1919

One of the most well-known and distinguished members of the class, Bill Cunningham, was signally honored on October 11 when he was named "Texan of the Year," the award being presented at the State Fair banquet in Dallas, where he was the principal speaker. The award to Bill was the fourth, other recipients in previous years being Maurice T. Moore, chairman of the board of Time, Inc., and L. L. (Tex) Colbert, president of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, very well-known company indeed. Your Sec had the pleasure of a talk with Bill while in Hanover in September, and can safely say that of all the honors accorded Bill in his long career as a journalist, radio news commentator and sports columnist, this award is the one he cherished most. The award is presented each year to a native Texan who has distinguished himself in industry, science or the arts on a national scale. Congratulations to Elijah William!!

At last we have a general in the class. On August 1, Chauncey Dean (Jigger to us) Merrill was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the Army Reserve. He has served 37 years in the Reserve and has been assistant division commander of the 94th Division for the past two years. Harry and Lil Colwell took off late in August for an extended Mediterranean cruise and cards received indicate that the Colwells are having the time of their lives. Ports of call included Barcelona, Athens, Egypt, the Holy Land, and Damascus, among others. Bill Hoard, a loyal '19er, and at the same time a graduate of the University of Wisconsin in the Class of 1921, received a Distinguished Service Award from the Wisconsin Alumni Association reading as follows:

"This Citation for Distinguished Service is awarded to William D. Hoard, Jr. for his notable contributions to the University of Wisconsin as a president and director of the Wisconsin Alumni Association, and a leader in developing effective alumni club projects and activities, as member of the University athletic board, as a pioneer in building a sound program of undergraduate scholar as a constant source of productive ideas in Association activities, and for his fruitful efforts to advance the cause of the dairy industry in Wisconsin and the Nation."

Congratulations, Bill - we could use you on our team. Your Sec had a nice chat with Normand Elisabeth Sterling during a recent trip to Hanover. The Sterlings were completing a six weeks' trip through Canada, principally devoted to fishing, and both looked fine. PhilBird, of Hingham, Mass., checks in with a note, quoting in part:

"We sold the house you visited and now have a ranch style nearer town. Already been struck by lightning so it is well christened - not much damage. All well - son Malcolm goes in the Navy for four years this October, nice way to go to college. He will probably go to the University of Massachusetts when he gets out. He was all A's his senior year but the other three were like my marks, so Dartmouth was out."

Your Sec knows what you mean, Phil - hismarks were on the low side, too. My Ithacacorrespondent (keep them coming, Don Finlay son) writes:

"Your birthday greeting was especially welcome this year due to the form it took. I got great pleasure out of calling up the picture of classmate after classmate as I read his name. Materializing that way they had more hair, less bay-windows than I bettcha they would present if I saw them face to face. Anyway it would be great to see them face to face. This protest that we don't like to be reminded of birthdays is the -bunk. The older we get the more peevish we get if they aren't remembered to suit us. Happily many of us find that it includes several 'Happy Birthday, Gramp' salutations. Is there a 1919 Old Grand-dad Club? There should be - complete with cracked ice and set-ups. For us it was Maine again this summer. The address: 20 Summer St., Kennebunk. If any '19ers are passing that way next summer I wish they would drop in for a hello and a stirrup-cup."

The new birthday cards are the work of LewGarrison, who spent a lot of time, energy, and argument with his printing staff, as to whether or not the job could be done. The result, in the opinion of those who have received them up to date, is that this one is the best ever. Plaudits to Lew for his unselfish work for the class. Pat Leonhard, president of the Paterson Parchment Paper Co., Bristol, is in the competition as champion grandfather of the class with nine grandchildren, but your Sec believes that Si Stein is still the champ - any others in the class that can compete? Pat says, "It is hard to believe that this is my last birthday in the fifties. The 'old time' certainly does fly."

Paul and Catherine Halloran, in view of the fact that Dartmouth is not playing Army (with due thanks to all concerned) thought that they would have a gathering of nearby '19ers at their most attractive estate, Oran Hall, located in Yorktown Heights near Ossining. What with pitching golf balls, some of which exploded, horseshoes which didn't, and inhaling both the country air and the Hallorans' liquid hospitality, the classmates assembled had a fine time. Present were Nick and Dot Sandoe, the Mose Robinsons, Dick and Spike Dudensing, Fred and Gertrude Daley, the Teto Websters, Fran Little, widow of Vaughan, Tom and Claire Bresnahan, the Bill (William Thompson) Smiths of Larchmont, Lou and Jean Stone, Ken and Marge Huntington, Clarence and Helen Buttenweiser, San and Jane Treat, and your Sec. Another summer traveler was A. V. Goldiere of Davidson College, N. C. Goldy writes:

"Your clever birthday greeting was awaiting me when I arrived in September from a trip to Europe. Janet and I spent some nine weeks in France where I was attending some courses in Tours, Paris and Grenoble. Before taking the Nieuw Amsterdam for home, we did take a quick trip into Italy and Switzerland. Our classmate John Fornacca, who is director of the American Express in Rome, was in Rome at the time. It was our good fortune to see him on the job as well as to have tea with him and .his good wife in their home. Classes at Davidson College have already begun. I am beginning my 34th year with this institution. I celebrated my sixtieth birthday by going to the Paris Lions Club at the Claridge Hotel on the Champs-Elysees. I wish I could get up to Hanover for the event at the Woodstock Inn and the Harvard game, but that is out of the question for a prof. Remember me to those present or others you may see."

Stewark Wark, squire of South Woodstock, Vt., has been named executive secretary of the development committee of the Hartford (Vt.) Chamber of Commerce at a recent meeting of the chamber's Board of Directors. The committee will begin an active program of work to promote the town and interest new businesses. Freddie Balch of Philadelphia notes that:

"Again the class reminder that I am a year nearer retirement age is a welcome greeting and much appreciated. Now if you will come up with the answer, as to on what I can retire, that will also be welcome and appreciated."

Freddie, that's something that most of us are trying to figure out.

As copy for these notes has to be in Hanover by October 5, a report on the Hanover-Woodstock weekend will have to wait until the next issue of the MAGAZINE or an edition of the Smoke Signal.

Secretary, 1273 North Avenue, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Treasurer, 184 Summer St., Springfield, Vt.

Bequest Chairman,