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Editor's Note: The following remarks were made at the business meeting of the Katherine Anne Porter Society at the American Literature Association Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 23, 1997. Dr. Clark Dobson, a Dean at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and Sister Kathleen Feeley, former President of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland who is currently the Director of Special Education for the Baltimore City Schools, shared recollections of their personal relationships with Katherine Anne Porter. Both knew her during the final years of her life. Because of the length of these reminiscences, only the remarks of Clark Dobson will appear in this issue. Sister Kathleen Feeley's remarks and responses to questions raised at the end of her remarks will appear in the next issue of the newsletter.

An excerpt (contact editor for full article):

How did I meet Katherine Anne? I met Katherine Anne about 1970; it was through Jack Horner. He was having a lunch and invited me to go to that lunch at the Army-Navy Club in Washington, DC. And, of course, Katherine Anne was the honored guest. There were only four of us. I was, at that time, a young academic with a passion for books and writing. Of course, I knew Katherine Anne's work back then. I was thrilled to death to be just in her presence. I can remember to this day that she was sitting to my right. We were sitting around a very small square table so she was very close. And I really can't remember any of the specifics about the conversation. I was probably so terrified and overwhelmed that it just went right out of my mind. But she was at her wittiest best. I can remember that she was great fun. At some point in the conversation, the subject turned to sex. I can't remember the details about the discussion or the topic, but I do remember, this memory is so strong, that she leaned over very close and said, "I was married and divorced three times, and I never cared that much about it." So that one line was the one thing about the conversation I remember. After this we became friends, and I saw Katherine Anne a lot during the next decade until September 1980 when she died.