1914
Probably beginning a column of this kind with a note of farewell is somewhat of an anachronism, but I do want to give the following from Ed Leech first place in these notes.
"Despite the paper shortage I beg a few paragraphs for the indulgence, patience and cooperation during these past years as class secretary, and I want to solicit your support for the new incumbent, Wallace Drake.
"The job is one of fun tempered with sorrow, especially those months when there is the sad duty of recording the admission of a classmate to the Great Alumni. I have enjoyed this association with all of you and thanks for all your help.
"In my business life I have made contacts with many colleges and their Alumni Officers. To this group, jointly and separately, the Dartmouth and Alumni Fund activities are a never ceasing source of wonderment. Sometimes I wonder at it, myself. But it is reasonable, rational and quite understandable. Those of us possessed of undergraduate years at Hanover merely want to keep up the good work of the generations before us for the benefit of those who will follow us. That is why I want to sing this swan song on a note for the Alumni Fund. Dartmouth is worth perpetuating, and our class record of contributions speaks for itself. In Jack Connors, we can look forward to a splendid effort and admirable results. His war work job is very heavy and we can all help by not requiring too much prodding.
"We must pass up small things like class reunions this eventful year, but 1949 will surely come and, I hope, be one of peace and of gathering again. Ed Leech."
From Red Davidson comes a most welcome and interesting letter. Red strikes a note of regret at the cancellation of Reunion but looks forward to a really big one at the close of the war.
His son, who became eighteen in April, had enlisted in the Air Corps last November and was sworn in at that time, waiting until his eighteenth birthday before the Army would take him. The boy was called to service two days after his birthday and is now in training in Mississippi. Red writes:
"The Philadelphia Alumni had Earl Brown down from Hanover a couple of weeks ago to talk to them along with the Pennsylvania football coaching staff. As usual Dick Barlow was present (try to keep him away from any Dartmouth affair within fifty miles of Trenton) ,as was Moose Englehorn. Moose gets out occasionally to our weekly luncheons held each Tuesday at the Princeton Club."
Ellsworth Buck has announced his retirement from the presidency of the New York City Board of Education. Buck feels that two years is long enough to hold office for the good of the system. At this writing he is being considered Republican candidate for Representative from the eleventh congressional district. Bucky has served two one-year terms as president, during which time his name has become well known in the field of Secondary School Education.
As suggested, last month, the Boston group met April 10th, at the Hotel Lenox, to informally greet Leonard White who was delivering the Bacon Lecture series at Boston University. At the luncheon, besides White, were Kittredge, Campbell, Drake, Burleigh, Barnard, Kimball, Loveland, Austin, Brown, Aborn and Roger Rise. It was swell to see Professor White again after so many years, and a very enjoyable hour was spent.
Bob Hopkins very kindly sent the following report on the New York Alumni dinner, which I quote in full.
"On the night of April 13, there was another gathering of 'l4ers at the Annual Dartmouth Alumni dinner at the New York Association. Once again we met at the Dartmouth Club. Prexy was hitting on all sixteen and did his usual superb job. Special mention of the crowds' singing is in order, for it was stirring.
"This occasion ushered in the return of 'Sig' Larmon to our midst and 'Welcome Home' was the rallying cry. 'Sig' looked the way many of us will look in August, we hope. We suspect 'Sig' mingled sunshine with the arduous task of getting out there where it is. He apparently did not suffer the fate of Harpo Marx who, when asked if it had stopped raining in Hollywood, said he didn't know—his dove hadn't come back yet. We also welcomed Art Portman, a fellow classmate we haven't seen at our class gatherings before Snatch Wilkinson was with us for the first time in too long a while. We still think 'Snatch' was the greatest pianist for his size we were ever privileged to listen to. Consider yourself decorated, 'Snatch.' Those classmates attending were Bill Hands, Walt Daley, 'Snatch' Wilkinson, Fred Davidson, Jim Heenehan, Ken Fuller, 'Lize' Wheelock, 'Jeff' Beals, John Palmer, 'Sig' Larmon, 'Art' Portman, 'Kelley' Kalenderian, 'Jess' Stillman, and 'Bob' Hopkins. If by any chance we have left any one unmentioned, your roving reporter is sincerely sorry. There were no class tables as such, and we are not too sure of our coverage.
The weekly notice for the April 7 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Waltham, Mass., advises that the speaker was to be the Rev. Walter David Knight, New England Field Representative of the Presbyterian Church, on the subject, "Easter and the World at War." "The Rev. Mr. Knight has served in two Army Camps and has travelled a considerable distance. He has met people and is qualified to talk on this vital subject."
From the Second National Bank of Boston, "Bert" Symonds, who is assistant cashier, writes that his entire brood is in the Service. Arthur, with the 101st Infantry, and Barbara with the WACSs in Hawaii. The latter recently broadcast from there over the Army Hour Program, and Bert says that it was quite a thrill for the "Old Folks" to hear her voice.
Once more it becomes the sad duty of the secretary to report the death of another classmate. This time it is "Joe" Batchelder, who passed away at his home in Peoria, 111., late in April. The news came by way of Jack Field, who had stopped to visit "Joe" and found him seriously ill, obviously not to recover. "Joe" had been ill for some time and only recently had returned from Florida where he had been sent by his physician. A letter expressing the sympathy of the class, together with flowers, were sent to Mrs. Batchelder. The In Memoriam section, either in this or the next issue, will carry a trifle more detail.
Jack Field, Jr. '39, is manager of the Plastic Research Department of B. F. Goodrich Co., and is deeply engrossed in synthetic rubber. Bob Field, Ensign U.S.N., Dartmouth '43, is on active duty in the Pacific, while sister Nancy, P.B.K., at Bates in '4l, remains at home in Tiffin, Ohio, and is in charge of priorities for a large manufacturing concern there. Jack reports all is well with him and that he recently saw Walter Netsch in the railroad station at Chicago. "Walt looks as young as ever, except for some additional avoirdupois." His boy is in the Army, instructing in English.
The following are address changes recently received from the Alumni office: Stephen C. Fordham, 196 Fairfield Beach Rd., Fairfield, Conn.; Frederick P. Cranston, 409-10 Equitable Bldg., Denver, 2 Colorado; Lt. Col. Allen P. Richmond Jr., Indian Spring Rd., Rowayton, Conn.; James M. Crowell, Colgate Palmolive Peet Co., 105 Hudson St., Jersey City, N. J.
Have just been talking with "Em" Barrett who is treasurer of Maveric Mills in East Boston. The Barretts have just returned from a trip to California to visit their son, Ist Lt. Lee Barrett, Dartmouth '4l, who was wounded on December 28 at Cape Gloucester. Rather seriously wounded, the boy was brought to this country for treatment at the Oakland Naval Hospital, where Capt. Arthur Deering is commanding officer. "Em" reports that the boy is now doing nicely and has been promised ultimate, complete recovery, but has many months ahead of him. Em's other boy, Ensign William A. Barrett, after spending two years at Dartmouth, in the class of '44, entered Naval Aviation and has just received his wings.
Secretary, 88 Sea Street, North Weymouth, Mass. Treasurer, The Stanley Works Amer. Tube & Stamping Plant Bridgeport 7, Conn.
