Only once was Robert Rothe’s ’56 workplace

1940-1952

Class Correspondent: Megan Clayton Knox College, Box K-210, 2 East South Street, Galesburg, IL 61401, 309-341-7476, pclayton@knox.edu

1945

It was nice to hear from Russ Freeburg, who will celebrate his 100th birthday in March. He is still golfing and was recently awarded a Quilt of Valor by the Quilt of Valor Association at a local ceremony for his service in World War II.

Class Correspondent: Megan Clayton Knox College, Box K-210, 2 East South Street, Galesburg, IL 61401, 309-341-7476, pclayton@knox.edu

1947

Charles Robert Trenka, classes of ’44 and ’47, celebrates his 100th birthday in February 2023! Born in Chicago, on February 19, 1923, the highlights of Chuck’s life through 1947 have included attending Knox (where he served as president of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity), serving at the Army War College and Pentagon in WWII, where he met his bride, Frances Forrester Trenka (to whom he was married for 76 years!). Since 1947, Chuck has enjoyed a successful career in the insurance industry, the births of two daughters, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren! Chuck loves life, family and friends, Knox, and sports. He remains optimistic, faith-filled, and concerned for other people. He can often be spotted from a distance, wearing a purple and gold jacket.

Class Correspondent: Megan Clayton Knox College, Box K-210, 2 East South Street, Galesburg, IL 61401, 309-341-7476, pclayton@knox.edu

1949

Harry Babbitt has been living in Buenos Aires for the past three years. He writes, “I am very happy here in this beautiful city. From my bedroom window, Luis and I had an ideal spot to view the celebration when Argentina won the World Cup Soccer championship. Luis and I, with the help of a walker, go out for café con leche and medialunas (croissants) almost every morning. I spend a lot of time writing bilingual books for language students—for sale on Amazon. I’m now working on book number 76. It is the middle of summer here, and there is sunshine nearly every day and temperatures not much above 90. In the winter, it is rare to have a temperature below 40 in the morning. There are no earthquakes, tornadoes, or hurricanes. Luis is an angel and takes care of my every need. I am so blessed not to be alone in a nursing home somewhere. Here, Luis and I can walk to restaurants, supermarkets, and doctors. There is even a hospital about five blocks away. Argentina has many problems, but it is a safe and inexpensive place to live if you have dollars to exchange. I have many things to be thankful for. There is much tourism now in Argentina, so take a break and come down to see me. You will find much to see and do in this city of 15 million. There’s a Marriott hotel just across the street.”

Class Correspondent: Megan Clayton Knox College, Box K-210, 2 East South Street, Galesburg, IL 61401, 309-341-7476, pclayton@knox.edu

1950

It’s always fun to hear what Bob Willett is up to, though it sounds like the new year started off a little rocky. He writes, “Well, so far 2023 is a wicked year. I spent New Year’s Eve in the ER with muscle spasms. On New Year’s Day, my daughter Leslie came down with the dreaded COVID and is now very unhappy. We are scheduled to take a cruise on the 15th, one on which we really splurged, so we’re nervous. On a happier note, I attended the Disney World Candlelight Processional with my two daughters and son-in-law on a chilly (43 degrees!) late December night in Florida.”

Class Correspondent: Megan Clayton Knox College, Box K-210, 2 East South Street, Galesburg, IL 61401, 309-341-7476, pclayton@knox.edu

1953

Class Correspondent: Audrae Norris Gruber 2419 Woodridge Lane, Brainerd, MN 56401-5533, Aaudraepaul@aol.com

1954

Born in the depths of the Depression, most of us were in the fourth grade when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor forced our country into WWII. We were barely into our teens when our use of the atom bomb forced an end to that war. But midway between high school graduation and our first Knox class, our attention was again directed to war, this time in Korea. Some younger veterans of WWII were still on campus while first-year men had to choose between phys ed classes or the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). Most opted for ROTC as Selective Service boards across the country geared up to quickly expand the army draft. ❯ In Chicago, Dan Hamilton, Hugh Strickland ’53, and Karl Hurdle had been friends from DeWitt Clinton Grammar School and Senn High School and, upon graduation in 1949, they took an oath to attend college together. “Hugh was the smart one,” Dan says. “He conducted research, selected Knox, and started that fall. Unfortunately, Karl and I could not afford it. We decided to work for a year and began our freshman year in 1950. I ran out of money again after completing part of the 1951-52 school year and enlisted in the army in September 1952 and served in Korea.” Hugh and Karl continued at Knox. Karl joined ROTC and after graduating in 1954, he continued in the army for a distinguished career, retiring as a lt. colonel in 1981. Following that, he had a second 12-year career as a high school history teacher in