1931

Because we were late in hearing about the very recent death of Bill St. Louis we were unable to get the customary column for the necrology in this month's issue. We would, however, like to take this space to extend to Bill's mother and brother the sincere and heartfelt sympathy of the class of '31. Bill died April 3rd at the Massachusetts General Hospital following a short but serious illness and operation for a brain tumor. Bill was a grand guy and I personally have a mighty soft spot in my heart for him because it was with Bill that I matriculated in our very first days at Dartmouth, and our friendship was maintained through our four years at Hanover. Besides being a rugged individual, Bill had a great sense of humor, and it was this combination which won for him the many fine friends that he had in college. We'll miss himespecially with 15th reunion coming up this July.

About Reunion: We would like to urge those of you who are planning to go up to get your data in to Bill Schuldenfrei, Bob Dilley, Charlie Schneider and to the Bursar's office if you want to reserve a room in the dorms. If most of you fellows have been like myself you find the time sneaking by. If we're not careful, we'll hit the 19th of July with a lot of things to do at the last minute. By the time this MAGAZINE reaches you there'll be barely a month to Reunion, so if you haven't done it, get on the ball.

We had a good '31 turnout at the Dartmouth dinner here in New York, with Jack Warwick, Frank Hodson, Bill Little, Red Gristede, Johnny Reno, Len Clark, Vic Rockhill, Dutch Holland, A1 Torras, Harry Townsend and myself in attendance. Vic Rockhill came up with a wonderful game of King Bee while we were having cocktails before the dinner, and we can recommend it to any of you guys who want a short fast matching game while you're having cocktails. If you haven't heard how to play it, get Vic to tell you at Reunion.

Nice letter from George Stevens who is back at Western Reserve and who sends his regrets for not being able to get to the 15th because of an accelerated program which is going to keep him on the job. We're sorry, too, George, that you are not going to be there, but we will have a short beer to you in any event.

An interesting article from the NorfolkLedger-Dispatch about Arne Laughton:

Appointment of Lt. Comdr. Armine Walker Laughton '3l, USNR, as headmaster of Norfolk Academy which will reopen in September after being closed since 1939, has been announced by C. W. Grandy, president of the* school's board of trustees.

Laughton, who is a native of Burlington, Vt, and a former teacher and headmaster, will be released from the Navy within a few days. He has been on duty at the Naval Officer Personnel Separation at Camp Shelton as civil readjustment officer. For a period during the war he did duty as armed guard officer aboard the SS Margaret Lykes and the SS Santa. Cecelia, troop transports, in trips to the British Isles and Greenland

At the Emerson School at Exeter, N. "H., a private boarding and country day school, Laughton was director of athletics and in addition taught French and geography and tutored in Latin. He was headmaster of the Canaan High School in New Hampshire from 1932 until 1934 when he became connected with the Newton, Mass., schools, where he remained until his entrance into the Navy.

Laughton, who is 37 years old, has written several articles for publication, and was co-author of a manual for teachers sponsored by the Newton Board of Education. His work with boys includes not only his school activities but also in the fiefd of Boy Scout work and summer camp programs.

Another one from the Springfield (Mass.) Union announcing the appointment of Dick Denby as manager of the distribution planning department of U. S. Tires here in New York. Dick joined the Fiske Tire Company in 1934 and in 1940 was transferred to the sales operating department in New York for United States Rubber, and with this recent promotion he is really going to town.

From the Oakland (Calif.) Tribune, we read a swell story about the most important change in the Northern California division of the General Petroleum Corporation, the appointment of Baxter Ball as resident manager. B. joined General Petroleum in 1931 as a salesman in the Northwest, "He exhibited marked ability and climbed rapidly, becoming branch manager in Tacoma and then Seattle district manager, and in 1944 he was elevated to the post of Oregon resident manager."

Nice work Dick and 8., both of you.

Spencer Miller, also with another fine promotion, has been promoted from assistant general counsel to general counsel of the Maine Central railroad.

If it wasn't for the newspapers I sure in hell don t know what we'd do for a column, particularly for news about these fellows who don't live around here. Another item from the Davenport (Iowa) Times, with a picture of Ed Decker, announcing his resumption of his medical practice in Davenport with his offices in the First National Bank Building. Ed is married and has a four-and-a-half-year-old son. And another article from the Manchester Union about Bill Phinney:

After nearly five years of service as an officer in the Navy, Atty. William L. Phinney of Manchester was released from active duty as a lieutenant commander at Seattle on Dec. 26, 1945, and has now returned to the practice of law with his former partner, Atty. John J. Sheehan, at their offices at 922 Elm Street.

He was called to active duty as a lieutenant junior grade in April, 1941, and from September of that year until October, 1942, he served as a special observer at the United States embassy in London. Going from England, he took part in the North African invasion on Nov. 8, 1942.

In the summer of 1943, he served on the USS Biscayne in actions at Sicily, Salerno and the Anzio beachhead. He was then a lieutenant senior grade and executive officer of the Biscayne, the flagship of the Italian landings.

He was torpedoed once, aboard an LST, in Mediterranean action, but he asserts, "It wasn't anything to talk about." The Navy took recognition of his service during the invasion of Italy and issued a commendation for "outstanding performance of duty."

I don't know how you fellows feel, but when I read about all of these guys I haven't seen in a long time, it certainly makes me anxious to get to the 15th in hopes that a whole lot of you will be there so that we can see you all in person.

In talking to Monk McCord the other day, we found that as of May 15th he is leaving McCann Erikson and returning to Lennen and Mitchell, his first love in the advertising business. Mac also tipped us off to a little column in the McCann Erickson News in which it announced that Eleanor Dittenhofer, formerly copy-writer for the Revlon account, is marrying Abner Dean on May 14th. Abner is one of those guys we never hear anything from except when he draws a book, so we're glad to be able to report this to you precisely on the day it happens. Would that all our news could be as prompt. See you next month.

Secretary, 224 Beverly Rd., Scarsdale, N. Y. Treasurer, Room 2119 400 W. Madison St., Chicago 6, 111