Class of 1885
Olin Sturgis of Sacramento, Calif., writes that he divides his time about equally between reading, meditating on life, and cussing the present un-American administration. Such a division of his time is particularly interesting in view of the fact that he had been a lifelong Democrat until Franklin D. Roosevelt appeared with his "New Deal"—since then he has voted the Republican ticket.
Henry Austin of Warner, N. H., and St. Petersburg, Fla., is president of the Dartmouth Association of Florida. Henry's great loyalty for his Alma Mater makes him well qualified to fill the position.
Richard Currier of Barre, Vt., has been elected as president of the Vermont Branch of the American Engineering Council. The Council has much to do with the planning of public engineering undertakings throughout the country and has a branch organization in the various states. Dick has also served the Vermont Branch as its treasurer for many years. The work of the Council is of particular interest to him in view of his long active service in connection with the Vermont Highway Commission.
On January 19 Otis Hovey will be formally installed as an honorary member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. This is the highest honor within the gift
of the Society, which has a membership of over 15,000, and there are now only 23 having the grade of honorary membership, one of whom is Ex-President Herbert Hoover and two of whom reside abroad. Otis will have the very pleasing honor of being presented to the president of the Association on that occasion by our classmate, John Brooks, president emeritus of Clarkson College. This honorary membership is one of the highest, if not the highest distinction that can come to any American engineer, and all who know him will agree that Otis has fully earned and deserved it.
All letters from "Life" Philbrick indicate that while he continues to live in Los Angeles, Calif., he is no wise satisfied to be away from New England and Boston, and we still hope that he and his family will return East for their permanent home.
Ed Allen has completed 47 years of official association with the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Cos. of Boston and heads the list of directors of its Medical Department. Some of his letters to the Secretary give ample evidence that he possesses a rare vein of humor.
In December the Secretary sent out his annual Christmas letter, which contained reports from 26 out of the 28 living members of the class and from our one honorary member, making a showing which would rejoice the heart of any secretary. The letter also included a brief resume of news from the College. As many of the letters from the class referred more or less feelingly to the fact that we are growing old, the Secretary closed his letter with some lines which seemed to him to aptly and concisely counteract that sentiment, and as members of some nearby classes may be afflicted by a similar feeling, he ventures to repeat them here.
Don't say we're old! For if from life we take the best, And if in life we keep the zest, If love we hold, No matter how the years go by, No matter how the birthdays fly, We are not old.
Secretary, Kimball Bldg. Tremont St., Boston
