Keeping Hope AliveLetters to the Editor

Keeping Hope Alive

The fall “Optimism Issue” — complete with cover photo and Backstory tale of Oregon’s Smiley Face Hill — succeeded in inspiring some grins. One self-professed “smiley face nut” called in to ask how she could get a hold of our cover photo. However, it was “Behind the Band” — our insider’s look at what game day is like for marching band performers — that seemed to strike a chord with readers. Don’t miss the Stater’s companion video story about the band.

In Search of Optimism

The article “How to Keep Hope Alive” in the latest edition of Oregon Stater reminded me that, in 2017, I really needed to find more hope in the world. There was, and still is, so much to worry about locally and globally. 

I decided to look for signs of hope.  I asked myself: What has given me the most hope in the last year? My answer was the Oregon State University alumni magazine. I made a commitment to read every issue and have for the past seven years. I am grateful my hope keeps growing as I read about progress in so many areas. Thank you beyond measure.

— Margallee James, ‘71

I am grateful my hope keeps growing as I read about progress in so many areas.

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Strike up the Band

I really enjoyed the article about the OSU Marching Band. It was thoughtful, exciting and complete. It’s amazing what the article shows about the band in general and the specific members, how they practice and how they perform.

I enjoyed my years as a member and then as an alumni member. We were under the direction of Dr. James Douglass. Thank you.

— John R. Barber, ’70

Your recent article on the OSU Marching Band was excellent! Oh, how I yearn for TV networks to show the halftime shows. Perhaps you could forward your article to the networks!

— Nancy Adams Layton, ’62

There are two memories every Beaver football player remembers: the first time and last time they ran down the ramp to the stadium with the Beaver Marching Band playing the fight song.  A long overdue thank you for the memories. 

—Jeff Kolberg, ’73

Recipe Reactions

I’ve been loving the inclusion of food and recipes in the Oregon Stater recently. I noticed the obituary in the fall issue for Joan Ricketts Toole and am trying to locate some of her books. But intriguingly, her niece Susan Frost references her aunt’s chicken divan recipe. I’ll continue my hunt for the recipe books, but can you share that recipe in the meantime?

— Danette Heckenberg VanDomelen, ’87

Editor’s note:  If you’re also interested in Toole’s bestselling microwave cookbooks — now out of print — you can still find used versions of Food for the Heart and Soul (1998) and Cooking En Concert with Microwave (1979) on Amazon.

The hazelnut article [“One Superlative Spread”] was interesting. I was surprised that filberts weren’t mentioned. How sad that Oregon’s filbert has lost its name to outsiders.

— Lillian Eaton Stewart, ’69

Editor’s note: We asked the Oregon Hazelnut Commission — known as the Oregon Filbert Commission until 1981 — why Oregon’s state nut has two names. They said the industry standardized on hazelnut in the 1980s because filbert was primarily used only in the Pacific Northwest. We think the nut by any name tastes just as delicious.

In regards to the recipe “One Superlative Spread”: Can the editor consider doing a future article about USDA researchers in hazelnut species studies at OSU? Specifically, I’d like to see what Jack Pinkerton worked on in the beginning when he started the hazelnut disease breeding program. Jack passed away far too early and left a large legacy in all that he accomplished for the hazelnut industry.

— Rana Foster, M.S. ’05

As Seen on TV!

While watching the game show Jeopardy this summer, Brent Macey, ’80, was surprised to see Oregon State flash on the screen after a challenger selected a question in the 1980s Amateur Wrestling category: “At the 1980 NCAA Championships, Oregon State’s Howard Harris won all 5 of his matches by ‘fall’ — doing this to opponents.” The answer? “What is: Pinning (all five of his opponents).” (TV frame: Adobe Stock, Illustration by Davian-Lynn Hopkins)

Marine Program Pride

I just wanted to congratulate Kevin Miller and thank him for the great article in the Stater about the marine studies undergraduate program [“For Love of the Sea”]. He did a fine job telling the students’ stories and using their voices. We are very proud of this new degree program that allows students from all sorts of backgrounds and with a wide range of interests to earn an OSU degree that will make a difference to our ocean and coasts and the people who live there.

— Professor Jack Barth

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