David Bennet
Two of the paintings for PRESENT LAUGHTER (visible in the snap shot of that set) were done by intern David Bennett. As props went into storage after the season, set designer Sherwood Snyder took the paintings down to his farm in Benton Harbor where they remained in storage for over fifty years. Rediscovering them in 2009, Snyder began to seek out David (or his heirs), thinking the paintings might be of interest. A three month search finally led to a member of David's High School reunion committee who happened to have "an old address that never brought a response." It turned out that the address was still valid and David and his family were reunited with his early art work.
It was learned then that David graduated from the University of Illinois in 1956, went to work with the Leo Burnett Advertising firm in Chicago until he joined the Navy via Officer's Candidate School. He was commissioned in July of 1958 and completed a three year tour of duty on a destroyer out of Norfolk, VA. Obligated service completed, he transferred to inactive duty and returned to the Leo Burnett firm in Chicago. The Navy was in his blood and in 1962, he returned to active duty and retired in September of 1995 after 37+ years of service. After a remarkable record of service, he capped out his career as the Naval Inspector General.
It was learned then that David graduated from the University of Illinois in 1956, went to work with the Leo Burnett Advertising firm in Chicago until he joined the Navy via Officer's Candidate School. He was commissioned in July of 1958 and completed a three year tour of duty on a destroyer out of Norfolk, VA. Obligated service completed, he transferred to inactive duty and returned to the Leo Burnett firm in Chicago. The Navy was in his blood and in 1962, he returned to active duty and retired in September of 1995 after 37+ years of service. After a remarkable record of service, he capped out his career as the Naval Inspector General.
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