1924*
It is with trepidation that your Treasurer steps out of character to take over as guest editor of the 1924 Class Notes for the current issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. The transition from the authorship of dunning letters to a narrative of the activities of the men of 1924 is almost too abrupt for one of my literary ability. However, the gracious invitation of our genial Secretary, Jeff Adams, could not be ignored, and hoping that I might be able to rely on the rigorous training in journalism administered to me as an unsuccessful candidate for the job of editor-in-chief of TheDartmouth back in 1923, I accepted and appear before you in this column as the first, and probably the last, guest editor of these notes for the season. After his experience with me, Jeff will doubtless be more chary of his invitations.
The meeting of publication deadlines not being a part of my daily routine, I suddenly find that this material is due in the hands of the printer by tomorrow despite the fact that I have had several weeks' warning. I can only console myself by the thought that the job has been postponed to the last minute with the hope that additional interesting news might be forthcoming.
Located out here in Chicago, in what the Chicago Tribune rather inaccurately designates as the "Isolationist Middle West," these notes will take the form of a voice from the hinterland, where a very sizable delegation of classmates are engaged in various ways of trying to earn a living and perpetuate the race. When Jeff asked me some weeks ago to undertake this assignment, I wrote a letter to some forty members of the class in these parts, changing my usual appeal for the payment of class dues to a request for information about themselves and their activities. The response, although not as wide as I had hoped, has brought in a lot of interesting letters which I wish that space would permit me to include in full. Instead, in the following paragraphs—a few of the highlights.
The first fact to impress the mind of a bachelor in reading over these letters was the prolific quality of the Class of 1924 families of three and four seem to be the rule rather than the exception. The next thing was the age of some of these youngsters, all of which is only too concrete evidence of the fact that our class did move out from Hanover to make its way in the world over seventeen years ago.
The first letter that I pick up is from Arthur W. Sprague, lawyer and prominent member of the lower house of the Illinois Legislature. Probably for my benefit, Art mentions that he is a Republican. Art is mixed up in all kinds of civic activities in his home town of LaGrange, and is the proud father of four children —three girls and a boy, the oldest a junior in high school.
Herb Kaiser writes from Monticello, Illinois, where he is operating a title business of his own and practices law in the bargain. Herb has a ten-year-old youngster and recommends the life of a small-town magnate.
Ned Mansure writes that he has to divide his time between the management of the Chicago and Eastern plants of the E. L. Mansure- Company, manufacturers of drapery and upholstery trimmings, of which he is President. Ned has been active for many years in Republican politics in Chicago, having served two terms as Treasurer of the State Committee. Ned has run for office on the Republican ticket a couple of times in the past, but for a number of years the Kelly-Nash machine has ruled out Republican officeholders. He is active in civic and business groups, and Treasurer of the Illinois Manufacturers Association. Ned is married and lives in West Lake Forest.
Frank Karslake is the father of three husky boys and a daughter. Here is some real material for future Dartmouth football teams. Frank recently bought a home in Kenilworth where he is active in community life. He holds both the bowling and bridge championship at the Kenil-worth Club. Frank has for a number of years been sales representative of the Forbes Lithograph Company of Boston and handles some choice accounts.
A note from Bill Oatman out in Geneva, Illinois reports that he is engaged in the casein business, making this raw material for use in the manufacture of glue from skimmed, milk for the Hercules Powder Company. Bill has a thirteen-year-old son and a ten-year-old daughter. He spends a good deal of his time on business in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
A recent letter from Ted Lamb, prominent architect here in Chicago, states that he has just returned from a hunting and fishing trip in the Algoma Bush country in Canada. Ted has made a real name for himself in architecture and at the present time is directing the building of fifteen officers' quarters at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Ted lives in Wayne, thirty-five miles west of Chicago, and has two daughters, aged one and one-half and three.
Ax Coffin is a member of the firm of Moore, Case, Lyman & Hubbard, one of Chicago's oldest and largest insurance firms. In recent years Frank has gone in for his two hobbies in a big way. Both as a photographer and a gardener he ranks tops. He is also Vice President of the Chicago Athletic Association. Ax lives in Glencoe and is the father of a boy nine years old and a daughter one year and two months. He seems to be one of the few 1924 men in this vicinity who can find good business reasons for getting back to Hanover every few months.
Harland Stockwell, father of two boys, David 9 and Michael 5, is Assistant Executive Secretary of the Civic Federation in Chicago. This organization works with local governments in an effort to increase efficiency and reduce costs, thereby trying to assist the over-burdened taxpayer. Harland is also a lawyer by profession.
Earl Kees writes that he is associated with the Central Division of General Mills in the capacity of Assistant Divisional Sales Manager, with responsibilities covering eighteen mid-central states. Earl's office is here in Chicago. He is married and has a daughter eight and one-half years old.
Mike Watkins is Manager of Tin Plate Sales, The Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, Chicago District. He lives in Kenilworth and is the father of two boys and one girl. Mike served, a year or two ago, as President of the Dartmouth Alumni Association of Chicago.
A comparatively recent newcomer to the Middle West is Norman Rosie who now lives in LaGrange, Illinois. Norm is married and is a cost accountant for the Standard Milling Company of Chicago.
Al Burke reports that he is married and has three children—two daughters and one son—and that the family live in Lake Forest. Al is a member of the firm of Duff & Phelps, which renders an advisory service on public utility securities to banks, insurance companies and other institutions. Al gets a chance to do a bit of traveling in connection with his job and finds himself on the Pacific Coast a couple of times each year and in the East more frequently.
Fred Diehl indicates that he went into business for himself last Spring—mortgages, appraisals and the like—with headquarters at 518 Davis Street, Evanston, Illinois. A second son, William Lawrence, arrived on September 25, 1941 to join Fred E. Diehl Jr., born in January, 1937.
A brief note from Keith Drake advised that he is married and has two children, and hopes to send one of them to Dartmouth.
Jeff Carqueville writes that he was married on February Ist of this year and that he is at present Inspector at Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, South Works, Chicago, Illinois.
Perhaps at some later date the twenty or thirty other classmates in this area will find time to reply to my recent appeal for news. If so, this information will be passed along to our Secretary to be included in these columns at some later date.
As Treasurer of the class, I should be remiss in my duties if I passed by this opportunity to tell you briefly of the results during the past two years of our class subscription to the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. Last year—194o-41—262 men of the class paid their dues and received the MAGAZINE. This was our first year's trial of the plan and that we broke even is due to the fine cooperation given by those men who sent in their checks for the $3.00 dues, even though some of these had to be rather constantly coaxed by the writer.
So far this year, 203 have sent in their checks for class dues. Those of you who haven't done so will contribute greatly to the writer's joy of living if you will save him the necessity of dunning you.
For the benefit of those of you who live on the Eastern seaboard, particularly in New England, under the constant fear of bombing, I can assure you that we now have the Indians well under control back here in the bush, and if any of you come out this way to seek security the local members of the Class of 1924 will be most happy to see you and extend you hospitality.
Thank you very much George for your fine column. It certainly is nice to get the news from Chicago.
Secretary, 45 Chestnut St., Wellesley Hills, Mass. Guest author, GEORGE G. TRAVER
