(6/23/2007) Tim Pearse sent the following email. Tim was a student at Tech from 1956 to 1960.

Hi Don - Your email message has caused me to reflect on my time at Socorro over 50 years ago. Much of my memories revolve around the wild college life style that was common there as I am sure it still is at most colleges. We all studied hard, played hard and worked hard. My first year there I lived in the dormitory, Fitch Hall. I got a job in the mess hall serving food and doing dishes. It was a great way to get to know people. I really enjoyed meeting the hired help, mostly the guys who lived in Socorro. They tried to teach me Spanish and I was a slow learner. I had a roommate the first semester and that did not go too well. The second semester I had another room mate. He became a long-term friend although I have not heard from him for years. I think I will try to locate him now that I am reflecting on Socorro. The second year I moved to an apartment downtown. It was one room, about 6 feet wide and 30' long. Originally it was a hallway. It was pretty sparse, having only a sink but no refrigerator. So, I build an evaporative cooler and hung it on a tree in the back.

My first year I had a beard and looked older than I was. I shaved in the summer and when I came back the bartender at the Capital refused to serve me beer even though he admitted doing so the previous year. Beer was an important part of my life then. We all drank much too much and suffered the consequences. I remember one student from New Jersey named Patterson who got drunk and crashed into an adobe wall in town, killing himself. I was in the midst of a fight with my girl friend and was walking around town when it happened so I was the first person to arrive at the scene. It was very traumatic, but it did not slow down my alcohol consumption. I did finally quit about 40 years later.

I remember Dr. Sanchez-Diaz writing on the caulk board with both hands - one hand writing and the other hand wiping the board clean to make room for more. Had to take notes fast! I remember Dr. Brooks reducing my grade one level because I refused to use a slide rule. I stubbornly used logarithms to exercise my mind. I remember being inspired by Woody Latvala in the mining classes. He was my hero.

I met my future wife in my second year. She was a freshman from California. She had to drop out after one semester because her parents did not send any money for tuition or room and board. The following summer I followed her to California and we were married in September. We returned and got an apartment in Gibbons where we lived for two years. Our family increased by one by the time I graduated. In my senior year I was Judge Roy Bean in the 49er's celebration. I got the position because of my long beard. It was a good celebration.

Most of my memories are good with a few sad ones mixed in. I will be looking forward to seeing entries of other students. WOW! 50 years is indeed a long time.

Tim Pearse