A keynote of Joe Mathewson’snewsletter of last November was a two-page spread on the Boston-area reception where Jack Doyle formally received the Class of 1955 Award. In reading the award, two among the many tributes stood out for me. First, “Jack served as our class president for two terms—10 years—longer than any other classmate in that office.” And second, Jack noting that “he has ‘continued to be influenced by John Dickey’s teachings and has made time for community and civic activities.’ ” Amen to that.

That newsletter included a photo of Trumbull Nelson’s 1931 pickup truck that Tom Byrne organized as a “chariot” to carry classmates to the Homecoming parade on a rainy night. Traditions begin in little events, and this could be the start of a new (and needed) one.

Ken Lundstrom reported on a North Carolina mini-reunion that Dave Miller organized in Durham last October. Besides Ken and his wife, Kathy, attendees were Betsey Miller, Coyla and Ed Barry, David Conlan, Tom McGreevey and Aaron Simon. Separately, Tom is lobbying for more classmate get-togethers, say, for lunch, in locales with enough ’55s to support them, such as Boston, Hanover, N.Y.C., northern New Jersey, perhaps other places.

More on McGreevey: He has completed a work on naval history that covers what I believe is a mostly unexplored period. Titled Preparing for Victory: U.S. Carrier Operations in an Era of Isolationism, Tom’s book explores naval aviation’s efforts to integrate aircraft carriers into fleet operations during the 1920s and 1930s in the face of resistance from a parsimonious Congress and the Navy itself. All he needs is a publisher. Anyone?

Our mini-reunion in New York City that John French is organizing is almost upon us. With sadness, we report the passing of classmates Moises A. Alvarez, Stephen B. Davis, Charles L. Greenebaum, Peter J. Knoke, Patrick E McCarthy, Thomas H. Roulston II and Lionel Schlank. We offer a separate memorial for the late Thomas S. Marvel, class of 1956. Why? Our 1955 Carnival poster bears his name as its creator.

—Gale Roberson, 3140 Sprucewood Road, Wilmette, IL 60091; (847) 251-3125; galeroberson@sbcglobal.net