1941 Weathers Its Big 10th
As I sit in Crosby Hall writing your class notes for the first time, our big Tenth Reunion is not yet over. It is early on a very hot Sunday afternoon and most of the members of your class are in a deactivated condition in the shade of the class tent. Some of the boys are still out on the golf course. Others I saw no more than ten minutes ago cavorting about on the tennis court. Many are now getting ready to leave the Hanover plain once again. I'm in the latter group. But before I do leave I want to tell you what we've done here this weekend—while I still have that wonderful feeling that the clock has miraculously turned back ten years. It sounds funny but while watching a tennis match with Buzzy Willis,Art Hills, Coach Red Hoehn and his son no more than ten minutes ago, I had to pinch myself to be sure ten years had passed. I wanted to be sure I didn't have to dash over to Robinson Hall and report on the match in The Daily Dartmouth. But ten years had surely passed for there was Red Hoehn's boy, born while we were in college, smashing the ball at Willis and Hills with deadly effect.
Oh, things have changed all right. Somebody told me on Friday that the Nugget wasn't there any more. Yes—that was ancient history. And somebody else pointed out that Main Street was more modern, streamlined. Another remarked that George Gitsis hadn't operated a restaurant in Hanover for years. Yes, there'd been some changes made. I was ready to believe those people when suddenly up the street came Lou Young and Ray Hall. I got one look at them and I knew nothing had changed. No, the '41's haven't changed. You meet someone you knew would look different and you're surprised that he's the same guy you always knew. A few more gray hairs in the crowd, a few balding tops and some pretty good center spreads but nothing more than that. The college bells haven't changed either —they still play Dartmouth Undying. And you still listen.
Now let's talk about what we've been doing here for the last three days. Late Thursday afternoon they started coming in and the number kept growing with most of the arrivals getting here around 4 p.m. on Friday. It was apparent that our Reunion Chairman Stacy Hill had done a remarkable job. Attendance was high and business at the $30 window was brisk. 1941 was housed in New Hampshire and Topliff and the Class Tent was set up across the street from Topliff within the confines of Memorial Field. By Friday night we had about 170 people on hand and others continued to appear until the total this afternoon has reached 192. And I'm certain that 192 people never had a better time.
When I arrived at the Class Tent on Friday afternoon, some of the more active members of the class had a Softball game going. Bill Galbraith and Paul Mahoney were doing the pitching and when last seen were still sporting sore arms. Bill's performance was to be admired in view of the fact that he was without his charming wife Ruth who was home waiting for another member of the class of 1973.
Within a few hours the tent was bulging with people and most of the people were bulging with beer. After a delicious buffet supper, the songs began in earnest with StuSteffey doing his usual grand job at the piano. Following this, the principal events were a President's reception at Baker Library and a dance at College Hall (Commons). Following this there was more singing. .. and more beer ... and more singing. .. and more
Did somebody say Saturday morning? I believe it was raining. Yes I'm sure it was raining. It's been such a beautiful June day today that I almost forgot that it rained yesterday. It was a downpour until 11 a.m. and then it settled down to a real Hanover drizzle until about 4 in the afternoon. It didn't interfere with the official activities which were indoors until 6 p.m. The first piece of business in the morning was the class meeting at 105 Dartmouth. Lew Johnstone, as chairman of the executive committee for the last five years, presided at the meeting. While waiting for the crowd to assemble, Lew demonstrated why he has been able to do such a magnificent job as Class Agent by performing an exceptional feat of magic. Incidentally Lew deserves a long and loud Wah Hoo Wah for his work not only as Class Agent and chairman of the executive committee but for the many hours of his time he has devoted to the other activities of the class as well—including this reunion.
Well, here is the new executive committee elected to hold office until the next reunion, which I believe will be in 1955 instead of 1956; Dick Hill, chairman; Stu Steffey, treasurer; Red O'Connor, assistant treasurer; Frank Hall, secretary; Hank Gunst; Lee Cone;Bud Alartin; Hugh Kenworthy; Lew John-stone. The Treasurer's Report showed a fairly healthy bank balance and Stu May was given a round of congratulations for his work as treasurer during the past five years. DonStillman, as retiring secretary, made his report and then warned his successor that these notes were to be written before the end of the weekend.
Noontime and it was still raining when the wives had their luncheon at the Outing Club and the rest of us attended the luncheon of the General Association of Alumni in the gymnasium. After luncheon the Alumni held their meeting in the room best remembered for its final exams.
Then came the moment for the golfing diehards to dash for the course. Being an enthusiast myself, I went along. However, I went armed only with my motion picture camera to record these madmen for posterity. Two foursomes went off and then along came DeanCarleton through the rain in his stocking feet. "Where are your shoes?" I asked him. "Can't wear 'em," says he, "got a bad foot." And with that off he went down the first fairway. Pretty soon in comes Charlie Kazaross after playing the 9-hole course. I looked at his card. 35! I got away from there fast.
The sky got clear and the sun came out just in time for us to have a wonderful picnic out at Oak Hill. When we got there we were face to face with the biggest pile of broiled lobsters you ever saw in your life. Highlight of the evening, except of course for the food, was the story-telling of Ross McKenney. Ross was at his best. After that I remember Bob O'Brien and his wife arriving and something about Ridulevic.
After the picnic they tell me there was a play at Webster Hall. I wouldn't know about that because some member of the Class of '33 was playing the piano at the Class Tent and practically no one could tear themselves away. Everybody brought a gift to the tent for the grab bag party at 11 p.m. As Vic Schneider said "No bring bag gift, no can grab bag." This, gentlemen, was a rat race. When it ended we settled down to some serious singing. Dr. Tom Lawley, in from California, and WaltWinchester, up from Florida, were seen in the corner drinking frozen orange juice. Gus Broberg was another in from Florida, but I do not believe he was drinking orange juice. Two who came from out Illinois way were JimBailey and Dr. Frank Munsey.
About 3 in the morning a magician appeared in the tent and began going through his bag of tricks. As he opened his suitcase, the piano fell down. Fortunately no one was under the upright when it toppled over and Morrow the Magician never performed a better stunt. Despite a whole barrage of outstanding tricks, nothing came up to the bellylaughs of the piano going over. Bob Thomas kept insisting "Do that piano one again." The session ended as do most sessions with a whole string of funny stories.
Sunday morning the sun was shining brightly and it is still doing that. We had the class picture taken this morning, I got the list of those present, and now I'm sitting here finishing up these notes. I think I'm going to like this job of class secretary. I know I will if you people can provide me with the kind of information I need to keep the notes timely. My address is 47 Hook Lane, Levittown, N. Y. How about some lines from you fellows who couldn't make the Reunion so I'll know what you're doing? Not you, Murphy, I know what you're doing.
Following is a list of those who attended our Big Tenth: The following were present with their wives: Larry Andrews, Austin Baker, Jay Baker, Jim Bailey, Bob Baker, Arnold Bartlett, Brodie Bjorklund, Gus Broberg, Bill Broer, Don Brown, Jerry Blumberg, Lance Ballou, Bill Cashel, Dana Chase, Gene Clark, Lee Cone, Dutch Cotton, Bob Darbee, Bill English, Al Ferguson, Seth Fitchet, Charlie Frantz, Bruce Friedlich, George Flather, Russ Garfield, Marston Gibbs, Phil Hall, Ray Hall, Frank Hall, Bill Hammond, Don Hanks, Franklin Hart, Dick Hill, Joe Hill, Art Hills, Gil Hurd, Al Hutton, John Hands, Irv Jackson, Lew Johnstone, Hy Jones, Hugh Kenworthy, Bob Koenig, Monk Larson, Tom Lawley, Bill Lowry, David McGaughey, Paul Mahoney, Robert Marcotte, Bud Martin, Dick McCormach, Jim McLellan, Bob McWilliams, Osborne Mills, J. G. Morgan, Frank Munsey, Hed Miller, George Middendorf, Bob O'Brien, Red O'Connor, Bob Rainie, Clinton Reynolds, James Rogers, Dick Sawyer, Vic Schneider, Mai Scott, Ray Seabury, Dick Sexton, Snuffy Smith, Don Stillman, Stu Steffey, Chet Stoddard, George Thompson, Linn Thompson, Doug Wheale, Buzz Willis, Bill Wilson, Carr Wilson, Ray Welbourn, Court Young, Lou Young. Those who came stag were: Bob Austin, George Baine, Alden Boyd, Frank Brooks, Harry Butterworth, Dean Carleton, Hank Childs, Ez Crowley, Dave Chamberlain, Bill Clark, Bill Danforth, Dick Darby, Bob Evans, Bob Feller, Hank Frechette, Bill Galbraith, Stacy Hill, Bill Hotaling, Burt Hedin, Charlie Kazaross, Walt Kuhn, Stu May, Tom Oakes, Dick Olmsted, Dick Paul, Cliff Stratton, George Simpson, Don Taber, Bob Taft, Bob Thomas, Allan Van Wie, Line Wales, Walt Winchester.
1941 WITH THE 1930 CUP FOR ATTENDANCE WHICH IT WON THE SECOND WEEKEND
CLASS SECRETARY
