LETTERS

POWER BROKERS



I AM MOST honored to have been included in the “Young and Promising” section of your dynamic article, “The Power Brokers” [July]. All of the leaders included have shown that in Dallas, one accepts leadership with commitment, responsibility and excellence. (It must be noted that one-third of those spotlighted are members of the Leadership Development Advisory Committee of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce or are former participants of Leadership Dallas.)

I often hear rumors that there is a “lack of leadership” in the future of Dallas. Your timely article will calm those with little faith.

Meg Vint

Director of Leadership Development

Dallas



I AGREE that if you’re a museum it might be worth your while to call Weekley, Amps and Gray, but if you’re a Democrat, I suggest that a call to Mandate: Campaign Media would be much more useful.

Since 1980 we’ve been electing Democrats in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Our clients, who were strangely overlooked in your article, include Congressman and soon-to-be Attorney General Jim Mattox, Congressman Martin Frost, State Representative and soon-to-be Congressman John Bryant, State Representative and soon-to-be State Senator Ted Lyon, former Fort Worth Mayor and soon-to-be State Senator Hugh Parmer and the Democratic nominee in New Mexico’s 3rd District, Bill Richardson.

So far this election year Mandate is seven for seven in Democratic primaries, 10 for 10 if you include runoffs, which is an excellent way to begin to build a power base, wouldn’t you agree?

Michael R. Shannon

Dallas



AS AN OUTSIDER who has more than a passing knowledge of and love for your city and also as one who is intimately acquainted with the medical profession, I was chagrined to note that in your entire article “The Power Brokers” there was only one physician mentioned, Dr. P.O’B. Montgomery. Even then, Dr. Montgomery was not considered in a role related to his profession.

Dallas is filled with highly skilled physicians of both national and international repute whose influence will have a much greater impact on Dallas during the next 10 years than many of those individuals mentioned in your article. An outstanding example is Dr. Jesse Thompson, who has just become chairman of surgery at Baylor Hospital. Could it be that your reporters overlooked physicians as important in the Dallas community because reporters frequently do not consider that any physician might be responsible for anything of social import?

Martin S. Lit win

Associate Dean and Medical DirectorTulane Medical Center Hospital and Clinic

New Orleans



YOU PICTURED 49 men and women in “The Power Brokers” and called them “Dallas’ top players of the Eighties.” Unless I’m colorblind, only three were black and one may have been Latin American. Of the 904,078 citizens of Dallas, 376,676 are either black or Latin American (figures provided by the Dallas Public Library).

I’d say that the white power brokers have done a lousy job developing much-desired leadership from among the blacks and the Latin Americans, leadership that just might be useful for the remainder of the Eighties!

Leslie Conrad Jr.

Richardson



ST. MARK’S SPEAKS UP



I AM DISHEARTENED to read of the dismissal of Ted Whatley as headmaster at St. Mark’s. His insight into the often contradictory goals of an institution nurtured by the dreams of the Dallas business elite to rival the Eastern prep-school tradition kept alive the spirit of humanism in a cloistered atmosphere that might otherwise have suffocated any tendency toward diversity of belief or of educational technique.

The executive board of trustees has sacrificed intellectual tolerance for conformity, independence of thought and action for the sake of greater control over the intellectual growth of their sons. By so doing, they have deprived future students from contact with a man who, by his strong character and rigorous intellectual honesty, epitomizes the essence of the liberal arts tradition. Vale magister!

Samuel M. Bierner

St. Mark’s Class of ’77

University of Texas Medical School

San Antonio



THE YEARS I attended St. Mark’s, 1971-73, were the most stimulating of my secondary school education. As headmaster, Ted Whatley helped to make those years challenging by displaying enthusiasm, intelligence, administrative talent and sincere concern. I wish I had learned of his dismissal earlier.

When former presidents Truman and Johnson died within a few weeks of each other, Whatley spoke to us in the gym. He felt that history would eventually look upon President Johnson with more sympathy than it had, just as it had done with President Truman. I am confident that history will demonstrate with chilling clarity how foolishly the executive board acted.

Don W. Joe





AS A PARENT of two recent St. Mark’s graduates, I would like to commend D Magazine for the article on St. Mark’s School. Mr. Kodrigue showed a substantial knowledge of the facts and a keen insight into the problems of the school. The parents of these students are extremely successful men and women in the Dallas community. Their demands are many. With the yearly tuition hovering around $4,500, they have a right to be heard. Though not without faults, Ted Whatley is a dedicated teacher and administrator and a compassionate man. Unfortunately, there will never be a perfect headmaster.

Mrs. Jim Parks Wesson

Dallas



CONGRATULATIONS TO D Magazine for producing a very fair and accurate story about St. Mark’s School. I do find it ironic, however, that of the distinguished St. Mark’s alumni mentioned (Boz Scaggs, Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Decherd, etc.), one St. Mark’s alumnus who was conveniently ignored is Michael Levy, founder and publisher of Texas Monthly magazine. Please give credit where credit is due.

David Rowlett

St. Mark’s alumnus, Class of 1979

Dallas



MORE NEWCOMERS



The “Newcomers’ Guide” [July] has a number of good tips for the newcomers that seem to be streaming into our area, and I commend you on your efforts to provide them with a wealth of varied information. However, I was disappointed to note in your “Where to Find It” map on page NG 11 that only six of the seven Dallas County Community Colleges [DCCCD] had been listed. Had you checked your sources, you would have found that the DCCCD has seven, not six, campuses and that North Lake College in Irving had been noticeably omitted.

The North Lake campus fills in the link of the seven DCCCD colleges that form a rough circle around the Dallas area, and our more than 10,000 students per semester would certainly attest to the fact that North Lake does exist. Several of our program areas such as diesel mechanics, solar energy technology and optical technology are unique within the district, and thus we draw a student population from all over the metroplex, not only the Irving area.

Susan Aycock

Director of Public Information

North Lake College



BEING A relatively new resident to Dallas, I found the 1982 “Newcomers’ Guide” to be of help in many areas. However, while this feature provided a general description paragraph for 21 private schools, it failed to do so for Bishop Lynch High School. I would suggest that the general description included in the Newcomers’ Guide of 1981 is even more valid now than it was one year ago: “Catholic education for the college-bound student, with outstanding speech and fine-arts programs. Students are known for their maturity and well-developed sense of community. Average combined SAT score: 873.”

Edward E. Leyden

Principal

Bishop Lynch High School



DUE TO THE vast number of people relocating to this area, we commend D Magazine for its effort to assist them by the publication of the “Newcomers’ Guide.” However, we were disappointed to discover that the “Where to Find It” map did not include the location of The University of Texas at Dallas. UTD, located in Richardson, is a viable component of the UT system, offering individuals the opportunity to pursue both undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide range of disciplines.

Mike Sullins President

Student Government The University of Texas at Dallas



MARRYING AGAIN



WE WERE SO pleased to read your article on remarriage [“Marrying Again,” June]. As you are aware, many remarriages result in the formation of step-families. There are approximately 1,300 stepfamilies formed in the United States every day, and every child born in 1982 has a 40 percent chance of participating in a stepfamily by the time he reaches age 18. As pointed out in your article, the problems, needs and expectations of stepfamilies are very different from original/intact/nuclear families.

The Stepfamily Association of America is a nonprofit organization that seeks to serve the special needs of these families by providing a support network for stepfamilies as well as an educational source for individuals or groups that wish to learn more about stepfamilies. There is now a local Dallas chapter that provides bimonthly support groups as well as a monthly program of educational and social events for members and the general public. Inquiries regarding the Stepfamily Association are welcome and may be made to Jackie Thurston, president (239-7248 days; 644-1290 evenings) or Christy Wallace, professional chairperson (690-4750 home; 458-0555 answering service).

Jackie Thurston

Christy Wallace

Stepfamily Association of America,

North Dallas Chapter



MASS TRANSIT



AS FORMER chairman of the board for the Delaware Authority for Regional Transit, I read your article on mass transit [“Inside Dallas,” May] with great interest. As chairman, I had visited the Toronto Transit System, Atlanta Transit System and Dallas Transit System. From each transit company, I was able to pick up very helpful ideas that helped me in Delaware.

I would like to suggest to Crow, Stem-mons and Carpenter that they not forget the input from Dallas Transit System. Also, I would like to suggest that serious thought be given to a monorail system as well as a rail system. With the rapid growth of Dallas and surrounding areas, it is imperative that sound plans be forged, not only for the present but also for the future.

Rodney W. Willis Sr.

Irving



ADWEEK STAYS

TO PARAPHRASE Mark Twain, rumors of our move are greatly exaggerated [see “Inside Dallas,” July]. Adweek magazine will continue to publish – and flourish – as it has done so the past two years at 2719 Routh St.

J.C. Kelly

Adweek



WIPED OUT AGAIN

I WAS DISAPPOINTED by your presentation of Mrs. Korsak’s article “Wiped Out” [May] since all the helpful information she included for someone in a similar situation was edited out. Her article as submitted included many suggestions for handling an automobile claim, but you reduced it to a strict recounting of one individual’s troubles.

I spent several long phone conversations with Mrs. Korsak, explaining the workings of insurance and her options. She was like so many others who call on us for help. She knew nothing about her insurance, even though she had been paying for this product most of her life. Few people are concerned with insurance between the time the premium is paid and a claim filed.

But certain actions are required of the injured party. The insurance policy is a contract like any other and should be read and understood at the outset. Most agents are happy to explain the policies to their clients. Brochures and other sources are also available.

The Insurance Information Institute is a nonprofit, industry-supported public information agency. Anyone needing information on his insurance may call on us at (214) 741-5195.

Barry W. Walker

District Manager

Insurance Information Institute

Dallas