CREW ALUMNI TO ERECT BENCH AT RED TOP TO HONOR MERRILL

An a tribute to John D. Merrill, "the man who never missed a Harvard crew race or practice at Red Top for 50 years," the Harvard Crew Alumni will erect a memorial bench in honor of Merrill who died six months ago.

Merrill, besides being a steadfast crew supporter, was a prominent Boston newspaperman and 25 years back a Cambridge city official. He used to watch every race from his traditional chair in the shade of the Red Top boat house.