Theodore Ropp, distinguished history professor, dies

Professor Emeritus of History Theodore Ropp died of a heart attack Saturday at Duke Hospital. He was 89.

Ropp, a noted military historian, joined the faculty in 1938 after earning both his master's and doctoral degrees in history at Harvard University.

During his distinguished career, Ropp served on the Secretary of the Army's Historical Advisory Committee and on the Board of Trustees of the American Military Institute. He also served as the institute's president from 1969 to 1971. Ropp is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, three sons, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. There will be no funeral or memorial services for Ropp. In lieu of flowers, Ropp's family asked that donations be made to the R.L. Watson Jr. Fellowship Foundation.

Lack of studio delays play: The Duke premiere of the Broadway-bound production "A Thousand Clowns," has been delayed for three months. Its producers announced yesterday that the play will have to wait until a theater opens up sometime next season before the play, which was scheduled to debut in New York this spring, opens there. The play, starring Tom Selleck, was scheduled to begin rehearsing at the University Jan. 2. This delay will push the first Durham performance back until May 15. "A Thousand Clowns" will still stay for three weeks at Duke, ending its run June 3.

University officials mailed letters this week to ticket-holders. Officials said ticket-holders should wait to contact Duke Drama until after receiving the letters.

DSG seeks feedback: Duke Student Government officials will be distributing questionnaires to students about the organization's effectiveness. The questionnaires, which will be given out today and tomorrow, will be available at the Cambridge Inn, the Bryan Center and the Marketplace. As an incentive, DSG officials will distribute candy to participants.

Tree of Hope to be dedicated: The 10th annual Tree of Hope will be dedicated at a ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Morris Cancer Clinic. At the dedication, hosted by the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program, officials will light the tree in support of cancer patients.