1921 Has A Lively 30th
RAIN failed to slow down our enthusiasm. All voted unanimously that the weekend was the most congenial, pleasant, friendly gathering that we have had. In planning for it the committee kept in mind the important features that most of us want at any reunion: plenty of time to renew old friendships with classmates, members of adjoining classes, faculty and townsfolk; ample supplies of delectable food available when hungry, and stimulating beverages when the throat gets dry from song and conversation; provision for the wives and offspring when the men are occupied with stag affairs; good-looking costumes that can be useful afterwards; "hot" music for the midnight tent parties; and sufficiently varied functions to satisfy everyone. This time we hit the jackpot.
Bill and Alberta Embree, Ort and LoisHicks, Ort Jr., and daughter Caryl, Don Mix,John Sullivan, Randy Childs, Allison andMargie Dunn, Van and Mary Shaffer and daughter Mary Crane were all in Hanover waiting for us on Thursday. Hanover Holiday, Alumni Council, or just the desire to be there longer gave them the excuse, if any were needed.
Guy Wallick and Connie Kayes, both from San Francisco, appeared in and around Boston early and found plenty of rides to Hanover offered them. Connie came up Friday with Charlie Johnson and Guy with Don andAlice Sawyer and Reg Miner on Thursday, stopping off for a cool, delightful lunch at Tom Cleveland's new bright-red summer home on the shore of Lake Sunapee. Jack and Doris Campbell joined the party there, with their car full-of reunion supplies. Bill andEdith Perry and son, Hartwell, who will enter Dartmouth next September, drove direct to Hanover to give Bill a chance to rest. Both Bill Perry and Bill Barber had recently been discharged from the hospital after treatment for stomach ulcers, brought on by business worries, so they welcomed the chance to get away from it all and relax.
By Thursday evening the office was set up in Wheeler and a paper bag labelled for each expected classmate. Each bag was filled with the required number of caps, scarves, highball glasses, tickets, match books and programs. Professor McCallum's son Bill and Alden Fallows, son-in-law of Prof. Rice, were engaged as helpers and instructed to carry out details at the office and the tent. They did an expert job, too, throughout the entire weekend.
Hourly on Friday there were new arrivals. About noon Russ and Esther Bailey with daughter Cynthia appeared, closely followed by Chick and Kelley Stiles. With them arrived the supply of the new Class Book which immediately made a big hit. One glance at the contents disclosed that Russ and Chick had accomplished successfully a job requiring tremendous attention to detail. After collecting the data from the questionnaires and all other available sources, they edited, proof-read, and presented it with clear informal pictures in a cloth-bound, handy-sized volume at a remarkably low price, compared to similar books put out by other classes. Furb Haight's reaction was typical of many, "Just what I needed."
Among other arrivals Friday were Tonyand Martha Gates with one daughter and two sons for their first reunion since Tony left Hanover as an undergraduate. Dick Rolfe with wife Marjorie and three charming daughters also joined the general handshaking. By 7 o'clock everyone was having such a good time at the cocktail party that they reluctantly consented to sit down to the buffet supper in the tent only when they saw the half a chicken and other delicacies being piled on each plate.
Overcast skies forced the removal of the President's Reception from his garden to Baker Library but a goodly number strolled across the street after supper to greet President and Mrs. Dickey. Others remained at the tent to just sit and talk. A little later the more energetic souls attended the Alumni Dance at Dartmouth House (College Hall to you) but soon returned to the tent where the combined bands of '21 and '22 were just getting warmed up. As the music really got hot, LorinGoulding '21 couldn't resist the impulse to do a somewhat portly imitation of Gilda Gray. Then Walt Sands '22 remembered a few steps from his professional days with Eddie Cantor and Bill Embree even put on cautiously some of his old soft shoe routine which made us all call for more. The throbbing drums of Bill Perry, Wally Lord on the sax, Dick Willis and Barney Tucker at the two pianos, and the "jamming" of the other expert musicians drew a crowd from all over the campus. Beer and melody flowed on far into the night.
Pouring rain Saturday morning and inter- mittent showers during the day seemed to have no adverse effect on our spirits. Two breakfast tents, one on Tuck Drive and the other back of Fayerweather Row, relieved the morning food problem but the Inn Coffee Shop and Mac's were still crowded. Doris Campbell, Gladys Hart and Marion Folger arranged transportation and took all the wives, sisters, sons, daughters and friends off to Camp Pinnacle in Lyme where they ate hot dogs, ice cream and other goodies, played bridge and ping pong, went swimming, knitted, gossiped or just sat during the afternoon.
Meanwhile the temporary bachelors of '21 strolled down to Alumni Gymnasium between showers for a generous buffet luncheon in the baseball cage with all other reuning classes and some faculty members. Tuss McLaughry stood out in the crowd as did Sherm Adams '20, now Governor of New Hampshire. Many of us found old friends in the classes of '20 and '22 and got caught up on personal histories.
After lunch everyone assembled upstairs in the gym, where we used to take our exams, for the annual meeting of the General Association of Alumni Bob Burroughs, as Vice President of that organization, presided in a manner and with an appearance which made us '21ers beam proudly. His introductory remarks included a comparison of world and national affairs in 1917, when we entered college, with the similar situation today. He requested our tolerant comprehension of our College's problems and objectives under present conditions. Election of officers preceded fine talks by Sid Hayward '26, Secretary of the Association, bv Governor Sherman Adams '20 and by President Dickey. A distinct 'si flavor pervaded the proceedings despite Sid Hayward's justifiably proud references to the recent accomplishments of his Class of 1926. After John Sullivan was called upon to rise and take a bow, Rog Wilde received merited acclaim for his top-notch work as Class Agent for the Alumni Fund.
Fraternity reunions and cocktail parties began about 4 o'clock at the various houses but the 1921 crowd were soon reunited at their own tent consuming their own concoctions. At the cry of '"Women and children first!" these essential members of the class family were transported to the D.O.C. House at Occum Pond for a sumptuous repast. The pres- ence there, too, of the Class of 1911 and their wives seemed only to liven up the party.
The stalwart males of '21 then straggled across the campus to the Inn for the class banquet which included tender slices of roast beef. Softly rendered recordings by the Dartmouth Glee Club soothed us with old familar songs of the College while we ate. Tom Cleveland began our quinquennial class meeting by warming up the microphone with a few nostalgic remarks in his inimitable, genial manner and with a true-to-life imitation of the voice of Professor James Parmelee Richardson. Bob Mac Donald reported the treasury balance to be in the black because he had received more class dues, than ever before. TomStaley then presented the Nominating Committee's recommendations for class officers for the ensuing five years: for President, John L.Sullivan; for Vice Presidents, Harry Chamber-laine, Rex King, Bill Perry; for Class Agent, Rog Wilde; for Treasurer, Bob Mac Donald; for Secretary, Reg Miner; for Executive Committee, Tom Staley, Cory Litchard, FurbHaight, Bob Burroughs, Norm Crisp, and IkeChester. Amidst comparatively few derogatory remarks, the slate was unanimously, elected.
Bill Embree then took over as M. C., cracked a few jokes, and introduced Bishop John T. Dallas. The Bishop's word picture of the Dartmouth Spirit, as exemplified by the turnout of the undergraduates at midnight to welcome home a defeated football team after a heartbreaking loss, had many of us wiping away the tears. President Dickey stopped by long enough to express his appreciation of the helpful spirit of our class during the past six years since he assumed office, and especially of the constructive suggestions given him by some half-dozen or more of our classmates. John Sullivan concluded the affair with a rousing oration urging us all to stand solidly behind the College during the coming years when it is apparent to us all that Dartmouth and all similar institutions will desperately need both political and financial aid.
The majority of us then joined our families and friends at the Dartmouth Players' presentation of The Royal Family at Webster Hall. Marion Folger, wife of Professor Joe, was perfect in the part of the grandmother, who is supposed to represent the mother of Ethel and John Barrymore.
In competition with the drama, another party began at our tent and again drew a big crowd from other classes and from the town. Enough beer, cokes, milk and sandwiches were available to satisfy the multitude. Ort Hicks not only put on a showing of movies of previous reunions but accurately identified for the edification of the audience at least 90% of the quaint characters who appeared on the screen. Several of them had been caught by the camera in quite candid, unguarded poses. Ort, by the way, also had a cameraman on the job Friday and Sunday recording for posterity the 1951 physical characteristics of our "prime of life" group.
Sunday dawned sunny, warm and beautiful. After leisurely breakfasts, at least 200 from the three classes of 1920, 1921, and 1922 gathered in Rollins Chapel to hear Bishop Dallas pay reverent tribute to all deceased classmates of the three classes. Our proportion was slightly higher for we had seventy out of a total of 181. We ended the service by singing Men of Dartmouth and then standing silently while organist Bob Lord played DartmouthUndying, a special tribute to our gifted classmate, Franklin McDuffee. Tom Cleveland had invited the widows or other relatives of all deceased classmates to join with us in this service, but only Mary Noyes, Hank Noyes' widow, and her daughter, Polly, were able to accept. We were grateful to have them with us both Saturday and Sunday.
Immediately after the service we assembled at the north end of the campus on a specially built bleacher for our group photograph. We managed to get John Dickey in the front row center to make it official, but Bishop Dallas rushed off to visit a sick friend at the hospital. A copy of the picture will be sent free to each classmate who attended reunion. Extra copies at $.75 each may be obtained by writing immediately to Mr. David Pierce, 34 Main Street, Hanover, N. H.
They say an experience of great pleasure can never be repeated with exactly the same degree of satisfaction. Our lobster picnic on Sunday proved to be the exception. It was even better than that at the 25th reunion. This time we had no steep banks to descend with hands full of plates or cups. We sat at tables in the sun or in the shade of a tent as we pleased. There was a rumor that Bill Embree ate three lobsters. At any rate there were plenty for all and several second helpings. As we finished the strawberry shortcake, one of the ladies suggested that Connie Cleveland, Tom's middle daughter, and Dick Miner '51, Reg's son, give a repeat performance of some impromptu vocal duets that they had given the wives and offspring group the preceding evening while the men were still at the Inn banquet. Connie, a student at New England Conservatory of Music, has a particularly sweet, clear voice and is already singing with some name bands around Boston. Dick has been harmonizing as second bass with the Glee Club for the past four years, but shifted to second tenor to blend better with Connie's voice. Encouraged by the applause, they even sang "You're Just in Love" from Call MeMadam. It topped off the final party nicely and reluctantly we said our farewells, amidst many suggestions for future gatherings before our 35th which seems now so far away.
At some time during the weekend, 98 classmates, 58 wives, 4 friends, 15 sons, and 25 daughters were on hand. Bill Fowler and son, Dick '54, Don Mix and a few others, could be there only Friday night. Another group left Sunday morning while Leon and Hilda Bateman and Walter and Marion Holt were arriving for the picnic. We were happy to have John Sullivan's wife, Priscilla, and their three children, Charles, Patricia and Deborah, join us for the first time on Sunday. Randy Child's lovely guests, Mrs. Tebbetts and her daughter, also arrived that day and took a lot of kidding as usual.
At our banquet a bottle of scotch was awarded to Furb Haight for coming the greatest distance, from Los Angeles, but Guy Wallick and Connie Keyes were runners-up and Haight was directed to share the prize with them. Doc and Dot Fleming from Elkhart, Indiana, and Tom Staley from Kansas City received honorable mention.
Credit should be given to the members of the reunion committee who planned and worked far in advance. Joe Folger and GeorgeFrost were on the job in Hanover to make local arrangements. Joe handled the Memorial Service and the catering. George planned the lobster picnic. Jack Hurd gave us excellent publicity of mounting intensity in the Smoker. Bill Perry designed the good-looking and practical dark green sports cap for the men and got all the head-sizes straight. He also got the badges and the band and handled the tent parties. Doris Campbell, in charge of all special activities for wives and offspring, also got the plastic Tupperware highball glasses and persuaded the Cleveland girls to put '2l on each glass. Doris also headed up a committee of hard-working wives who cut, fringed and sewed the dark green silk scarves for the feminine contingent. Don Sawyer kept track of all the funds which is no mean job. Ort Hicks arranged for taking and showing the movies. Bob Burroughs planned the cocktail parties and Dick Rolfe provided an emergency supply of snake-bite remedies. The job Russ Bailey and Chick Stiles did on getting out the Class Book has already been described. So you can see your co-chairman had practically nothing to do and was given the job of class secretary to make him work. TomCleveland and Don Mix who so dexterously brought all this about are now resting on their well-earned and well-padded laurels.
The list of those attending our 30th follows:
Roland and Loretta Auger and daughter Nancy; Doph Alger; Bill Barber; Russ and Esther Bailey and daughter Cynthia; Ing and Martha Baker; Dick and Sue Barnes; Leon and Hilda Bateman; Ken Bean; Dave and Edith Bowen; Hal and Doris Bra- man and daughter Marcia; Bob and Dot Burroughs and daughter Harriett; Jack and Doris Campbell; Earle and Mary Carder; Harry Chamberlaine; Randy Childs and guest Mrs. Tebbetts; Tom and Betty Cleveland and daughters Connie and Betsy; Bill Codding; Lovell Cook; Fran and Lou Cosgrove; Jerry Cutler; Norm and Margaret Crisp and daugh- ter Mary Ann; Durward DeGroff; Dick and Mil- dred Dickinson; A1 and Margie Dunn; Bill and Alberta Embree; Doc and Dot Fleming; Joe and Marion Folger; Bill Fowler and son Dick; Jim Frederickson and sister; George Frost; Tony and Martha Gates, daughter Martha and sons Joel and Jonathan; Hal and Martha Geilich, son Evan and daughter Marge; Lorin and Peg Goulding; Jack Graydon and son Tom; Dewey Gruenhagen; Furb and Mary Haight; Gos Halsey; El and Helen Harper; Cliff and Gladys Hart; Bord and Eliza- beth Helmer and daughters Marinda and Elizabeth; Ort and Lois Hicks, Ort Jr., and daughter Caryl; Walter and Marion Holt; Erling Hunt; Jack and Eleanor Hurd; Connie Keyes; Rex and Marge King; Jeff Lawrence; Cory Litchard; Frank Livermore; Bob and Rosamond Loeb and Mrs. Webb; Norm Lowe; Gene and Dot McCabe; Bob and Helen Mac- Donald and daughter Elizabeth; Hugh and Marion McKay; Ray Mallary; Reg and Sylvia Miner and son Dick; Chuck Moreau and daughter Christina; Hewitt Moore; Don and Kim Morse; Fig and Pearl Newcomb; Tom and Rachy Norcross and sons Bob and Bill; Oky O'Connor; Henry Palmer; Rog and Marion Patch; Sumner and Elizabeth Perkins; Bill and Edith Perry and son Hartwe'll; Walt and Joyce Prince; Howie and Lorraine Ransom and son Dave; Bud Reichart; Hubert Ripley; Dud Robinson; Dick and Marjorie Rolfe and daughters Cynthia, Robin, and Sally; Frank and Florence Rood; Dan and Dot Ruggles; Dan and Fran Ryder; Paul Sanderson; Don and Alice Sawyer; Otis Severence; Mick Shoup; Jim and Dorothy Smead and daughters Nancy and Martha; Don Smith; Nels Smith; Tom Staley; Red and Isabel Stanley and sons Pete and Dave; Charlie Stickney; Chick and Kelley Stiles; Doug and Hazel Storer; John and Priscilla Sullivan, son Charles and daughters Patricia and Deborah; Chan and Lorna Symmes and daughter Marcia; Charlie Johnson; Jim and Florence Taylor; Van and Mary Shaffer and daughter Mary Crane; Bill and Mildred Terry; Guy Wallick; Abe Weld; Rog Wilde; and John and Ann Woodhouse and son Bob.
SMILING AT THE SUN, WHICH FINALLY SHONE ON THEIR REUNION, THE 1921 GROUP POSES FOR THE CLASS PICTURE
CLASS SECRETARY
