1950's "Fantastic Fifth"

FIFTY'S fantastic fifth is finally finished. And so are we! WOW! If you didn't hit town by Thursday night you were a late arrival. The troops started coming in before the fight was half over and three cases of Bud later they were still showing up. Nate Royall won the distance cup hands down, all the way from Dallas . . . t'ain't near as far as you think, he claims.

Gene Ulrich and Dick Echikson allowed themselves to be associated with John Hatheway '48 and amazed the golfing world by driving to the top of the hill on the 14th, a feat never before (or since) accomplished by such a clan. Then Friday afternoon the people who work for a living (and there are two or three) arrived and opened the tent. That was trouble for the home side. Herb Ray and PeteyLoadsa Fun Bucklin brought Stretch Pendleton with them and somehow managed to get past Rahar's, not without a struggle, however.

Along about martini time at the north-side tennis courts we realized Rick Miller, WhitWilliams and Jack Harned were serious about the whole affair, in fact so decided on the idea that they had come up the night before. It was a tough trip up the wide and unpaved Vermont roads, but Bill West and Stew Young would not be denied.

Of course you know who tapped every one of the twenty-seven kegs of malt . . . PaulRouillard. The guy is mahvellous. Ted Bamberger got into the act and managed to save several souls' aching bodies when he produced buffet. Thank heavens there's one guy thinking in the group. Sooner or later, come every weekend, you have to have a vitamin. Then Hank Barnes and Susan showed. Tremenjous.

Before they stole my fountain pen, Sallyand Frank Harrington were kind enough to autograph my Joe Friday picture. Got the facts, mam. In the same handwriting we found Al Mitchell's name so things were tough all over. A couple of big competitors who were in the running but faded in the stretch were JayBuck and John Schalles. Jack was doing all right until he tried to take on Hal Fitkin (a new LL.B. by the by) and Stew Young at the Lake Morey links. Tooooo much.

Joel Leavitt and Ken Edelson were seen golfing too. Meanwhile, Sherm Clough ran a marketing survey and determined that malt beverages were here to stay. He found out by asking J. Walter Lindenthal, a fellow who wouldn't tell Gimbel's but let the news out for the benefit of mankind.

Tom and Ann O'Connell hired Burl Ives for an exclusive after-midnight society and really and truly refused to desist and cease until the sun was higher than they were. It was touch and go all the way.

Seriously, one of the high spots of the weekend was the Saturday dinner at the Outing Club. The mastermind who engineered BillEmbree into getting the professional singers by the pond was a thinker. Harmonious utterances wafted from the vocal chords of Chuck Gardner, Jay Buck, Don Daniels, JimFarmer, and Brooks Barvoets. The amateurs organized later on and Jack Brodie proved to be outstanding barbershopper of the event.

Wes Field postponed the ecstasy of returning until Thursday night and then started beering. Next evening at the noodlers chateau Larry Batty entertained. Bud MacDonald and Harry Van Benschoten showed good technique at that one.

Although the bird watch society was unable to set up a nature walk before the festivities faltered and faded into oblivion, Bob Day,Bob Tredwell and Sher Marchant looked at several interesting specimens at the tent. Petevon Harrmann displayed good capacity but who could keep up with Cul Modisette? Inkadentally, Frank Gilroy wasn't bad either.

Joe Garofoli held up the tent for several hours. Fred Gamble played the piano for about two weeks all crammed into two days, but unfortunately he left the top open when Glen Fitkin and Dick Putney poured the beer on the middle octaves. Dick Sitzer used up one keg all by himself.

Growler Dickson and Joy could not beat out Jim and Biz Birney, but then that's a tough team. Al and Joan Parsons had to stay for several hours due to the large traffic jam which became evident immediately after we found another untapped Gannsett. But just as Don and Bob Ayres predicted, it turned out to be dark green. Probably had been shined on too long by "Crash" McIlwain.

King Kenny and Gerry Sarno were the kindest people of all. They let us look at their lovely wives over the steaks at the DOC House. It was enough to make a man come back next time.

Among the hangers on were Dan McGarren and Dan Featherston who bought 73 cars and parked them at the Inn corner so there'd be no way to get out of town.

Bob Burns guzzled several in the back court. Male Riley was a net man most of the time though. Skip Fauver made the varsity team. Also good were Bob Allcott, Wes Carr and Buzz Burrill. Nev and Vally Chamberlain gave Bob Smith quite a chase that ended at the martini factory. It was a photo finish. Fortunately Red Gowen and Bob Gray had a few waiting right handy. Joe Hendrich spent quite a while getting golf pointers from BobHebard. Jim Gaylord provided the papers. Cal Bauer lost his head and played tennis, with Dick Tobin probably. Prominent members of the social set were Emil Hudak and spouse.

Others seen in the tent were Bob Devitt and Ben Ferguson who looked pretty good; CharlieDavison and Jack and Barb Kent. NormOlesky and Dick McSorley stayed late. Got there early, too.

Ed Tuck and Ned Weir were glimpsed once or twice during the weekend, as were AndyWilde and Dick Wetherbee. John Piane and Pete Shaffer beered it once or twice.

Stu Sayre amazed several folk by holding out till the wee small hours. Nobody was surprised at Jim Stephens, but then why should they? Court Cross and Dick Dale managed to stay on the wagon for about five minutes after reaching Hanover. They lost the church key at White Town and had to wait until Dick Healy and John Foote tapped another keg. And there was lots of foam on Dick Howden, but not nearly so much as was inside! Don't ask us how we know.

Ben and Betty Johnson left Sunday afternoon, thinking the reunion was over. CurtKimball and Ray King almost didn't get to the picture because Charley Lake and JimLyons had Sandy McCullough under an open spigot.

Believe Jack Newkirk and Jerry Mensel got in town early. Big deal. Don Radley, DaveMcLean, and Ozzie Osborn quaffed a couple just to be seen doing something. What??? Dan Wing settled for tomato juice, do believe.

Surely we missed some names along the way. Paul took off with the official tally sheet, so if you were there when we weren't, or vice versa, register your complaint when you kick in again to the Alumni Fund. It's not too early to start for next year.

Who's planning another?

The reuners of 1950, hardly out of their tent all weekend, did move en masse to the campus for this official picture

CLASS SECRETARY