1921
As our globe-trotting Ort Hicks is wont to say, "There's nothing like a bit of travel to get you out of that rut." Your secretary confirmed this axiom during a business session in Chicago the la.st two weeks in February. After submitting to the usual visiting fireman routine the chance came to call up some '21 men. Bill Embree seemed to be out on the town for he wouldn't answer his phone. Ned Price did respond from his new apartment at 1242 Lake Shore Drive with a glad lilt in his voice. His happy grin was almost visible over the wire against a background of barking dogs. He must have the highest kennels in town. But Ned promised to get out the other eight '21 men in his area for a pow-wow with any classmate who will give him a week's notice. His office number is in the book but his new home is not. It is Whitehall 3-1497.
Rog Wilde insisted upon your scribe sharing a bottle and a bird at his Evanston apartment. The bottle was Scotch and the bird which Caroline served, cooked to perfection, was a pheasant Rog had shot. Mac Johnson, in town for the Federal Reserve, made up the rest of a happy reunion foursome. Roger was off to Miami the following week on the flimsy excuse that some motels there need new furniture. Upon his return he modestly but happily admitted that 1921 seems to be on its way to set another record in this year's Alumni Fund. Up to March i, 45 classmates had contributed $6,889 . compared to $3,379. from 28 men on that date last year against the same quota of about $20,000. Also, without urging from anyone, four new names have already been added to the Century Club. Rog says the only answer is that '21 men as a group appreciate increasingly the impact of Dartmouth on their lives and want to insure that this enriching experience is shared with the high-type young men of day and tomorrow who are attracted to Hanover. We can indeed be proud of the graduates which our dollars help to produce.
Speaking of dollars, Bob and Helen MacDonald have a charming home, also in Evanston, where they provide an excellent Sunday dinner for wayfarers. All that was required in exchange was a free professional appraisal of the value of the property. Delicate probing for news disclosed that Bob had just been promoted from the job of salesman for Kendall Mills to general sales manager of that firm's Chicago office, in charge of 11 men. Congratulations are in order. Among other products which he promotes, essential to the physical well-being of men, women and children, are these new-fangled diapers with blue, pink, yellow, or green spots to make the infant feel well-dressed.
Back in Boston Don Sawyer's post card campaign turned out 12 '21 men for the annual Dartmouth Alumni Dinner at the Sheraton Plaza. During the brief business session DanRuggles was elected Vice President of the local Alumni Association. His blushes were undiscernible under the deep coat of tan, recently acquired at Key West, but he accepted congratulations from Bill Perry, Don Sawyer,Russ Bailey, Don Mix, Tom Cleveland, TomNorcross, Jack Campbell, Bill Fowler, PhilNoyes, Jeff Lawrence and ye sec.
Dan's sister Eleanor (Mrs. Robert Semmes O'Leary) was recently given a cocktail party by Dan at the Ritz-Carlton to celebrate the publishing of her third biography, Prince ofPlayers: Edwin Booth. It is the Book of the Month Club selection for March and movie rights have been purchased by 20th Century Fox.
Don Mix was receiving kind words during the dinner for his excellent letter reporting progress on the Bequest Program. Twenty percent of the Class have replied to date, of which about two-thirds have included the College in their estate plans or are seriously considering such action.
Each year Jeff Lawrence has brought a congenial guest to this dinner. We discovered that he is Dr. Stanley P. Oliver, Tufts '13, a great admirer of Dartmouth and of 1921. Ever since his son Dr. Howard M. Oliver '40 finished at Dartmouth Medical, Stan has been a loyal contributor to our Alumni Fund and is a personal friend of several of our football coaches. We therefore elected him an honorary member of the Class of 1921 and his first request was that Bob Mac Donald send him a bill for class dues.
We also took a vote on the subject of a 1921 football weekend in Hanover next fall. Ten men favored the October home game. Bill Perry and Dan Ruggles held out for November. The group voted 9 to 3 in favor of a luncheon as heretofore rather than a house party Friday to Sunday at a hostelry within a convenient radius of Hanover. The New York group, at Prexy Sullivan's meeting prior to the Princeton game, also favored the October home game but liked the house party idea. Please let your Secretary know your personal preference immediately for reservations must be made early.
In making spring plans, please reserve Wednesday, May 13, if you will be in Boston. That is Dartmouth Night at the Pops. For several years we have had a dinner for classmates and wives at the Hotel Gardner Green Room. This year a new plan is offered. Bill Perry suggests that a gathering for cocktails and dinner at the home of a classmate would be pleasanter and no more expensive. He has offered his home as a starter. The idea is to hire a caterer, buy the beverages, and split the cost equally among those present. No financial burden falls upon the host and it is hoped that a different home might be offered each year. Details later but comments welcome now. Music lovers can go on to the Pops after dinner and the rest remain for a bull session. Other areas please note. Could you use this plan?
Again we find several 1921 men in the news. Although Jack Hurd reported fully in the Smoker concerning Kent McKinley's defeat for the office of representative from the newly formed Seventh Congressional District in Florida, a later clipping from the SarasotaHerald Tribune indicated that Kent is County Chairman for the Republican party and is highly regarded by the Republican national and state organizations for his contributions to the November campaign. LeonBateman, our department store owner in Lexington, Mass., proved to be a modern minute man by successfully running for a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen of that town. He polled a higher number of votes than any of the other candidates, some of whom were also elected. Out in Great Neck, Long Island, N. Y., the Board of Trustees of the Great Neck Community Scholarship Fund recently announced the addition of four new members to its board, one of whom is our own Ort Hicks. Through Ort we also learn that Rynie Rothschild is now President of the St. Paul (Minn.) Athletic Club and has become an expert in color photography in addition to his well-known prowess as a golfer. Ort also located for us Bob Wilson at Hotel Centraal, The Hague, Netherlands. We knew Bob was off to Europe and are glad to learn where he landed. Perhaps he and BillBeers will get together either in Holland or over in Antwerp. Both men would undoubtedly enjoy letters from classmates.
A card from Fig Newcomb announces that his wife Pearl, also an attorney, has opened her own law office in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. You may recall that this learned pair passed their bar examinations and were admitted to the Michigan bar shortly after our 30th reunion. Quite an achievement, especially considering Newc's advanced age.
Bill Cunningham recently paid a fine tribute to Werner Jannsen in his daily syndicated column when he recalled an incident of Werner's freshman year. Bill was playing the piano in the fraternity house for Al Lucier's violin, with Werner hovering in the background. At Al's suggestion Werner was asked to play a couple of pieces. In Bill's own words, "Al called the tall unhappy looking freshman, and that was the last time I ever touched the piano in that fraternity house. I may not know much but I know sacrilege when I see it. Never in my life before, nor since, have I ever heard a well beaten piano played as that lad played that one We sent out for food and I spent the rest of that leave, camped in that front room begging Al and him to play more. They did, too. They went almost all night."
At the February 11 meeting of the Charles River Dartmouth Club, Tom Cleveland, TomNorcross and your secretary were the only '21ers present. Don Morse had to play badminton and the rest were staying home to watch the fights on TV.
Herrick Brown's younger daughter Hester Ann became the bride of David W. Claypoole on February 7 in New Rochelle, N. Y. Mrs. Seward E. Pomeroy, Herrick's older daughter, was matron of honor. The groom is an S.A.E., University of Vermont '51, served in the U. S. Air Force in Europe, and is currently with Charles A. Maguire and Associates, Boston engineers. In addition to news of the wedding, Herrick writes: "Now we are looking forward to a visit from our son Ken, who is due to be released from active duty with the Navy late in February when his two years will be up. His entire service has been aboard the destroyer-escort \Parle with the Atlantic Fleet. Most of the time he was based at Norfolk, Va., where he and Nancy had an apartment. Ken moved up from (jg) to full Lt. last spring and in the fall his ship took part in NATO's Operation Mainbrace off Scandinavia. He and Nancy are bringing their son Chris, who is our only grandson to date."
Drop your scribe a line about the fall football party.
Secretary, 21 Chestnut Street, Wellesley Hills 82, Mass.
Class Agent, Room 1870, Merchandise Mart Plaza Chicago 54, Ill.
