ER News: February 2013

Tod Oliver’s Message, February 14, 2013

Dear Margaret,

Do you have an email address for Julie Bailey? The one I used yesterday ( Juliesings@gmail.net ) came back. I called her last night and left a message but haven't heard back. I'm trying to reach her to see if she remembers Charlene McComas, who was on the Polaris staff for the 1966-67 issues, the year Julie was editor. You were on the essay staff that year, while Charlene was with the short story group, helping to select items to be sent to judges.

Which leads to my second question: do you remember Charlene?

Here's why. I just received a letter from Lisa Robeson, the new chair of the 0ONU English Dpt., telling me that Charlene has recently died of cancer, and her parents are donating a large portion of their estate to ONU in their daughter's honor and would like to include a scholarship in her name for the English Department. I remembered the name immediately, but it may have been as much from having Charlene in classes as on Polaris. Anyway, I'm hoping that Julie remembers her and can say something from that memory that could be passed on to Lisa and to Charlene's parents, who plan to visit ONU and the English Dpt. on Monday (thus my rush). According to back issues, the 1966-67 academic year was Charlene's only one on the magazine.

So, I'm hoping that you have Julie's current email address and that you too 0may remember something about Charlene McComas.

Thanks.

— Tod Oliver

P.S. It's always good "talking" with you.

_____

Margaret’s Message, February 14, 2013

Tod,

Julie’s Message, February 14, 2013

Thanks, Margaret!

I just finished speaking with Tod a few minutes ago. He has corrected my email and fortunately, had both of my phone #. I am going to copy Steve and David on this, hoping that they may remember Charlene McComas, though they would have been freshmen or sophomores in 1966-67. Looking to some other ONU alums I am still in touch with, though most of them are a couple years younger. Will dig out my 67 yearbook and see if a picture image jogs my memory.

Thanks, all, for any recollections you may have. And thanks Margaret, for getting me in touch with Lydia Ross from Shawnee HS. What a gem of a former student all grown up. Must have been those stellar English teachers she had!

Julie

_____

Margaret’s Message, February 14, 2013

I found these couple of little photos. I do remember her face, but I can't say I remember her personally. Margaret

David’s Message, February 16, 2013

Tod Oliver’s Message, February 16, 2013

Julie,

I plan to refer to you and your three friends from now on as the "quality quartet." (I thought about the "gang of four," but that's taken and not appropriate anyway.) I'm amazed at how quickly all of you were willing to respond to my request for information about Charlene. It could only be from your friendship for one another and for the ONU English Department.

I'm preparing a summary for Lisa Robeson at Northern, and I need the graduating classes for each of you. David seems to think that Charlene, who graduated in 1969, according the obit, was in his graduating class along with Steve. But I thought they graduated later than '69; in fact, wasn't that your class? Help?

Again thanks. I think Lisa will be pleased with all the information and eager to pass it on to Charlene's parents on Monday. I will keep you informed. Is Steve's address still < stevet999@comcast.net >?

_____

Julie’s Message, February 14, 2013

Tod, Margaret, Steve and David . . .

Gee whiz, the wonders of technology never cease to amaze me. After my latest email reply to you a few minutes ago, I took a long shot and Googled "Charlene McComas obituary Ohio" and found this from the Medina OH newspaper. Margaret, she grew up halfway between us! Steve, you may be amazed to discover she lived not that far from you in recent years. Here is the obit:

Charlene S. McComas

Filed by Liz Sheaffer July 23rd, 2008 in News.

Print this story

Read comments and discuss this story

Charlene Sue McComas passed away peacefully at her home in Ontario, Calif., on Sunday, July 13, 2008.

She was born Nov. 8, 1947, in Wadsworth to Clyde and Viola McComas, the oldest of five children. She was a 1965 graduate of Medina High School and a 1969 graduate of Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She moved to Upland, Calif., in 1981, and worked for Pomona College in the publications department. Charlene was considered to be a highly talented writer and editor throughout her career, and she also held positions at Pomona Valley Hospital, and for more than 15 years of her life, as an editor for Southern California Edison Co. in Rosemead, Calif. She fought a valiant eight-year battle with breast cancer and taught all those who knew and loved her the true meaning of courage and humility. She will be in our hearts and souls forever and we will all miss her wit, humor and generosity to others.

She is survived by her mother, Viola McComas; sisters, Carla (Rex Willis) Riley and Claudia (Roy) Barnhart; brothers, Kevin (Nancy) and Chad (Michelle) McComas; and seven nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Clyde McComas.

Visiting hours: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the home of Kevin McComas, 958 Hidden Valley Drive, Wadsworth.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Center.

I will continue seeking out anyone who knew her more personally, insofar as the next few days in time permit. I still love researching good questions. As Polaris editor that year (1967), I feel a little bad for not recalling her more specifically.

Julie

_____

David’s Message, February 14, 2013

I was pretty sure she didn't gradate in 1967. I think I had a couple classes with her, but don't remember her very well. When Margaret sent the photos, she (Charlene) was who I had in my mind's eye.

Best,

David

_____

Steve’s Message, February 14, 2013

Thanks all, the face is familiar but, unfortunately, that's all I remember also.

_____

Julie’s Message February 16, 2013

Hello, "quality quartet" folks (see below).

Could you please confirm your graduation year to Tod?

Mine was 68, Margaret 69, and David, 70. Steve, was your year 70 as well?

Have a great weekend.

Julie

_____

With regard to the heartstrings that have held over the years, I credit that to being word people via the amazing ONU English department, the planning of the Udy Memorial, and the rest of you allowing this reformed-conservative-turned-somewhat-left-of-center person to latch onto your ideology, kindness, and joie de vivre. Do you three remember coming to see me at my little house in Shawnee the fall of 68? And we really shouldn't omit fellow Udy-ite Jon Schafer, either, but he was, I believe, a history major who was off campus for junior year in Switzerland. Really, though, Tod, Margaret is the glue.

_____

Steve’s Message February 16, 2013

"Quality Quartet" - I like that! Quartet seems to be in the air, with the recent movies "The Last Quartet" and "Quartet", and I'm going to a lot of String Quartets these days.

And, just to keep things tidy, I graduated in '71, so it's '68, '69, '70 and '71. (We won't go into all the 1970 classes I was somewhat "less than involved in" while I was Editor of the Northern Review. That was an exciting year.)

Steve

_____

David’s Message, February 16, 2013

Dear all,

I just went down the basement and dragged out my yearbooks from ONU.

Charlene McComas is pictured as a sophomore in the 1967 yearbook. She is not in the Polaris photo

She is not pictured (nor in the index) for the 1968 yearbook.

She is pictured as a junior in the 1969 yearbook. She is not in the Polaris photo.

She is pictured as a senior in the 1970 yearbook. She is not in the Polaris photo. There are three index entries for her, but she doesn't appear on two of those pages, only in the individual class photo.

So, she did start ONU the same year Margaret did and graduated with me in 1970. Steve graduated in 1971. The 1967-68 academic year is a mystery.

Yes, I have fond memories of the English Dept and Dukes Hall. About six or seven years ago, I was invited by ONU's professional writing program to come to Ada and teach a week-long course (four hours each evening for five days) on professional publishing. It was so enjoyable. Later I hired three of my students from that class to do some freelance writing for a project I was doing. I still hear from a couple of those students every once in a while.

I have great memories (mostly!) of being in class with Steve and Margaret being taught by Tod, Clyde Dornbusch, Tom Banks, and Dick Arthur. And of course, Louise Hastings and her off-the-wall interpretations of Shakespeare's plays! When I went to grad school and started spouting some of her ideas, I was almost laughed out of my Master's program!

Anyway, it is all good. I look forward to seeing Steve in San Francisco this June and crossing paths with Margaret at the Kettering Foundation.

My warmest regards,

David

_____

Julie’s Message, February16, 2013

Thanks, David and Steve.

Such detailed yearbook research, David, I am impressed.

My thoughts are that Charlene's love of writing stayed with her and served her well in her career. And that's probably very true for a number of ONU peers whose names are familiar, but we cannot recall any specific encounter with them. Her family's desire to establish an English department scholarship in her memory speaks volumes, and that is all for good. It was an inspiring team of instructors in that department during our era. Christa MacCauliff (pardon the spelling) said it well: "I touch the future. I teach."

You just ever now where your influence ends. Hats off to Tod and the rest of the team (then . . . and now).

Julie

p.s. I have been in touch with several friends from the class of 1970, and they do not recall her either.

_____

David’s message, February 16, 2013

It seems as if I'm the only one of the quartet who actually remembers Charlene. We were never close friends, but I do remember her and remember having conversations with her.

Julie, you mention Jon being in Switzerland his junior year. Because of Jon, who was a senior during my freshman year, I applied for the same program and spent my entire Junior year in Basel, Switzerland. It was a life-changing year for me. Several of my closest friends today are people I went to school with that year in Switzerland.

Wow, this Charlene thing has really stirred up so many memories....

--David

_____

P.S. to Tod--

Thanks for the new label--Quality Quartet. It is an honor.

_____

Margaret’s message, February 16, 2013

I would not wish to change a moment of my time in Ada. It was the most poignant time of my young adult life. I am only sad today when I realize people of my background likely could not afford to attend. I think of how it was life-changing for me, and I know there are other young men and women who come from backgrounds like my own, but they won't have this chance. I cherish the education and the lasting friendships. I think, my son, Dr. Nic, has had an incredible experience at the University of Georgia where he now teaches, but it doesn't come close to what I experienced at Ohio Northern in the 60s. It was the right time, and I was in the right place. M

_____

Julie’s message, February 16, 2013

Margaret, I think your explanation and wording is exactly what the department chair is looking for in graciously accepting this scholarship. Tod had also mentioned the comparative high cost of an ONU education (or any private university) today and my understanding is that is exactly where Charlene's family is coming from in creating the scholarship. The scholarship will mean a bit lighter student loan on the promising student who receives it.

I, too, would never have been able to afford ONU today given my family's economic profile. I recently came across my 1966 European choir tour scrapbook and salvaged a few pages that needed to stay in my family archives (pitched the ticket stubs and postcards). Among the memorabilia were four letters from my mom, She and dad had cashed in a $500 life insurance policy which had matured 20 years from 1946 so I could make the trip and have some spending money, too. Her letters report they were tracking every day of my trip and looking forward to hearing from me. Of course, she used the phrase "chance of a lifetime." more than once. It had been awhile since I'd "touched base" with those sentiments coming from my parents, the idea that their daughter was seeing a part of the world her dad's parents had come from, and places they themselves would never experience, made them proud.

To all, I think this email conversation will provide an excellent source of reassurance for Tod, Dr. Robeson and the McComas family, should any of our comments trickle down. I doubt Ohio State could find four English majors spanning four years of diplomas who are still in touch and have the affection for their school and their instructors as we four do. "Quality Four" as this gentlemen refers to us could not have happened without the program, the people, and -- as you say, Margaret -- "the right time and the right place."

Tod, it was worth the phone calls, was it not? As I said before, the fact that Charlene's family has chosen to endow a scholarship speaks volumes. Learning to write well and think clearly were integral to our education and ultimately invaluable for all of us for a lifetime. It seems fair to say Charlene must have felt similarly.

I had Miss Barlow for English Lit. my sophomore year (I think we both had her for Milton the next year, Margaret). How well I recall her enthusiasm -- no, make that excitement! -- for introducing her class to the poetry of John Donne. Donne's words may simply be the 17th Century version of primitive people (and Hillary Clinton) saying "It takes a village":

No man is an island,

Entire of itself.

Each is a piece of the continent,

A part of the main.

"Paying it forward" is a great way to go.

Thanks for your input, one and all. Though only David recalls having known her, the family's plan and Tod's query has provided a special gift for all five of us. Not to mention a pretty cool name for the "team."

Blessings,

Julie

_____

Steve’s message February 17, 2013

Oh dear, don't get me started at 11:00 pm. As I felt before the Dr. Udy Memorial, ONU/Ada feels like "home" in a way that New Jersey doesn't. Very strange. That whole "growing up" period that was college, and even more so in the '60s I believe. Despite all the years since of "unshared" memories, I still feel like David and Margaret know an inner me in a way people I've known in California for decades don't. That whole "trial by fire" experience.

Maybe it's partly because we were, as Nat Hentoff wrote in the infamous Playboy article, "The New Aristocrats". (Yes, I still have the copy with my Letter to the Editor in it!) We had the opportunity, the people to urge us on, and the "era" to explore important questions. So many things were right in our face: war, race relations, assassinations, a rapidly changing culture world wide that was asking about, for lack of a better phrase, human potential.

Nothing has seemed quite so exciting since. And I certainly haven't had adults around since then that nurtured me like Udy, Bill Robinson, Tod's and Tom Banks' English classes, etc. And here I am decades later finally learning to like poetry and glad I have my Norton's Anthology still! Ahhhh, I just remembered the play reading groups!

And wonderful, absurd, moments like drinking Black Russians and reading Rod McKuen in Sharri Shafer's living room. (As a matter of fact, I was on Stanyan Street to . . . looking for a parking place). And Josh White, and David's ubiquitous guitar, and Margaret's coffee and lil' Nic. And my Volkswagen Bugs!

Don't get me wrong, I am so pleased that I get to live (and retire!) in San Francisco and all it offers me, but those five years in Ada, and the people I met there, are such a part of me in a way that no other five year period in my life ever has been. For me, those years and my years with Andrew were my places with a heart.

And let's not forget all those who really and truly didn't like us, who wished we'd transfer out! What fun!

I just got back from hearing young people play at the Conservatory of Music; it's great to feel their energy, but for me know it's time for rest.

Love and sweet memories to all,

Steve

_____

Julie’s message February 17,2013

Steve, so beautifully said.

Thank you.

Julie

p.s. I hope you have started that memoir about Andrew and you. Please.

_____

David’s message February 17, 2013

I forgot about Steve's infamous letter to Playboy. Sam Meyer wanted to kick him out of ONU!

And of course, Steve and I share an honor with Jon Shafer and Tom Matson. Dr. Meyer refused to shake hands with all us when we graduated. I was prepared for it and stood there about 15-20 seconds with my hand outstretched. He finally turned away. Two weeks later, when I received my first invitation to donate to ONU as an alumnus, I sent a letter saying that if Dr. Meyer had taken my hand, I might think about it, but no, I don't think I have any extra money for ONU given its president's behavior. A week or so later I got a letter from George Hassell containing the sentence "Ohio Northern will always be your alma mater no matter how much we may regret it."

Decades later, my father was teaching an adult Sunday School class in Florida. One of the people in the class was the retired president of Ohio Wesleyan, another Methodist college. When my dad said I'd graduated from ONU, the man told him that Sam Meyer was retired just a couple towns away and that he was sure Sam would be happy to hear from me. My father assured him that Meyer would not be happy to see me!

But like Margaret, Steve, and Julie, I would not be the person I am today without those years at ONU. I hold you all as dear friends and fellow members of the Quality Quartet!

David

_____

Julie’s message Feburary 17, 2013

David, in the words of Lou Grant (which he directed at a 1970's Mary Richards): "Ya got spunk." And if I choose to come to the Class of 70's 50-year reunion in 7 years, I want another jam session with you, Kathy and Jeanne. So bring your banjo and guitar.

You have the BEST stories and the most amazing groups of friends. I am honored to be in one of those groups.

Julie

Margaret’s Messages, February 18, 2013

On Feb 18, 2013, at 2:10 PM, Margaret Holt wrote:

Being the glue that I am and also believing in Archives, I've tried to capture are full exchange. Also, I put the full exchange on my blog. Best, M

I do know the difference between are and our, but when I type I often get out ahead of my headlights. M

_________

Steve’s message, February 18, 2013

David’s message February 18, 2013

Tod,

Do you see what you’ve started? LOL

—David

_____

David’s Message February 18, 2013

I just sent an email to a young man who went to Pomona College when Charlene was working there. He's a good friend of my son. I asked Gordon if he knew Charlene by any chance. Pomona is a very small college, so it is possible he knew her.

____

Julie’s message, February 19, 2013

You guys need to chill over a cold one. We all do.

See you all at the "most exotic marigold hotel" one of these days. Ideally, with your heàdlights on.

The reservations will be under "quality four plus one."

It's not in my GPS . . . . Does anyone know how to get there?

Julie

Margaret,

I'm glad to see the revised edition now at 11 pages. On its way up? The version I sent to Lisa was, I think, six. My only excuse for making it so "short" was that I decided (with much difficulty) that parts of the collective statement weren't all that relevant to the collective cause.

I haven't heard from Lisa, but I'll pass it on when I do. I couldn't be more pleased at all the things the four of you said about ONU and the English Department, even about Ada!! Lisa, in her first year as Dpt. Chair, and Mrs. McComas must be impressed.

To four talented prose writers, who make wonderful music together.

— Tod

Begin forwarded message:

From: Lisa Robeson <l-robeson@onu.edu>

Date: February 19, 2013 8:32:39 PM EST

To: Charles Oliver <cmo7798@earthlink.net>

Subject: Re: Charlene McComas/2

Tod,

Forgive me for being so long to get back with you about this e-mail. I had classes and meetings all of Monday, and then around 5 pm, when I was in another meeting, Eva McManus was hit by a car while walking to the parking lot! She is stable at Lima Memorial hospital with a concussion and broken leg. She will be fine but is definitely shaken up, and the department has been at sixes and sevens!

THANK you for soliciting these from our former students. I printed out this e-mail, photocopied it, and gave copies to the three siblings who came to our department. I also gave them a copy of one of the 66-67 Polaris issues she told me about and showed them the original copy. They were really affected by both her classmates' memories of Northern and by the Polaris issue--they were very excited when they saw her name as short story editor. I mean it--when she saw the materials, Charlene's sister started tearing up.

The papers have been signed and the gift is official.

Will you extend to Charlene's classmates our thanks for their contribution to the family and the department?

Thank you again for helping the English Department at ONU--even decades after you retired!

I'll be sending your copy of Polaris tomorrow.

Best,

Lisa

On Sun, Feb 17, 2013 at 2:46 PM, Charles Oliver ‪<cmo7798@earthlink.net>‬ wrote:

Lisa,

My email to Julie Bailey produced immediate responses from her and three of her close friends, all of whom were also former students of mine at ONU in the late 60s/early 70s, graduating, however, in four consecutive years. Although only one actually remembers Charlene, two of the others recognized her from her yearbook picture. They all clearly enjoyed writing back to Julie, with copies to me, about their experiences at ONU—all of it, I might add, since your correspondence with me began this past Thursday. As I mentioned to you in an earlier email, Charlene's name jumped right off the page at me, though I don't know whether it was from her work on Polaris or in one of my classes.

I'm assuming that you will pass on to Charlene's parents all or part of what follows.

I think that what Julie and her three friends have written about ONU, the English Department, and Ada in the late 1960s speaks well of the university and should be encouraging both to Charlene's parents and to you as the new chair of the English Department.

Let me try to sum up the exchange of emails; they would print out at eight or nine pages, if I sent them on to you as is.

Julie Bailey [class of '68, who lives now near Denver] didn't remember Charlene's name, but she remembered her right away from the picture she found in one of her yearbooks. Julie was Editor of Polaris the year Charlene was on the staff, 1966-67. Charlene was one of three people assigned to select three or four stories from the many submitted and which were then passed on to the short story faculty judge, who picked one for first prize. There were also committees for poetry, non-fiction, and art. This is all listed in the masthead of all three issues of Polaris, 1966-67 (see in ONU Library).

Julie also checked out Charlene's obituary (Google "Charlene McComas obituary Ohio"). The obituary gives 1969 as the year she graduated from Northern, but it's the 1970 yearbook that provides her senior picture and activities. Julie writes: "My thoughts [based on information in the obituary] are that Charlene's love of writing stayed with her and served her well in her career. And that's probably very true for a number of ONU peers whose names are familiar, but we cannot recall any specific encounter with them. Her family's desire to establish an English department scholarship in her memory speaks volumes, and that is all for good. It was an inspiring team of instructors in that department during our era. Christa MacCauliff (pardon the spelling) said it well: "I touch the future. I teach." You just never know where your influence ends. Hats off to Tod and the rest of the team (then . . . and now)."

Steve Tiger [class of '71, now living in San Francisco] wrote this to Julie: "ONU/Ada feels like "home" in a way that New Jersey doesn't. Very strange. That whole "growing up" period that was college, and even more so in the '60s I believe. Despite all the years since of "unshared" memories, I still feel [that] David and Margaret know an inner me in a way people I've known in California for decades don't. That whole "trial by fire" experience.

Maybe it's partly because we were, as Nat Hentoff wrote in the infamous Playboy article, "The New Aristocrats". (Yes, I still have the copy with my Letter to the Editor in it!) We had the opportunity, the people to urge us on, and the "era" to explore important questions. So many things were right in our face: war, race relations, assassinations, a rapidly changing culture world wide that was asking about, for lack of a better phrase, human potential.

Nothing has seemed quite so exciting since. And I certainly haven't had adults around since then that nurtured me like Udy, Bill Robinson, Tod's and Tom Banks' English classes, etc. And here I am decades later finally learning to like poetry and glad I have my Norton's Anthology still! Ahhhh, I just remembered the play reading groups!

And wonderful, absurd, moments like drinking Black Russians and reading Rod McKuen in Sharri Shafer's living room. (As a matter of fact, I was on Stanyan Street to . . . looking for a parking place). And Josh White, and David's ubiquitous guitar, and Margaret's coffee and lil' Nic. And my Volkswagen Bugs!

Don't get me wrong, I am so pleased that I get to live (and retire!) in San Francisco and all it offers me, but those five years in Ada, and the people I met there, are such a part of me in a way that no other five year period in my life ever has been. For me, those years and my years with Andrew were my places with a heart."

Margaret Holt [class of '69, now living in Athens, GA]: "I would not wish to change a moment of my time in Ada. It was the most poignant time of my young adult life. I am only sad today when I realize people of my background likely could not afford to attend. I think of how it was life-changing for me, and I know there are other young men and women who come from backgrounds like my own, but they won't have this chance. I cherish the education and the lasting friendships. I think, my son, Dr. Nic, has had an incredible experience at the University of Georgia where he now teaches, but it doesn't come close to what I experienced at Ohio Northern in the 60s. It was the right time, and I was in the right place. M."

Julie added her own comment: "Margaret, I think your explanation and wording is exactly what the department chair is looking for in graciously accepting this scholarship [offer]. Tod had also mentioned the comparative high cost of an ONU education (or any private university) today and my understanding is that is exactly where Charlene's family is coming from in creating the scholarship. The scholarship will mean a bit lighter student loan on the promising student who receives it.

I, too, would never have been able to afford ONU today given my family's economic profile. I recently came across my 1966 European choir tour scrapbook and salvaged a few pages that needed to stay in my family archives (pitched the ticket stubs and postcards). Among the memorabilia were four letters from my mom, She and dad had cashed in a $500 life insurance policy which had matured 20 years from 1946 so I could make the trip and have some spending money, too. Her letters report they were tracking every day of my trip and looking forward to hearing from me. Of course, she used the phrase "chance of a lifetime" more than once. It had been awhile since I'd "touched base" with those sentiments coming from my parents, the idea that their daughter was seeing a part of the world her dad's parents had come from, and places they themselves would never experience, made them proud.

To all, I think this email conversation will provide an excellent source of reassurance for Tod, Dr. Robeson and the McComas family, should any of our comments trickle down. I doubt Ohio State could find four English majors spanning four years of diplomas who are still in touch and have the affection for their school and their instructors as we four do. "Quality Four" as this gentlemen refers to us could not have happened without the program, the people, and -- as you say, Margaret -- "the right time and the right place."

Tod, it was worth the phone calls, was it not? As I said before, the fact that Charlene's family has chosen to endow a scholarship speaks volumes. Learning to write well and think clearly were integral to our education and ultimately invaluable for all of us for a lifetime. It seems fair to say Charlene must have felt similarly.

I had Miss Barlow for English Lit. my sophomore year (I think we both had her for Milton the next year, Margaret). How well I recall her enthusiasm -- no, make that excitement! -- for introducing her class to the poetry of John Donne. Donne's words may simply be the 17th Century version of primitive people (and Hillary Clinton) saying "It takes a village":

No man is an island,

Entire of itself.

Each is a piece of the continent,

A part of the main.

"Paying it forward" is a great way to go.

Thanks for your input, one and all. Though only David recalls having known her, the family's plan and Tod's query has provided a special gift for all five of us. Not to mention a pretty cool name for the "team."

David Heath [class of 1970, now living in Minnesota] "She is pictured as a senior in the 1970 yearbook. . . . There are three index entries for her, but she doesn't appear on two of those pages, only in the individual class photo. So, she did start ONU the same year Margaret did and graduated with me in 1970. . . .

Yes, I have fond memories of the English Dept and Dukes Hall. About six or seven years ago, I was invited by ONU's professional writing program to come to Ada and teach a week-long course (four hours each evening for five days) on professional publishing. It was so enjoyable. Later I hired three of my students from that class to do some freelance writing for a project I was doing. I still hear from a couple of those students every once in a while.

I have great memories (mostly!) of being in class with Steve and Margaret being taught by Tod, Clyde Dornbusch, Tom Banks, and Dick Arthur. And of course, Louise Hastings and her off-the-wall interpretations of Shakespeare's plays! When I went to grad school and started spouting some of her ideas, I was almost laughed out of my Master's program! Anyway, it is all good. I look forward to seeing Steve in San Francisco this June and crossing paths with Margaret at the Kettering Foundation. My warmest regards, David."

Julie later added to her note: "With regard to the heartstrings that have held [us together] over the years, I credit that to being word people via the amazing ONU English department, the planning of the Udy Memorial, and the rest of you allowing this reformed-conservative-turned-somewhat-left-of-center person to latch onto your ideology, kindness, and joie de vivre. Do you three remember coming to see me at my little house in Shawnee the fall of 68? And we really shouldn't omit fellow Udy-ite Jon Schafer, either, but he was, I believe, a history major who was off campus for junior year in Switzerland. Really, though, Tod, Margaret is the glue."

Lisa, the mention of Dr. Udy is important to these four and to me, because, as University Chaplain, Dr. Udy invited Martin Luther King to ONU to speak in early 1968, just before he was murdered in April. The students filled the old gym, and I'm sure these four are not the only students who were "changed" by that experience.

Although this whole email is more about ONU than it is about Charlene McComas, I think it gives a pretty good picture of what life was like as a student, and as an English major, at Northern during Charlene's years there.

— Charles M. (Tod) Oliver [ONU English Faculty, 1965-92, now living in Charlottesville, VA]

--

Dr. Lisa G. Robeson

Chair, Department of English

Professor of English

Ohio Northern University

525 South Main Street

Ada, OH 45810

l-robeson@onu.edu

(419) 772-3085
______
Message from Julie Bailey, February 20, 2013

Thanks, Tod, for forwarding us your final email to Lisa and her response.

Above all, that's great news about the scholarship being finalized.

Enjoy that lovely Virginia weather. I am looking out the window at snow falling. We are all hoping for enough moisture to make a difference for the farmland, ranches, and our wooded mountains, if not ths time, surely within the next two months. A summer without forest fires would be a blessing.

Julie

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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Quality Quartet: English Majors Exchange