1928

"Dartmouth there is no music for our singing,No words to bear the burden of our praiseYet how can we be silent and rememberThe splendor and the fullness of her days?"

Our Fifteenth (delayed three years by the war) has come and gone, but for those of us privileged to return, the pleasant memories of three happy days spent in Hanover will linger many a year. It was by all odds our most successful reunion, both on the score of complete enjoyment of all concerned and the evidence of a new high in class fellowship and unity.

For the benefit of those who missed this grand party we'll devote these notes to a few highlights of the July 19 to 21 weekend. However, those who couldn't attend should start a mourners club with the main purpose of not letting the same thing happen two years from now.

Putting this reunion down neatly in black and white is no mean job. It should be splashed on in colors.

Sixty-three members of the class and forty- four of the world's most attractive wives started to invade Hanover early Friday morning. Paul Kruming, our able class president and reunion chairman, had come up from New York a few days earlier to line things up and make sure everything was hunky dory. To Paul and his principal assistants, Jim and Helen Campion and Bud Weser, go our hearty thanks for their energy, careful attention to details and unfailing solicitude in our behalf.

By noontime Friday, Richardson was well filled and the over-flow was taking over part of Wheeler. Our tent back of Richardson was teeming with activity that never ceased until the wee small hours of Sunday night—when the tent collapsed.

That first afternoon was occupied with excursions to points of interest on the campus or by just sitting in the shade of our tent, except when everyone moved over to the senior fence and watched Captain Jack Phelan lead our '28 stalwart ball players to a glorious victory over 1929.

A little later there were some class movies taken in our senior year—Old Timers' Day, Senior Picnic, etc.—which some of the boys conveniently "forgot" to take their wives to on account of the explaining that might be necessary.

The girls departed in late afternoon for a reception at Helen Campion's, followed by a buffet supper at the Inn. This left the field clear for reminiscing in the tent and a stag dinner at Thayer Hall. At 8:30 the girls returned and we went en masse to the reception given for the alumni by President and Mrs. Dickey on their lawn. We are grateful for the opportunity of being with them and appreciative of their gracious hospitality.

The next event was a dance at College Hall with an excellent orchestra, and this proved to be no small occasion. The party at the tent lasted well into the night as late arrivals took the place of those with the urge to wander around the campus, or settle down in smaller gatherings in different rooms.

Saturday, being another beautiful (and hot) day, opened with the Alumni Meeting in airconditioned Dartmouth Hall. The all-star speaking program included President Dickey, Trustee Nelse Rockefeller '30, for '28, '29, '30 and '31, Prof. Messer on the College's admissions problem, Sid Hayward '26, Don Cameron '35, and Trustee Vic Cutter '03, presiding officer. It was announced that 1930 had won the cup for the greatest number of men back, that 1921 had presented a 25th reunion gift of $26,000 to the College, and that the Alumni Fund final total was $416,589.

The class meeting in McNutt Hall followed immediately afterward. Balloting on the seven nominees presented by the hard-working nominating committee chairman, Curly Prosser, the class chose the following to guide its destinies until our Twentieth:

President, Red Edgar; vice president, Myles Lane; treasurer', Rupe Thompson; secretary, Os Skinner.

The class also did the following: (1) Defeated 50 to 7 a motion that the class withdraw from the ALUMNI MAGAZINE group subscription plan and revert to individual subscription.

(2) Defeated 46 to 11 a motion "that the Alumni Council be informed that it is the opinion of this class that the alumni fund quotas should not be increased every year."

(3) Heard reports from its officers.

The meeting was adjourned after only a short session so that we could keep our appointment for a class photograph. Following this we moved to the Ledyard Canoe Club (now up the river a little from its old location beside the bridge) for a class picnic, with copious amounts of excellent food served by the DOC.

The class dinner in Thayer Hall's Colonial Room Saturday night was a gala affair. Paul Kruming presided and was at the peak of his story telling. In behalf of the class, your secretary presented a Ticknor print of Dartmouth to each of the following, in appreciation of their loyal service to the class: Paul Kruming, retiring president; Bruce Lewis, retiring treasurer; Jack Herpel, editor of the class newsletter for the past three years; Phil Orsi, class agent for past two years.

The following resolution was proposed by Bill Morton and adopted: "Resolved, that the Class of 1928, assembled in meeting at its Fifteenth Reunion, expresses its deep sorrow at the loss of three of its members in the service of their country:

Edward B. Wheatley (Army), Jan. 25, 1944, in India John W. Shoyer (Navy), May 10, 1944, in Brazil Gordon M. Jamison (Marine Corps), July 26, 1944, in Guam. The Class has lost three loyal members—men of kindliness, sincerity and honor.

The Secretary is directed to record this resolution in the minutes of the Class and to send a copy to the families of our classmates."

After a Wah-Hoo-Wah for Paul Kruming for his excellent handling of reunion and for his leadership of the class in the past three years, and a rising vote of thanks for Helen Campion, the new president, Red Edgar was called on for a few remarks. He took the opportunity to tell a B. & M. joke which was less derogatory than the one Paul had told earlier.

The meeting was then turned over to Maestro Bud Weser, chairman of the entertainment committee, who presented a grand show which he organized, costumed and rehearsed during the afternoon. Hammie Hammesfahr was M.C. Clark and Amber Harrington sang and played some of their own songs, including one particular catchy and enlightening number called "Horses Don't Have Bathrooms." Dot Pease and Beef Vernon did skits, and Dot Fusonie whistled a couple songs. A vote of sincere thanks was extended to Bud and the cast for the entertainment.

Later, the usual proceedings continued at the tent until sometime early Sunday morning. Sabotage is suspected in the collapse of the tent but no one knows who did it.

Sunday it rained but the weather didn't prevent our picnic at the DOC House on Occom Pond from being one of the highlights of the weekend. A few people had to get early starts for home, and they missed one of the best meals and parties of any reunion.

The picnic broke up as carloads of happy '28ers pulled out for Boston, New York, Washington, and many other points from which they had come. Chet and Winnie Haltom had come the greatest distance, from Fort Worth, and Chuck and Mildred Davis had come from Chicago. No account of the reunion would be complete without revealing the sensation Jack Herpel caused when he blossomed out as a Tin Pan Alley artist. When he was at the piano, he had 'em packed in our tent—and people leaving other tents to come listen.

All the girls were given souvenir charms at the picnic on Sunday. Paul Kruming is mailing charms to those who failed to get theirs.

You will be pleased to learn that 1928 contributed |aooo more to the Alumni Fund than last year—4oo men gave a total of $8614.00. Although we were good, others were better, and consequently in our age group we were sixth with 81% of our quota. Credit for the high amount collected should go to Phil Orsi for his untiring efforts to get us into the higher brackets. He and his able assistants throughout the country did a swell job.

Listed below are those lucky people who got back to Hanover: Bill and Elizabeth Ballard, Harry Bennert, Cal and Genie Billings, Ford Blickley, Chuck and Nona Bruder, Bob and Ethel Byrne, Jim and Helen Campion, Fred and Dorothy Cole, Tax and Katherine Connell, Chuck and Mildred Davis, Sam and Elizabeth Dennis, Homer Dodge, Lane and Betty Dwinnell, Red and Charlotte Edgar, Esty and Eleanor Estabrook, John and Vera Flanagan, Ed Flanders, John Frankland, A1 and Dot Fusonie (and their two future fullbacks), Craig Haines, Chet and Winnie Haltom, Hammie Hammesfahr, Clark and Amber Harrington, Jack and Cornie Herpel, Mutt Jennings, Jack and Fran Kenerson, Bill and Margaret Kimball, George and Eleanor Klein, A1 and Ann Kitts, Paul and Mary Kruming, Myles Lane, Bruce and Thelma Lewis, Sam Magavern, Larry and Naomi Martin, Wes and Barbara McSorley, Jack and Lois McLaughlin and guest, Bob McPhail, Mon and Esther Middlebrook, Tom and Mrs. Middleton, Bill and Bobby Morton, Johnny and Ethel Nixon, Phil and Helen Orsi, Brad and Olive Parker, George and Suzanne Pasfield, Doug and Dorothy Pease, Jack and Pearl Phelan (also Martha and Jackie), John Phillips, Curly and Allene Prosser, Herb and Dot Russell, Curly Sadler, Herm Schnepel, Herb and Mimi Sensenig, Os and Mary Skinner, Don and Billee Solis, Rog and Alma Sundeen, Rupe and Eleanor Thompson, Margaret Tidd, Frank Tindle, Beef Vernon, Bud Weser, Honi and Mona Westhaver, A1 and Ruth Willey, Wes and Dorris Wood, Ernie and Jean Wright.

Secretary, Van Dyne Oil Co., Troy, Pa.

Treasurer, 208 Bowen St., Providence 6, R. I.