1926*
Ritchie Smith, the itinerant book peddler of San Francisco, Honolulu and points west, receives a vote of thanks this month from the class Secretary. If it were not for his timely letter of recent date, our column this month would be hard to find. We quote Ginn and Company's star salesman:
"This is to report that two good twenty-sixers by full initiation in 1922, and one extra-good twenty-sixer by marriage of more recent date have been in these parts recently.
"Dorothy Cannon, wife of our south-sea-islander, Jack, was here in San Francisco for two or three weeks pending arrival of a freighter headed for Tahiti. It seems that there is some sort of a war going on at the present time, and arrival and sailing dates of British ships are shrouded in complete mystery. Dorothy was consequently on uneasy street for some days wondering when she might be given a call to set sail. Although I haven't heard whether or not she arrived safely, I do know that she finally pulled out of San Francisco harbor, much to our regret, but leaving us feeling thankful at having met this latest attractive addition to the twenty-six family.
"Dick Gunthorp, our big printer from the Middle West, happened to be in San Francisco on a little vacation about the same time Dorothy was here, so the Cannon-Gunthorp-Smith combine enjoyed several get-togethers.
"Dick is showing the wisdom I had hoped by this time to be able to credit to more of our classmates, in his determination to settle in California. His expressed intent is to go into the hog-raising business, acquiring a nice patch of land where corn can be grown with a minimum of difficulty, feeding same to hogs, and thus playing havoc with our present hog markets which is largely fed on local garbage. Understand, of course, that our garbage is only the finest there is here in California, but even so I think there is 'merit in his plans, especially if they bring him out here.
"This past week that very worthy individual, Del Worthington, has been with us checking up on our local newspapers with the object of improving their national advertising hook-up with his concern, Williams, Lawrence, and Kresmer. They already have the Los ANGELES TIMES and the OAKLAND TRIBUNE, but apparently have room for one or two additional papers. Judging from the briefs that Del had on hand to present, I am sure he will bag the desired game. I regret to report that despite years of promise for sunshiny weather, we gave him nothing but a deluge of rain for the duration of his visit, so any plans for golfing were out of the question. However, we spent many pleasant hours hashing and re-hashing the years between 1922 and 1926 with the benefit of Aegis and Greenbook.
"Sincerely yours—RITCHIE."
Ritchie added in a postscript that Gob Des Marais, Bill Nigh and he had a grand time together at the Northern California Alumni Dinner on February 22nd.
Speaking of '26 representation at Alumni Dinners, we were well represented at the New York affair February 15th at the Commodore by Sid Hayward, Eddie Dooley, Courtney Brown, Ed Fowler, Bob Stopford, Charlie McDonough, Hap Johnson and Norton Van Duyne. On April sth at the Northern New Jersey party at the Montclair Golf Club, Bob Cleary, Jake Jacobus, Bob Riotte, Bleek Williams and Tom Floyd-Jones made up an imposing body of men. Mention should be made that yours truly was on hand both times.
Ralph Thomas, the banking tycoon of Pittsburgh sent greetings from Washington, D. C. recently, in the form of a post card picture of the Supreme Court Building. He didn't say whether he was being investigated or just investigating. Incidentally, he has recently moved to 1471 Beechwood Boulevard, Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh.
At the alumni dinner in Pittsburgh April 5, '26 set a record for attendance. The following were present: Keir Boyd, Ralph Thomas, Jack Leech, Nate Parker, John Gearhart, and Sid Hayward. Bill Wolfe couldn't make it, Fred Wenck has moved to Chicago. Fifteenth Reunion in the summer of '41, was discussed and everyone liked the plan.
The Nate Parkers have had a tough time with illness. Jane has been in the hospital and the little eight months old boy was operated on last week for a serious throat infection. Nate was able to report a few days after the operation that the baby was doing well.
Ed Rosie is Supervisor of Advertising Budgets for General Foods and is living in Glenbrook, Connecticut Howard Kuhn is with Mower Lumber Co. in Omar, West Va. (that's the place they make the tents) Ken Joy is now living at 83-46 118th Street, Kew Gardens, Long Island. ... .Frank Briggs' new address is 126 East Washington Street, Chagrin Falls, Ohio. .... Bob Stopford may be found toasting his shins before the fire at 62 North Road, Bronxville, N. Y Wendell Ross is in Washington, D. C. at 3215 19th Street Dave Harriman is living in Rossford, Ohio; he gives his address as c/o Dr. George C. Robert.
As you read this, the Alumni Fund campaign will be well under way and we sincerely hope that every one of you will do your part in keeping 1926 up at the top of the heap as it has been for so long. If you are going to contribute, and we know you are, send in early and save Al Louer and his crew of assistants needless follow-up work. Here's a toast to 1926's 400!
Secretary-Chairman, Whitney Rd., Short Hills, N. J. Class Agent, 1 North State St., Chicago, Ill.
* 100% subscribers to the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, on class group plan.
