score at a party given for Jim. A gorilla emerged from a huge cake and scored a direct hit on Jim with a custard pie. Three other talents really put Jim on top. One was a knowledge of finance and foreign exchange. A second was frugality. Jim was truly a careful caretaker of the corporate funds. The little extravagances that had crept in under the regimes of Littlefield and Wilson were quietly curbed. No more corporate airplane. No unquestioning acceptance of the assertion that the wife's traveling with the husband would serve a useful corporate purpose. No BMW's or Cadillacs as corporate cars. Under Curry we ran a tight ship. We were lean and mean. But if you think he is careful with the corporate funds, this cannot compare with the way he handles his own money - particularly where Barbara is concerned. This is not born of a sense of need. Jim's published compensation last year exceeded the total of Bud's and mine in our prime years. He was paid even more than Brian Loton which is either a great tribute from a grateful superior or due to some magic and spells conjured up by Carrol Houser in presenting data on comparative executive compensation. Despite this measured affluence, Barbara's daily allowance was customarily half that of the wives of Jim's traveling companions. Using his skill in anticipating changes in foreign exchange, Jim had bought British pounds well in advance of his trip to England. His traveling companions waited till they got to England to convert their dollars to pounds at a much less favorable rate. Jim never missed an opportunity to remind them that his cost in dollars for shared expenses was a fraction of theirs. But this was one time Barbara turned the tables on him by shaming him into the purchase of some antiques she coveted by reminding him that his cost would be only 50 cents on the dollar. The third ingredient in Jim's success is his almost paranoic desire to win. He really hates to lose! He hates to lose at anything! He doesn't lose very often, mostly because he doesn't give any repeat business - if he can help it - to those who beat him. Nor is he above questionable tactics to gain his ends. Playing golf at Farmington Jim hit his career drive on a par 4 and was delighted to see a ball on the green. As he leaned over to putt for an eagle, his opponent - an ex professional football player and now selling explosives - said: "Jim, check that ball. I think it's mine." Jim checked it. His face fell in disappointment but his reaction was predictable: "Rex, you'll never sell another pound of powder to this outfit again." Overconfidence has sometimes slowed his progress. Jim and his partner were part of a team representing the Burlingame Country Club in a tennis match against the Laguintas Club which was represented by two elderly players. Jim and his partner got off to a fast start and anticipated an early victory. Jim hollered over: "Start the barbecue!" It was an act of bravado that 3