Lee Note 14 Ben Clopton April 4, 2001

To the Class of '60:

Has it been 40 years? I have not attended a reunion, and the thought that it's been that long is surprising. Good to hear that most of us are surviving and to catch up on what everyone's been doing.

I attended UT Austin after graduation, got a BA and MA in Psychology specializing in auditory psychophysics. In 1964 I came to Seattle and got a PhD from the University of Washington. Over the years, I taught and did research at UC Santa Barbara, back at UW, and at the University of Michigan for 10 years. Most of my work was in auditory neurophysiology, but over the years I drifted into bioengineering, and when I returned to UW in 1994 it was to the Dept. of Bioengineering. From 1975 I had been involved with basic research on cochlear implants, and in 1998 I became a part-time (and only) employee of a small company to produce new technology for biomedical implants. In about six months, I left the university and have been full time there since. The company has a dozen employees now, and it's still fun and hopefully doing some good.

Judy Baxter (also class of '60) and I married in Austin and have a son born in Santa Barbara. We were divorced later. My second wife has two children with 5 grandchildren. We also have a daughter and live on Bainbridge Island across the Sound from Seattle. I get to ride the ferry everyday to work.

I recently reconnected through Email with two other 1960 classmates: Tom Rhodes and Rand Evans. I hope to see Tom again soon on a visit to Texas. He is a friend since elementary and roommate at UT. Rand and I were close friends at Lee and UT and have bumped into each other a few times over the years.

Like Rand, I love mountains and sea together, and that's been my reason for repeatedly coming back to the Seattle area. Of course, I also think rain, earthquakes, and freeway jams are great too. Like most of you I've had great times, sad times, but interesting times. If we had to choose any 40 years in the last few millennia, this would have to be near the top for "interesting" - but it seems to have affected my hair color.

I am hoping to partially retire soon and spend more time traveling in the West and Texas. I visit family near Austin a few times a year. Haven't been back to Baytown in a long time but still have the '60 Lee Traveler - you all look very young.

Thanks to Kay for helping us get in touch! Best to all,

Ben Clopton