Lon Gove Dies

Lon Gove died May 22 after an illness that has been slowly wearing him down since October, when he left Hanover and the Hanover Inn to fight his futile battle against death at the home of his sister in Laconia. Lon was undoubtedly known to and by more Dartmouth men of older generations than any other resident of Hanover.

Lorenzo D. Gove was born in Hanover, June 22, 1862. His age has always been a subject of doubt and discussion among alumni for he has been reputed to be among the ancients. He would have been 71 next month. Early in life Lon developed exceptional athletic prowess which was put to good use by varsity teams in the days when enrollment in the College was a minor consideration in eligibility rules. It is well known that he played on the first Dartmouth football team to engage Harvard. This game was played in 1882 and resulted rather disastrously for the Green, 53-0. Lon continued to play football for some several subsequent seasons and he also excelled as a member of the varsity baseball team. He sang on the College glee club for several years. No records have ever revealed that he had any academic connection with Dartmouth at any time.

With experience as a hotel worker in White Mountain and Florida resorts, Lon became a clerk at the Hanover Inn in 1905 then, as now, owned by the College and managed by A. P. Fairfield '00. He held this position until his retirement, forced by illness, in October.