1918
We can well understand how 1000 persons would throng the testimonial dinner to our own Hubie McDonough, whose football teams have been some of the best in the country. Throughout the years, 'iBers have been proud of your wonderful record, Hubie, and congratulate you on the fine job you have done. Tommy Bryant and son were in N. Y. in Jan Marsh Leavitt reminds us that KenJones is still an eligible bachelor. The class extends sympathy to Ken on the loss of his mother Received a nice letter from roomy Marsh Leavitt saying he still continues to teach math in W. Hartford schools 9 months a year, together with his wife Mabel, and to run the office at Pickford Camp, Rangeley, Me., the other 3 months. Marsh expressed the hope that he will see many pals in the class at our 30th Reunion Marsh'adds "my eldest son Bill is at the Mass. College of Pharmacy. The younger boy, Paul, is a Junior in High School in Randolph, but he cares so little about school we won't have to worry about what college hell go to." (Some of us have boys in the same boat, Marsh—thanks for your letter). Stanley Jones' wife, Mary Olive, said "Well, Joie can go to Florida, as for me, the sand fleas get in your hair; you stay up all night scratching—no, Stanley can go to Florida—but not for me." (Stan spent a week with ex-Mayor Johnny Thayer of Delray Beach on March Bth).
Now is the time for all good '18ers to come to the aid of their party—the party being Dick Holton, who's running the Alumni Fund for the entire College and Dave Garratt (195 Broadway, N. Y.) who is taking over the tough assignment while Dick bats in the major league. It would be a wonderful thing if all of us peeled off for Dave as much as we did in our best years for Dick.
We got a nice letter from Re/d Montgomery Jan. I returned from a vacation in Colorado Springs—saw John Cunningham and Tom Campbell at the Dartmouth-Colorado College hockey game. If you have heard any bad reports about the behaviour of the Dartmouth hockey team, don't pay too much attention to them—with one or two exceptions, the Colorado College team are all Canadians—apparently imported from Canada because they believe our neighbors in the north need to be educated and, incidentally, play a little hockey. I was proud of the Dartmouth boys because they apparently believe that it was better to give than to receive." .... Reid also reported that his son returned to Hanover after the mid-year exams and began his 2nd semester in 2nd yr. Tuck, having received his A.B. degree last fall. He adds, "I got a big kick out of meeting Boots Young Jr. who is very personable. His father and mother met him at the station in Chicago, so I had a chance to say hello to his father and to his very charming mother. .... If you have ever met her, you will probably agree with me that the boy is so attractive because of his mother, and in spite of the old man." .... Stumpie Barr, always the gracious host to visiting Hanover 'lBers, made his periodic exposure to the caverns of Wall St. in March, and never looked more fit and natty. Stumpie's oldest boy is a pre-med at Hanover after aptitude tests indicated a true doctor's pattern.
From Neal O'Hara's column in the BostonTraveler of Feb. Ist (sent in by T. Reed Montgomery): "From a descendant of the Pilgrim Aldens in Middleboro (Leon V. '18) comes the tidbit that the famous romantic interlude about the courtship of Miles Standish with Priscilla, in which John Alden acted as intermediary, didn't result in a feud when Priscilla, as Longfellow has it, speaks to Mr. Alden with her famed remark, "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?" and he finally marries the gal. For the records show that John married Priscilla and Myles Standish married another young lady in the Plymouth-Duxbury Colony, with the record reading as follows: "6. 11. SARAH ALDEN, da. of John (1) m. ALEXANDER STANDISH son of Capt. Myles Standish." Therefore, John Alden and Myles Standish became fathers-in-law of their mutual offspring And, Sadie, you might tell Middleboro's Mr. Alden that the cottage Myles Standish built for that same son, Alexander, was the one TIFM inhabited summers at Duxbury for several yrs.
We asked Van Vanraalte if there was any chance of Marty Straus coming out to the next class dinner (we're trying to have him out for the big N. Y. Alumni dinner on April 16 that the Commodore) but Van said he ducked up from Florida for a couple of days; had a bad cold and slipped right back fast Yes, it's our own George C. Murphy who opened a shop in Old Greenwich as the "Old Greenwich Appliances." Freddie Samuels couldn't get to the '18 dinner on Feb. 19 because he was celebrating his 25th anniversary by taking wife Alice, son Fred and guests to a hockey game. Young Fred is a rugged guychampion lacrosse player in Junior Highbaseball, football and hockey, and, says Sammy, "I puff a bit when I try to tackle the guy" Sammy promised to come out to future '18 gatherings.
Further honors were given to our own LesGranger on Feb. 3rd when Jim Forrestal, at the Navy Dept. in Washington, pinned the President's Medal For Merit oLes, the highest civilian award the President can make. "For extraordinary fidelity and exceptionally meritorious conduct." And the main citation, signed by President Truman, read as follows:
"LESTER GRANGER, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the United States. Mr. Granger, as Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy on interracial relations, gave sound and able counsel to the Secretary of the Navy on the utilization of Negro personnel in the Navy. By his keen observations, his fairness of judgment and his straight-forward recommendations he contributed more than any other one person to the effective utilization of Negro personnel in the Service. After an inspection of continental and overseas naval activities, of men and officers alike, he personally evaluated the position of the Negro in the Navy, suggesting general policies as well as solutions for specific cases. His report and recommendations to the Secretary have formed the basis for the Navy's peacetime policy for the utilization of Negro Personnel which gives every promise of providing a solution to the problem which will be satisfactory to all concerned. Mr. Granger's services were rendered with distinction reflecting credit to the Navy and to the Government of the United States, were outstanding, and contributed materially to the successful prosecution of the war."
As a clipping agent, Ned Ross rivals the famous Luce's Press Clipping Bureau, for we have in front of us headlines in Long Island newspapers of various activities of our own Judge Harry Collins. Feb. 12: "2 Judges, DA in Line for Pay Increases." Feb. 11: "Boy Scouts' Drive Hits Stride at $17,533," and the Campaign Manager is Judge Henry J. A. Collins "Teachers Start Drive for Salary Boost Bill," and we see at this meeting, Henry J. A. Collins, of the County and Juvenile Courts, acted as Moderator. Feb. 18: "Admits Second Charge of Tipsy Driving," and Judge H. J. A. Collins released him in $500 bail. Feb. 18: "McCrary Speaks at Scout Drive Session" and then is shown a picture of our own HarryCollins with Jinx Falkenburg at a meeting of the Bar Association Bill Christgau led off to Gerry Geran "What do you think of the 10 cent subway fare in N. Y., Gerry?" to which Gerry replied "Well, in a few more years we'll be riding for nothing—we use the streets, the electric lights all for free, don't we?" Also present and beaming and appearing as if he had a Florida suntan, and looking like an Olympic bobsled champion, was SteveMahoney. We missed Spike Puryear. Cap Hanley accused Gerry of eating everything in Hanover at the Avery Club except the pots and pans.
THE BIG BOSTON-D ALUMNI DINNER, FEB. 26TH. Those present were Al Gottschaldt (to whom we are indebted for the names of those who attended), Hort Chandler, Tommy O'Connell,Lew Couzens, Don Davis, Warren Farmer, EddieFerguson (Lou Huntoon promised to come but didn't show), Ken Jones, Marsh Leavitt, EmMorse (on from Chicago and headed to his farm in Lyme, N. H.), Ray Baldes, Al Piper, Doc JoeQuincy, Tom Shirley, Stub Stanley, and ChaunceyHood (Harvey was out of town). Reed Montgomery was seen later at the hockey game..... Most of the Boston crowd had a feeling that possibly a good jacket, regardless of cost, for our 30th Reunion, might be a good thing—others suggested a badge or an arm band or a hat band. What do you think? At the dinner, Eddie Ferguson reported that Kath and he had a nice visit to Cooley's swanky China Shop Eddie reports that GeorgeDavis will be glad to superintend the showing of class movies at the 30th Reunion along with CortHorr. Pete Colwell reports that George's pictures are very good. Eddie reports that when going to the hockey game with Lew Couzens, he remarked "what a splendid wing man Earley made on the '18 hockey team!—every time he went up the ice, I had to carry him back with me, he was so pooped." We understand the Country Squire, Lew, finagled a brand new car out of some dealer—one of the first in his neighborhood.
The super-duper Prodder, Howie Park, was successful in getting out the smiling Irishman Cap Hanley, enjoyed so much by everyone also Howie wangled a promise out of Judge "Pups"Colie that he'd surely attend the N.Y.D. Alumni Dinner, April 16, at the Commodore. .... Ann and Johnny Johnston were in Bel Air, Florida, for 2 weeks in Feb Pete Colwell reports that before leaving the Johnsons and Colwells were royally entertained by Ruth and Curt Glover at a glorified breakfast Katink and FrancisChristy were in Florida in Feb. on the lower west coast, at some fishing island Ben Ferguson (Eddie's boy), reports that Mayo Magoon's boy was playing goalie on an excellent freshman hockey team—unbeaten at the time we reported this We were delighted when Zach Taylor called up and reported seeing Don Scully occasionally. Zach lost a boy in the war and it's impossible for those wounds to heal they have two daughters and another boy. Zach expects a banner year with the Portland Cement Cos.
'18 Dinner at D Club, N. Y. Feb. 19. There was Henry Hesse whom we hadn't seen in ages, and Johnny O'Gara (making 100% turnout for Macy). Soda jerker and drug-store clerk in his youth, Curt Glover was giving some pointers to druggist Fred Cassebeer. Good old Bob Knowles was there and said the Rhinelander Estates would soon spread out into active building Henry Hesse looked fine, resembling what the smart man should wear.
It was Fete ColwelVs club night and we missed him, as we did George Davis, Johnny Johnston and Ann. Walt Nelson promised to come out next time—Paul Miner was there, looked mighty fit, said he had spotted in the society columns that the "Edward Fergusons were staying at the Weylin Hotel"—the smiling Irishman, Cap Hanley, the most youthful '18er there, was celebrating his 4th anniversary and is a far better man since Edythe has him in tow. In his swanky new Nash, Cap piloted Bennie Mugridge, and others home. .... Missed also was Doc Noone, whom we hope will come out sometime there was Ned Ross giving that "stratosphere arched Princeton handshake," as Stan Jones put it. Ned's a super-duper prodder and delights in calling such fellows as Don Snyder even though they can't, come out to dinner Banker Red Wilson was looking for someone to cash a check of $60 and there at his elbow without batting an eye was Thompson Starrett's Vice Pres. Van Van Raalte with the dough. The antique craftsman Walter Ross was there and Bennie Mugridge was back from the south, suntanned and ready to take on even the Unions with the Commies—and speaking of Bennie, we know that famed Economist and Professor of Harvard University, Sumner Slichter, has thanked Bennie for the remarkable way in which he's conducted seminars at the Harvard Business School. Present was Syl Morey, who reported that EddieButte (and we hope Marjorie) would be here in March We were sorry to miss Rog Hoiuland another super prodder and sorry that Jack Hurl'but couldn't come around before he sailed for France on Feb. 26th.
Good news about Dave Skinner leaving the hospital and we hope you're feeling 100% very soon, Dave. Eating two heaping plates of vegetables (never touches meat) and with a constant pipeline to the coffee urn, Gerry Geran was filled with scintillating ideas and holding forth that the crust of the earth is 800 miles thick and hollow inside, and that an 1800 mile pool of warm water exists at each pole. Also present was genial George Carpenter, who engaged in labor discussions with Bennie Mugridge. .... Greatly missed were Dave Garratt, Dick Holton, Al Gottschaldt,Dan Shea. (Red Hurlbut was busy with the Red Cross of which he is Chairman in Rye.) We missed Dusty Rhodes and have missed DusightSargent and King Rood the last few meetings. Sturdy Wart Mc El wain we were delighted to see.
Secretary, 74 Trinity Place, New York 6, N. Y. Treasurer, Parkhurst Hall, Hanover, N. H.
