(Notice attached audio file, first in series of Flame's Fireside Chats)     

             The polls were not long closed on November 4, 2008 when Class President Tom Weyer received the call he had been expecting.  No text message this time: the newly elected chief executive was on the phone.  Would our president, with his 25 years of leadership, his experience in high office, and his Chicago connections, assist the new administration with planning for the inauguration on January 20, 2009?  Beside Tom in the kitchen of their Oak Brook home, Mary Weyer tensed and signaled her approval as she took one of Tom’s hands in her own. Tom knew what to say: yes, Mary would give the meatloaf recipe to the White House chef for the inaugural banquet. Yes, he would advise the president’s staff about all the details of the ceremony, including the possibility that Mike Minton would make short remarks about the accomplishments of his own year in office.  Wisely, Tom made a mental note for a conversation about the security detail needed for Brian McManus during that part of the program. This was a time for the country to come together and respect the outcome of the democratic process, just as the freshman quad had settled in support of the Texas Senators John Darrouzet and Mike Crutcher many years before.  Too bad Chuck Grable would not be around for a slide across a muddy White House lawn.  Before they concluded, Tom extracted a promise: the Class of 1968 would be able to tailgate on the grounds. If he promised to have it pressed and to share it with Chris Manion, Congressman Rahm Emanuel would be able to use the Elvis suit.

                        At the site http://www.ndclass1968.com, our class blog includes a podcast of Tom Weyer’s seasonal Presidential greeting, the first in a series of Flame’s Fireside Chats.  The site also includes photos and notes too lengthy or too sensitive for inclusion in this printed report. 

                        Larry “Monk” Forness, now of Granger, IN, has been including me in emails that circulate among the athletes who made use of the Brownson Hall gym established by Father Bernard Lange, C.S.C., who was the world’s fourth strongest man at one time.  On the blog, you can find some correspondence prompted by the recent football performances.  A daughter of Paul Gill’70 designed a web site that attests to the importance Father Lange still holds for this big group.  The site is www.frlangesgym.com.  Bonus correspondence came from Mike Burgener, the Californian who is now retired as a strength coach but is, in other respects, still our full strength classmate, replete with a newly installed knee.  He’ll be traveling to Notre Dame on his Harley in June.  In the meantime, he is applauding his children as they make their own Burgener marks: “Son Casey made the 2008 Olympic team as an Olympic lifter in the super heavyweight division…  Casey will be getting married in June to Nalalie Woolfolk who was an Olympian in the 63 kg class and whose dad was the strength coach at ND under Holtz!!!   I get the first born!!!  Son no. 2 Beau Jackson Burgener. . . is on his way to being a Navy Seal.  ONE PROUD PAPA!!!!”

                        Sandy Carrigan sent photos with an email describing his experience in Chiapas, Mexico as part of a group establishing a dental clinic.  “One woman who was 70 years of age walked two and a half hours to have 26 teeth pulled, and then she walked back home…barefoot. Normally in the US one dentist can expect to serve 1000 people. The two dentists in our clinic would serve an area of roughly 25,000 mostly indigenous farmers. These people are desperately poor. The poor of America live a life that the indigenous of Chiapas could only dream of. They have nothing, but gladly give everything. It is truly amazing.”

                        While Mike Burgener was preparing his assault from the West, Eddie Kurtz headed in from New Orleans, making his first trip back to Notre Dame in decades.  John Walsh sent a report: “We tailgated with the Dalys and Kevin's excellent grilled steak sandwiches behind the bookstore, then joined the ‘Great '68’ tailgate with Tom Gibbs, Bryan Dunigan, (Chicago) Tom McKenna and son Liam, Roger Guerin, Tom Weyer & family, Brian Sullivan, Gene Cavanaugh, Jerry Cherubini, Bob Ptak.  A tremendous, sunny day at ND Stadium.  Into the mix for the after-game victory dinner add Shaun Reynolds, who drove over for the night and stayed with Hirschboecks' with us.”

                        Jim Davis forwarded Bill Clifford’s great memory of freshman George Restovich, who died in Rochester, MN on October 3, 2008: “During the first weeks of our freshman year a crowd inexplicably gathers at Cartier Field for an impromptu pep rally. Some obnoxious senior starts berating the assembled freshmen. George Restovich is summoned from out of the freshman crowd, and ordered to lead the freshman in a cheer. George is caught off guard, and unprepared. After a pause, he asks if there are any Latin scholars among the assembled freshman. No response. George then announces that he has a Latin cheer for us. “Hic haec hoc, hic haec hoc, hit em in the belly with a big lead rock”. The crowd goes wild…. Ara’s reign is launched. George had charisma from day one.”

                        Please send notes to: Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt. 3-E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 312-223-9536 x301, tfigel@lake-effect.com.