1930
For the most part recent 1930 news has centered around Hanover. On February 10 to 12 the New England district of the American College Public Relations Association held its annual conference in Hanover at which Charlie Widmayer was presiding as District Director for 1952-1953. Certainly any visiting participant could not have lamented the lack of activity, because the daily program ran continuously from 9:30 each morning until 10:00 each evening. At the luncheon meeting on the final day of the conference, Fran Horn, who is Executive Secretary of the Association for Higher Education, was one of the principal speakers. On the following day, however, at Fran's suggestion, a 1930 luncheon meeting was held which, unless our records are wrong, was 100% in attendance, those present being Al Dickerson, Bob Keene, Hank Odbert,George Lord, Eddie Jeremiah, Charlie Widmayer and Fran. The accompanying picture attests to the pleasantness of the occasion. However, Fran, as Editor of our forthcoming Reunion Class Book, availed himself of the opportunity to further his plans and each participant at the luncheon left the meeting with an assignment from Fran under his belt. The willingness of each of these busy men to contribute his time to such a project is assurance, in and of itself, not only of the quality of the 25 Year Class Book but the good time which is certain to be had by all at our 25th Reunion. The slogan "Stay Alive Until 1955" is certainly appropriate, and it's worth while to think about this Reunion well in advance.
As a matter of fact, Fran was, at the time of his Hanover meeting, arranging last-minute details of a conference of the American Association of School Administrators which was held in Atlantic City on February 17. Your Secretary was pleased to receive a card from Atlantic City bringing greetings from the 1930 delegation which was meeting for luncheon at that conference with the Dartmouth School Masters group. It developed that the four 1930 signers of that greeting, Jim Clark,Bill Bragner, Snub Poehler and Fran, represented the largest class delegation of Dartmouth men present at the conference.
During January Dick Butterfield was appointed Chairman of the West Hartford (Conn.) Chamber of Commerce Business Education Committee, which the newspapers indicated was one of the most important committees of that Chamber of Commerce and which presents, through business and professional leaders of the community, the possibilities of career opportunities and responsibilities in various business fields to high school students. ... Announcement was recently made of the election of Jack Fitzpatrick as Assistant Superintendent of Agencies of the State Mutual Life Assurance Company of Worcester, Mass. Jack has devoted his business career to life insurance and has been associated with State Mutual since 1946 In late January the Boston newspapers carried reports that AlMarsters had resigned his office of Vice President for Sales at American Optical Company, effective February 1. Al was associated with American Optical from 1938 when he entered their Legal Department. None of the newspaper announcements gave any indication of Al's future plans but we will hope to hear from him soon.
Your Secretary has always tried to avoid references to himself, but I would certainly be neglectful of 1930 news if I failed to report at least some of the highlights of the McFarlands' Washington Birthday week trip to the Keenes'. Bruce and Carol had long been promised some skiing and the week holiday seemed an opportune time for all of us to get away together, most especially when the opportunity arose to stay at the Keenes in Etna. Not incidentally, if you are looking for the beauty of the Hanover countryside, for a delightfully informal and convenient atmosphere, for comfortable quarters and for delicious food, Bob and Louise Keene certainly furnish it, and if any further references in those respects is needed, any one of the following named in this column will surely attest thereto. But to get back to the McFarlands trip, we arrived at the Keenes' shortly after noon of February 21. In addition to being greeted by Bob and Louise, we were delighted to see Bob and Maggie Rix who, with their three children, were spending the week as a respite from Bob's busy practice in Manchester. No sooner had we established ourselves than a phone call from Hanover produced the voice of Bud French, who was on his way to Montreal but who had brought Celie and his two boys, Wayne and David, with him as far as Hanover. The Frenches immediately came out to the Keenes' and while we were partaking of late Saturday afternoon "hospitalities" who should arrive from New York but Chick Pooler and his son Buzzie. Chick had decided that he, too, could well appreciate a week's rest and relaxation in the North Country. With Dartmouth playing Northeastern at hockey in Hanover that evening, it was only natural that the 1930 delegation should desire to see the game. Coach Eddie Jeremiah greeted us all as if we were visiting potentates and we were, under his direction, ushered into a specially reserved seating section at mid ice on the Dartmouth side of the rink. The game had only been slightly under way when Rollie and Dottie Booma, with their son Roland Jr. (who makes his father look like a pygmy) joined the group. On the following day, Sunday, the McFarlands were the guests of Al and Lucia Dickerson at their home in Norwich, and were joined by the Bud Frenches. The opportunity to see Al at any hour of the day or night during this particular time of year when he is so busy in the Admissions office is a privileged one. In addition to enjoying the opportunity of seeing and talking with one another again, Al made a "private showing" of a reel of Class of 1930 movies, taken at the time of our 1949 Reunion, by Joe Golan. Many of you are certainly indelibly recorded in those flickers! That reel is now in the custody and safekeeping of the Library of Dartmouth Films together with the other 1930 movies which have been taken at reunions in the past. Later in the week I had the opportunity of a leisurely visit with Charlie Widmayer in his ALUMNI MAGAZINE office in Crosby Hall. Not incidentally, the Widmayers are now living in their newly constructed home at 9 Conant Road, just across the street from the Hank Odberts. On Tuesday night of that week Dick andGwen Bowlen and their daughters, Clis and Martie, drove over from Springfield, Vt., where Dick is connected with Bryant Chucking Grinder Co., and all of us had dinner together at the Hanover Inn, whereupon we adjourned to the second movie at the new Nugget. For those of you who have not been back to Hanover in some time, your first visit to the Nugget will be an eye opener! Just as we were about to leave on the last day of our delightful week, Herm and Alice Sander arrived with their three small daughters to enjoy the remainder of the weekend at the Keenes' and we delayed our departure to "review notes" with them. Except for the fact that your Secretary forgot to pack his wife's suit case in the car for the return trip, which was not discovered until our arrival home, it was one of the most pleasant and enjoyable weeks the McFarlands have had in a long time. The opportunity again to see and be with these 1930 classmates was largely respon- sible for that most genuinely satisfied feeling. Yes, the weather was fine and there was skiing every day, notwithstanding that we might have asked for a bit more snow. Better try this same sort of thing yourself sometime, you'll like it.
Ed Schuster and his assistant class agents will soon be working for all of us on the Alumni Fund. They would appreciate it greatly if you would give them an extra bit of help by making your contribution as early as possible. Why not do it now?
1930'S HOME GUARD: When Fran Horn '3O of Washington (seated in arm chair), executive secretary of the Association for Higher Education, visited Dartmouth in February to speak at a conference of New England college public relations officers, his Hanover classmates turned out 100% for a luncheon reunion. With him (I to r) are Al Dickerson, Eddie Jeremiah, Bob Keene, George Lord, Charlie Widmayer and Hank Odbert.
Secretary, 1 Federal St., Boston 10, Mass.
Class Agent, 905 Bushwick Ave., Brooklyn 21, N. Y.
