1899

Another distinguished Ninety-niner has decided to retire, that is, from public office. April 2 Owen Hoban, who has been district attorney of Worcester County in Massachusetts for the past twelve years, announced that he would not seek reelection this fall. When his present term ends the first Wednesday of next January he will have completed twenty years of service to the County and State as a law enforcement officer. Hobe began practicing law in Gardner (Mass.), in 1907, after graduating from Boston University Law School. He served on the Gardner school committee for twelve years, six years as chairman; town solicitor from 1910 to 1914, and special justice of the Ist District Court from 1922 to 1927, resigning the latter post to become assistant district attorney in which office he served until 1934 when he was elected district attorney. He will continue in many civic activities, including library and hospital trusteeships and as a director of the First National and Gardner Savings banks. An editorial in the Gardner News of April 2, headed "He Retires With Honor," pays high tribute to his public service. The following is an excerpt:

In fulfilling the trust imposed in him by the electorate, Mr. Hoban has administered the affairs of this highly important office in a manner to win widespread respect and admiration. He has maintained the high standards set by his predecessors prosecuting with a vigor and brilliance that attracted attention far beyond the confines of the section, and zealously protecting the rights of every defendant whose case came to the consideration of his office His outstanding legal ability his sparkling talent as a public speaker, his willingness at all times to take part in a common effort for the public good have established him among the state's foremost citizens.

The following is from an editorial in the Worcester Gazette of April 5:

Though not a spectacular prosecuter of the type which attempts to monopolize attention, and try cases for the gallery, Mr. Hoban has always been an eloquent and commanding figure in court.

He is a Republican, and a good one. But his legai accomplishments, his conscience and his devotion to his work have given him secure place in the esteem of both the bar and the public reeardlew of political persuasion.

On his departure for England after his recent visit here, Winston Churchill stirred up a philological war among the literati as reported in the press. Speaking for a phonographic record he began "This is me, Winston Churchill speaking himself to you." Grammarians insisted that he should have said "This is I." But Gordon Hall Gerould, Chairman of the English Department at Princeton, agreed with Dr. Robert D. French, head of the English Department of Yale and Raymond M. Weaver, professor of English at Columbia, that "This is I" is stilted. Gerould, the report states, says, "This is me" is an idiom and perfectly permissible and calls "This is I" an affectation.

Herb and Mrs. Rogers rejoiced in the arrival of a new grandson, William Rogers Noyes, born March 31, at the Wesson Maternity Hospital, Springfield, Mass. Mother, Virginia Rogers Noyes; father, Donald James Noyes.

On March 31 Ralph and Blanche Hawkes cut loose from home and started in their automobile to visit their children in California. "We had a beautiful trip across the country, making it easily in eleven days," Ralph reported. They visited Betty at Richmond, near San Francisco, and Mary at Visalia and spent some time in the southern part of the state near Los Angeles. Son Edward was expected to land in San Francisco the last part of April, but his orders were changed and as he was coming from Japan on a LST, he was not expected until the last part of May when they hoped to bring him back with them to York early in June. Ralph wrote: "We are enjoying every minute of the trip and good weather has followed us all the way. At present we are at a house situated on a small hill-top with orange groves on all sides and the trees are full of ripe oranges with the fragrance of orange blossoms in the air all the time."

Again there is in prospect a pleasant weekend for Ninety-nine families with another opportunity for the third time to enjoy congenial companionship at the New Ocean House at Swampscott. June 22 and 23 are the dates. Those who were there in '44 and '45 will not want to miss it and there will be eager welcome for new faces. If you plan to attend and have not sent your reservation, please do so at once.

Phil Winchester would like to have all know that he is keenly interested in having the class make a good showing in the Alumni Fund of this year and urges those who have not yet contributed to do so before the deadline, June 30.

Obituary articles about Nelson Brown and Tony Willard will be in the In Memoriam columns of the MAGAZINE. Flowers from the class were sent to both homes.

TO GREENER FIELDS. After twenty years of distinguished public service, Owen A. Hoban '99, retires as District Attorney of Worcester County to devote his energies to civic activities.

Secretary, The New York Times 229 West 43rd St., New York 18, N. Y Treasurer, EDWARD R. SKINNER 34 Brighton Rd., Worcester, Mass.