L.A. FRACKING
I was so impressed to see the fracking (“Tracking Fracking”) article in the fall 2013 issue! Fracking is truly a social justice issue that’s right in LMU’s own backyard. When our reliance upon fossil fuels has developed to the point that we must invasively endanger L.A.’s air, scarce water and earthquake-prone land, it’s high time to consider less destructive, cleaner, more efficient job-creating alternatives like energy efficiency, demand-response, storage and renewable energy. I encourage readers to accelerate a shift toward clean energy: Urge Gov. Jerry Brown to ban fracking in California (following the lead of Dallas), and take action using the antifracking tools provided by Food & Water Watch.
Kimberly Tomicich ’12
San Diego
FOLLOWING HUCK
My copy of your handsome LMU Magazine arrived today, and of course, I devoured Ms. Sandra Millers Younger’s graceful essay on the Loyola boys’ excellent adventure down the Mississippi (“Operation Huck Finn,” fall 2013). The piece itself is very entertaining and evocative. Please relay to her my admiration of it. And tell her to keep away from the dang cedars. The photographs take me back. I recognize bits of my boyhood in almost every one of them. I was born in Hannibal (no, I didn’t know Samuel Clemens personally; he lived over by the river), and in that same spring of 1959, I was sadly bidding farewell to this beloved town of mine and Sam’s. My father, a Fuller Brush man, had decided to head for richer territory, the state capital, Jefferson City. So a few weeks after I graduated Hannibal High School, my family was on the road to the southwest. Of course, I never really left. You publish a terrific magazine, with good stories, good print stock and excellent photography. I thank you for this.
Ron Powers
Author, “Mark Twain: A Life”
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas
HONOR THY FACULTY
I was blessed to have been taught by these men and women of letters and learning now in the LMU Faculty Hall of Fame. They were all so dedicated and passionate about their subjects that now, many years on, we can remember them so fondly and respectfully. I can only echo the thoughts made online by Terry Mock and Vincent Migliazzo about Dr. Carl Kadner and Charles Coony, S.J., both of whom I owe profound thanks for my career. Paul Salamunovich lifted my soul with his passion for music. Not on the list is Father R.A. (“RAT”) Taylor, (above) who beat us to death with Strunk and White and made us appreciate (and practice) the art of writing. The logic class of Michael Kristovich, S.J., has paid me dividends for years in arguments where fallacious reasoning is now the norm. As Earle McNeil so succinctly states, “They taught us how to think, not what to think,” which is why all my kids have or will attend Jesuit institutions of higher learning.
James S. Ferrier ’69
Malibu, Calif.
TEACHER’S VIEW
I loved the perspective of a new teacher in a leadership role (“Conversation Hrag Hamalian, M.A. ’07, School Principal,” fall 2013). I agree with Hamalian in his response to what is most challenging when first entering a classroom. I recall my first day of teaching and how I felt in “awe” to have captured the attention of my 36 sixth-graders as I explained my expectations. A big part of being a teacher is being authentic and humbled by the responsibility of molding young minds.
Claudia Howard ’02
Los Angeles
DRAMA COURSE
Lovely article! I’m proud and happy to call Sr. Judith my sister in community (“Conversation Judith Royer, C.S.J., Theatre Arts,” fall 2013). She’s an elegant woman who beautifully lives her values and the values of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. How wonderful that she can enrich our world with her gifts that speak to the inner being of humanity.
Kathleen Marie, C.S.J.
Principal, St. Joachim School
Costa Mesa, Calif.
ONLINE
LMU’S USA RUGGER
Kudos to Zach and the LMU Rugby program (“LMU Puts Rugger on U.S. National Team,” magazine.lmu.edu). Loyola/LMU Rugby has always had a strong and special tradition fostered through the years by dedicated men, including Coach Don McIsaac (20 years as coach), Ray Thompson (now in his second stint as coach), and Larry Docimo, who brought the Lions to national prominence. Zach is an example of many of the fine young men (student athletes without the benefit of athletic scholarships) who have been part of the great rugby tradition at LMU. Perhaps an article about the history and successes of the Loyola/LMU Rugby program throughout the years would be appropriate. Best of luck to Zach as he represents the USA Eagles.
Dick Laner ’75
Los Angeles
DETROIT FLANAGAN
The Detroit Flanagan story is about a terrific person (“Detroit Flanagan’s Common Thread,” magazine.lmu.edu). Detroit was one year behind me at LMU and on the basketball team. We started on the team for two seasons. Detroit and Trula, now his wife, were great friends to Collette and me. I am proud to call this genuinely good man my friend. Thank you, LMU Magazine, for the story about a man who truly makes a difference.
Brian Quinn ’63
Manhattan Beach, Calif.
I remember Detroit from his days at Fremont High School. I also played against him in a flag football league one summer at Gompers Jr. High. In the ’70s, when I was with the LMU African American Studies program, we invited Detroit to speak to our students at several events, and he was always very obliging. He was the main speaker at one of our African American academic awards programs. I am glad to see he is still around and doing such valuable and positive things in and for the community. Thanks for publishing this deserving tribute.
Ronald Galway M.B.A. ’78
Las Vegas
I first met Detroit Flanagan in 1961 when he played basketball for the Loyola University basketball team, and I played for Saint Mary’s College. We next crossed paths at Glasgow Air Force Base in Montana where we were stationed as young United States Air Force officers, and we later re-connected in Los Angeles. Detroit is an American original. He is an athlete; patriot; devoted husband; father and grandfather; a man of faith who is an active member of his church; teacher; working actor; published poet; community volunteer; and role model. He represents all that is good in the proud LMU tradition.
C.J. Ruona
Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
CALLINAN MEMORIES
Dr. Callinan (“A Tribute to Joe Callinan,” magazine.lmu.edu) was the person who made me believe I could be an engineer. Prior to his intro class, I truly didn’t know what an engineer was or what an engineer did. All I knew was that I liked math and science. He had a way with the students, a sort of grace with which he connected and made learning not so boring/difficult. I am sad to hear of his passing, but I am glad that he was my professor. Thank you for your dedication to learning.
Roberto Sanchez ’03
South El Monte, Calif.
Dr. Callinan was a class act. His “Introduction to Engineering” class launched hundreds of us on successful careers as well as channeled our enthusiastic (but less than rigorous) approaches to evaluating technical problems. I still use today what I learned from him.
Kevin Recker ’82
Scottsdale, Ariz.
WATER POLO PAST
As a 1952 alumni and frequent donor, I’ve wondered if anyone remembers the Loyola water polo team from the late ’40s? Clyde Werts, S.J., was the moderator. Since Loyola had no pool, we had to borrow places to train, i.e. El Segundo High School and the Hermosa Biltmore. Loyola beat UCLA once, which was monumental! In 1948, ’49 and ’50, we participated in the Fullerton tournaments. Members included (mostly L.A. County lifeguards and surfers): Fred Kerwin ’49, Tom McNulty ’52, Hugh Mulhern ’50, Don Shannon ’50, Jack Cunningham ’49, Jerry Cunningham, Jerry Dessert, me, and also John Kingsley, who was not
a lifeguard.
Jack Cloud ’52
Kapaa, Hawaii