Unexpected Gift for Bruce Rider '66
We have blogged before about Bruce Rider, champion writer of letters to the editor. The member of the Washington and Lee Class of 1966, who lives in Grapevine, Texas, is a frequent and eloquent contributor to everything from the New York Times to this magazine. He is such a regular at the Times, in fact, that he occasionally corresponds with the publisher, Arthur Sulzberger Jr., as he did last month.
In that private missive, he mentioned his father, Cowl Rider, of W&L’s Class of 1937, telling Sulzberger how the senior Rider wrote “Topics of the Times” from the 1940s to the 1960s. He closed by writing, “It is certainly a privilege to be able to share my opinions and ideas with your readers. I feel like I am, in some way, a small part of the New York Times journalistic family. Thank you for providing this splendid opportunity.”
A couple of weeks later, he received a package from the New York Times. To his surprise and delight, nestled inside was a plaque (see accompanying photo), which featured his latest letter.
If you know any W&L alumni who would be great profile subjects, tell us about them! Nominate them for a web profile.
