Iowa State University Alumni Association| online edition | spring 2006

SPRING 2006
Home

Cover Story:
The 20 Most Ingriguing People on Campus

Alumni Profile:
An Iraqi hero

Alumni Profile:
Putting the fun in functional

Alumni Profile:
Three wishes for Stephanie Kobes

Alumni Profile:
Roy Reiman: I could write a book

Departments:
Getting Started
Letters
Around Campus
Class Notes
Association News
Giving
Sports

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

More alumni B&Bs
We want you to know how much we appreciate the high quality of “our” ISU magazine. It is with great pleasure that we go through every page as soon as we receive it, always filled with excellent articles and news.

The winter issue is no different. The compendium of places to stay and eat which you featured gives us, the alumni, excellent choices (“Be Our Guest.”)

However, all these beautiful places are not near our alma mater. The people coming to Iowa State on business or pleasure would not enjoy any of these when they are in Ames. For them, we would offer our inn, which has been featured in the Des Moines Register and the Ames Tribune, as well as
the Home and Away AAA magazine (Minnesota/Iowa) and the Altrusa Tour of Homes.

The comments from our guests range from “absolutely beautiful” and “perfect stay” to “if there were to be standards for a B&B, this is it.” Our inn’s perfect setting, close to Iowa State Center, close to the city
yet in the country, with gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, and still some of the Iowa countryside around it where you can see the stars, would not be out of line with the places you just featured.

Daphne & Jaime Reyes*
’81 design (Daphne)
Innkeepers, MonteBello Bed &
Breakfast Inn, Ames, Iowa

The recent issue of VISIONS featured many bed & breakfast establishments owned and managed by Iowa Staters. It was a wonderful feature, but I’m sure we missed a few, including one that I know very well! Craig Claussen, a 1969 graduate of Iowa State, is also the proud co-owner of La Residence, a beautiful 23-room Victorian bed & breakfast in Napa Valley, Calif. Craig recently hosted an alumni event for us at La Residence, and 36 alumni families living in the Napa Valley area attended. We had a delightful time, and I want to thank Craig for his hospitality and support of ISU, and give him the recognition he deserves!

Gregory L. Geoffroy**
President, Iowa State University

Good food, great service
I really enjoyed the winter issue of VISIONS, especially, “Good Food, Great Service.” Since you didn’t identify the waiters in the photo, I thought you might like to know that the one on the left is Bill Reece (Dr. William O.), retired professor of Veterinary Medicine who lives in Ames. He met his future wife in the dining hall. 

Mildred Tyner**
‘54 household equipment
Culpeper, Va.

Potpourri
The winter 2006 VISIONS was especially interesting to me. The article about waiters (“Good Food, Great Service”) carried me back to great meals and great times as a freshman in Welch Hall. The waiters and meals were appreciated to the fullest – long after graduation when I was cooking for a family of six. A belated thanks, men, for all of the smiles and service.

My husband and I like to ride our tandem bicycle and stay at B&Bs. We’re anticipating staying at those featured (“Be Our Guest”) some day and now wonder how many more run by alumni might be out there for us to enjoy. We’ll certainly be on the lookout.

The article “A Shattered Past” made me grateful to be an alum. The story of professor of sociology Ron Simons mentoring ex-offenders is inspiring. I am
volunteer coordinator for Community Connections, a community-based volunteer organization that supports inmates at Oakhill Corrections, a minimum security prison for 600 males just two miles from our home. I know first hand “the ocean of potential” that is behind bars and the barriers that the men face in unlocking that potential upon release. It takes individuals in communities everywhere to encourage and invest in those formerly incarcerated. When I received my BS from ISU in 1965, I could never have imagined that my credentials in teaching social studies would take me behind bars. If others are interested in getting involved with local prisons, our Web site (www.communityconnectionswi.org) might be a resource.

Thank you for the great diversity of articles, memorable, inspiring, and inviting. Keep up the good work.

Donna (Ripper) Mahr**
’65 history
Oregon, Wis.

Just had to write and tell you how much we enjoyed the latest VISIONS. We enjoy B&Bs, good food, and Iowa State connections. You regularly open our eyes to new and unique ways that Iowa Staters have contributed to making this world a better place.
Please thank Dave Gieseke for his contribution (“Shattered lives,” winter 2006). It is easy for us to forget that others have challenged the system and continue to pay a price. It is heartwarming to see that the university faculty is compassionate enough to find a person’s value in spite of their experience. Thanks, Dave, for waking us out of our “comfortable” world. Keep up the good work. We look forward to reading more.

Pam and Ron Hallenbeck**
’71 industrial administration (Ron)
’71 textiles & clothing (Pam)
Ames, Iowa

A Double Thrill
As an 18-year resident of the Seattle metropolitan area and an Iowa State grad, it was a double thrill to watch the Seattle Seahawks win the NFC championship and see former Iowa State quarterback Seneca Wallace contribute an influential play. Wallace showed his athletic versatility by making an exceptional 28-yard pass reception. They’ll need those types of plays to win the Superbowl.

Go Seahawks!

Sharon (Magnuson) Maguire*
’75 art education
Olympia, Wash.

Where’s Waldo?
Am i correct in my reading of VISIONS that Gary Thompson is referred to as Iowa State’s first All-American? (“The All American,” summer 2005)
What a great and fine tribute to our much revered Gary, but has Waldo Wegner been forgotten as our truly first All-American Iowa State basketball player?
I remember watching Waldo in action in the old State Gym when I was an Iowa State professor’s son.
In 1997 my wife, Jane, and I came to live in our Green Hills Retirement Community, where Waldo and his wife, Katy, resided.

Chatting with Waldo and enjoying his memories and his wonderful sense of humor and wisdom was a most delightful experience. Katy Wegner and my wife are currently in residence at our Green Hills Care Center.

Stanley C. Benbrook, DVM*
’49 veterinary medicine
Ames, Iowa

Editor’s Note: Waldo Wegner was, indeed, Iowa State’s first basketball All-American, receiving Converse third-team recognition in 1935, and he was the first dominant center in Cyclone basketball history. The 1935 team posted a 13-3 record, leading the Big Six in defense. Wegner finished second in the conference in scoring that season.