1941
Your secretary has just returned from a visit to Hanover to attend the annual conference of class secretaries, treasurers and class agents. The Class of 1941 was well represented with Stew Steffey (Treasurer) and Ray Welbourn (Secretary of the Laconia, N. H., Dartmouth Club) on hand to make it a threesome attending the session. In addition, of course, the class members who reside in Hanover, including Snuffy Smith, Dick Sexton, Bob McWilliams, Dick Sawyer and George Simpson, made the 1941 group in Hanover probably the most numerous of the graduated classes.
It is with a deep feeling of pride that one leaves Hanover after attending meetings such as were held over this last weekend ... pride in feeling that you're a part of the spirit that is Dartmouth ... pride in the beauty and dignity of the college pride in the Dartmouth men of all ages from the Class of 1884 through the most recently graduated class of 1951. It is a tribute to the College that these men give so much of their time and energy to its many alumni-operated activities—all of which are aimed at the same common goal of building a greater Dartmouth. Yes, I guarantee that if Bud Martin could have had you all assembled on the Hanover Plain last weekend he could have had 100% of the class contribute to the Alumni Fund. And speaking of the Fund, when you read these notes, the campaign will he into its final weeks. Our Class has always done a standout job. I don't want this to sound like a recruiting poster, but have you done your part in making this another successful year?
On Saturday alternoon. May 3, I walked out of the Hanover Inn and started down the street toward Memorial Field where a real spring double header was about to unfold. First, Dartmouth and Harvard were competing in track, and right next door our baseball team was warming up for its game with Army. As I strolled casually along the sidewalk, admiring the neat row of parking meters (most of which displayed red blossoms marked "expired"), I heard a loud war whoop, several screeches, the pounding of feet and the unmistakable sound of baseball bat bouncing on concrete. There, across the way on the campus were two dormitory Softball teams heading for one of the diamonds getting set for a league game. Quite by instinct I found myself crossing the street to get a closer look. Maybe Bill McCue was going to pitch. Maybe I'd see Julie Koenig hit a long ball. No such luck. These were a bunch of rookies. They were staggering under easy fly balls, letting grounders go through their legs and there seemed to be a good share of strikeouts. "Our teams never played like that," I thought as I headed down to the track meet. "Or did they?"
I enjoyed the varsity baseball game except for the first inning when Army scored four times which was enough to win the game 4-1. The Dartmouth team looked like a good club and Jeff Tesreau's successor Bob Shawkey, the old Yankee stalwart, has done a good job. We might have done better but our hits were wasted—one run on 11 blows.
At the various meetings which were attended by the class officers present, everything from the Alumni Fund and the ALUMNI MAGAZINE to Class Reunions were discussed. The latter turned out to be one of the most thoroughly examined subjects of the weekend. Methods for improving attendance at reunions and ways to make reunions more fun and keep the costs down were pointed out to those present. With our next reunion three years off, I'll file some of the suggestions made for use of our executive committee when the time comes.
Don't think I'm trying to make a whole column out of this sojourn in Hanover—I've got some news of classmates for you after all. One of the good stories I've heard this month concerns Marston Gibbs. It seems that Gibby was out flying a model airplane (one of those new gas engine jobs no doubt) with his youngsters when the thing suddenly dove out of the skies directly at him. Not wanting to have his thinning hair parted by a spinning prop. Gibby ducked. In so doing, he slipped on wet turf, sat heavily on his ankle and fractured same. He sent one of the youngsters to the police station to report the accident and get help sent his way. Youngsters today have wonderful imaginations. By the time the police got the story it concerned the importance of sending out help immediately for a man who was hurt in an airplane accident. Imagine Gibby's surprise when he was rescued by a police car, two fire engines and an ambulance! If any of the above details are not absolutely accurate, Gibby, please forgive me, but that's the way I got the yarn and I knew you wouldn't mind laughing at a broken ankle that's now well mended.
The news sent down to me from Hanover this month in the form of newspaper clippings contained two items you'll be interested in reading. First, that Art Hills, one of our tennis and squash stars and a certified public accountant, has been elected a member of the American Institute of Accountants. Art has been associated with the Boston office of Charles F. Rittenhouse & Co., CPA's, for the past six years. Incidentally, Art lives in Winchester, Mass., and he and his wife Dorothy have three sons. All tennis players, we hope. Here's more news about Dick Hill. As loan officer of the First National Bank of Boston he made a trip up to Maine and addressed a Small Business Conference on the subject "Finding the Money." If you still have a copy of that talk lying around some place, Dick, may I suggest that you send it on to Class Agent Bud Martin? For him, it's a timely subject.
Before the space runs out, here are some quickies: Bruce Friedlich sends a card from Italy where he and his wife are vacationing. Viva la bonza! Seth Fitchet, of Merrill Lynch, has been transferred to Phoenix, Ariz., as branch manager. Next spring you can see the Giants. Jack McMillin, who is with the same firm, is home recuperating from a recent operation. By the time this is read he probably won't even be able to see the scar. JohnEckhoff is a travelling salesman in New York State. Stu Hicks is working with a firm of builders in Great Neck, L. I. Larry Kryle is an M.D. in Roslyn Heights, L. I. I noticed his shingle as I was out driving one Sunday. The Class of 1941 had a joint cocktail party with the Class of '40 on Friday, May 2, and the report is that more than 40 were on hand to make it a real success. At the moment 1 can't remember whether I write class notes next month or not. Is there an "R" in July? Be seein' you.
UGH!..MUST BE 1942AT TEnTH REUNION!
Secretary, 47 Hook Lane, Levittown, N. Y.
Treasurer, 1140 Wightman St., Pittsburgh 17, Pa.
Class Agent, Martin Motor Co., 438 St. Louis St., Springfield, Mo.
