1920
The class starts its- twenty-sixth year in a bit of official confusion, because Frank Morey has resigned as secretary after ten years of faithful service. His successor is eager to carry on in orderly fashion, but asks the indulgence of everybody while warming up for the job. Meanwhile, a natural first step would appear to be the recounting of the happenings in Hanover at what would—in happier days- have been 25th Reunion time.
Enough Twenties were there on the home grounds, on one piece of business or another, to make a "token" class meeting possible the weekend of June 9. Stan Newcomer had come on from Monroe to make official presentation to President Hopkins of the initial gift for the Class of 1920 Memorial Fund. Appropriately, Charlie McGoughran was presiding over the annual meeting of the Alumni Association, at which our check for $20,500 changed hands. And Dorothy McG. had the good sense to come along with him and help decorate the Inn veranda. Mrs. Elliott had proud reason for coming up with Roc, because he was being honored with membership on the Alumni Council, as official representative of the Class Treasurers' group. The Baketels had to make certain that the lawn was mowed over on their Canaan hilltop. The Dick Pearsons were visiting relatives up the road a piece. And so it went. Dr. Grant Lucas, in nearby Burlington for his daughter's graduation from the University of Vermont, made the natural move of returning to Washington via Hanover.
From down Boston way came the Mugs Morrills, the Eb Wallaces, the Bun Harveys, the Lee Hodgkins, and the George. Macombers. (Seeing the younger Bunny Harvey with his folks, very big and handsome in his uniform was one of the real treats of the weekend.) The Ben Ayreses and the Doc Millers came over the road from Worcester, but Anne Crathern seized the opportunity to show her veteran Major husband how neatly she could deliver him to Lebanon by means of the private plane acquired in his absence. Buttons and Mrs. Hill (née Eva Stebbins) rambled over the mountain from Rutland. Warrie and Mrs. Chamberlain were on holiday from New York.
As word of all this spread, the local contingent in Hanover got busy and constituted itself a reception committee. This, incidentally, brought to light the interesting fact that 1920 has probably the largest Hanover-resident group of any single class: John Amsden, Al Foley, Paul Sample, Dick Goddard, Harry Sampson, Bill Carter and Al Frey of the College faculty; Bud Weymouth of the Clark School; Elmer Stewart and Pat Holbrook, who work in or out of Hanover. Except for Al Frey and Elmer Stewart, both of whom work an X-hour week in Washington, the rest of the locals were much in evidence throughout the weekend. They arranged a class dinner at the Ski Hut (a handy little jigger that has come into being practically out of sight behind the Inn, in case you didn't know). And in the course of the dinner a highly impromptu class meeting was held.
All action taken by this would-be class meeting was of stop-gap nature, intended simply to maintain the class organization and serve as insurance for the gains we have made in class strength and spirit. When there can be an official reunion and a real class meeting, with a constitutional quorum in attendance, a permanent organization can replace the present necessarily temporary one. To tide us over, however, those present in Hanover nominated and elected, pretty much by acclamation, the following executive committee for the class: Dick Pearson, Secretary-Chairman; Roc Elliott, Treasurer; Sherry Baketel, Ted Cart, Charlie Crathern, Al Frey, Al Haas, Charlie McGoughran, Mugs Morill, Stan Newcomer and Red Tillson. Al Foley, re-elected Class Agent, has something like ex-officio status on the executive committee. All the above were re-elections, incidentally, except Pearson, Baketel and Newcomer.
Happiest of all the happenings was the very gratifying attainment of the goal set for the class gift. It was to be Twenty Grand, you remember, and we shot past that mark; with collector Stan Newcomer stuffing last-minute contributions into his pockets right there on the College campus and finding still more in his mailbox when he got back to Monroe, Mich- At last accounts the Class of 1920 Memorial Fund totaled more than fa $21,000 a fine demonstration of 1920's sincere devotion to Dartmouth College. All members of the class who participated can share the deep satisfaction expressed by President Hopkins in his informal speech of acceptance for the College.
When our delayed 25th Reunion is finally held—and for all our sakes, it must be heldwe can all refresh our memories of the value represented by any investment in the College. To anyone newly returned to Hanover, the brightness of sunlight and shadow playing on the face of Dartmouth Row makes that spot seem once more the most beautiful in the world. Later, sitting on the Inn Porch as evening turns into night, watching deep blue change to black behind the spire of the Baker Library, you realize that the New Dartmouth is beautiful also—that it is not the exclusive property of younger Dartmouth men, but has already begun to become yours and to share in your affections.
As the months pass, we shall try to perfect a system whereby news of the class comes regularly and from all directions to this waiting typewriter. But the first and most important step in that direction is already a fait accompli. Ray McPartlin has said yes to the secretary's plea for unfailing contributions to this column; and anyone who remembers Mac well will be quick to spot the products of his journalistic eagle eye and his feature-writing pointed pen. By way of getting his hand in, Ke reports that Hal Bernkopf has been reelected president of the Hecht House board of trustees, the same being "a kind of settlement house-plus." Mac likewise contributes the following anonymous tribute from a Boston attorney friend of Cy Rounseville's, who laments Cy's departure as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Industrial Accident Board:
"Rounseville was one of the fairest-minded and most impartial commissioners with whom I have had any dealings. It is a mighty hard thing to keep one's sense of perspective in a job of that kind. He never violated Rule 11, however; that is the rule which may be succinctly stated as 'Don't take yourself too damned seriously.' Rounseville was a regular guy, a gentleman and an impartial arbiter. What more can be said for a man in a position which combines the duties of judge, jury and watchdog of the interests of the employees with whom he comes in contact? I am tickled to death that he came up with a good post to take the place of the one he held, but we are all sincerely sorry to see him leave the board."
Secretary, Blind Brook Lodge, Rye, N. Y. Treasurer, 1 Windmill Lane, Arlington, Mass.
