Alumni Bulletin - Winter 2008 - (Page 3)

MAILBOX LETTERS TO THE EDITOR “Stars & Stripes” (on both C and Db), and training under an exacting leader served me well in two community bands. The bus trips to away games were fantastic, including the infamous Dartmouth trip in ’49, our ﬁrst undefeated season. One band did it all in those days, without today’s competition for members by so many other ensembles. Not only did we earn credits, escape Military Science (ROTC), and earn $20 in our junior and senior years; we earned a Band Sweater somewhere along the line. Here’s to ya, “97,” and may your membership soon return to that exquisitely prime number. Robert Chisholm ’50 We want to hear from you. Please keep your letters to 200 words or less, and send them to: Letters to the Editor, Lehigh Alumni Bulletin, 125 Goodman Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015-3754. Or e-mail your letter to: letters@lehigh.edu. MARCHING DOWN MEMORY ROAD A remarkable Fall ’07 article on the Marching 97! Bill Schempf arrived in 1947, replacing Dr. Shields as head of the music department. The band, during his first season, was at times a pretty ragtag ensemble. A disastrous performance for a game at Carnegie Tech led the following season to required auditions for membership. It was then that he established the marching formation of 12 ranks of eight, plus drum major. (The name “Marching 97” came later, after my time.) It was he who trained us in the strenuous high-stepping gait of the Big 10 (Bill was from the University of Wisconsin). We were by far “the best college band east of Ohio.” After losing football games, we always said, “Well, the Band won.” Of my extracurricular pursuits at Lehigh, the band was certainly the most rewarding. Three years of band librarianship, two as marching Bass Drummer, learning the piccolo part to WHERE’S MR. LEHIGH ALUMNUS BAND? Just ﬁnished reading the Fall 2007 issue: The article “Forward March” was absolutely fantastic … Till I got to the last four paragraphs where the only mention of the Alumni Band was made, and a couple of names mentioned. And nowhere did I see the name of the guy I consider a Mr. Lehigh Alumni Band. Every reunion I’ve attended since 1970, this person was a “ball of ﬁre.” Indefatigable, spirited on opening night, led DANCEWHO, a band that played like Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa, Tommy Dorsey, etc. after “3 Days Practice,” he mc’d the entire program from behind a full set of drums right up to the Alma Mater—rain or shine. For the alumni parade, he assumed a position “straddling” a bass drum and entertained prior to the parade start, then led the parade, and ended up at the judges’ stand, where the band played a song for each class in their skit for prizes (also rain or shine). The missing name is Steve Bartosik ’70. I hope the next issue will make this known. F. R. Corky Flynn ’55 WALK THE WALK ON ENVIRONMENT I read with interest the article by Linda Harbrecht concerning the new $85 million STEPS facility. This is a very bold step for any university to undertake, and I am proud that Lehigh is moving forward with this type of initiative. Why not consider going one step further? Get the building/design LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. I am sure the design firm/architect can provide all of the details. This way Lehigh University not only talks the talk, it walks the walk. Wouldn’t it make sense for a building that represents Science, Technology, Environment, Policy & Society Initiative to be housed in an environmentally compliant and certified building? Just my two cents from someone who has paid four years of tuition and whose child will only be on campus for the groundbreaking before graduating. John Gammell ’08P Editor’s Note: The STEPS building is indeed being designed to be LEED certiﬁed. REMEMBERING COACH LECKONBY I read with great sadness that Coach Bill Leckonby had passed away (cannot believe he was 90!). (Editor’s Note: See obituary, page 78.) I was captain of the golf team in 1982–83 and 1983–84 and had the pleasure of playing golf with Coach Trexler, who had invited Coach Leckonby to play on one or two occasions before or after the formal season. He was a true gentleman and very personable, and held Lehigh athletics near and dear to his heart. I will miss him, but he will always be remembered as a true supporter of Lehigh sports. Brian F. Durkin ’84 winter 2008 3

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Alumni Bulletin - Winter 2008

Alumni Bulletin - Winter 2008 Contents From the President's Desk Mailbox On Campus Research Arts & Culture Sports Ugly is in the Eye of the Beholder Fitch's Law of Motion A Blessing to the Community The Amidonian Acclamation China Trip Bridges Cultures, Generations From the Publisher's Desk Alumni News The Last Word

Alumni Bulletin - Winter 2008

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