Reader's Letters
On Rock's Retirement
President Rock Jones is the best thing that has happened to OWU in my lifetime—and I'm 80 years old!
– Nancy Reynolds Schneider '64
Glenwood Springs, CO
Remembering Professor Rabby
My heart leapt at seeing Professor Rabby's photo on page 47 of your Spring 2023 issue. I played Louisa in his production of The Fantasticks in the fall of 1967, a dream come true for me. Frank Corrado was a thrilling El Gallo.
Professor Rabby was a gifted comic and insightful director, equally at home with farce and high drama—I also recall his searing production of The Crucible. His wife taught me how to sing. He was inspiring at every turn, with a deep humanity.
– Betsy Nickeson Bilus '71
New Canaan, CT
Chappelear Photos
I'm delighted that the last two issues of the alumni magazine have devoted space to the OWU theater and the role it's played in enriching students' time at OWU. In my days, I was the only guy who played football and acted in plays.
After donating money to spruce up Chappelear I was saddened to learn that all the pictures of actors and productions covering decades have been tossed and replaced with bare walls. I'm lobbying Ohio Wesleyan to reverse this decision and your fine publication has given my cause a nice boost.
– Jon Armstrong '73
Columbus, OH
OWU Magazine: We are very happy to report that all of the historic photos, alumni pictures, and paintings were taken down during the summer only so that the walls could be painted. It was never the university's intention to discard them. By the end of May, the archival photos were back up on the walls of the Chappelear lobby, where they continue to be today.
The Concert That Never Was
What's wrong with this picture? That's a question that popped into my head when I read your "Mysteries for the Archives" story and your article on the rededication of Slocum Hall.
I attended the homecoming as part of the '68 football team being inducted in the OWU Athletics Hall of Fall. I walked around beautifully restored Slocum, recalling studying there even though Beeghly Library had just opened. Old Slocum Hall was quiet, still, and infused with history.
A display recalling concerts caught my eye. The caption declares that Crosby Stills Nash and Young took to Gray Chapel stage and rocked the campus. That didn't happen.
[David] Crosby's girlfriend died on September 30, and the concert was canceled. So contrary to the write-up on display in Slocum, CSNY did not rock Gray Chapel.
Other concerts that did take place [include] Jefferson Airplane (I attended and they really did rock Gray Chapel), Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, Mountain, Richie Havens, Jethro Tull, and Frank Zappa.
Best wishes and keep up your great work.
– James Wallar '70
Fairfax, VA
Solving the Mystery Photo
More than 20 Bishop alumni wrote in to solve—in whole or part—the mystery photo from the Spring 2023 issue. A few of the responses are printed below. Those pictured are from the OWU swim team, and the photo was taken around 1960. There was some disagreement about the identity of some of the individuals, but according to a majority of the responses, the individuals are, from left, Wink Franklin '62, Al Waterfield '62, Coach Dick Gordin '52, Larry Lays '60, and Ed Lash '60.
My younger sister, Janet Dickey Seese '72 sent to me, on my cell phone, a picture from "Mysteries from the Archives." It was easy for me to solve this puzzle for you! It was four members of my varsity swim team with Dr. Dick Gordin (our swim coach).
I earned varsity swim team letters from my sophomore through senior years as a breaststroker, setting nine records. I was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. I was president of our 1960 "Class of 60 Celebrates 50" class reunion in 2010, with 170 persons in attendance. Dr. Richard Gordin was one of three of our guests of honor for that event, all of whom had been our professors 50 years before that celebration with our classmates.
These four men, with a host of others, were part of a 1959-1960 winning season where we lost only one dual meet, and many of our team members set both school and pool records that year. We won meets against Central State, Muskingum, Wittenberg, Cincinnati, Kent State, Akron, Wooster, Albion, Baldwin Wallace, and Oberlin, losing only to Kenyon.
The men in this 1959-60 school year picture are (left to right) Wink Franklin, sophomore, Sigma Chi; Jim Brown, sophomore, Phi Gamma Delta; Dr. Dick Gordin; Larry Lays, senior, co-captain, Phi Kappa Psi; and Ed Lash, senior, co-captain, Sigma Chi.
The gray blazers were purchased by us, and worn to swim meets and other events by all of our varsity swim team swimmers. (I still have mine and wear it.) The emblem on our sport coats had an OWU swim crest on them.
This year, most of my classmates will be celebrating their 85th birthdays. All of us have a plethora of pictures, memorabilia, and memories. I am honored to be able to share, and interpret, just one of them for all Ohio Wesleyanites!
– Dr. Jerry Dickey '60
Cincinnati, OH
This is a photo circa 1962 of my father, Dick Gordin '52, the Ohio Wesleyan swimming coach, with the medley relay team that qualified for the NCAA Swimming Championships. The members of the team were Winston "Wink" Franklin '62, Al Waterfield '62, Jim Brown '62, and Robin Farran '62.
I was an 11-year-old kid that helped with "handheld timing" of the meets. What a great experience for me. I believe all these athletes are members of the OWU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Thanks for the great memory.
– Rich Gordin '73
Logan, UT
The mystery photo in your magazine includes my swimming teammates probably Class of 1960, Ed Lash, Larry Lays, and Jim Brown with coach Dick Gordin. I could not identify the fourth person.
– Barry Poulson '51
Broomfield, CO
It's been over 60 years, but sort of looks like Wink Franklin, Jim Brown, and Coach Gordin. Their other medley relay teammates were Robin Farran and Al Waterford. They went to the NCAA finals in 1961. They are all in the OWU HOF.
– William Bossert '61
Delaware, OH
Other readers who sent in partial solutions included: Emeritus Professor Harry Bahrick, Jack Brown '60, Reid Calcott '64, Linda Collins '62, Laurie McGregor Connor '77, Doug Gordin '78, Richard Gossen '62, Thomas Grau '60, Mike Hoffman, Annettia Shoemacher Lukas '47, Grant McLennan '64, Dan Nelson '63, Robin White Obetz '62, Chuck '64 and Cheryl Pitcock '65, James Sheets '64, and William Thompson '60.
A new mystery photo from the OWU Archives appears here. Let us know if you can help solve the mystery.
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