1944
It would hardly seem worth your while to read this column; you're going to see most of the lads in person in a coupla weeks and get the news right from the paddock stall instead of through this garbled medium. I'm scribbling these notes at the end of April (these things have to be in a month ahead of time) and am pleased to report that the first returns on the round-up call list among the dignitaries:
Rog Antaya, Bill Barrett, Kirk Bassett, Dick Berlin, John Berry, Homer Bogart, Dick Bradley, Jim Browning, Tank Bruce, Jim Carter, Marsh Clark, Fred Cohn, Bob Colwell, Bob Conroy, Pinky Corroon, Hose Craig, Tom Crowder, Tyler Daley, Zog Davis, Sherm Davis, Jim Deakins, Tommy Douglas, Joe Drummey, John Eaton, "Wayne Eves, Bob Fairbanks, Rog Feldman, Clint Gardner, Bill Gatlin, Bob Gilchrist, Alex Gillespie, Fred Graf, Brad Grinnell, Jack Haffenreffer, Merle Hagen, Bill Hale, Jim Hardigg, Bob Harris, Buffy C. Hills, Don Hiltz, Bob Hirshfield, Al Howlarid, Bill Hufsteder, Charlie Jack, Ben Jones, Warren Kimball, Dick Lesser, Ricky Lewis, Randy Lomas, John Lovewell, Willy McElnae, Joe MacFarland, Clark MacGregor, Dave MacGregor, Boston Bob McLaughry, Malcolm McLoud, Joe Mansfield, Frank Martell, Dick Mayberry, me, Dick Morgan, Johnny Morse, John Murphy, Moose Musser, Al Myers, Dick Ostberg, Fred Page, Bud Park, Frank Parker, Dave Parks, Bird Patridge, Dick Paul, Phil Penberthy, Don Pfeifle, Dick Pleasants, Gordy Plummer, Phil Pringle, Dick Ranger, Chuck Regan, Charlie Rendigs, Teeny Riggs, Irl Rose, Arnold Sanders, Louis Savage, Harry Shoenhut, Norm Simpson, Carl Spaeth, George Springsteen, Bill Stahl, Tom Streeter, Warren Sullivan, Win Turner, Gordy Van den Noort, Ralph Wesh, John Wheeler, Bill White, Dud Wilson, Al Winkler, Ray Zrike . . . and the following, whose names have just come in after I had arranged the above in alphabetical order: Bill Duffy, Chucker Glimes, Russ Isner, Paul Kern, Bill McGrail, Jack Maguire, John Megee, Art Summerfield, Bill Walters.
While the above guys should be enough to keep you amused for a couple of days, there are still a battalion or two of "definites" who haven't got their cards in yet. You'll notice the above list does not have Needle Allen, BudBaker, Sperk Welch, West Shell, Don Hinckley, Rocky Davidson, Jim Donnelly, MartyShea, Rally Schofield, etc., who I know are going to be on hand. About 90% of the lads will be accompanied by their better halves despite the many wag-like comments under the category of "date?" on the reply postal. Remember the dormitory reservations must be in by June 5.
A recent institutional ad of Republic Aviation featured a picture of a very intent HamRowan at the drawing board. A project assistant, Ham is described as having set "an enviable pace" at Republic ... and below Ham in the ad is a picture of their new F-84F Thunderstreak. Town and Country magazine carried a piece, "Rouge et Noir," about the San Francisco Junior League gala dinner dance, and smack dab in the middle of the lead picture in top hat, white tie, and tails, shrouded in a bevy of mink, is Brad Long. The last of the big-time operators.
And while name-dropping, it may be a matter of interest to know that following Rita's recent altercation with the courts, JackGrimm shared the spotlight with Ali Khan in closing up the Stork Club. Harry Grieger is in New Haven as secy, and treas. for the Coe and Brown Co. Industrial Supplies. Jim Finn still down in Nicaragua, doubtful that he'll make reunion.. .. Chuck Richardson up in Cleveland in the investment business, swapping hot tips with E. Buffem C. Hills.. .. MacCorner out in Pittsbugh, a Ruberisa of industry, selling bridges for U.S. Steel, doesn't do it often but when he does.... b-r-o-t-h-e-r! Just to make things quaint, my good Cincinnati friend Bill Portman saw Mac in Pittsburgh early last week, then when I got to N.Y.C. yesterday I heard that Boog McLoud ran into him later in the week. Not necessarily the most fascinating story of the spring season, but as I mentioned - quaint. Bill Portman incidentally is now V.P. of the multi-million-dollar Wm. Doepke Mfg. Co. here, makes lathes, tote boxes (patented assortment), and the very finest line of model fire engines, earth movers, tractors, etc. Even the Germans can't compete!
Our friendly correspondent from the Class of '46, Uncle Reg Pierce was kind enough to pass along the following news from the Vodka Martini set in Greenwich:
"I see Chucker Glines quite a bit. He is taking off "a little of that weight; business is good. He's right in the excavations checking up on his own insured risks...the four biggest construction guys here in town. Dottie's fine and they have two terrific little girls. Chuck's politics follow his wonderful right of expressions, which puts him somewhere beyond Joe McC. . . . (Ed. note: One of our enterprising NY personalities has guaranteed Chuck 15 weeks at Bill Miller Riviera just as soon as he can train his eyes to roll backwards 360 instead of the present droll 280°.)
"Dave MacGregor left the Verney Textile Corp. to return to a very interesting offer in a small but virile textile firm near Manchester, N. H. Dave returns as a production and administration executive. Ad and Phil Penberthy are in great shape. Phil is, as you know, an acct. exec, with Schlitz. He maintains a magic carpet pace to and from Milwaukee, and weekending with Ad at a never-ending series of sneaker-wearing cocktail parties in Rowaton. Phil has a new L. L. Bean leather work cap that makes him the image of a Tanzi and the envy of all North Country appreciators.
"Swampy and Blanche Marsh did over an old barn on Round Hill Road and it is terrific. They have a Swampy Jr. Bill is with Teleprompter and has covered some of the big-name business and political meetings. Bill moves well with the moguls...probably due to that basic training with the N.A.M. Marsh and Ellen Clark are living, in Greenwich now. Marsh is acct. exec, on Tide with Benton and Bowles and as he is in Cincinnati every week, you must be catching him once in awhile. Marsh had a children's mobile gimmick that he was trying to hustle but he gave it up. Ellen has been doing summer stock work and other theatrical pursuits."
I'm amused with Reg's comment on Swampy ... that he "moves well with the moguls." Even F.D.R. couldn't turn a phrase that nicely.
Burt Bickford seems to be doing OK with the moguls, and was just appointed supervisor of budgets and statistics for the G.E. Wiring Device outfit in Providence. Burt is poppa of two lads, Larry, 4, and Jimmy, 1. New York City way, Claude Shuchter has been appointed assistant secretary in the trust administrative dept. of the U.S. Trust Co. A few rods south in Philly, Bucky Mansfield has been elected president of the Phila. Dartmouth Club; Smed Ward is V.P.
Malcolm McLoud and his corps of district Class Agents have got off to a fine start this year ... to date the average gift is up 20%, and the number of donors at this time compared with last year is up a comparable degree. It looks as though 1954 is going to be our year to shine. Dick Simpson '45 was crude enough to lay a "C" note on the line that the Class of '44 couldn't pull 100% participation. We like to see Dick take a second mortgage on the manor and any of you lads who have not yet come through with a gift, slip a bill or a stamp in an envelope and mail it in before June 30.
Looking forward to seeing you draped over a tent rope with the granite of New Hampshire in your veins and Tanzi's beer dribbling down your Brooks-type shirt.
Secretary, Center St., Box 16-A, Milford, O.
Class Agent,c/o Battery Separator Sales, U.S. Rubber Co., 1230 Ave. of the Americas, New York 20, N. Y.
