1912's 40th Called "Best Ever"
UNANIMOUSLY acclaimed by those who were present as the best and most enjoyable reunion that the Class has ever had, 1912's 40th Reunion ended to the regret of all.
The ceremonies commenced in an informal manner that set the note for the whole occasion. Unplanned, and arranged on the spur of the moment, practically all of those who had arrived by dinner time Friday night about 75 in all adjourned to a private dining room in the Coolidge Hotel at White River Junction for an excellent dinner.
Scheduled activities commenced Saturday morning with the Class picture taken on the campus, followed by the Class Meeting in Carpenter Hall. Connie Snow presided over the meeting, at the request of the Executive Committee, in the absence of Doc O'Connor.Fletcher Clark, our able Treasurer, reported for the period September 1950 to June 14, 1952> total receipts of $2,005.54 and expenditures, including Alumni Magazine subscriptions $1,481.94, leaving a balance on hand of $523.60. He reported that memorial books for the Library had been paid for for all except 26 deceased classmates. After discussion it was voted that the Treasurer be authorized immediately to remit to the Library $260 for the purchase of memorial books for the remaining 26 deceased classmates.
The report of the Secretary called for by the Chairman was short and snappy: "I don't have one." On the report of Les Snow, chairman of the previously appointed Nominating Committee, the following were elected to hold office until the next reunion: Executive Committee, Doc O'Connor, Chairman, with LymeAmies, Louis Ekstrom, Babe Hartshorn and Mark Snow as members, Heinie Urion, Secretary, Fletcher Clark, Treasurer, Eddie Luitwieler, Class Agent, and Henry Van Dyne, Gift and Bequest Agent. A recommendation was made and proposed that the Executive Committee, in consultation with Eddie Luitwieler, appoint an Assistant Class Agent. A vote of appreciation was tendered Henry Van Dyne for the excellent class directory that he had prepared and that was distributed prior to the Reunion and a similar vote of thanks was tendered Eddie Luitwieler for his effective Alumni Fund activities.
At the lunch of the General Alumni Association in the gymnasium, Heinie Urion pinch-hitted for Doc O'Connor as the speaker for the alumni.
The Class Dinner was held Saturday evening in Thayer Hall with Connie Snow presiding. Connie hit upon a happy theme that worked out most successfully, calling on some of the classmates, each to reminisce on our undergraduate days 40 years ago. Amusing incidents were recalled and heartfelt respects given to those of the faculty and administration of our undergraduate days who had made such an indelible impression on us. Those called upon for such reminiscences were Cap Allen, JimEnglish, Les Snow, Heinie Urion, Doc Viets,Lyme Armes, Mark Allen (all the way from Seattle), Sam Hobbs (who was in attendance from California with his wife and grandson) Henry Van Dyne and Alice Day. When someone asked Sam Hobbs' grandson how he liked his grandfather's speech, he said that it was a better one than Truman makes.
A telegram had been received by the Secretary from Doc O'Connor saying: "Tell the boys I'm sorry not to be with them. As far as I know this is the first reunion I've ever missed. Have fun and don't worry about me. I'm doing fine and will be out making more trouble for more people relatively soon. Say hello to the girls for me too, and whatever you do don't let Queechie French convince you that he is representing me at the reunion. He just isn't." The Secretary was instructed to send Doc a telegram of best wishes ahd respects from the Class and a multiple "Round Robin" letter was written by classmates to be sent to Doc. Other telegrams and letters were received from the following classmates who could not attend: Henry Stevens, AI Eiseman, Olie Ahlswede,Jogger Elcock, Bill Middlebrook, Harry Brown and Charley Stratford. Including wives, widows, children and grandchildren 144 attended the dinner.
Memorial services for deceased classmates were held Sunday morning in Rollins Chapel, conducted by classmate Rev. Taylor Weil in an impressive and eloquent manner. Lyme Armes read the roll of the departed members of the Class.
Sunday noon the Class Luncheon was held in the tent adjoining Hitchcock Hall, which turned out to be a very fine roast beef dinner, and Sunday afternoon departures and au revoirs regretfully occurred.
For this memorable and pleasant reunion thanks are due to Jimmy Steen, Reunion Committee chairman. Babe Hartshorn, who again performed the highly essential but dirty work of registration and record-keeping, and RoyLewis, who was largely responsible for the excellent buffet lunch in the tent.
Inasmuch as under the new system of reunions, our 45th Reunion will be six years hence, a number of classmates, individually and in group discussion, suggested and put it up to the Secretary to arrange an informal and "off season" reunion to be held in Hanover, preferably in the summer, two or three years hence. This idea is passed along to be kicked around, with the hope that many members of the Class will communicate with your Secretary giving suggestions for such a reunion. The roll call of those in attendance:
Ben and Josephine Adams, Cap Allen, Mark and Ella Allen, Lyme and Chris Armes, Harold and Katharine Baker, Mert Baker, Harold Belcher, Bob Brown, Warren Bruner, Sonny Buell, Gee Bullard and Gee Jr., Doc and Grace Burnham, Randy Burns, Ray and Eleanor Cabot, Elmer and Viola Chapman, Lyle and Mrs. Chase, Pike and Lynda Childs, Fletcher and Marguerite Clark, Clyde Cooke, Dutch and Mrs. Cottrell, Jack and Janet Cronin, Nelson and Alice Doe, Louis and Alice Ekstrom, Jim and Sarah English, Husky Farnum, Chip and Marion Farrington, Queechie and Bertha French, Hal and Ernull Freund, Hal and Audrey Fuller, Ev and Drusilla Gammons, Alvie Garcia, Garry and Elizabeth Garrison, Charley and Marie Gately, Boss and Esther Geller, Ruel and Hazel Gibbs and daughter Sally Jane, Irv and Grace Goss, Griff and Pauline Griffin, Babe Hartshorn, Bud and Barbara Hoban, Sam and Marian Hobbs and grandson David W., Ben and Norma Hunt and daughters Mary and Barbara, Art and Lillian Kinne, Morris and Gertrude Knight, Mort Kyle, Roy and Floppie Lewis, Rollie and Lily Linscott, Eddie and Gertrude Luitwieler, Charley and Gertrude McCarthy, Hippo and Miriam Marden, Mike Norton, Dud and Ethel Redfield, Dick Remsen, Scott and Alice Rogers, Carle and Dorothy Rollins, Bill and Dorothy Shapleigh, Connie and Katherine Snow, Les and Emily Snow, Mark and Marion Snow, Jim and Carola Steen, Guy and Mildred Swenson, Elwyn Taber, Ray and Mrs. Tobey, Heinie and Irma Urion, Henry Van Dyne, Henry Viets, Stan and Sara Weld, Lee and Alma White, Taylor Weil, Man and Helen Whittemore, Ralph and Martha Whitney, Chief Wheeler, Nat and Rachel Whitmore.
The following widows of deceased classmates were guests of the Class: Mart Baxter and daughter, May Boylan, Alice Day, Melanie Doolittle, Betty Eaton and son Lloyd, Alexandra Hedlund, Alice Hitchcock, Marion Knight, Helen Lena, Lila Nead, Emma Pettingell and Marion Pond.
CLASS SECRETARY
