1931
It was a good party, as it had to be, with seventy-six guys and gals from the Class of '31 getting together. Take a look at the gang who were back, and I think you'll agree that it had to be good:
Bill Alton, Ken Anderson,* Jack Bean,* Bunny Bertram, Dave Borkum,* Bernie Boyle,* Ed Brummer,* Bob Caverly,* John Chamberlain,* Bob Chapman,* Bunce Clarkson,* George Conklin,* Red Gristede, Don Cruikshank,* Bob Dickey,* Art Davis, Ed Elmer,* Pete Evans, Jack Ewing,* Jim Frame,* Jim Fannin,* Dick Fisher,* Bill Galley, Jack Gilmore,* Harold Glickman, Jim Godfrey,* Sam Groves, Ed Gruen, John Goodwillie, Sher Guernsey, Mai Hallenbeck,* Walt Hausman,* Orrie Hobbs, Frank Hodson,* Dutch Holland, Dana Howe,* Chub Hetfield, Ralph Jonas,* Les Klein, Jim Laughton,* Will Light,* Dave Loveland,* Chas. McAllister, Hank McCarthy,* Cliff McDonald, Jim McElroy,* Charlie McQueeny,* Cubby Miller,* Ernie Moore,* Nick Nichols, Line Page,* Jack Reno,* Henry Richmond, Jim Rick, Norm Rolfe,* Ned Rosen, A 1 Rikkola, Bill Schuldenfrei, Steve Smith, Tower Snow,* Bob Spotts,* Joe Stickney, Ed Sieminski, Ed Picken,* Bill Steck, Charlie Schneider, Skeets Thomas,* Ward Thompson,* Beany Thorn,* Jack Warwick, Bill Wendell,* Bill Wilson,* Shep Wolff,* Russ Woodward,* Doug Woodring. (*) Shows them as had their wives with 'em.
The clan started to gather Friday night, and thanks to the esteemed position of one of the good redheaded members of our class, we were able to work a deal with the Pabst Brewing Company who made their beer available for us. We were pretty lucky, 'cause very few classes this spring were able to get beer, much less as good beer as Pabst.
It was hot as hell by the time we got to Hanover, and the beer disappeared awfully fast. By midnight the gang was in fine voice and they didn't start to call it quits until about two-thirty. Many of the fellows and their wives went over to the Alumni dance in the Commons where the band was good, but where it was so hot that even with our reasonably cool uniforms we just roasted. Speaking of uniforms, Bill Schuldenfrei did a wonderful job, and each of the fellows had a pair of white navy-ducks, white T shirt, with '31 numerals on their chest, and a white crew hat to top it off. Schuldenfrei and Macy's make an unbeatable combination for reunion costumes as we found out both this time and at the tenth. Everything was reasonably quiet until about four, when some hoodlums (rumor has it that Beany Thorn, Bunny Bertram and a couple of unidentified guys named Joe made up the gang, although Lord knows, it's hard to believe that such highly intellectual and esteemed members of the community could descend to such levels) rolled garbage pails and wastebaskets down each individual corridor, beginning at the fourth floor and on down to the first. They're still alive to tell about it, although they weren't doing much talking Saturday morning.
Most of the gang played golf or attended the Alumni meeting on Saturday, but very few stuck in an appearance at the class pic ture, as you will see if they put the picture in the MAGAZINE. In the afternoon more beer, a swimming party out at Storr's Pond, and a softball game warmed the fellows up for the movies of our senior year which were shown at Dartmouth Hall. These were a real treat, and it's too bad you couldn't all have been there to see them. The boys certainly looked a lot more agile, and certainly had a lot more hair, and many were positively handsome, back in 1931.
Being indoors watching the movies gave the boys quite a thirst so that about the time cocktails were served at five-thirty they really hit the spot, and by seven o'clock the gang was really rolling. The Inn provided hors d'oeuvres, and Red Gristede brought along a half dozen jars of cheese in port wine which were a God send. It began to look like a long hard evening at this point. Most of the fellows felt the need of more substantial nourishment about eight o'clock, so the party broke off to give the gang a chance to eat and to attend the show at Webster Hall at eight-thirty. The Dartmouth Players put on a real old rip snorting melodrama, Love Rides The Rails, and the boys enjoyed it thoroughly. About eleven the party began to pick up again at the tent, and carried on far into the night.
Sunday morning '3l's tent was conspicuous by still being standing, all the others having apparently been knocked down; and the finger of suspicion pointed pretty much to Wheeler Hall. Even our staid and dignified class president, Bill Steck, had a rather guilty look on his face when he was overheard to whisper to Shep Wolff that maybe it would have been a better idea to have taken the '31 tent down too.
We had had beautiful weather up to this point, when in answer to a lot of the farmers' prayers, it started to rain, and we had to sort of take to cover. Most of the bunch were pretty well subdued by now anyway, and even when the beer was brought out there were mighty few takers.
At the class meeting, about eleven-thirty, Bill Geiger's Treasurer's report was read and the class voted him a large vote of thanks in appreciation for the job that he had done. He went through some pretty trying times and in spite of this, through his good elforts, our treasury surplus increased from $803.00 to $1,154.00, which is surely an excellent job. They also voted a round of thanks to Bill Schuldenfrei, Bob Dilley, Charlie Schneider and Red Gristede for their splendid work in making the reunion a success. And then the nominating committee proposed the slate of Gristede, Charlie Schneider, Bill Schuldenfrei, Beany Thorn, Dutch Holland, Shep Wolff, Johnny Martin, Jim Laughton and Ernie Moore to the executive committee. In addition to the nine elected class officers, Bill Steck, Jack Warwick, Lauri Myllykangus, Red Rolfe, and the retiring secretary, yours truly, are automatic members, so that the above fourteen men comprise the full executive committee for the next five years. From this group, after the class meeting, were elected the new secretary, treasurer and class agent. Jim Laughton was elected secretary, Ernie Moore class agent, and Bill Schuldenfrei the treasurer. These men will serve for the next five years.
As a final party we all swam over to the Inn in the rain that was by this time coming down pretty heavily, and had a swell picnic lunch in the pavilion (tent to most of us) which the Inn had set up in the garden. Practically the whole gang and their wives got to the luncheon and surely everybody agreed when we presented Red Gristede with a pen and pencil set as a token of our appreciation for the excellent job that he has done for the last five years as class agent. Nobody in any class has worked harder or done a better job than Red.
About two the luncheon broke up and the gang started to head for home. Most of them pretty tired, but everyone agreed that it had been a swell weekend.
As you can gather, this column is my swan song as secretary. It has been fun—albeit trying at times. Hearing from each of you is the real pleasure in the job and I hope that you'll all make a mental note now to send Jim Laughton frequent letters and news this next five years during which he takes over.
CHARLES S. MCALLISTER.
Secretary, Norfolk Academy, Cedar Level Lane, Norfolk, Va
Treasurer, 975 Park Ave., Plainfield, N. J.
