Class Note 1969
Issue
July-August 2026
Class Note 1969. Allen Denison reports that the mini-reunion at The Huntington in April was grand! Hosted by Peter Lawrence and Karen, almost four dozen classmates visited the Jet Propulsion Labs, Huntington Botanical Gardens, Huntington Art Museum, and Huntington Library. “It was a festive, informative, and congenial event,” Allen writes, “that will be remembered for years.”
Classmate Ted Baehr received the Visionary Award at the 33rd annual Movieguide Awards gala in March. Former Disney chairman Dick Cook praised Ted as “my North Star, always pointing me in the right direction.” Ted founded the Christian Film and Television Commission in 1986, encouraging major media to produce family-friendly entertainment.
The Zoom Jewish culture group hosted a discussion of campus antisemitism moderated by Bruce Alpert. Dartmouth Jewish studies professor Susannah Heschel joined Rabbi Seth Linfield of Dartmouth Hillel to update us on current issues. In April Arthur Fergenson led an encore “Casual Conversation” with Charles Murray, whose latest book is Taking Religion Seriously. Your Zoom events continue to attract many classmates, and there have been more than 200 unique participants through the years.
The explosion of artificial intelligence in music inspires in unforeseen ways, including the creation of a class of ’69 parody song, “Dartmouth Undoing,” now available on the website. Even better, Phil Bush performs more than a dozen songs, including original compositions, on his YouTube channel. Phil’s work is 100-percent human, not AI, and is classic folk.
Music lover Tim Means is working on a musical play about the songs and spirits of the people of Appalachia, and Tex has thrown in a few tunes ranging from “Mama’s Cornbread” to “Gather Now and Sing of Jesus.”
Sandy Alderson homered again in a “Casual Conversation,” also in March, and the bleachers were packed. The chat came with one caveat: “Everything baseball but not the Yankees.” Bruce and Tex were crushed.
Class Notes is sadly limited by DAM to 350 words because we are so old! Our online presence, though, is huge. Peter Elias is constantly updating our website, and Allen’s newsletter is bursting at the seams. Thanks to all who are sending news and notes!
—John “Tex” Talmadge, 3519 Brookline Lane, Farmers Branch TX 75234; (214) 673-9250 johntalmadgemd@gmail.com
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More of 1969 Class Notes
Classmate Ted Baehr received the Visionary Award at the 33rd annual Movieguide Awards gala in March. Former Disney chairman Dick Cook praised Ted as “my North Star, always pointing me in the right direction.” Ted founded the Christian Film and Television Commission in 1986, encouraging major media to produce family-friendly entertainment.
The Zoom Jewish culture group hosted a discussion of campus antisemitism moderated by Bruce Alpert. Dartmouth Jewish studies professor Susannah Heschel joined Rabbi Seth Linfield of Dartmouth Hillel to update us on current issues. In April Arthur Fergenson led an encore “Casual Conversation” with Charles Murray, whose latest book is Taking Religion Seriously. Your Zoom events continue to attract many classmates, and there have been more than 200 unique participants through the years.
The explosion of artificial intelligence in music inspires in unforeseen ways, including the creation of a class of ’69 parody song, “Dartmouth Undoing,” now available on the website. Even better, Phil Bush performs more than a dozen songs, including original compositions, on his YouTube channel. Phil’s work is 100-percent human, not AI, and is classic folk.
Music lover Tim Means is working on a musical play about the songs and spirits of the people of Appalachia, and Tex has thrown in a few tunes ranging from “Mama’s Cornbread” to “Gather Now and Sing of Jesus.”
Sandy Alderson homered again in a “Casual Conversation,” also in March, and the bleachers were packed. The chat came with one caveat: “Everything baseball but not the Yankees.” Bruce and Tex were crushed.
Class Notes is sadly limited by DAM to 350 words because we are so old! Our online presence, though, is huge. Peter Elias is constantly updating our website, and Allen’s newsletter is bursting at the seams. Thanks to all who are sending news and notes!
—John “Tex” Talmadge, 3519 Brookline Lane, Farmers Branch TX 75234; (214) 673-9250 johntalmadgemd@gmail.com