Class of 1972

Dear ’72s, give a rouse for Bill Schlesinger, who received the Eminent Ecologist Award from the Ecological Society of America. Give a rouse for Hans Stumm, Bill Roberts, and John Burke, proud grandparents. Hans’ granddaughter, Suzanne Pogorelec, finished her first year at Bowdoin, where her tennis team won their conference and competed in the NCAA quarterfinals in California. The Bowdoin tennis coach won coach of the year honors. Bill’s eighth-grade granddaughter plays the flute in her middle school band that was named the best middle school band in Illinois. Bill’s wife, Ingrid, was recovering from heart surgery and was able to attend the final band performance for her first public outing post surgery. John’s grandson, Jack Burke, entered a local Elks Club foul-shooting contest in the 8-9 age group. Jack won succeeding contests and won Section 10, comprising North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, and D.C., at one competition making 23 out of 25 foul shots. Jack was one of 12 national finalists from 630,000 boys. John was able to make it out to Chicago for the finals. Gary Dicovitsky and Chuck Leer did some hiking in California. Gary reported that Chuck and Mary Leer received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Southwest High School in Minneapolis; Chuck for his design and real estate development work and Mary for her work in the arts. To Chuck’s knowledge they are the only couple to receive this award.

I recently read Klan War by Fergus M. Bordewich about efforts by President Grant during Reconstruction. Two Dartmouth men figure prominently in the effort to promote the rights of Black citizens during this time. First, Thaddeus Stevens, class of 1812, was the leading radical Republican voice in the U.S. Congress for Black civil rights and was the driving force behind the Fourteenth Amendment. Stevens was born and raised in Vermont. After Dartmouth Stevens sought greater opportunity in Pennsylvania, establishing a successful law practice in Gettysburg and then Lancaster. Stevens served as a representative to Congress, working tirelessly to secure civil rights for Black Americans and leading the effort to impeach Andrew Johnson for thwarting that effort. Second, Amos T. Ackerman, class of 1842, was raised in New Hampshire and moved south after Dartmouth to treat a lung ailment. Ackerman was a school headmaster who subsequently tutored the son of a U.S. senator from Georgia and former U.S. attorney general with whom Ackerman studied law. Ackerman developed a successful law practice and opposed secession. When war came Ackerman served in the Confederate Army but later became a Republican and staunchly defended Black civil rights, winning an important case allowing a Black citizen to continue service in public office. President Grant appointed Ackerman federal district attorney for Georgia and then U.S. attorney general, where he formed the first investigative unit of the newly created U.S. Justice Department and aggressively prosecuted the Ku Klux Klan at significant peril to his personal safety. 

Hope to see you at the mini in Charleston, South Carolina, in October.

—Shel Prentice, 2311 Tradition Way, #102, Naples, FL 34105; shelprentice72@gmail.com