Russell King Osgood – 50th Reunion Essay

Russell King Osgood

1 Pasture Road

Rockport, MA 01966

osgood@grinnell.edu

641-821-3712

Spouse(s): Paula Haley Osgood, 47 years, married 1970

Child(ren): Mollie (1971), Josiah (1974), Micah (1977) Iain (1981)

Grandchild(ren): Elizabeth, and one on the way!

Education: Yale BA 1969, Yale JD 1974

National Service: U.S.Naval Reserve, 1969-1971

Career: Lawyer, Law Profesor, Dean, President

Avocations: running

College: Silliman

The data form shows some basic information. I am currently teaching full time (since 2011) at the Washington University School of Law (courses include Criminal Law, American Legal History, and occasionally others). I started this after I retired as president of Grinnell College (1998–2010). Before that I was the dean of Cornell Law School (1988–1998) and of course a faculty member there (1980–1998). I am very happy to be teaching again and enjoy my students tremendously.

I remain grateful to Yale for a fine undergraduate (and legal) education. Some things about that education and about what I did would change, but not much. I had two great roommates who I still know. And I got to know my wife in junior high school (continuing to the present). We have four wonderful children and 1.6 grandchildren. My brother and sister also live with their families near our Rockport home mentioned below.

We split our time between Rockport, Massachusetts, Grinnell, Iowa, and Saint Louis. We are both reasonably healthy. I still do not wear glasses and run every day. We have several cairn terriers.

My memories of Yale are vivid and happy. I remember the first day I jogged to the top of East Rock. Walking out to the football games with friends and watching us play well was a happy time. I had family living in Hamden and North Haven and one of my roommates was from Bethany. so I saw a lot of New Haven and environs and liked it.

Now is not the time for me or any of us to criticize Yale or to vent about trivia like politics. Now is the time to be grateful, to do what good we can in our time remaining, and to remember fondly those of us (and our parents and teachers) who have passed away.