1926
'Twas a large reunion and there are those (108 men, 76 wives, 35 children, 219 total) who loved it and who will remember it down the years as an outstanding highlight in 1926 annals. Three days in which even the weather man joined to create perfection. "Sharp and misty mornings" blending into ideal summer days and climaxed by a breath-taking display of northern lights on Friday midnight. Paul and Grace Venneman would be the first to deny that they arranged for such perfect weather, but to them and their committee, Dick Burlingame, Herb Darling, Fritz Lawson and Warner Thompson, goes our most sincere thanks for a reunion superlatively planned and executed.
From noontime on Friday the cars pulled up on beautiful Tuck Mall in a steady procession, each new arrival receiving greetings from the ever-increasing multitude. Registration and assignment of rooms were followed by the photographing of each family group, a grand idea the fruits of which will grace these pages in the months to come.
At 6:30, promptly on schedule, "we girls" departed for the wives' dinner at the Outing Club House and the men moved over to Thayer Hall for what proved to be unquesToastmaster tionably the finest Class Dinner we ever held. The proceedings were taken in hand by Toastmaster Carle Blunt who symbolically used a tremendous serving ladle as a gavel (that boy can dish it out!), and called first upon Secretary-Chairman Bob Cleary to conduct the business session. H. Oliver Fallon (sometimes referred to as "Flash'') arose to move a minute of silence in memory of Heinie Sage, Ed Duffy, Les Waggener, Maury Quint (the only classmate who gave his life to his country in World War II) and all the other men of Dartmouth 1926 who have left us. The minute was observed with sincere reverence as we thought of these men who were surely with us in spirit.
Class Agent Tubber Weymouth's announcement that 1926 had contributed the phenomenal amount of some $14,700 in this year's Alumni Fund Campaign was met with resounding cheers and a richly-deserved Wah Hoo Wah for Tubber for the magnificent job he has done.
Dick Mandel, Chairman of our TwentyFifth Reunion Memorial Fund, reported the sum of $6,375.93 already in our Fund, and the welcome but not surprising fact that we enter the intensive next five years leading up to our 25th with an amount already on hand larger than that of any preceding class.
Class Treasurer Bob Salinger reported that copies of his final annual report had been placed on the tables, this report showing a balance in the treasury of $524.79 with all bills paid.
A unanimous and rousing cheer was given Paul Venneman for the magnificent job he did as Reunion Chairman after he had announced the remaining reunion schedule.
Hal Marshall, as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, reported the following nominations:
Secretary-Chairman—Robert D. Salinger, Boston; Treasurer—Herbert F. Darling, Williamsville, N. Y.; 'Executive Committee; of 15, including the two class officers—New York City Area: Robert E. Cleary, Robert M. Stopford, New YorkState: Herbert F. Darling, E. Paul Venneman Clark Weymouth, Massachusetts: Reginald W. Hanson, Robert W. Patten, Robert D. Salinger, Hanover: Francis R. Drury, Hartford: Harry J. Fisher Detroit: George E. Manser Jr., Cincinnati: Tames E. Traquair, Chicago: Albert E. M. Washington, D. C.: Herbert H. Harwood, PacificCoast: Laurence P. Bourne.
In addition the Nominating Committee recommended to the new Executive Committee the appointment of Albert E. M. Louer as Class Agent and of Robert M. Stopford as Chairman of the Twenty-Fifth Memorial Fund.
The foregoing slate was unanimously voted in, with the exception of the nominee for Secretary-Chairman, who was elected by a very narrow margin, with Paul Venneman, who was nominated from the floor, as a close runner up.
Blunt expressed the appreciation and commendation of the Class to Gob DesMarais, Johnny Gearhart and Tubber Weymouth, who have recently retired as members of the Dartmouth Alumni Council, and our congratulations to A1 Louer and Nate Parker who have recently been elected to the Alumni Council and the Athletic Council respectively. He then introduced our very good friend, adviser and classmate, Professor Royal C. Nemiah. Before Roy started speaking, however, the one E. M. Hopkins '01 entered the room and was escorted with acclaim to a seat at the head table which had theretofore remained mysteriously vacant.
Roy gave us a brief but excellent sample of his usual gracious, amusing and interestihg comments, concluding with the reassuring statement that to a man the Dartmouth faculty is wholeheartedly behind President Dickey.
Bancroft H. Brown, illustrious professor of mathematics, whose talents reputedly include a thorough knowledge of the science of crap shooting, then presented a learned dissertation on gambling rackets, ending with a suspiciously complete outline of the finances, personnel and procedures which would be required to organize a new and highly remunerative racket.
Toastmaster Blunt stated that the same E. M. Hopkins 'or, referred to above, would be granted one minute of our time if he wished to express himself. Addressing us as »the "Aristocracy of brains" (which seemed to have a vaguely familiar ring) he paid sincere tribute to the two previous speakers (although casting doubt on that fellow Brown's knowledge of crap shooting), and to John Sloan Dickey '29 under whose leadership he predicted a brilliant administration for Dartmouth College. He spoke of Bob Strong's death as an irreparable loss to the college and community. He spoke of the Memorial Fund for Leslie Waggener Jr., which was created some years ago by Mr. and Mrs. Waggener and which now amounts to $3OOO. He then brought down the house by stating that he was present at our meeting at Mr. Waggener's request for the purpose of handing "this" to Secretary-Chairman Bob Cleary. The "this" which he handed to Bob was Mr. Waggener's check for $7OOO to be added to the principal of the Leslie Waggener Jr. Memorial Fund.
A motion was made and unanimously adopted instructing the Secretary to prepare a suitable letter of thanks and greetings to Mr. and Mrs. Waggener to be signed by all attending members of the class.
From the dinner we joined such wives as could be found at the tent and moved quickly on to President and Mrs. Dickey's reception, a gala occasion which afforded many their first opportunity to meet the new Dartmouth President. After lingering at the reception to greet old friends in the classes of '23, '24 and '25 we returned to the tent where merriment was increasing by leaps and bounds and continued so far into the night.
Saturday morning activities opened with a general meeting of Dartmouth Alumni in 105 Dartmouth Hall. The presiding officer, Mr. Ghanning Cox 'or, introduced Don Cameron '35, Chairman of the College Reunion Committee; Sid Hayward '26, Secretary of the Alumni Association; Dean Pudge Neidlinger '23; Frank Wallis '25; and John Dickey '29, who immediately endeared himself to the gathering by promising not to unduly delay the further "loss of our week-end."
Following the meeting we gathered on the lawn by the Ad building for the class picture, which was successfully snapped, as you can see, despite the further belated and futile efforts of '25, lead by Pete Blodgett and his cannon, to win a picture fight from us.
Thence we dispersed to the tent, golf course, tennis courts or even perchance to our rooms for a nap, the ravages of time having taken their toll. Later in the afternoon we trekked down to the Canoe Club for a picnic ably prepared and served by the DOC, featured by the singing of all the good old songs in a group circled around our "voices" Clyde Hall, Van Van Duyn, Paul Venneman and Hal Marshall.
As twilight deepened we adjourned to Webster Hall for a hilarious performance of LoveRides the Rails, in which our own Sally Drury disported playfully as a cancan dancer and displayed our class numerals in a wellrounded but unladylike manner.
Sunday morning a beautiful memorial service conducted by Bishop Dallas in the chapel brought to an end the formal activities of a memorable reunion. Soon luggage began to be loaded in the cars around the tent, goodbyes were exchanged and resolutions made to see one another "before the 25 th," and once again we went out from our Alma Mater into the Wide, Wide World.
Secretary, 140 Federal Street, Boston, Mass.
Treasurer, 131 California Drive, Williamsville, N.. Y.
