1937*
OUTSTANDING STUDENT Ensign William Cole '37 whose fine record in the U. S. Naval Reserve brought him recognition as the outstanding student in the 1939-40 classes at Pensacola. This notice appeared in a recent Army and NavyRegister:
"Aviation Cadet William Cole, U. S. Naval Reserve, class 121-c, received the Officers' Club annual award as the outstanding student among the 1939-40 classes at the naval air station, Pensacola, it was announced recently by Capt. A. C. Read, the Commandant.
"A pair of gold wings, emblematic of the award is presented to the outstanding cadet. The massive trophy, which bears the names for each year is mounted in the office of the commander. He is now with patrol squadron 53, San Juan, Puerto Rico."
From FRANKLIN W. YOUNG Crozer Theological Seminary Chester, Penna.
As a result of your correspondent's sincere desire to portray the last minute news of the class, a process began a good many hours ago which has projected upon my mind every familiar scene registered in college days. No doubt we bachelors spend disgustingly more time in such pleasant reveries than you fortunate men who have made feminine additions to shrink the long winter nights. Most recent of those to succumb to the wiles of our opposites is Eldred Timson who took the leap Feb. 1st with Armana Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earle Samuel Brown of White
River Junction, Vermont. To the list of not quite but soon '37's add the name of Bill Fallion who writes from up Hartford way as follows: "Since last you've heard I've got engaged to one Mary Lou Nailor of Germantown, Pa. Unfortunately never saw a real Dartmouth houseparty as she spent too much of her time at Princeton, Penn. and Yale. Well, I still caught her young enough to bring her up in the right tradition. I will be married some time this year. Gad, will it be good." And the remainder of this howling pack of lone wolves joins in the chorus, "Gad, will it be good," in true Fallionic fashion. (How about it Kier?) Ex '37er Roge Allen has set Feb. 15 for his wedding date but we have no information concerning the other half of the story.
And now let's hop around and see the latest additions to the boys who are toting the guns, looping the planes, and churning the waves. Out in the home of grass skirts, blue waters, and endless sunshine it's Henry Lenning (Esberg in college) who is now Ensign H. F. Lenning of the Naval Reserve. Henry is stationed in Hawaii and can be reached c/o U.S.S. Portland, Pearl Harbor. (Check Sloggett for addresses of a few of those hip twisters, Henry. The ole beach comber should be able to fix you up). On the west coast at San Diego is big Don Otis. He is now a 1st Lt. in the Marines and shouts the orders as a Battery Commander of a 5" anti-aircraft emplacement. Wife Ramona is holding the fort at 3920 Idaho St. Jim Otis has completed his flight training in the U. S. Marine Corps at Squantum, Mass., and now he awaits orders for further training at Pensacola, Florida. Jim writes, "Walt Hard volunteered from Bennington County, Vermont in November and is now in Co. 'F', 26th Infantry stationed at Fort Devens, Ayer, Mass. Just yesterday I visited him. He's lukewarm on the whole thing and is writing an article for the Atlantic Monthly concerning draftee life."
Apparently Walt Johnson is carrying on quite nobly in his chosen field of American History as a member of the faculty of the University of Chicago. At present he is on a leave of absence doing special work. In a recent letter he says, "I am spending the winter quarter doing research on William Allen White's life. Someday, quite a long way off, I expect to publish a biography of him. He is a very mellow individual, very likeable, and has a grand sense of humor. The research is made a great deal more pleasant by the fact that he is willing to give me a free hand with all his letters and answer all of my inquisitive questions. Walt's mail should be directed to The Emporia Gazette, Emporia, Kansas. He has recently published an article entitled, "Charles R. Matheny: Pioneer Settler of Illinois" in the December Journalof the Illinois State Historical Society.
To the large number of men already in New York add Bill Hoyt who is now working for the Pan-American Airlines in their New York office. Bill Geraghty, of Lord and Taylor fame, takes time off from his models (they say his covey has doubled since Ted Bruce took the vows) to tell us, "We had a grand party Jan. nth combined with '38....'G00d Resolutions Dance.' " And for those who had a good time and the others in New York who didn't know about this last Blast Bill writes, "We plan to hold another dance sometime in March—why not the 15th—Good—Will you announce it in your column for March Ist. Inform the boys that the charge is one dollar stag or couple." Bill postcripts his letter telling us that publicity magnet Morty Berkowitz, "the playboy of Palm Beach," is taking a breath of fresh air to those wintering in balmy Florida. A short time before his departure Morty came through with additional New York news.
"It will interest you to know that Dave and Muriel Camerer are upon Hill 7 in St. Sauveur skiing for a week. Lawyer McCray has been working for one of the local draft boards handling their legal complications, and has also been beating me in squash. Gordon Wise, according to stories and pictures in the New York Times and other papers just distinguished himself by winning a special award from the Columbia School of Architecture."
You can all collect a stogey from that reserved, modest, and likeable chap, Gail Compton. A small card, pink bordered, tells the story that it is a baby girl, born Jan. 17, 1941. When you see Gail just ask about Gay Roberts Compton. About a month before, on Dec. 18, Jack and Louise Daniels hit the stork for a bouncing, baby boy. We're glad to hear that all six are doing well.
John Meston is teaching at the Ruxton Academy in Havana, Cuba and can be reached at that address. Hal Parachini holds forth at the Chestnut Hill Academy, Chestnut Hill, Pa. Recently Hal made his debut at the Palestra (Univ. of Penn. gym) refereeing one of the big time basketball games. He is working in the graduate school of U. of P. but finds time now and then for a little recreation. "The chubber inside me has finally hit the top. Managed to get myself to Buck Hill Falls, Pa. yesterday, and what fun I had," writes Hal. Richard Smith serves in the capacity of Ass't. Mgr. of the Montgomery Ward Retail Store in Bedford, Indiana. Dave Todd is drawing lines for some firm of architects in Detroit, Michigan but we can't be exact.
We have intercepted a letter written by Dexter Smith from Lexington, Mass., and consequently have the latest report on the former City Editor of the Dartmouth. "I am still with Filene's," he writes, "although safely out of the stockboy classification, into the Gift Shop as assistant buyer. This is fun because we sell anything that can be broken or dented or scratched or chipped." That conception of "fun" which Dex has developed is rather disturbing but we'll trust that his sense of humor hasn't been perverted by his years in the stock room.
Paul Wentworth migrated to Concord, Mass. where he became a partner last July in a wood-panelling business, and a member of the class reports, "and having seen him once behind 18 beers, likes it much." Fred Bunce has returned to Hartford but we are not sure of his occupation. In the same city Bill Fallion keeps the figures in the proper columns for the Phoenix Mutual in their Accounting Department.
We had looked forward to announcing the Reunion Chairman in this issue but for some good reason the name has not been released and we must get this to the press. Undoubtedly, Don will break the news next month. In the meantime, we can all be making plans for the annual '37 affairs which will be celebrated sometime in May. The suggestion this year is for picnics to be held in the daytime throughout the country. More detailed information will appear next month.
Senior Fellow, Roily Bialla, pens more news from New York. "Just returned from a squash game with Tom. Cohen, and dinner at the Dartmouth Club with Tom Reck, Latta McCray, Dana Prescott and Bill Geraghty. Ran into Ed Ryan a couple of weeks back and he's still with the Washington Post enjoying same muchly." Roily closes his letter in a rather pessimistic mood. "Outlook for the future of our generation seems darker and darker. We awakened to the utility of money at a time when the nation was in the depths of the depression and now we start careers at a time when our way of life is about to be shattered by a victorious war or the consequences of isolation. The worst of it is that no desirable social goal seems achievable." Roily definitely hits upon a dilemma which concerns all of us, especially at such a time when many of the people in our land seem to be frustrated. We certainly need men who can remain confident and stable in the face of adversity. If there is any contribution which Dartmouth men can make it should be that stability. We have truly reached a moment when we can prove or disprove the validity of our great song, "Men of Dartmouth." Let's take a lesson from the Old Pine, recalling the words of classmate Wayne Ballantyne as he presented the address to the memory of that venerable symbol.
"There is something in the sight of a giant pine towering over its neighbors high on a hill which inspires a feeling akin to reverence. We stop to admire its rugged, silent, beauty, its soft, green foliage. We wonder at its incredible girth and endless height. There is inspiration and courage in its gnarled strength when we think back on the hnudreds of years the tree has endured. The uncomplaining defiance of the pine as it faces year after year the fury of storms fills one with the wish that WE, TOO MIGHT BE AS STRONG."
ENSIGN COLE
Secretary, 10314 S. Hoyne Ave., Chicago, Ill.
