1922's Super Twenty-Fifth
1922's TWENTY-FIFTH REUNION
WELL, TWOTERS, it was a perfectly swell reunion and those of you who, unfortunately, could not get back to Hanover missed the finest party ever thrown. It doesn't seem possible, even now, that it is all over and those of us who were there will be talking about humorous incidents, remembering classmates that we had not seen for so long, cursing the rain that interfered to some extent with our outdoor program on Saturday, and reliving the week-end with the remembrance of the renewal of wonderful personal associations and the joy of having been back on Hanover Plain again as members of the great Dartmouth family.
There were aBo of us on deck—109 Two- ters, 75 wives and 96 children of varying ages—the best turnout of any Dartmouth 25th reunion group.
The program was beautifully planned by Fran Leland and Carter Hoyt and everyone of us owes these two boys and all of the other men who were working on reunion committees our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for a superb job. We shall always remember our 25th as the finest Dartmouth class reunion ever.
Most of the reunion committee and some foresighted Twoters jumped the gun arid arrived in Hanover on Thursday. This advance guard proceeded to establish itself hither and yon in our headquarters, Smith, Ripley and Woodward, the group of dormitories ideally located for our purpose There were so many of us back that Topliff and New Hampshire were also nearly fully occupied by Twoters and their families. The usual tent was pitched on the lawn in front of Ripley and was the focal point for bull sessions and free beer.
They tell me that the early arrivals on Thursday proceeded in true Twoter fashion to set up a bar and after dinner the Olsens were hosts at an impromptu cocktail party.
Friday was a beautiful day and the gang started to really pour in. As each one registered, photographers were on hand to snap a family picture. (Write to Dave Pierce Studio, Main Street, Hanover, N. H. for your family portrait—cost 25.)
The men's costume was a swell light green gabardine sport shirt. The gals were given a beautiful plastic bracelet with an insert of the Dartmouth Indian head and the numerals "22." Our deep thanks to Fran Leland, for arranging for this most unusual and interesting gift for the gals. The boys received a Dartmouth T-shirt and it wasn't long before all were appearing in their respective costumes.
Wes Nutten and Buck Perry and his wife were the farthest travelers to reunion, having come from Los Angeles. Those that traveled the shortest distance were Stan Jackson from Lebanon and Olie Olsen from Hanover.
One of the most unusual features of the whole week-end was due to the foresight and imagination of Buck Perry. He came to Hanover with one hundred silver dollars, every one minted in 1922, and it wasn't long before the cartwheels were in the possession of an equal number of Twoters who had bought them from either the reunion treasurer or from Buck direct as a top memento of the week-end.
Several of us were taking movies of incoming classmates and families and these candid shots were taken at various times during the week-end as well. If those of you who took Bmm. movies would care to send them to me I will merge them all into one film, and title it so that we may have a partial record of our reunion. Those of you who took still pictures may wish to send a print of each to Bill Bullen, 38 Newbury Street, Boston, so that they may be maintained in our class file.
Friday afternoon was exciting. Everyone was pouring in. Here and there there was a slight fumbling for names as some of us were pretty bald, or had become a darn sight fatter or thinner than the last time we saw each other but a little name plate on our jackets enabled most of us to walk up and salute our classmate by name with- out any awkward pauses.
Every once in a while during the afternoon, hard-working Carter Hoyt and Carroll Dwight would seek temporary relief from taking in the dough, stick their heads out of the "office" and yell for a drink, which was quickly supplied.
At 5 o'clock everybody gathered in the tent for a cocktail party that preceded our buffet supper there. This was a lot of fun, as Wally Lord's band was whooping it up with all the old numbers that we so well recalled. The informal atmosphere prevailing was just the thing to weld everybody into the big '22 family and started the week-end with a bang.
The 50th reunion class, 1897, brought over a bushel of peanuts for the boys (our kids ate most of 'em) and enjoyed a fewcocktails with us and some old songs.
At 8:30 President and Mrs. Dickey held a reception in the lighted garden at their home. It was well attended by Twoters and was a most delightful affair. After we returned from this, we found a screen set up in front of the dorm and the movies taken in the spring of our senior year were shown along with a few other reels that some of us had taken at earlier reunions. The sight of these old pictures—the narrow trousers, the funny collars and ties, the most peculiar automobiles, etc., brought back many nostalgic memories. The kids particularly got a big kick out of seeing their daddies cavorting around, particularly at the spring picnic of 25 years ago.
Later that evening some of us went down to the gym for the senior-alumni dance. The Barbary Coast was holding forth on the platform and did a good job. Then later we drifted back to the tent, or to various rooms for beer, cocktails and bull sessions which continued until the wee small hours of Saturday morning.
About 3 o'clock Saturday morning it started to rain like the devil and kept raining all day long. One might think that such a storm would have curbed our spirits but, to the contrary, the good old class of '22 never ceased its merry pace.
The meeting of the General Association of Alumni in Webster Hall at 11:30 was well attended by 1922. Those of you who, for one reason or another, did not attend, missed two of the finest talks it has been my privilege to hear. Our Frank Horan was chairman of the meeting. Bill Ham, secretary of '97, spoke most entertainingly and our own Jimmy Hamilton, as selected representative of 1922, gave a superb talk. I hope that it will be possible to have his words available for distribution to every member of the class. Brief talks, were also given by Allen Bildner, president of 1947, Sid Hayward and President Dickey.
1922 was awarded the Class of 1930 Cup for the largest numerical attendance for the first reunion weekend. We were hon- ored to receive this award.
After the meeting and because of the still pouring rain, we all adjourned to the baseball cage in the gym for the class buf- fet luncheon. Wally Lord and his or- chestra on the balcony provided the music. This luncheon was again the focal point for the renewal of acquaintance and friendship and we all had a slick time with darn good food. The kids were well taken care of for the balance of the afternoon by the children's committee and Ross McKenney. The swimming pool was open and while the youngsters were enjoying themselves the oldsters proceeded upstairs to the Trophy Room where Wally Lord continued his music for dancing.
We had planned to have a cocktail party on the Hanover Inn lawn at 5:30 Saturday but with continuous rain this event was transferred to the Trophy Room of the gym and many of the class of 1897 joined us there for a while. When the time came for our banquet, the gals were transported out to the D.O.C. House at Occom Pond for their lobster dinner, the kids stayed at the gym for a while and then met their mothers at Webster Hall for the Dartmouth Players' production "At Yale"—a mellerdramer and very well done.
In the meantime the men gathered at 7 o'clock in the Colonial Room of Thayer Hall for their banquet. The highlight of that party which included a wonderful lobster dinner, beautifully prepared and served by Mrs. Hayward who has our undying thanks, was the presentation to the College of our 25th Memorial Gift. BillBullen presented a check to President Dickey for $29,000, the largest amount that has been contributed up to this time by a 25th reunion class. This is something of which we can all be proud, Twoters, as each of us had a personal part in it.
As part of the evening program, I conducted our 25th reunion class meeting and as a result of the report of the nominating committee headed by Ced Porter and voted upon by the class, the following are your new class officers:
Secretary-Chairman—Wilbur W. Bullen. Class Agent—Stanley P. Miner.
Treasurer—Carroll Dwight.
Executive Committee members—Alfred E. Davidson Jr., Andrew Marshall 2nd, and Herluf V. Olsen.
My personal thanks to every Twoter for the wonderful colored print of Dartmouth Hall and the silver cigarette box which Fran Leland presented to me from the Class of 1922. I shall treasure them always.
Frank Horan was toastmaster at the banquet and introduced as guests DonCameron, who had done so much for us in making the many arrangements for the reunion program, and George Colton, secretary of the Alumni Fund.
Frank then introduced Pudge Neidlinger '23, and Dean of the College, who spoke most interestingly of our class and the College then and now. He was followed by Al Foley '20, Professor of History, who gave the main speech of the evening. Al, as you know, has a forte of being able to mimic some of the well-known college characters and gave us a brief talk a la Jim Richardson and then launched into one of Craven Laycock's addresses to the freshman class at the time of the first fall convocation. This was most interesting and nostalgic and Al has our deep thanks for giving us so well a bit of Dartmouth 25 years ago.
After the banquet some of us had a chance to slip into Webster to see the last act of the play and then we all returned to the dorms and, because the tent was too wet, we retired to various rooms for highballs and bull sessions.
Sunday, thank the Lord, dawned bright and fair and spirits rose accordingly. The highlights of the morning were the graduation procession at 1 L o'clock and the commencement exercises in the Bema. Many of us saw both events and the sight of the tremendously long line of black gowned seniors, 550 odd in number, and the colorful robes in the academic procession, coupled with the superb speeches of the recipients of the honorary degrees brought a further sense of deep devotion to the College and to the class.
As some of us stood on the side-lines in groups and watched the academic procession go by, eyeing the upstanding young seniors, and they in turn eyeing us, I can well imagine the thoughts that were coming to them as I know what most of us were thinking. It just didn't seem possible that here we were back on Hanover Plain again but 25 years older, some thin, some fat, some quite bald, but with an undying love for the College in our hearts. Some of us had to brush away a tear now and then.
About 1 o'clock we all got a delayed start for Oak Hill where Ross McKenney put on a wonderful steak fry barbecue for Twoters and their families. This was a lot of fun and after we were replete with food and beer the Dave Pierce Studio took our reunion picture. Many of us signed up for one of these large photographs at the time but for those who did not, or for those Twoters that were not at reunion, you may obtain one by writing Dave Pierce, Main Street, Hanover (cost $1.00). Candid camera shots and further movies were taken during this event and then many of the people started to go back to the dorms to think about packing up and leaving, except for some of the old die-hards and those with young sons who had sworn to lick their dads in baseball. Accordingly, Davidson, Oliver, Stetson, Threshie, Angell, Wood, Hotchkiss, Spiel, Saunders, Daniel, Baldwin, the two Andersons, Hinners, Marshall, at al., went down the hill and played a six-inning softball game with the sons. The mainstay of the kids were Bobby Baldwin, who pitched, Don Marshall, an excellent shortstop, Pudge Spiel, topflight first baseman, and Georgie Stetson, excellent third sacker. Some of the older sons such as Andy Oliver, Ken Saunders, Ted Davidson, and others, completed the younger team.
Threshie was soon batted out of the box by the youngsters and big Ted Davidson thereafter took over the mound. Marshall was catcher for a while on the old man's side and then pulled a charley-horse and retired. The score: 11-5, the kids winning. It might have been a closer game save for the excellent fielding and double-plays on the part of Don Marshall and Georgie Stetson who were really hot. Hotchkiss was the umpire and sure did call 'em!
We even had a cheering section of gals which was a lot of fun for everybody.
So ended the major planned events of a wonderful 25th reunion. Late Sunday afternoon saw most of the Twoter families shoving off for home. There were a few diehards that couldn't bear to leave and about 25 or 30 of us ended up in the Olsen's living room with Bob Hight playing his guitar until the wee small hours of Monday morning. That informal and spontaneous gathering was one of the highlights of the whole week-end—long to be remembered.
This about completes the story of the week-end. A great gang was back and everyone without exception had a swell time. We shall never forget Phil Kimball who had the time of his life and who gave much pleasure to many people, Threshie, Bull en's Bar, Carter, Siegfried, Fauver, Bruckner, McKoan, Saunders, Willis, Giorgio, Hinners, Nutten, Brisbin, Oliver, to mention a few.
Below there is listed the names of everyone who checked in for the week-end. I think we have everyone included. If not, raise hell with me.
It was a great party, superbly handled by our reunion committee and the College. Our undying thanks to everyone who made it possible.
See you at our 30th!
1922 UP!
P.S. from our Lost and Found Dep't: Found—a man's black raincoat. Loser write Carter Hoyt, 40 Sewall St., West Newton, Mass.
1922's Reunion Roster: Viola and Gaylord Anderson, and Gail; Polly and Troyer Anderson, and Ken; Margaret and Bill Angell, Nancy and Dave; Elmer Ardiff, and Bob; Anna and Walt Aschenbach; Ray Atwood; U. Auger; Liz and Bob Baldwin, Catherine and Bob; Dorothy and Roy Ball, Barbara, Martha and Lorna; Gray Bates; Jerry Bates; Sylvester Bingham; Lois and Bob Booth, Tom and Alan; The Dick Bowlers, and Muriel; Lansing Brisbin; Bessie and George Brooks, George Jr. and Edwin; Ralph Brucker; Margaret and Harry Bruckner, and Barbara; Rose and Max Budnitz; Odielee and Bill Bullen, Bill Jr. and Jed; Mildred and Hal Burnham, John and Nancy; Jo and Chick Busher, Joan and Eugene.
The Dave Caldwells; Dorothy and Chuck Canfield, and Nancy; Alicia and John Carlton, and three children; Cathleen and Herm Carlisle, and Joanne; Jim Carroll; Louise and Nick Carter, Sally and Jane; Bob Clark; Caroline and Joe Cohen; Harriet and Haskell Cohn; Eleanor and Gus Cummings; Al Crampton, and Neal; Marion and Norm Crane, Shirley and Joan; John Dana; Warren Daniell; Bab and Ted Davidson, Edith and Ted; Jane and Louis Dettenborn, and daughter; Bob Dewey; Jack DoddNan and Carroll Dwight, Mary Gay and Peter Charlie Earle, and daughter Margaret; Larry Farnham, Bill and Dean; King Fauver; Anna and Nick Giorgio, and young Nick; Mary and Harry Griswold, Joy and Jean; Mary and Arvin Gunnison.
Helen and Ronnie Hallett, and Ed; Sally and Jim Hamilton, Shirley, Joan and Cynthia; Eleanor and Tony Hanlon; Genevieve and Charlie Hart, Charlie Jr. and Elizabeth; Marjory and Larry Healy, Dick Bob, David and Elizabeth; Alma and Bob Hight' Susan and Ellen; Catherine and Ralph Hinners, and Barbara; Betty and Frank Horan; Gene Hotchkiss-Allie and Carter Hoyt, and Barbie; Stan Jackson-Johnnie Johnson, and Ed; Grace and Max Kenyon' Peter, Nancy and Janet; Vida and Steve Kenyon' Elliott and Stephen; Elizabeth and Killie Kilmarx' and Bob; Phil Kimball; Marian and Ed Lane; Fran Leland, Charlotte and Ted; Louise and Tom 'Lend Shirley and Gprdon; Mary and Dick Litchfield, and Elizabeth; Gubby MacDermott; Helen and' Rex Malmquist, Elin, Ruth and Lisa; Jennie and Bill Mann; Charlotte and Andy Marshall, and Donald; Jim Maze; Katherine and John McKoan, and Joan; The Ed McNamaras; Catherine and Stan Catherine and Mary; Margaret and Bill Hugh and Anne; Margaret and Len Morrissey; Harvey Moses.
Wes Nutten; Flo and Herm Oliver, Anne and Andy; Elspeth and Olie Olsen, Chuckie and Dan; Ethel and Buck Perry; Emma and Ced George and Ced Jr.; Ruth and Ralph Reid; Beatrice and Oscar Rice; Elizabeth and Ted Robie, and two daughters; Doris and Walt Sands; Mildred and Spic Saunders, Ken and Ann; John Shea; Horace Shepard; Lucille and Ozzie Siegfried, Gretchen and Ann; Marjory and Spennie Smith, and Cynthia; Karia and Butch Spiel, Karla and Pudgie; Priscilla and George Stanley, and Georgia; Louise and Stewie Stearns; Dorothy and Dick Stetson, and Georgie; Sylvia and Jack Taylor, and Jill; The Louis Thomases; Pat Tobin; Phil Threshie; Eva and Fred Vogel; Les Wagner; Frances and Sterry Waterman; Madelaine and Clif Watson, Joan and Marilyn; Ruth and John Weare; Herb West; Mary Louise and Dick Willis; Ben Wilson; Ruth and Dick Wood.
THE CLASS OF 1922, WITH 109 MEMBERS BACK, POSE FOR THEIR OFFICIAL 25TH REUNION PICTURE AT OAK HILL, SCENE OF THE CLASS PICNIC
1922 SPEAKER AND PRESIDING OFFICER at the General Alumni Association meeting during Commencement Weekend. Left, James A. Hamilton '22, who gave the 25-Year Address, and right, Francis H. Horan '22, vice president of the Association, who presided over the program in Webster Hall on June 14.
RETIRING CLASS SECRETARY
