Letters to the Editor

In 1984, I was a senior and had the privilege of working in the Office of the President, Edward H. Jennings ’90 DRH, a man who was my idol then and for the next 30-plus years. During that period, I was asked to coordinate the endowed Schooler-Reese Lecture Series on the Future of the American Presidency. I was a wet-behind-the-ears 22-year-old at a university whose stadium could seat five of every man, woman and child in my hometown.

The recent former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, was one of the first lecturers. He could not have been humbler and kinder. He could tell I was afraid I would say the wrong thing. And why wouldn’t I be? I was just four years out from being a kid from a small farm town in eastern Ohio. In spite of my obvious nervous energy, he did his best to set me at ease.

I remember thinking that this was the man who led our nation, and he grasped my hand, looked me in the eye and asked how my day was going and where I was from. Did I enjoy my studies and what were my plans for the future? He was genuinely interested and seemed like he had absolutely nothing better to do than listen.

[About the photo: In 1984, from left are student Michael Cover, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Ohio State President Edward H. Jennings and Ohio Gov. Richard F. Celeste. Carter died in December, which prompted Cover to share this story.]

I loved seeing the article about maple syrup (“Sweet work,” Winter 2024). I am a newly retired teacher in New Jersey. Making maple syrup has been part of my second-grade class for many years and was always a favorite part of the school year. It is a true STEM activity, as well as cross-curricular. Incorporating history about Native Americans and pioneers, students learn maple syrup comes from trees, not just a grocery store. I tap only one tree, but that is all that is needed. As the season goes on, students check the container and bring in the sap. Using a Crock-Pot as an evaporator, the sap is cooked, and the three states of matter are very apparent. I also read several chapters from “Little House in the Big Woods” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. We culminate the unit with a maple syrup snack. I have had many past (now grown-up) students tell me they still remember the time they made maple syrup.

While scrolling through your Winter 2024 online magazine, I was pleased to read that Dave Ghose is your magazine’s new editor. Your readers are fortunate to have Dave leading your team! Years ago, I worked alongside Dave when we were both young(er) journalists at the Akron Beacon Journal—where Dave quickly became known for his cleverness and creativity. Dave has excellent reporting and storytelling skills, and I’m confident he’ll make an excellent addition to the magazine.

I enjoy reading about alumni who are enjoying full, impactful lives (“The vibrant world of Dr. Oglesbee,” Winter 2024). Additionally, my observation is that exotic pets are an important and growing segment of our pet world. It’s good to learn about someone who is meeting this need.

The column by Molly Ranz Calhoun ’86 was excellent and thought-provoking. I am taking her up on her request for Archie stories.

In 1972, I had the privilege of attending The Ohio State University as a freshman. I was chosen to play in the marching band. My father was a professor at Ohio State. One night, he told me he had agreed that I would accompany one of his fellow professors to a weeknight church father–son banquet, since his colleague did not have any sons living locally. I knew the professor and liked him very much. But the last thing I needed was one more commitment when I was in the middle of midterm season.

The following week after band practice, I rushed to change clothes and go to North Broadway United Methodist Church, where I met the professor. We had a nice dinner and then one of the church members got up to introduce their invited speaker: none other than Woody Hayes.

Woody spoke graciously. But after a short time, he apologized and said he had to leave, because the university president requested he participate in another function that same evening. He said he had a very special speaker who was going to fill in for him. A fine young man who was a freshman, played on the football team, and was starting to gain a lot of attention for his athletic accomplishments.

Out walked Archie Griffin. Archie spoke with no notes. An 18-year-old college freshman who knew no one at this function. He started out with a little anxiety, but soon had all our attention. I forgot there were 200 other people there and felt as if Archie was speaking only with me. He talked about his youth in Columbus, football, Ohio State and people. I remember it like it was yesterday. I cannot imagine a comparable scenario taking place in today’s sports environment, but I am so grateful that it happened and that I got to know more of Archie Griffin than “just” the Heisman winner.

On occasion, I would run into Archie when walking between classes. I would wave and greet him. He always smiled back and greeted me. I’d like to think that he was doing something special for me. However, he did that for everyone. That’s just the kind of guy he is.

When I joined The Best Damn Band in the Land during college, I had no idea it would lay the foundation for a long and successful career in the U.S. Air Force. Marching on the field in Ohio Stadium on game day is an incredible experience; it’s the work that goes into getting there that provided me the tools I’ve needed. 

Everything we did in the band had meaning and not a day went by without the mention of a quote, such as “To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, to be late is to be left” and “Pick up your feet, turn your corners square, and drive, drive, drive.” Life in TBDBITL truly taught me how to follow, how to lead, the importance of teamwork, what dedication and motivation mean, and how it feels to be a part of something way bigger than myself. 

These are all traits I used while in Basic Military Training, on deployments, through Squadron Command, and now as a colonel in the USAF. I cannot think of a more meaningful place to have been promoted to colonel than on the football field at THE Ohio Stadium. Members of the alumni band performed during the ceremony, and that made it so much more meaningful. I’m so proud to be a Buckeye for life.  

The pictorial feature on William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library evoked a very vivid memory for me.

On the afternoon of November 22, 1963, I was in the library’s main reading room researching medieval apprenticeships.

A staff member walked into the room and proclaimed, “President Kennedy is dead.” She then abruptly turned and left, leaving those of us there shocked and bewildered. 

The article on synchronized swimming (“Our winningest team ever: synchronized swimming”) brought back wonderful memories. I was on the varsity swimming team at Shaker Heights High School in the 1950s. Ohio State’s synchronized swimming coach asked if I’d like to join her team. It was all girls, and she needed a boy for one of the numbers they were planning for their next performance. I quickly said yes, thinking it might be fun, and how hard could it be? After all, I was a varsity swimmer.

I was right about the fun part. But wow, I was so wrong to think it would be easy. It was tough, demanding, challenging and more, as writer Andrew Sharp makes clear in the article. It’s so exciting to learn The Ohio State University’s synchronized swimming team is the best ever!

A bunch of guys who lived in Stradley Hall in the 1970s have been keeping a college tradition that we call The Annual alive for five decades, and we’re hoping others who were involved at the start will join us. After freshman year, as a way to keep in touch with friends on Stradley’s 10th floor, we held a cookout the summer of 1974. We did it again the next year and included other friends from Stradley and some girls from Canfield and Mack halls. 

We kept the cookouts going throughout college, and weekend get-togethers replaced them after graduation. No matter where we moved, many of us returned for The Annual. Soon the group expanded to include spouses and kids.

Our gatherings evolved to tailgates and vacations for a while, but after a pandemic-induced hiatus in 2020, we brought The Annual back to Ohio. Each year, we rent a large cabin in Hocking Hills and enjoy cookouts, cornhole, golf and reminiscing.

It’s been challenging to stay in touch with some of the guys and girls from those early years. But we’re planning The Annual for this September at Hocking Hills, and we hope many friends will join us for the 50th anniversary of our first get-together. Interested folks can email me at josephpalbert@gmail.com. 

Nothing could sum up our sentiments better than the words of “Carmen Ohio”: Time and change will surely show, how firm thy friendship — O-HI-O.

It was refreshing to read the recent summer 2024 Ohio State Alumni Magazine. With so many potential issues going on in the world, the magazine put a positive spin on why I am proud to be an alumnus of Ohio State. I know this magazine won’t solve the world’s problems, but at least for an hour we can all relax and read about our positive experience as an Ohio State alumni, and also be proud of what our university has become and will continue to be. 

The fall issue’s In Memoriam essay that Tina Pierce ’01, ’01, ’04 MA, ’09 PhD wrote about Viola Newton ’85 MA, ’92 PhD was well done. It captures who Viola was as a professor and as a person. It is not every day that you meet someone who is as comfortable teaching a class in statistics as she is in literature. To her colleagues and friends, Viola was very opinionated and outspoken—but her words were truth. She cooked many meals for us, but went beyond extending material hospitality. Her very personhood was hospitable.

I enjoyed your article about Peter Megert. My experiences with Professor Megert were brought back to mind by Oscar Fernandez’s comments. Peter told our class a story about his early days as a designer. Peter was working at a sign shop in Switzerland. The owner brought him a sample color and asked Peter to match it. Peter put forward his best effort, then painted the sample with his new color formula. Smart and funny, he was a generous and kind professor and mentor.