Greg Compton Peterson

FAVORITE MEMORIES OF WILLIAMS

Gordon Winston, Econ (marginal utility, using Schaefer beer as an example); Don de B. Beaver, History of Science (Brighter than a Thousand Suns, why science and history matter); Fred Rudolph, Am. Civ. (tying it all together, history, economics, literature, politics, culture—Thanks, Fred); Ralph Townsend, ski coach (courage, virtue, humble, a link between town and gown, a funny guy, lessons on life)

WILLIAMS CLUBS / ACTIVITIES

Soccer (freshman year), ski team (4 years), Outing Club

CURRENT INTERESTS, PASSIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS

My grandchildren (may they always be curious); my children (work hard, play hard, give your kids the freedom to grow that we tried to give you); my wife (going the distance with this smart, beautiful woman); my 93-year-old mother (doing my duty to keep her happy and cared for until she goes the distance). Other than those interests, it’s just golf, skiing, fishing, friends, neighbors, and good government in some random order. And at least until June 2022, planning the best 50th reunion ever!!

LIFE SINCE GRADUATION

It occurs to me that most of you would rather not hear endlessly about my life after Williams, so I’ll keep it short. Washington, DC, congressional staff, Stanford MBA, banking in Calif. & Minn., executive search consultant, early-stage CFO & investor, political fund-raising, assistant treasurer of a Presidential campaign (short-lived), husband (one lovely, loquacious wife), father (three great kids), grandfather (seven perfect grand-kids), youth hockey & soccer coach, hunting/fishing, skiing (can still handle the powder, but no more big bumps), golfer (18+ handicap), Williams volunteer (50 years). OK, that’s enough. Better to just wander through some great memories of Williams, so here goes.

Lucky to be admitted! Weren’t we all?! Thanks, Phil Smith. In ’68, “diversity” meant being from west of the Mississippi. Freshman year in Morgan West. Great entry mates. JA’s Pangborn and Taylor—cool cats. Frosh roommate, the late Chris Butch (a wild but memorable year). We won frosh entry singing contest (Who played “The Mountains”?). Getting to hang out for four years with ski coach Ralph Townsend (one of my most “unforgettable characters”). First run down the S-turns at Berlin Mtn. (Jeez, that’s steep!). Pit crew for Reggie in the Winter Carnival ice bike race around the frosh quad (nobody died). Econ 102 at 8:00 a.m. with Gordon Winston. “OK, if you guys don’t understand marginal utility, let me ask a few questions about your beer preferences. ’Schaefer is the one beer to have when you’re having more than one!’ I passed his example on to my children, who found it so useful that I told Gordon years later that his teachable moment had endured. Made his day!

Sophomore year into the Fort to enjoy Joe Florini’s lasagna at guest meals. (“Florini! Florini!”) Rooming with future physician Brad “BH” Harris in Agard. Epic parties with BH’s “medicinally safe” punch (no hangover, but needed Huggers from snack bar). Tube-room movies at 1:00 a.m. with Plott, Taft, Hetsko, Rea, Enteman, and future movie mogul Sayles (“How many times have we watched this one, John?”). Sitting on the front steps with janitor Murph, discussing the value of college degrees. Road trips to Smith, Vassar, and Skids. BH missing the cow while driving back to Billsville through Savoy at 2:00 a.m. You mean there will be women on campus junior year??!! That will save gas money.

Summer travel through Europe with Enteman and Griffinger, sampling beer and vino in 12 countries. Junior year, finally a single room in Agard. Need to meet those new coeds. Wow, that brunette who came over and sat on my lap at the party sure is cute. Might marry her. (Did that!) Need to pick a major. Econ is useful but too many formulas. Trivia contests. Ski team fall training on Taconic GC. (I still hate hole #6!) Schnellsteigen race up Greylock. Why was it always sleeting when we did it? The Nordic guys laughing at Alpine guys practicing downhill pre-jumps off the 60-meter jump. Scary! Leading frosh skiers to weekend races and separated shoulder in a downhill crash. Had to trust a freshman to drive home. Scarier than the downhill. Military draft #195. Phew! Senior year: Williams 31, Amherst 14. Photograph of The Walk – (David “Tank” Shawan) . Decided to hang out in Griffin Hall with Fred Rudolph for Am. Civ. major. Best decision ever. Fred’s fault that I read mostly American history. Almost 40 years later, I told him so while we enjoyed gin & tonics and talked it over. Spring semester, that word “job” kept coming up. Hope I have a career epiphany before commencement. Wow, four years sure went by fast. Wow, 50 years sure went by fast.

EVERY PERSON HAS A STORY

“The Walk”, a tradition initiated by David (Tank) Shawan  as remembered by Greg Peterson.

The Walk (dubbed The Best Post-Game Tradition in America by Sports Illustrated (8/31/92)) was also the subject of an extensive article — click here to download.