1929
If this turns out to be almost exclusively a New York story you can lay it to environment. The places were, first, Bob Austin's office in the Graybar Building, and later and longer, the grand ballroom at the Hotel Commodore and its approaches. The official count was 32 and the announcement at first misled us to thinking that the class had won the attendance cup and that old Jim Hodge would have to walk up and make an acceptance speech, but as it turned out they were figuring it on a percentage basis with the result that one of those older and smaller classes walked off with the silver. But Hodge was just as happy, for most of the credit for the entire New York Alumni Dinner is due to him.
From the Berkshires there was Chan Bete whose advertising business takes him to New York a couple of times a month anyway. Ed Jacobitti lives in Maywood, N. J., where he is one of the leading obstetricians. Matt Rock, who is with the Frank E. Dickson Cos., is perhaps the least changed in appearance of any of the New York group. Not so, however, with Ed Spetnagel, whose weight is quite becoming. Ed is manager of the tax department of Standard Brands and proudly boasts that he is probably the only tax man who is neither a lawyer nor an accountant. To be free of the foibles of both professions is probably a great advantage. Bob Collins is a full-time New Yorker, having lived and worked there for the past five years. Wally Wilson is in sales and lives in Scarsdale, N. Y. Joe Webb, of Yonkers, continues with his teaching. Larry Lougee, back in his civilian clothes at last, is also back at his law office at 50 Church St., getting into the swing of corporate practice.
Jack Gunther, Counsel tor Air Reduction Cos., has really become the smooth gray fox, but even his distinguished looks haven't helped him find a house, and i£ it weren't for his indulgent parents-in-law, he'd really be on the town. Paul Woodbridge of Bragpatch Farms, if you please, Route 1, Vienna, Va., is free-lancing in public relations work, specializing in the field of visual training, which was the very type of work he did with such success while he was in the Navy. At the present time he is writing the script for a training film to be produced for use by the Navy. Woody's presence at the dinner was due to the excellent liaison between the class in Boston and in New York. At ten o'clock, the morning of the Dinner, Paul called me- in Boston from Harvard where he was finishing up his research, and learning that I was flying over for the New York Dinner, he decided to join me. Al Fisher runs Matt Rock a close second in preserving the fresh and youthful appearance, and that in spite of the hectic life he leads as a manager of the New York Telephone Cos. The secret, he confides, is the country life he leads at home with his rolling acres and small but fruitful farm. Johnny Cornehlsen is a consulting psychologist with the firm of Stevenson, Jordan & Harrison, Management Engineers.
And then there was good old Julius Morris, whom I, for one, at least, had not seen for many, many years. A real sight for sore eyes, and very little change, too. He's back practicing law with his old firm and his voice is just as deep as ever. Harry Enders is the Secretary and Treasurer of Young & Rubicam. Jack Yellen, who looks as if he could tap 'em out with as much snap as he used to, has his own company, The Yellen Rubber Cos., in Flushing, Long Island. Dick Doe, who is a special investigator for the New York Public Library, is one of those tall, spare fellows who is just as lean as ever. Herb Ball has returned from the wars to become assistant to the chairman of the board of the Pal-Personna Blade Cos. Bob Ramage confesses that he's both headman and office boy of the newly established advertising firm of Robert H. Ramage. Bill Hudson is head designer for Fiatelle, Inc. Ray Hedger has gone back selling for the Corporation Trust Cos. Charlie Mackay is with Marsh & McLennan. Ellie Cavanagh is chief resident obstetrician at the Woman's Hospital in New \ork. His boy, Jimmy, the class baby by the way, is planning on entering Dartmouth next year. Cliff Purse has returned to his Commercial National Bank and Trust Cos., and Lyt Johnson is in the insurance business down on John St. Bob Austin has recently resigned as a partner of the law firm of Breed, Abbott & Morgan to join Penick & Ford, Ltd., Incorporated, as vice president, secretary and a director. Bill Morgan, Russ Goudey, Tal Babcock and Chris Born who have been mentioned recently in these notes were also there.
And then, of course, at the head table was John Dickey who, in spite of the rigors of a two weeks' western trip speaking to alumni groups in a series of one-night stands, carried the night.
The Reunion organization and program which is set forth below was thrown open for discussion at each of the three '29 tables during the course of the evening, and everyone seemed in unanimous agreement that the schedule of events was a good one and that everyone would be able to arrange his affairs to permit his arrival in Hanover in plenty of time to participate in the party and dinner scheduled for Friday evening.
Reunion Chairman: Joseph A. D'Esopo, Hanover Reunion Committee: Executive Members—Robert K, Carr, Charles M. Dudley, Daniel Marx Jr., Karl B. Michael, W Herbert McCreery, and Herman H. Richardson, all of Hanover. Regional Members: Oliver W. Holmes, Robert H. Brinkerhoff <Boston), John C. Blair, Laurence W. Lougee. T. Truxtun Brittan (New York), Dr. Sherman Little (Philadelphia), Percy H. Russell, A. Marvin Braverman (Washington), Edward K. Walsh (Baltimore), Robert T. Drake, John R. Meany, John Brown Cook (Chicago), Richard W. Brown (Detroit), Willsie E. Brisbin (Vermont), James W. Hodson (Seattle), Walter C. Bergstrom, Morris J. Hartman, Robert S. Jones (Cleveland), Edwin C Chinlund (Pittsburgh), William O. Page (Wisconsin), Philip E. Fitzpatrick (Plattsburg, N. Y.) Carrell K. Pierce (Maine), Richard M. Robin, Robert S. Monahan, Palo Alto, Calif.
RALPH R. BUTLER '29, formerly director of market research of Kendall Mills, has joined McKinsey & Co., management consultants, in Boston. He is a director of the American Marketing Association.
Secretary, 75 Federal St., Boston, Mass. Treasurer, Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn 383 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y
