/services.

Spread the word!

Posted by Tom Runge at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OK - that headline might be a little over the top, but check this out.

Here's the list, from the Princeton Review, of the top 10 schools where students pack the stadium.  Now, that's not a measure of academic prowess by any stretch, but there are a number of those schools that have top notch academics.

Posted by Tom Runge at 09:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wabash Stories has a brand new web site.  In a year they have updated the site from very good to even better!

The site is the on-going effort of Bruce Gras '68 and Brandon Stewart '08.  Thanks guys - exceptional work!

Check it out.

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

That's Ricky Keys on the keyboard for the Chicago-based band, the Windy City Rev Ups.  The Rev Ups were featured entertainment at the recent Chicago Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon held on the Chicago lakefront.

You may know that keyboard player as class agent and past-president of the alumni board at Wabash. Yes, that's our Rick Fobes, class of 1972.  Rick recently retired from a very successful career in Advertising but he hasn't retired form his love of music, that's for sure.

Move over Mick Jagger!

For more about the Windy City Rev Ups, click here.

Posted by Tom Runge at 07:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In a little under three weeks it will be Freshman Saturday - August 22, 2009.  We'll welcome a new class of Wabash men (the Class of 2013!) and their families into the Wabash community.  Seems like Commencement was just last week.

The summer of 2009 will melt into the football season of 2009 and Homecoming, with Chapel Sing and our first-ever Wabash Law Reunion, is just around the corner.  Of course, we'll also dedicate the new Kappa Sig House.  Odds are we'll see the Senior Bench painted in a similar fashion that weekend.

We wonder sometimes, how we'll ever replace the Wabash faculty legends - the Ben Rogges, Vic Powells, Bill Plachers, Eric Deans, and Jack Charles.  But we find a way to do so.

We also wonder about replacing the young men who just graduated - the stellar campus leaders who are now alumni - guys on their way to grad school, med school, law school, and the business world.  Who will fill those leadership voids?

But we'll find a way to do so.  

That's the neat thing about the memories of the golden years at Wabash - we all have our own gold set!

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)