Dan Bergeson's wife, Kim, Dan and some party pics

Steve Daubenspeck

Missing pictures

My camera battery died and I didn't get pictures of Bette Fenton, Laurie Lykken, Ruth Block, Terry Mackin or Shelley and Chuck McFall. If you've got some, please upload them!

Julie Arthur, Sid Farrar, Judy Ryan, Kay Marcotte

Felicia

Brad and Barbara

Richard Roth, Mike and John Schulz

HR (or did we call it Personnel?) showed up

Jim Kelly's friend Debbie, Jim Kelly and Sallie Neall

Paul Provost and Ardis Wexler

Marcia Wattson and her friend Phil Burke

Char and Kay

Monica Cooner and Ann Chase

Mike Crouchet, Jeff Rogart and Betty Jorgenson

Bill Edwards, Norton Stillman and Kay Marcotte

Barbara and Brad Siqueros, Jeff Hohman and Mike Hejny

Cole and Darlene

Pat Blakely and Becky Norine

John Schulz, EJ and Kay Sexton

Donna Pierson and Char Glenna Bierman

Party Pictures

Hohman Poem #1 - RIP Tom

Many of you will remember Jeff Hohman's "epic" poems. Hard copies of "the collection" will be available tonight. And there may be a possible performance of some of the best of. But for those of you who can't attend, I'll publish them one by one to the blog.

On occasion of Tom Haworth leaving BDB for Ingram...

R I P TOM

Here lies Tom Haworth, now passed away

From our friendly midst he has gone today.

So in a festive spirit of all soberness

I’ll review his plus and minuses.

His features unusual to say the least

A cruel Rickles wit could on them feast.

But, since we’re friends and he’s bigger than I,

I’ll say he’s handsome, a fair to middlin’ lie.

His temper we know is even and fair

(Another small lie, thin as his hair.)

For you all know, as well as me,

At the drop of a ball, his ire he’d free.

Red would the hue of his jowls become

Sometimes turning to the color of plum.

He’d flash his eyes and furrow his brow,

And before his fierce visage many would cow.

His clothing, too, caught our rapt attention,

Having seen better attire in a house of detention.

One tie in particular stands out from the rest

To describe it in language is too tough a test.

It was white and mustard with tiny figures galore

With whate’re he wore it, it clashed, caused war.

Dinosaurs, too, lumbered onto his ties

The Stegosaurus for sure brought tears to some eyes.

A jock he considered himself still to be

Even as he strapped braces to each liquid knee.

Those braces of metal, those struts for his joints

Caused him to run like an ostrich on tippy toe points.

His humor was odd, off beat, somewhat twisted.

Manys the joke he has told, only to be hissed at.

Alfred E. Newman was his mentor for laughs

Which explains why so little humor, so many gaffes.

Oh, he was fun, he was, back in his prime

For some of you that was during your grade school time.

Not that he’s old, don’t me mistake,

But between he and us there’s a generational break.

He remembers the days before there was TV,

Back when he’d go to the movies, Saturday serials, to see,

Back when the hula hoop was a fad for the young,

Even back to the time before rock n’ roll was sung.

Aged? Not Tom, he has retained his free youth

(Another small, innocent, wonderful, untruth.)

His beard he scraped off because it turned white

And he’s loosing his hair out of old age fright.

And now, its to Nashville, first step towards the fun

As he slowly makes his break out to the sun.

Later or sooner I’m sure we’ll all see

That Tom has moved to Sun City A R I Z.

So, Tom, as you head off to Ingram’s warm bosom

We want you to know that we’ll all lose some,

We’ll lose some humor, some wit, some panache.

Go with best wishes, you’ll be a smash.

Reunion details

For those of you that never received an invitation:

What: B Dalton Reunion
Where: Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis
Time: 4 pm till ?
Cost $20 per person

Please feel free to come!

Hi Everyone,

I can't wait to see you all on Saturday! In case you haven't heard, there will be some road construction near MCBA this weekend that could affect your travel routes. In preparation for our Very Important visitors in September (otherwise known as the Republican National Convention), 35W southbound between downtown Minneapolis and the Crosstown will be closed for construction all weekend. According to the MN DOT web site, northbound 35W will be open as usual. Detour signs will be posted for southbound travelers. For more info, here's the link:

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/news/08/06/25-crosstown.html

Good luck, and welcome to summer in Minnesota!
Sallie

Best Work/Play Memories I've Ever Had

Thats's right - my time with B. Dalton '75 to '85 and Software etc. '85 to '88 were the best work years I had. Friends like Jeff Rogart keep me in their lives even today! Evelyn (I never called her EJ) have accepted my silly son's pictures year in and year out. And so many other friends are memories I cherish. Being a regional in "new places" like New Orleans and San Antonio. Coming home to NYC and being able to see the book business from the inside out. Being in Mpls for a start up, and a take over. Wow. I owe so much of what I am as a person, husband, parent and colleague to the relationships I had with so many of you.

Can't make it this time - hope to next time. My son who was born in Edina but remembers nothing, wants to see it again - maybe next summer. Hope I can catch up with many of you then.

Best to you all this weekend, and in your lives, always.

Mallard (the young one on the left)

Parking on Saturday

Parking can be challenging in our busy neighborhood, and there is a Twins game at the Metrodome, beginning at 6:10 p.m.

There is free parking available as space allows in the Open Book lot, adjacent to the building. The lot will hold about 45 cars. Please feel free to park in any spot, even those marked reserved, except for the spots for the Coffee Gallery.

There are meters on Washington Avenue in force until 10 pm, which means the Twins fans can't use them. They are $1.00 an hour, and you can buy 2 hours at a time. Bring quarters!

Handicapped parking is in the Open Book lot, located near the front and rear entrances to the building.

From Mary Lilja

I won¹t be able to attend the Big Bash . . . I will miss seeing everyone! So
here¹s my quick recap.

Turns out you can take the girl out of B. Dalton . . . but you can¹t take B.
Dalton out of the girl! There are so many lasting connections. I just marked
the 20th anniversary of my public relations business and our longest-term
client is Barnes & Noble! I canoe most years with the Femmes du Nord,
originally founded by a group of B. Dalton buyers, and led by the likes of
Outdoor Woman Extraordinaire (and dear friend) Julie Arthur. I read
wonderful books each month with my B. Dalton book group: Kay Sexton, Susan
Kettering, Dorothy Goldie, Gracie Hohman, Karin Wille and Marcia Wattson (and
so am up to date on most of the gossip ­ a side benefit in addition to great
books & friendships). My three children are all grown up, including my B.
Dalton baby; he's 21 years old now. Best wishes to everyone! Reach me at
mcl@lilja.com ~ Mary Lilja

Bookends 1979- sorry, didn't keep the whole issue!

Here is a portfolio from back before we decided to use the B Dalton name for all our stores.

La Sexton/RSVPs

Here she is in a publicity photo from the 70s.

Just a reminder that I need your RSVP and check by Friday, so I can finalize things with the caterer.

$20 a person. Send to:

Dorothy Goldie
9 Hay Camp Road
North Oaks, MN 55127

Thanks so much!

Mass Market Dept. at the old G.O.

The Mass Market Department - this was at the old headquarters (9340 James Avenue South, Bloomington??) --- so what year was this?? 1976? Hey David, you still have that tie?? Harold, Char, Marcia, Mary, Rhonda, Jeff...?,?

Donna Pierson's B. Dalton Memorabilia Collection

Donna is our resident archivist! The phone directory below is hers, as is this "Mystery Solved" article. She has an amazing collection of B. Dalton memorabilia, all of which will be on display at the reunion. Please take a look through your things and see if you've got some items to share. A special prize to the person who shows up with the famous Bookworm - complete with glasses!

1978 GO Phone directory

Mike in Charlottesville

Mike Pegan here. Hi all - won't be in Minneapolis for the reunion - a toast to all who attend. I've seen some of you over the years - Sallie, Marcia, Rhonda...Chandler, Rogart...Tim, TJ, Him...Mike H...saw Brad once or twice...at ABA's or via various travels. Geez, time flies. My oldest son Matt attends Arizona State (on the six year plan!)- middle son Zack went to UConn and just finished his second year of law school at Santa Clara University. Their Mom (Mary) lives in Beijing with her husband! My wife Peg and I - and our 15 year old son, Nicholas - live in Charlottesville, VA. We love it here. I work for Macrovision/AMG.

I remember B Dalton - and all of you - like it was yesterday.

I'll post more info along the way - be fun to hear what folks have to say.

Mike

A few facts (and a little interpretation) to bring you up to date,

I started with B Dalton late in 1972 at Store 75, Mall of Orange, in California.  Living on Newport Beach, working the late shift, those were idyllic times by the sea!  My store career was interrupted by a 2½ year stint as a Random House rep.  In January 1978 I joined the Merchandise Department, taking a new title buying position open due to Mr. Rogart's promotion.  In the fall of 1981, I moved to Pickwick and spent 5 years there, until  Dayton Hudson pulled the plug, in preparation to offering B Dalton for sale.
As part of the termination process, Boake Sells offered to have a conversation with several of us to help us "evaluate our future options".  Mostly, I think, he wanted to tell a couple of us that we were not cut out to be retailers.  Long before, my dad had advised against a career in retail.  I hadn't listened to him and so resisted Boake's advice too. Unfortunately, his advice proved prophetic and my next two positions ended unhappily.  

Then I landed a sales job with McGraw-Hill and did that for a couple of years.  Started the 90s by trading traveling weekly for a Sales Management position at Lerner, a library publisher in Minneapolis.  After 5 years, traded that one for a similar position with Econo-Clad books, another library oriented vendor.  The new century brought a new position in a new town, off to the south, Nashville.  It was a little scary there, watching my two daughters learn about the Civil War from textbooks calling it the War of Northern Aggression.  

And like so many B Daltonites before and after me (with the notable exception of Jim Chandler!) my time at Ingram was a short/long three years.  Returned to library publishing with Gale and moved my base to Illinois, eventually to Chicago.

As I reflect back on the past 35 years, I realize that Boake was right.  I was not cut out for retail, at least not in an executive role.  Nor was I really cut out for management even though I spent many relatively successful years at that craft with publishers and wholesalers.  When I got my Masters degree back in 1970, I wanted to be a therapist but thought I should get some real life experience first.   I guess by now one could say, I have managed to accrue plenty of real life experience!  And finally, at age 62, I've discovered a profession that really turns me on, one at which I excel and one that has unbelievable rewards every day.  I am a life coach.  I help people go through life transitions and discover what they really want to do with their lives, regardless of what they or others think they should do.  I also help people in leadership positions understand how their success is in large part determined by how they use their energy. (Energy here meaning that "vibe" that people feel from others rather than the fuel to run around the block.)

And speaking of running next weekend I hope to complete my 53rd marathon.  I love running and have completed over a dozen races at distances beyond 26.2 miles.  That about wraps this entry.  I hope to see everyone in a few weeks.

News from Larry Hollern

I am sorry to say I won't be able to attend.

I live in Amarillo TX.

Rogart comes down every once in a while selling Anderson Merchandisers and Hastings which are located here. We had lunch a couple of months ago.

All is good in my life. Two daughters grown up and out of college and prospering.
My wife Ruth and I celebrated our 28th anniversary this year.

Hello to the gang and in particular Kay Sexton.

All The Best

Larry

Where are they???

There are some people that I know I have good email addresses for but I haven't heard from. I hope the following people are planning to come:

Brad Siqueros
Steve Daubenspeck
Katie Kane
Larry Hollern
Mike Pegan
Rick Kenyon
Sid Farrar
Tom Bennett

Tom Jourdaine

Yesterday Tom Jourdaine emailed that he can't come after all. Too bad - we will miss him.

Checks are coming in!

Hello B Dalton people!

Today was a big day at the mailbox. I received checks from Chris Mosley, Kay Marcotte, Kay Sexton and Rhonda Ogren. As Jeff Rogart used to say, "money talks, bullsh*t walks". I know these people are coming for sure. Please send me your check soon!

Dorothy