Pudrith Shell Christened

The memory of Chester A. Pudrith '16 was honored when the Detroit Boat Club, the oldest rowing club in the United States, christened a new racing shell in his name, using water from the Connecticut River for the ceremony, April SO, just thirteen years after Pudrith's death in an airplane crash during the World War. The shell was christened by his sister, Miss Dorothy Pudrith, and put into the water by the board of directors of the club, six of whom had been crewmates of Pudrith.

A simple ceremony marked the dedication of the new eight-oared shell in memory of the former Dartmouth athlete and undergraduate leader. Members of the Detroit Boat Club crew formed an archway of oars under which the club's officers and directors passed with the new shell. Before the shell was christened by Miss Pudrith, Ford Whelden '25, president of the Dartmouth Club of Detroit, read a tribute written by E. K. Hall '92. Mr. Hall's letter said in part: "It is a beautiful and touching thing that the Detroit Boat Club is doing in honor of "Chick" Pudrith, and I am most grateful to you for letting me have an humble part in it. For we Dartmouth men count "Chick" as one of our very best and he has a warns spot in the hearts of all of us who knew him.

"Chick left a magnificent record behind him at Dartmouth. In his first year he was a member of the freshman football, hockey and track teams. In his sophomore, junior and senior years, he was a member of the varsity football team, playing a smashing game at tackle and contributing heavily to the success of the Dartmouth teams in those years. During the three years he played on the team, Dartmouth lost only one football game and this to Princeton by a close score; Princeton 16, Dartmouth 12.

"He was a member of the varsity gymnasium team for two years, class president for at least two and I think three years. His average scholastic standing for his four years in college was just under 80. In his junior and senior years, he was a member of what is called the Third Honor Group and in his senior year, he won the Archibald Athletic Prize, a prize given to the man who has done the most for his college in athletics during his college course. He was also the winner of the Barrett Medal in his senior year, which is the highest honor an undergraduate can receive. It is awarded to that member of the senior class who, in the opinion of the senior and junior classes, has done the most for the college from every point of view during his college course. Few men have made a record like this and it is one to be proud of.

"Chick's aggressive leadership, his indomitable courage and high character made him a tower of strength in every game in which he participated, and always a wholesome and powerful influence in the life of the College."