1936 Won't Forget Its 15th
WELL, if '36's Fifteenth Reunion wasn't Fabulous, as advertised, it certainly was the nearest thing to it. As witnesses, you can check the reactions of the 140 guys, 109 wives and dozen or so children who were there. For the record, and particularly for you folks who couldn't be with us in Hanover, let's try to recap some of the highlights and spell out a few of the more memorable details.
UNIFORMS A SENSATION
By dinnertime on Friday, most of the delegation had arrived and were in what may well So down in Dartmouth Reunion annals as the most ingenious class uniform ever. For the men: a full apron—emblazoned with '36 and stenciled with the name to match the face, plus a series of pockets labeled: "Cigarettes & matches", "Highball", "Lipstick Remover", "Addresses", "Aspirin", Vitamin B-1", "Benzedrine", "Peanuts", etc. A good number of the pockets came filled—with specially inscribed '36 matches, pencil and address book; peanuts, Kleenex, aspirin and B-1; and a tall green glass which obviously could be—and was —kept close at hand (or in front) all the time. For the head—a white peak cap clearly identified by a big green '36. The gals wore diminutive aprons and a headband, in many cases used as a brassard. A wah-hoo-wah for ChuckSims who sought out and arranged for this convenient, comfortable and captivating garb.
Incidentally, the aprons did a flattering—or rather, concealing—job for some of the paunchier gents. And for two well-preserved young men, the aprons were alternated with—now get this—the '36 class jacket that we jauntily wore as Seniors. Al Momenee and Des Stewart have kept their streamlined selves in good enough proportions to keep these jackets out of mothballs.
OFF TO A GOOD START
The first planned function of the weekend was dinner at the Inn for men and their wives. Good food, nice atmosphere .... first greetings .... "boy, have you gotten gray!"..., "Haven't seen you since way back in June of '36.".. .. "What have you been doing with yourself the last couple of years?".... Ed were climaxed by group singing. Charlie Lehman, perennial man of good voice, hastily organized a "quartet", comprising Lou Benezet, Vin Wentworth, Dune Newell, and DonErion; the last named gentleman rendered well received solos.
Back in the tent, the beer, somewhat foamy at the start, went down smoothly. More song, more chatter—and the arrival on into the night of guys from far-away places. Such as Frank Curtis, who flew his C-45 in from Maxwell Field. And Herman Nunnemacher who made it in practically non-stop from Milwaukee. As a matter of fact, the whole area around our Streeter Hall headquarters was quickly converted into a crowded parking space for cars bearing license plates from at least half of the forty-eight states.
The Alumni Dance attracted quite a few of the gang who, in their informal outfits, were the envy of many other collared-and-tied gents.
IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER ....
That's the way the song goes—and our class, as other reuning classes—made it a fact, as we made the best of uncomfortably cool and rainy weather for most of Saturday. Flirting with low-hanging clouds, the College photographer took pictures of the '36 contingent (or, at least, a fair representation thereof). The results are reproduced on this or an adjacent page.
The schedule called for baseball; the weather didn't. And your reporter has not been able to discover even now if '36 beat—or even played—either '34 or '35, or all three. The only traces of the sport were detected near our dorms—near the beer—where some of the guys batted the ball as they batted the breeze. The golf course saw a few '36 teams over the weekend; neither rain nor wind kept Paterson, Gibney, Guibord, BaUantyne, Wentworth and others from their rounds.
Fortunately, the Gym was the scene of the luncheon of the General Alumni Association; it was a good chance to get out of the coldand to hear some fine words from President Dickey. Incidentally, this was the first time that many of us had ever heard John Dickey speak; and the reception at his house on Friday night was the first introduction for many to the man who is so effectively leading Dartmouth.
Was there swimming out at Storr's Pond Saturday afternoon? We wouldn't know—nor did we take the trip to find out. Again, blame the weather. And, by the same token, thank it for clearing sufficiently to allow our Barbecue Steak Roast to go off as planned out at Ross McKenney's place at Oak Hill. We never saw so many blankets in evidence and in use. Every" other gal was a comely Indian squaw—with many of the Big Chiefs shivering by enviously. The young children of '36 enjoyed the proceedings as much as everyone else. The fire, the food—and firecrackers set off under Brint Schorer's watchful eye. Ross was, as always, in good form; his stories of the North Countree sounded like more.
The Players produced Light Up The Sky in Webster Hall Saturday night before a full house, and an appreciative one. Several of us who had seen the show produced on Broadway enjoyed the Hanover attempt more. During intermission, we heard several remarks about how lucky '36ers were to be able to tote their drinks around with them—thanks to the pocket provided in the uniform. Actually, this convenience could have—but did not—raise considerable havoc with sobriety throughout the weekend.
WINNERS TAKE ALL
When the first of the gang started to arrive, they were approached by '36 wives and their other halves to buy chances for a raffle. Proceeds went towards the class 25-year gift to the College. Twenty-five prizes, provided through the generosity of members of the class, ranged from a dozen Cannon Mills bath towels to a case of whiskey .... from an all-expense weekend at the Publick House in Sturbridge, Mass., to a Remington rifle. And at midnight, in our tent, Frank Kappler emceed the grand drawings. With all due respects to the rest of the prizes, the case of whiskey seemed to be most practical for the moment; and it was ironical that Morrie Stein, who held the lucky number, was fast asleep. Total intake: $225. On into the night, mirth, more liquid and music—the latter professionally provided by an impromptu jam session in the '34 tent involving such Barbary Coast veterans as Frank Weston.
THE STATE OF THE UNION Is GOOD
This we found out at our Class Meeting on Sunday morning. Lou Benezet conducted a memorial service for those of our class whb have passed away—and his message was meaningful and helpful.
With dispatch, we heard Treasurer JackMorrison's report that '36 is in good financial shape. We voted to accept Al Gibney's recommendations, as Memorial Fund Chairman, that the funds on hand be kept in reserve until such time as the Class feels they are needed—either for the education of children of our classmates lost in service or for consolidation with our 25-year gift to the College. Alumni Fund Chairman Bob Paterson brought us up to date on our progress in this year's campaign and paid tribute to the fine inimitable work of Tithe editor Joe Cunningham.Bill Macurda, for the Nominating Committee, presented the slate of officers to serve terms until next reunion.
The slate, unanimously accepted, was drawn up with the idea of having the majority of the executive committee living in one area to provide for more efficient action. For the next several years, then, Boston will be our "headquarters" with these men holding office: Secretary, Dick Morton; Treasurer, FrankWeston; Executive Committee: Harry Coronis,Pete Fitzherbert, Bob MacPherson, FerrisMack and Dr. Bill McLaughlin.
By Sunday noon, most of us were on our way home. By now, the overall impressions have been -crystallized. They will keep until our next. For it was a good reunion; it was, indeed, a Fabulous reunion. And Chairman Bill McNulty and his associates (Sims, Lynch, Kappler, Dorrance, Morrison and Chamberlain) deserve our commendation and our thanks.
Here's a run-down of who was there inHanover:
Lois and Chuck Aaron, Phyllis and Gage Aborn, Tom Allen, Caroline and Ted Andrew, Martha and Art Appleton, Lucia and Don Ballantyne, Lois and Rodge Bayles, Lou Benezet, Fran and Lin Brigham, Faith and Charlie Brooks, Ann and Marty Brown, Gerri and Ray Bilter, Violet and Russ Capelle, Midge and Joe Carson, Ellie and Ed Chamberlain, Kathleen and Brad Chase, Jim Clark, Lee and Paul Cleaveland, Ralph Cockroft, Mary and Curt Com stock, Rose and Harry Coronis, Margaret, Alan, Elizabeth and Joe Cunningham, Frank Curtis, Julia and Fred Dailey, Janet and Art Davidson, Joe Davis, Betty and Chuck Delbridge, Ilva and Bob Densmore, Jake Dingwall, Edith and Al Doolittle, Carol and Bob Eaton, Ellie and Don Erion, Mary and Bill Ferguson, Jinnie and Pete Fitzherbert, Nan and Len Florsheim, Shirley and Dave Fox, Betty and Bob Frank, Jo and Bill Frick, Weez and A 1 Gibney, Ollie and Dink Gidney, Libbey and Fred Gonnerman, Adele and Monny Greenbaum, Paul Gibord, Barbara and George Hambleton, Ethel and Jack Hannaford, Helen and Ed Higbee, Eleanor and John Hill, Ruth, Ann, Edgar and Hesty Hirst, Pat and Bill Hoffmann, Pic and Norb Hofman, Beth and John Holmquist, Allene and Bud Horn, Nox Howard.
Bets, Babs, Pete and Bob Ingersoll, Marion and Ed Jacobson, Gerry and Frank Kappler, Bob Keller, Jack Kenny, Catherine and Jack Klaver, Janet and Dick Knight, Shirley and Ken Langler, Barb and Bob Lee, Betty and Charlie Lehman, Betty and Art Levin, Ruth and Leo Levitt, Kirk Liggett, Cathie and Paul Lynch, Nancy and George McCleary, Leslie and Phil Mclnnis, Bill McNulty, Bob MacPherson, Mim and Bill Macurda, Betty and John Mallory, Len Mead, Kay and Ed Merrill, Joe Millimet, Rickie and Pep Mintz, Mary and Al Momenee, Jack Morrison, Madine and Dick Morton, Esther and Tony Muello, Carly and Bill Murray, Phyl and Dune Newell, Eunice and Dean Nicholson, Ellyn and Niels Nielsen, Evvy and Ed Nilsson, Abby and Bill Niss, Ernestine and Jack O'Connell, Dotty and Ted Olson, Morrie Paine, Jean and Tommy Parker, Tink and Bob Paterson, Betty and Dan Poor, Pearsie and Cliff Porter, Theo and Bob Prentice, Betty and Boyce Price, Peg and Ray Reitman, Anne and Don Robbins, Howie Rogers.
Vic Sabary, Doris and Brint Schorer, Budd Schulberg, Dan Schwartz, Betty and Norm Sherry, Anne and Bob Shertz, Jane and Fred Shurts, Mimi and Chuck Sims, Jinnie and Joe Smith, Yumi and Jack Smith, Julie and Dick Spencer, Dick Spong, Mignonne and Bill Spring, Dot, Fred, Steve and Morrie Stein, Katharine and Jim Stephens, Des Stewart, Emilie and Steve Stotzer, Ruth and Dick Stowell, Marg and Stew Stroud, Virginia and Don Suther-land, Marge and Merrill Teulon, Laura and Elmer Thomas, Chuck Thompson, Ruth and Tommy-Thompson, Marion and George Tillinghast, Joann, Andrea, Jonathan and Bud Titcomb, Daf and Jim Tracy, Dick Treadway, Fred Varney, Evelyn, Bob and Bob Walker, Fred Warne, Lee and Art Wasserman, Gib and Vin Wentworth, Frank Weston, Ted Whitmore, John Wiesman, Dot and Karl Wolff, Ross Woodbridge.
This is the last time your reporter will becovering the beat. Thanks sincerely for yourcooperation, confidence and for having givenme the assignment. A good summer to you!
THE CLASS OF 1936 TOOK SARTORIAL HONORS FOR REUNION WITH THEIR MULTI-POCKETED APRONS
RETIRING CLASS SECRETARY
