SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
One of the most successful periods in the history of the Southern California Association is indicated by the record-breaking attendance that has distinguished the start of the Association's new administrative year. Since the annual meeting on March 28, when James J. Norton, 1908, was inducted into the presidency, the association has had an attendance of more than thirty men at every one of its regular weekly luncheons, and a high water mark was reached on April 28, when forty-five members gathered around the usual tables at the University Club. The auspicious opening of "Jimmy" Norton's term as president follows on the substantial foundation laid down under the able leadership of Robert B. Thieme 'l7. the close of whose presidential year was observed with notable ceremony at the Jonathan Club on Saturday night, March 28. More than fifty fellows turned out to tell "Bob" of their appreciation and to launch Jimmy Norton on his new career.
The retiring president acted as toastmaster and presented the chief speaker, W. T. Gage '64. Mr. Gage, whose home is in Detroit and who has been a winter visitor here, told of the Dartmouth of the Sixties and of the men of his day. His talk, which was remarkable for its sprightliness and for the interesting and youthful viewpoint of the speaker, included a splendid tribute to President Hopkins. Another speaker was Henry Davis, of the local Cornell Alumni Association, who has decided to send his son to Dartmouth some years hence and who told the friends in the Dartmouth Association of the reasons that had impelled him to such a decision. If one may judge from Mr. Davis's remarks, there are a great many Cornell men who like Dartmouth College
One of the features of the evening was the presentation of a bronze placque to Howard R. Newcomb, of Detroit and Beverly Hills, denoting Mr. Newcomb's election as an honorary and life member of the Southern California Alumni Association. Mr. Newcomb, whose son, Howard R. Newcomb, Jr., is a member of the class of 1932, has endeared himself to the Southern California Alumni Association during the year of his regular attendance at the weekly luncheons, and by his loyalty to all Dartmouth traditions.
It was through Mr. Newcomb's co-operation that the Association was able to entertain the. football team in a way that gave the lads from Hanover most pleasant recollections of Southern California. The team and the coaches and the alumni and the wives and children of the last named group were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb at their home in the Bel-Air section of Beverly Hills, the team being given the opportunity of meeting a group of charming girls from the University of California at Los Angeles, members of Miss Newcomb's sorority, and the alumni then having the chance of meeting all the team at a reception and buffet supper. Most of the football players also went swimming in the large pool on the Newcomb estate.
Nearly 200 were present at this football reception, and Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb spared no effort to make it a notable Dartmouth gathering. The placque presented to Mr. Newcomb commemorates the occasion. It bears the Dartmouth College seal, and is inscribed with the reasons for the affection in which the association holds Mr. Newcomb.
A tribute was also paid to Henry M. Hobart '05, who had the teams as his guests at luncheon at the R. K. O. Studios, and who let the football players see what feminine motion picture stars look like in real life.
The annua] meeting witnessed the re-creation of the Stanford game, through the medium of the motion picture screen. Several excellent reels of the game had been loaned to the Association, and they revealed a number of new points, with especial testimony concerning the game battle put up by the Dartmouth boys.
The 1931-32 slate proposed by the nominating committee made up of former presidents went through unopposed. The complete roster follows: president, James J. Norton '08; first vice-president, Ray Reeve '23; second vice-president, E. Lawrence Brown 'l3; third vice-president, Ashton Castle '24; secretary and treasurer, Leon I. Rothschild '24; assistant secretaries, Sherman F. Haight '2l and Leslie B. McFadden '26; executive committee, Robert B. Thieme '17, Ray Bennett 'l3, and Henry M. Hobart '05.
Following his inauguration, President Norton announced that each of the classes represented in the Association would, in its turn, have charge of a regular weekly luncheon- these events to occur bi-monthly.
The first of these class luncheons was held April 14, with 1887 in charge. G. W. Shaw of this class acted as chairman of the day and introduced his classmates, Rev. W. P. Hardy and Prof. G. E. Johnson of Harvard University, as the speakers. There was an attendance of thirty-seven.
The class of 1924 was in charge on April 28. Ashton Castle, chairman of the day, presented as the only speaker Prof. Shepherd I. Franz, now connected with the University of California at Los Angeles, and a member of the Dartmouth faculty from 1901 to 1904. Prof. Franz said that he thought it was during the period he was at college that the final foundations for the new Dartmouth were laid. He also told of the work in psychology in which he has won distinguished recognition.
Members of the class of 1924 also had the privilege of showing the College News Reel, picturing the Midwinter Carnival of this year. There was a general expression of opinion following the showing of this movie that such pictures serve a very useful purpose in bridging the distance between college and alumni.
There has been great rejoicing among the members of the Association regarding the resumption of regular attendance by C. H. Brock '88. Mr. Brock suffered a breakdown nearly three years ago, and has been unable to attend any of the luncheons until this month. His appearance indicates in every way that his health has been fully restored. At the 1887 luncheon he was given a great welcome, and he announced that his loyalty to Dartmouth had not diminished during his years of enforced absence.
