1916*
Since last I sat down to write this monthly column, world events have finally caught up with us, and now we are a nation at war. Every member of the class is interested more than ever in the activities of his fellow members and their families. So let me hear from you soon, and keep me posted from time to time. Just to start the ball a rolling, I report that my nephew, Bill Jeavons, Dartmouth ex-'42, has joined the R.A.F., and will be called for training very shortly. And now for the "held-over" news.
From the Wall Street Journal of November 27, 1941, comes word that one William L. Cleaves, otherwise known as Pete, has been promoted to the position of assistant trust officer of the Girard Trust Company. Doubtless he owes this promotion in part, at least, to those mysterious labors which kept him from attending our twenty-fifth. At any rate, congratulations!
I am sorry that I included the word, "congratulations," for there are other honors to be noted, and there isn't space enough to keep repeating the word. So let our congratulations to Pete cover the rest of you also.
Upon Paul Goward has been conferred the Wohelo Award, the highest honor awarded by the Camp Fire Girls. It is given for distinctive and continued service in the Camp Fire program. Paul, who is business manager of School Arts Magazine, has been active on the Worcester Council of the Camp Fire Girls since October, 1934, and served as chairman of the "doughnut drives" during three campaigns. He has also been on the executive board as a member of the camp, finance, and publicity committees. Mrs. Goward is chairman of the Camp Committee. Inasmuch as Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt is a former winner of the award, it is apparent that Paul has joined a distinguished group.
From Edgar A. DeWitt '82 comes a splendid letter about Holmes Green and Tex Rogers. Because it is interesting and brief, I quote it in full.
"I just wanted to tell you that you have two very creditable classmates in Dallas. Holmes Green is a very vital force in the business life of our city, and has made a great contribution to Dartmouth in this section. John W. Rogers is another. He has done some quite remarkable work as a playwright and literary critic. Both of these men are so modest about their accomplishments that I feel constrained to say the foregoing. I am sure you will be glad to know that you have in faraway Texas 'sixteen' men of whom you all may be proud."
A note from Ken Henderson reports that his plans for attending the twentyfifth went askew by reason of the fact that his wife, his son, and Ken himself all contracted pneumonia. I gather that all have fully recovered and will join us next time.
Abe Lincoln warns us that all of his sons start college in 1946. He suggests a special class reunion at the time, the profits to be applied toward the education of the sons. This suggestion will be entertained by the executive committee provided we have Abe's assurance that the boys will go to the right college. By the way, Abe, you don't seem to be using the long-distance telephone as much as you used to.
Bill Nagle and Ken Tucker are members of the Dartmouth committee on admissions for the Boston area.
A very nice note from Phil Nordell to Alec Jardine, accompanying a check for class dues, promises that before the writer grows a white beard, he will mend his ways and join us at reunions. This makes at least two of us signed up for the thirtieth, white beards and all.
Clare Parker says that Ev should remove the 1916 from his reunion jacket, as it dates him, but Ev, loyal to the cause, refuses to pull down the colors. This seems to me extremely sensible. After all, Ev and I are pretty well dated without any numerals. After reunion, Clare and Ev "borrowed" Freddie and Kay Smith's New York apartment, and, as a result, enjoyed a delightful stay in that wicked city. They also stopped at Cleveland, but I was not here at the time. Probably I was still wandering around hunting for McAuliffe.
Dick Parkhurst's handsome visage appeared in the Boston Herald not so long ago, in connection with a little ceremony wherein a new book on the history of the Port of Boston was presented on behalf of the Massachusetts W.P.A. Writers' Project to Governor Saltonstall of Massachusetts. The Boston Port Authority, personalized by our Richard, sponsored the new tome. Posing with Richard, but dwarfed in comparison with his manly beauty, were the Governor and Mrs. Muriel E. Hawks, supervisor of the Project.
Dick Parkhurst writes of a very pleasant visit with Don Fuller.
Robert Jackson (Jack) Smith '36, who captained the swimming team at Dartmouth, sends word that Ken Ross, whose son, Gordon, is in the class of 1944, is also the father of Anne Ross, the women's senior national lowboard diving champion. Anne has barely reached eighteen, and, in addition to her diving prowess, was valedictorian of her 'graduating class at Port Washington High School, New York. She has been granted an academic scholarship at Barnard College. In the opinion of many followers of fancy diving, Anne is one of the finest divers in the country, and within a few years should hold all the national titles. Jack Smith adds that Ken Ross has "certainly sired a sweet diver." And I'll bet she's a grand girl too. How about some of the rest of you coming forth with some news about your progeny?
From a Boston paper I learn that Gil Tapley has joined the ranks of the dollara-year men. He is assisting the Training Within Industry defense program of the OPM in the Northern New England area. Gil asserts that this dollar-a-year angle is a misnomer, and that he is even worse off than during his days as a professor. In fact, he calls himself a WOC man (without compensation). Despite his pitiable plight, he paid his class dues with becoming promptitude. Gil has two daughters at Smith, which is practically the same as having two sons at Dartmouth, so far as time spent in Northampton is concerned. Page Browne is general manager of the Park Square Building in Boston, according to word from Gil Tapley, who sees him frequently.
Willis Rice Putney had an article in the American Magazine for September, 1941. He 'is connected with the high school faculty in Burlington, Vermont.
Bill Williams rated a lot of space in the Boston Herald last summer for a speech at the 75th anniversary science meeting of the University of.New Hampshire. Space forbids my setting forth Bill's remarks in detail. He spoke about the situation in this country with respect to oil, gasoline, and synthetic rubber. Bill is research manager of the Johns Manville Corporation. The company recently presented him with a gold watch in honor of his twenty-five years of service. He turned up at reunion with a charming wife and two "knock-out" daughters.
From Hanover I am informed that Stirling Wilson has written a pamphlet entitled, How to Sell to the Governmentfor Civilian Needs. This was written some months before our entrance into the war. Perhaps there will now be a sequel. Stirling has also been elected first vice-commander of the Department of Commerce Post No. 45, American Legion. Before reunion, Jack English received a postcard from Stirling, stating that Stirling was playing on a soft-ball league team, getting his youth back. I'll bet he needed a substitute for the next few weeks after Commencement!
To those of you who sent me Christmas cards, many thanks. You will appreciate the necessity of my thanking you en masse. And to all our class, their wives and families, I extend warm wishes for a Happy New Year.
Secretary, 2542 Stratford Rd., Cleveland Heights, O
