"If memory serves (and increasingly it doesn't) it's Finley Peter Dunne Jr., son of the American editor/humorist who created the saloonkeeper-philosopher "Mr. Dooley" in the late 1800s. Junior visited Taipei briefly in '58 or '59 as Executive Director at the time (1957 or 58) of the International Schools Foundation to check out overseas schools. I interviewed him and wrote an article for The Student Prints (what infamous person named it thus?), in which he richly---and sincerely, I think---praised the students and teachers of Taipei American School."

I received the following from Mr. Dunne's son Peter via email 27 Nov 2000 - Ron B. -

"Dear Ron Belanger,

Somehow my son, Andrew, found the TAS web site. My father, Finley Peter Dunne, pictured in several photos, one with Ross Bankson, was the Executive Director at the time (1957 or 58) of the International Schools Foundation. This organization functions as a Central Organization to evaluate and maintain standards and also to help found new schools abroad that will have a significant number of English speaking students. I believe he was involved with the actual founding of TAS, but, I could be mistaken about that. I recall that some of the highly placed members of the Kuomitang gave them an elaborate banquet, where my mother astounded them by giving a brief speech in Mandarin. Anyway, your excellent pages on TAS brought back memories of Dad and Mom talking about TAS, Taiwan, etc. Interestingly, my son has spent considerable time in Taiwan with business. He reports extremely favorably about his friends in Taiwan and conducting business there. Ross Bankson's information about Dad and my grandfather is accurate, except for Dad's organization. (I corrected the description - RB)

I am going to show the pictures to my sister and wife and daughter. If I can con any money out of them (they are all tighter than ticks!) I will send it on so that you can become "rich and famous"!

Regards,