In 1960 I received from Prof. Walter H. Haas my first ALPO award, and in 1969 the WAA presented me with the G. Bruce Blair Gold Medal. In 1972, I received an award from the A.S.P. [ Astronomical Society of the Pacific ] and in 1996 as you know I received from the ALPO the Walter H. Haas award for my observations of Mars (60 years) and the other bright planets.

Last year in October 18 to October 25th I was invited to spend a week at the home of Thomas Dobbins in Ohio, which resulted in the finest time I have enjoyed in a great many years. On Monday night Oct 21st ( local time - from 10:00 pm until about 2:00 - 3:00 am ) we enjoyed some of the finest seeing I have experienced while using Tom's 10 inch F/9 and his 14 inch F/30 Cassegrain.
The 10 inch is a Newtonian with which I found slightly better definition with seeing 10+ ( Harvard Scale ) incredibly good with powers from 500 to over 650. I saw on Saturn the Keeler Division in Ring A 10 % in from the outer edge, 2 distinct Div. in Ring B and a narrow division outer edge of Crepe Ring, No sight of Crepe Ring outside of Ring A.

Prior to my coming back to Long Beach Tom offered me a price I could not refuse on a new Russian 8 inch F/20 Maksutov with small secondary. Tom has also supplied me with a stand and clockdriven equatorial mount for this highly portable telescope.

Best of wishes and luck in the New Year.

Most cordially, (10 February 1998)