tate THE BATTALION Page 5 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1981 &M-Galveston turns away senior citizen United Press International SEATTLE — Registration for James H. Petrie was canceled at exas A&M University’s Galves- Branch when officials found out he was a senior citizen. Petrie, 71, of Kirkland, Wash., was accepted by the university for course of study that would have allowed him to become a Mer chant Marine officer. He obtained a federal education loan of $2,400, and the president of the university had written him a letter of congra tulations for choosing to attend Texas A&M. But when he reported on the campus Aug. 24, as directed by correspondence from the univer sity, “certain school officials” disc overed his age and Petrie’s regis tration was canceled. “It’s purely a case of age discri mination,” Petrie said. Texas A&M at Galveston is one of a few schools in the nation offer ing a course in Marine Transporta tion with the option of becoming an officer in the Merchant Marine. “You cannot be admitted to program because you could not graduate from the license-option program until you are 76,” univer sity president William H. Clayton, said in a second letter to Petrie. “The potential is virtually zero that companies hiring license- option program graduates of this institution would employ a man of reacher pleads guilty to theft if two families’ life savings your age,” the letter said. Petrie is upset about that. “Since I already have a college degree, I could complete the course in three years, at the age of 74 — not 76,” he said. “And there are lots of merchant marine offic ers on active duty in their 70s. “It cost me nearly $600 to drive down to Galveston with the expec tation of entering school, and then drive back to Seattle. I’m terribly disappointed.” The university offered to let him take the course without obtaining his license as a Mer chant Marine officer, but there’s no point in that, Petrie said. “I am seeking a career, a job. President Reagan wants to do away with retirement at 62 or 65, and make us work longer. That’s what I’m trying to do. “Maybe President Reagan bet ter talk to a few people — like the people who wouldn’t let me in school. ” Petrie retired from the South ern Pacific Railroad in 1961 after 22 years of service as a technician in traffic control. He retired from Boeing Co. in 1974 after working as a technical writer and 747 airframe inspector. After leaving Boeing, he attended Seattle Pacific Universi ty for two years before applying to Texas A&M. United Press International HOUSTON — Two families |windled out of $641,000 by a reacher who pleaded guilty to heft are sad and bitter about hav- mgtoface the future without their life savings. I David Franklin Boston, 67, a former preacher, pleaded guilty iuesday to felony bond fraud. He hso admitted misusing funds j|iven him for management, Di J $541,000 by John Branch and $100,000 by CaRita Barrett. Branch, an engineer who work ed overseas to make more money for retirement, said he has de veloped arthritis and needs to re tire. He planned to use his $541,000 to buy a home and edu cate his two learning handicapped children. Mrs. Barrett’s husband, David, has been a paraplegic since an on- the-job accident 14 years ago. They planned to use their $100,000 to support themselves and obtain the best care possible for him without help from anyone else. “In both cases, they’re just wor ried sick about their futures,” said Janet Mortensen, a State Secur ities Board investigator who said Boston already was under scrutiny for bond fraud when the Branch and Barrett swindles surfaced. 1 Sneakers recommended for children’s school wear jsinji with; United Press International | PHILADELPHIA — Parents can do their pocketbooks and their children a favor if they buy sneak- 0llllt . ers instead of hard-soled shoes for jjty school wear, says a children’s p e 0 (j health center director. - Dr. Jeffrey Weiss has nothing ;ainst special shoes for some :casions and some foot condi tions. Children who don’t have flat feet don’t need shoes with arch jJHipports, says the Jefferson j V( Medical College assistant profes- 1 sor of pediatrics and head of the hildren’s Health Center at Tho mas Jefferson University Hos- ■cedUff^J' to J| you won t get flat feet if 1 you don’t wear arch supports. This condition is not caused by wearing improper shoes,” Weiss says. He suggests high-backed sneakers for children only if they fend to step out of the lowbacked pe. These and other high jacked shoes don’t give a lot of kle support, he says, but chil- jren’s ankles don’t need support for regular activities. Children’s Ifegb one muscles and tendons will do the job adequately, he adds. Weiss does, however, advise ecial shoes for athletic activities :ch as football, track or jogging. Some children also need hopedic shoes, he says, but should be examined by a hysician, who should write a pre- iription for the exact type of oes needed. Weiss also says sneakers should appear to be well-constructed with sturdy-looking canvas pieces that are glued on straight and vent holes that do not have any tears around them. Make sure sneakers fit properly and feel comfortable, he adds. If they are too loose, they will cause blisters; too tight, they will be very uncomfortable. “Never leave this kind of judg ment to a shoe salesman,” Weiss says. Children who need orthopedic shoes usually will “toe in” or “toe out,” the pediatrican says, or may suffer foot pain or have an unusual gait. Be prepared to spend about $15 to $20 a pair for children’s sneak ers, he says. “If they are too inex pensive they will not last.” JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY informational meetings: September 9-10 1981 701 Rudder 7-8 p.m. * * * * * * * * * * * ALLEN J. SEGAL, J. D., C. P. A., Attorney and Coun selor at Law, is seeking new engagements for his General Civil Practice, with special emphasis on Solu tions to Problems related to establishing and opera ting a business or consulting practice and PERSONAL INJURY TAX RETURNS REAL ESTATE TAX PLANNING FAMILY LAW ESTATE PLANNING WILLS PROBATE 4342 CARTER CREEK, BRYAN, TEXAS 846-3704 NO CHARGE FOR INITIAL CONSULTATION The United Campus Ministry is the Presbyterian, United Church of Christ and Aiifiix 30M>ATt \2.iS' Paifo/l. KBy, 'fecsb D.J) ^cIaoo\ 9-Zo iAU^hl ~H£z> Oui* ^ 11 i—fcr ^ Ki'P> SuA''04Hv ) rjTo/zt/4 ^ ^ ci-d'c/c^aj oaj cttv/icu smBErj ZpB 'Pill g A-r -Hot- G>- /S~ A-T C /4oME= fKFsbytejeian 4-r FSi »AYX oo Os n ’7^'llo'-'Sk^p £ H-'Jo •fro / p r*- P 73 e*/‘‘c-f'/TlfA- J A e: j £>o , > • ‘ y RETABATS k/ S77 , , C ^ Sefr 8i ,r ^ pro Revd. Michael N. Miller Home: 713-693-2122 Stjp \jyO£-K^ X a --j oo •u o “I paid him money to manage my account. I paid him money to steal my money, it looks like,” Branch said. Branch, 56, said he found out his money was gone when he asked Boston for $30,000 this year to cover debts. “He kept procrastinating and finally I got this letter to call his attorney. I found he had embez zled the whole thing. This has really upset my family. There is nothing I can do now but keep working. “It has nearly driven me out of my mind,” Branch said. Mrs. Barrett expressed similar feelings. “That was our retirement so we could live off it and not depend on anyone else,” she said. “He’s one of the smoothest con men I’ve ever known. But he was our minis ter when we came to Houston in 1941 and Mr. Barrett had faith in him.” Mrs. Mortensen said Boston had helped many churches legiti mately float bonds after he quit preaching. State District Judge Miron Love ordered a background inves tigation and scheduled sentencing for November. Boston could face 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Hughes Helicopters Can Give You Something Nobody Else Can ... 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