—————————————————————— The Past . . . ——————————————————————
 
Name:
  Ted Duvall

Occupation:
  Documentary Producer

Email address:
  TEDuvall@aol.com

 

 



——
—— . . . and The Present ————

(no picture provided.)


——————————————————— 1978 Reunion Questionnaire ———————————————————

  1) The important people in my life (spouses, partners, children) are...  
 
My wife Ann. She is actually the most important person in the world. She and I have three children, Rachel, Natalie, and Donovan.

 
  2) I went to Westtown because…  
 
The high school I was attending as a ninth grader had regular fights along racial lines, occasional riots, easy access to drugs and a rather casual attitude toward student safety. My friend, Charlie Homet, was attending Westtown at the time and told me how great it was. I joined him there in 10th grade. He was not asked back... and I made it by the skin of my teeth in later years (see below).

 
  3) My occupation is a Documentary Producer and Westtown prepared me for it by …  
 


My occupation is a Documentary Producer and Westtown prepared me for it by teaching me how to write. I can also add and subtract which is helpful for budgeting. However, it was the sport of wrestling and my coach, Tim Loose, where Westtown had its greatest impact on me. I am certain I didn't appreciate the valuable lessons I was learning at the time since I was more absorbed in win-loss statisitics and making weight. I am grateful to Tim for all he taught me during those sweaty and exhausting afternoons in the wrestling room.


 
  4) My life’s greatest moments and challenges (to date) would be …  
 


Getting married would top the list of 'greatest moments' and would be followed by the births of our three children. I have had many other great moments salted through my life to this point, and expect many more.

The greatest challenges have been professional and, as a direct result, financial. I have been laid off at least four times and endured long stretches of unemployment. After a decade of ups and downs, things have calmed down. I credit many things for the change but Quakerism was key. I am sure many of my teachers would be slack-jawed to learn that, after trying to evade Meeting For Worship for three years at Westtown, I am now a Quaker and attend Meeting For Worship regularly. I believe Tom Woodward might define that as ironic.

 
  5) Westtown’s most inspirational faculty, classmate, friend (multiple choices accepted) would have to be …  
 


For faculty there is a two way tie for this: Jim Coulter had a tremendous influence on me. Whether it was the sparkle in his eye when he was pleased with some accomplishment or that withering gaze when you crossed the line, that man could educate without opening his mouth. I have the utmost respect for Jim Coulter and look forward to telling him someday. The aforementioned Tim Loose who had faith in me when few of his peers did. (I was told that at the end of my sophomore year, where I tried to break every rule Westtown had to offer, one of which I attempted to alienate every faculty member, one of which all of my friends left or were not asked back, that two teachers of the entire staff urged that I be allowed back to Westtown; Tim Loose and Tom Kaesmeyer. My thanks to you both if you read this.)

As for friends, I don't have many friends from my class and the few I did, I let time, distance, and apathy keep me from maintaining those relationships. I went to Lynchburg College with several 78ers and we would hang out every once in a while but that was a long time ago. My friendship base at Westtown was drawn largely from the the class of 79. I am still in touch with some of those guys.

 
  6) The most memorable time I broke the rules would be when I …  
 
I broke an unwritten rule about dating a Dean's daughter. Lynn Morris and I dated for quite a while. Lesson to young men reading this... don't date a Dean's daughter. The Dean won't like you if you do that. Then there was the time in my junior year when I stole a soccer ball from an opposing team. Mind you I had six at home! I got nailed with hourbook on a weekend I was supposed to go home to celebrate sister Lili's birthday. Ouch. I raked leaves in Coulter's yard for the first six hours of that Saturday... a long and lonely weekend for me.

 
  7) Was there a point in your life when you recognized any benefit from your time at Westtown?  
 
It took me 19 years to go back to campus. I had quite the chip on my shoulder about Westtown. I used to deride it as a prep school... arguing it didn't prepare me to well. It was only after several of life's challenges (mentioned above) that I realized that my lack of maturity was the missing piece of the puzzle. Now I regularly see the benefits of Westtown in ways large and small. I don't regret but I am aware I could have conducted myself a helluva a lot better.

 
  8) Do you plan to attend the 25th year reunion in May?  
 
I will attend with my wife and 3 children.
 
 


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