1917

These notes will necessarily be somewhat brief as Elsie and I are headed for Yeaman's Hall, Charleston, S. C., for a week's vacation on March 2, so that cuts down the free time by about one week in which I would have received some news.

A note from Walt Sisson including a newspaper report concerning Hank Allison, as follows:

"Prof. William Henry Allison has been named chairman of the civil engineering department at Clarkson college, President Jess H. Davis announced today. Prior to his recent appointment he was acting chairman of that department. Professor Allison first came to Clarkson in 1929 as an assistant professor of civil engineering. He was promoted to full professor in June, 1947. The new department chairman also serves as chairman of the Upper New York section of the American Society for Engineering Education. He is also a member of Gamma Alpha, national scientific honor society; Tau Beta Pi, national engineering honor society; and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Professor Allison received a bachelor of science degree in 1917 and a civil engineering degree in 1918, both from Dartmouth College. Before coming to Clarkson, he served in the bridge departments of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and the Southern railroad. He also taught at the Sheffield scientific school at Yale University from 1926-29 He is a registered professional engineer in New York state."

We don't often hear from Hank, so thanks,Walt, for the news. Also an apology for nothaving reported on the birth of Walt's newestgranddaughter born August 7, 1950, to hisdaughter Carol, Mrs. William R. Freeman, ofCleveland.

Note the photograph of our new champ Walt Walters. Walt writes that he and Phoebe are taking a trip to Tucson the last of March and expect to visit their daughter in California the early part of April. Elsie and I expect to be in California just about that time and are making arrangements to see the Walters' out there.

Bill Eaton finds it impossible to make plans so far ahead for the Cornell-Dartmouth game, but anticipates being there if at all possible. Bill was in Hanover this last fall and had q,uite a visit with Pay Barber•, Karl Stillman,Trennie Trenholm, Sum Emerson, Walt Sisson, Arch Gile and Don Litchard. Further quotes from Bill's letter:

"From Hanover I stopped in Exeter and saw Hal Weeks. Incidentally I just had word that Hal is again a grandfather, the youngster to be in the class of '72. I then went to Boston and met BillSewall. Before the 'l7 dinner R. S. Sanborn joined us in the room where we had the usual session. The 'l7 dinner was, as always, a big success and as usual was livened up by the late arrival of Holden and Shea. This past week I had visits from Bill Sewall and Mott Brown. Of course Mott has his days all counted until he gets to the Cape and as usual is talking about the 'Vespers' with DonBrooks. Mott wouldn't stay long enough to get together with Sandy Lynch. Have had some correspondence with Gil Swett who is certainly doing a good job and a lot of work for the good of 1917. I hope everyone is making a study of Gil's proposals as they make a lot of sense. Incidentally, his boy has been with Gulf Oil since last fall. Have kept busy interviewing kids for Dartmouth which is one of the jobs I tackle annually. We have some good prospects if Uncle Sam will leave them alone. Haven't been to New York since the last World Series but will look you up on my next trip."

Sherm Smith sends in a check for $12.00 covering his reservation for the reunion next fall. Sherm's check was the first reservation to come in. How about some more?

Tom Clark, the new vice president of the Omaha Steel Works, Omaha, Neb., writes as follows:

"The Korean situation has brought on a greatly accelerated program at Omaha Steel Works, as is the case with our type of business anywhere. The increased activity mainly comes from accelerated demands from our principal manufacturers and railroads, and not from direct war orders, although there has been some of them. My own activities have been somewhat enlarged and our Board of Directors was good enough to elect me a Vice-President at the annual meeting.

"About the only Clark news is that Ellen and I hope to get in some weekends at our Spirit Lake cottage. Spirit Lake is on the lowa-Minnesota line. If any '17ers happen to be passing that way the cottage is a mile north of Spirit Lake town, on the southwest corner of the lake, and we would be glad to receive visitors. I still play tennis. We have one of the finest tennis centers in Omaha that exists anywhere in the country, and if you come this way I would like to try to hit those left-handed shots of yours." (Those were the happy days.)

Win Scudder states that as he now lives in the country he rarely sees any of the gang and hopes they will stop in, or at least give him a ring, if they ever get to Boston. (Thanks, Win, for Doc's photo.)

Bill Sewall writes as follows: "Nice to know that Jim Durkee is now in the top spot of General Petroleum. Not much other news to report. Bill Eaton and I are struggling with a chaotic rubber situation which I am sure your readers would not be interested in. Had a phone call a couple of weeks ago from MottBrown on his way through to Columbus but no chance for a personal visit. He says he is feeling fit again but realizing the limitations of advancing years (aren't we all?)."

The Alumni Records Office has lost the address of Charles Clark Rodenbach '17 and would appreciate receiving his address or any up-to-date report. Thanks. (K.W.K.)

Just before Art Jopson passed away, he wrote the following wonderful letter to GilSwett. I am sure you all will be very deeply interested, not only in its contents, but it will certainly recall to your mind the many happy occasions so many of us enjoyed at Hanover with Art, who was a very generous pal. "Dear Gil,

Your letter of December 22 deserves an answer. Certain members of the class have done a real job in holding the class together, looked after all affairs and received little if any thanks. I have given thought to the future of Dartmouth, also even the present trials facing Dartmouth. I often wonder how those into whose hands have been entrusted the guiding and setting of her course can face the future without grim foreboding. All of which is of small interest to you, but what is of interest is how much Art Jopson will put on the line for Dartmouth. Gil, we all have problems; you have yours, I have mine. Our class has wealthy members (a few) and probably a lot of mediocre guys, and then some just 'getting along' all good guys, however. You raise youngsters, send them to a private school, college, had them in the war and all the rest of those things all of us have faced the same problems. If your health held out you were lucky. Mine ran out ten years ago with a poor ticker. I have not given up the hope that I can do something for Dartmouth. I took a set-back ten years ago. I have a little time yet, like the rest of us, and I am hopeful of doing something. You have done a good job, along with some others. Best wishes, Art. "P.S. Getting late—3 children 5 grandsons I granddaughter. All swell kids got all their buttons too."

Gil Swett's work on the Memorial Fund during the past two months has been a prodigious job of correspondence, but he tells your scribe that, however stiff the job looked when he started it, it began to give him much the same bang that one gets out of reunions, in human interest and the renewal of old friendships. Much of the information he received, writes Gil, was confidential. A man doesn't publish to the world the details of his bequests and life insurance. Statistical credit on the official reports for most of the important gifts will have to wait, in many cases, until the death of these generous doners. It seems pretty sure, however, that our goal of $200,000 in the Memorial Fund by the time the last Seventeener puts his chips down on the table for the final count-up was over-modest. Existing life insurance and testamentary set-ups, actually implemented, and not just "good intentions" indicate a high probability that the $200,000 is already assured. Quite a Class! The Class Memorial Fund now stands at $14,000, still not too good in comparison with some of our competing classes, but a whole lot better than before.... Think it over, Men.

THE 1918 FATHERS AND SONS DINNER took place Feb. 23 at the Outing Club House. In attendance were (seated, I to r) 'lBers Dusossoit Duke, Herm Smith, Ed Hazen, Dick Aishton, Red Hulbert, Stump Barr and Ed Booth. Standing (I to r): Bill Duke '5l, Bill Pepin '54, Ray Peppard '5O, Champ Smith '5l, Len Smith '5l, Charlie Hood '5l, Andy Aishton '52, Ed Hazen Jr. '5l, Dick Hulbert '5l, John Doty '52 and Dr. Rolf Syvertsen 'lB.

Secretary, 408 Frelinghuysen Ave., Newark 5, N. J. Treasurer, 9 Park Terrace, Upper Montclair, N. J. Class Agent, Barbour-Stockwell Cos., 205 Broadway, Cambridge, Mass.