The E-Sylum:  Volume 11, Number 6, February 10, 2008, Article 12

ROBERT LEUVER'S THOUGHTS ON DIANE WOLF

[Robert Leuver is an E-Sylum regular.  Former head of the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing, he is also a former
Executive Director of the American Numismatic Association.
Regarding our earlier discussions of the late coin design
change advocate Diane Wolf, Bob submitted the following
recollections. -Editor]

We got to know Diane at the 1989 ANA Summer Convention in
Pittsburgh, where I also met Wayne Homren for the first time.
Diane had a broken foot or ankle.  Ruthann asked my wife Hilda
to assist her.  Diane, Hilda and four-year-old Mary Ellen
became good friends with Diane, as Hilda pushed Diane's wheel
chair from the Hyatt to the Convention Center and back.
Maybe Hilda and Mary Ellen appreciated the return to the
Hyatt as they would pause for an afternoon "refreshment."

I toured Washington, DC, with Diane in her limo.  We stopped
in the offices of many senators and congressmen to attempt
to get a change in the design of US coinage.

At the hearing Chairman Frank Annunzio began his opening
remarks somewhat as follows:  "There is someone in this
room who knows how difficult it is to get The Congress to
address and take action regarding the change to our money."
That was me he was talking about.  I testified many times
before the Chairman's subcommittee on the changes to U.S.
currency to thwart counterfeiting.

I was one of the last members of the panel to speak.  I
knew how committee/subcommittee meetings work.  You have
to get the attention of the senator(s) or congressman(men)
if you want them to listen to you.

I opened my remarks by stating, "Mr. Chairman, I know to
whom you addressed your opening comments and I can attest
to the difficulty in changing the designs on our money."
Chairman Annunzio smiled, as did his chief of staff Curt
Prinz, and I offered my remarks for the record and spoke
for only five minutes, looking the Chairman in the eyes
the whole time.  I wonder in retrospect whether it was
the Chairman or Curt Prinz, who was so negative regarding
change.

Fine attire was a hallmark of Diane Wolf.  But that is what
made her so effective.  You remembered her.  You knew who
she was 75 yards away in the corridors of the Senate and
House office buildings.  She took members of Congress to
dinner at very nice places.  They did not mind being seen
with a beautiful young woman.

Fond memories.  Diane, you died so young.  Too young!

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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