1924
They're off! And we don't mean at Beautiful Belmont! The gong has sounded, and they're away from the post in the 1954 running of the Dartmouth Green Derby. At the Hanover track, unlike any other you may have frequented, the better gets the breaks. Everybody wins. And when you lay the long green on the line in this race, you even get the "breakage" in the form of a nice, tidy little tax deduction from Uncle Sam. How can you lose?
Our jockey, Class Agent Harr Ranney, who has had a year's experience in the 1953 Sweepstakes, has been sitting up nights, studying the track and preparing for the greatest race of his career. He reports that our entry is in superb condition, and that he is determined to boot the nag home to victory. All we have to do is supply a constant and generous supply of "oats" and we may well see the 1924 colors carried home to win in a photo finish.
All kidding aside, could you think of a better year to come through than in 1954, when our Class will celebrate its 30th Reunion? Harr has strengthened and augmented his committee, and has put in hours of painstaking effort in laying the groundwork for this year's campaign. Preliminary contributions, received prior to the official opening of the drive, have been more numerous, and in larger amounts than in the past, which augurs well for our ultimate success. Last year, you will recall, we failed to make our assigned goal by less than $300! A little more effort, a little more generous giving, a little more help from some of our non-contributors, and it s a cinch. Let's all get in there and make our 30th Reunion a victory celebration. THIS IS THE YEAR!
For some time now your Secretary has been sending birthday greetings to the members of the Class, and, in the process, has come up with some rather interesting information. The "baby"of the Class (not to be confused with the Class Baby) is none other than that youthful and energetic insurance tycoon, Stan Lonsdale, who first disturbed the tranquillity of New Rochelle, N. Y., on November 28, 1904. We have it on reliable authority that he positively was NOT wearing white cotton gloves at the time. That trademark was adopted at a later date. When advised that he was the youngest member of the Class, Junior Longsdale modestly replied, "This Reunion won't be so bad, but I shudder to think of the 50th! I'll probably have to be pushing you old goats around in wheel chairs, and won't have time to play any tennis with the then Dartmouth varsity."
Stan is closely followed in the Stork Derby by Abbott J. Leibling and Parker J. Hicks, neither of whom have applied for membership in the Half Century Club. As a matter of fact, eight other members of our Class still remain ineligible for membership in that growing organization at the present time. This order might possibly be disturbed by George Gercke, for George was born on February 29, 1904, so, strictly speaking, he only has a birthday every four years! That complication will have to be worked out by an impartial group of astronomers. It's too much for us.
Some time ago we received an interesting letter from Harland C. (Stock) Stockwell, who has been devoting the past eight years to working for more effective and economical local government in Chicago, in his capacity of executive secretary of the Civic Federation. Recently Stock has been honored by being elected president of the Governmental Research Association of the United States. This is a country-wide organization of citizen-supported taxpayer-research and action groups, local, state and federal. This must mean a terrific amount of added work for Stock, but it is through just such an organization as this that something can be done to keep big government" in bounds. Our congratulations to Stock on his heroic efforts on behalf of the poor taxpayer. Stock's older son, Dave is a senior at DePauw University, while the younger boy, Mike, is a junior at the Todd School in Woodstock, Ill.
Speaking of sons, we are advised by the athletic office that Malcolm G. Brown '57, son of Francis Y. Brown, won his numerals last fall as a member of the Little Green football team. Malcolm stands 6' 2" and tips the scale at a trim 215 pounds. He plays first string tackle on the "A" Squad, and should gladden Tuss' heart next fall. Malcolm is a Daniel Webster Scholar. In addition to his prowess at football, he is a member of the freshman squash squad and should be a very promising candidate for catcher on the baseball team this spring. Our congratulations to both father and son.
Ed Spargo writes that the biggest event in the Spargo family in recent months was the marriage of their only daughter Joan to David G. Bullard. Joan graduated from Wheelock College, in Boston, and had been teaching in the elementary grades for the past three years. The young couple are now living in Stratford, Conn., which is close enough for Pop to keep his watchful eye on things. Ed has been with the Bridgeport Storage Warehouse Company since 1938 and now directs the destinies of that organization in his capacity of president. Ed writes that he and his wife are counting the days between now and June 18, and will definitely be present for our 30th Reunion.
Paul Borglum has been a successful building contractor in Silvermine, Wilton, Conn., for quite a number of years. As he says, "The Borglum family moves along, sometimes forward, sometimes sideways, but we have a lot of fun. Our daughter Linda graduated from Barnard, spent five months touring Europe, and is now trying to decide what career to pursue. David completes his fifth year at Cornell Civil Engineering School this June, and then goes to Fort Sill as a 2nd Lt. of artillery."
Paul admits to building a good many houses about the Connecticut countryside. In his letter Paul says a bit sadly, "Some are modern and have achieved quite a bit of notoriety. They are either gems of modern American architecture, or so awful they ruin our nice old New England landscape. Depends on how you look at them." Cheer up, Paul, you only build 'em, you're not responsible for them, and there is scarcely a town which doesn't have outstanding examples of both types.
In a recent note, Leo Fitzpatrick stated that he and Dorothy are looking forward to reunion, and that they will be on hand June 18-19-20. Leo's two sons, Leo Jr. and Brian are both getting acclimated to New England winters at Vermont Academy. Leo Jr. will graduate in June and has made application for admission to Dartmouth in the Class of 1958. Our Leo is very active in the practice of medicine here in the Bergen County area, and is living at 541 Churchill Road, West Englewood, N. J.
In the February 5th issue of The EasternUnderwriter, bible of the New York insurance fraternity, we came across an announcement of the election of S. Curtis Bird as president and treasurer of the fine old firm of Talbot, Bird & Company, for many years a power in the field of Inland Marine Insurance. After graduation Curt took a job with Johnson & Higgins and for the next four years gained practical experience in the insurance business, working for that well known brokerage office. He joined Talbot, Bird & Co. in 1928 and since then he has enjoyed a continuing and increasing success. Since 1933 he has had supervision of the company's inland marine operations. Curt is also executive vice president and secretary of both the Universal Company and the Universal Indemnity. Under his direction the inland marine business has increased from a volume of $200,000 in 1933 to a 1953 total of over $2,000,000. In his idle moments, Curt dabbles in radio, is a sailboat enthusiast and, of all things, an amateur watch repairer. Seems he has time for everything.
Odds and Ends from Here and There: Charlotte Ford of the Alumni Records Office has appealed for help in locating FrederickB. Low. Fred was last known to have lived in Exeter, N. H., but he left there in the late Forties. Anyone knowing his present whereabouts should get in touch with Charlotte in Hanover. Many thanks Bob Morgan has been elected to the board of directors of the Merchants National Bank of Boston Sidney Fish, industrial editor of the Journal ofCommerce, made one of his frequent speaking engagements before the Management Club of the Sprague Electric Company in Williamstown recently. He spoke on "The Labor and Business 0ut100k".... Dr. Abe Kolodin has recently opened a new office at 39 The Crescent, Montclair, N. J., for the practice of internal medicine and cardiology J. BeldenSly has just been named general counsel of the American Optical Company.
Remember Reunion
Guess that just about clears things up for the time being. Don't forget those big dates in June! June 18-19-20! We're counting on seeing you and your family in Hanover for our Big 30th. Everybody up! We'll be around again next month with more news. See you later.
30th REUNION - JUNE 18-19-20!
CLASSMATES AND COUNCIIIORS: Class of '23 Alumni Council members, past and present, who attended meetings together at the University Club in Chicago, January 29 and 30, were (l or r) Raymond M. Barkor, Cleveland, Sidney J. Flanigan, New york city, former Council president; and Leon L. Freeman, Racine, Wisc.
Secretary, 328 Orchard PL, Ridgewood, N. J.
Class Agent, Cherry Lane, R.F.D. 1, Morristown, N. J.
