Kramer Memorial Foundation

Last August the College community was stunned by the death of Milton S. Kramer, valedictorian of the Class of 1954 and winner of a Rhodes Scholarship.

A graduate of Bronx High School of Science, Milt came to Hanover in the fall of 1950. He heeled for The Dartmouth and earned topflight grades in his freshman year, and as a sophomore became one of the newspaper's leading reporters. He was elected by his colleagues to Green Key and subsequently became the junior honor society's corresponding secretary.

In his junior year, a great capacity for work and competent reporting made Milt the top man on The Dartmouth's staff, and in February he was selected to head the paper's 1954 Directorate. Late in the spring semester the new Palaeopitus elected him its chairman, and he was immediately given the task of implementing in precise detail the general plans already laid for a new freshman orientation program. Milt took this and the several other duties of the new job in stride, performed them in his customary thorough fashion, and still turned up in June with a scholastic average of 3.8 (on the 4.0 system).

Tremendously conscious of his shortcomings in the way of varied experience, his lack of understanding of various groups, Milt constantly strove to broaden himself and to comprehend the viewpoint of all with whom he had contact. Never physically active and not constructed for such pursuits, he nevertheless spent the summer after his junior year working in the Colorado woods with a forestry crew.

Back in Hanover, despite his other commitments, Milt was not content merely to direct orientation through the 65-man Sophomore Orientation Committee; he also spent considerable time chatting with freshmen to determine their views on Dartmouth and the program. And as a result of his comprehensive efforts, the new plan was a success.

In December Milt was awarded a coveted Rhodes Scholarship, and in February of last year he completed his term as editorin-chief, after posting another 3.8 in the fall term. Two months later he was selected as the valedictory speaker for Commencement, and went on to deliver one of the finest addresses of recent years, asking himself and his classmates if they had drunk deeply enough "at the trough" of Dartmouth education.

With a summer to wait before heading for Oxford, Milt returned to Colorado with his younger brother, and there, on the night of August 20, he lost control of his car, plunged into a river, and was killed.

What Milt's life stood for needs no elaboration. In his honor the Milton Sims Kramer Memorial Foundation, devoted to "the development of a deeper appreciation and enrichment of the Dartmouth fellowship," has been established by his classmates. The fund drive for the Foundation begins this month. The annual income from the principal collected will be administered by the students of the College, who will establish each year a specific project in Milt's name toward the furtherance of the Foundation's objectives.

Examples of what might be done include printing a concise history of the College for distribution to incoming freshmen, bringing a speaker on a liberal arts topic to Hanover, contributing to Dartmouth Night, backing a worthwhile project sponsored by a student organization, or supplying specific equipment for the projected Hopkins Center. In addition, part of the funds raised will be used to erect a permanent plaque to Milt's memory in the Center.

The Class of '54 is seeking help from undergraduates, alumni, parents, and friends of the College, and contributions may be sent to the Kramer Memorial Foundation, Crosby Hall, Hanover, N. H.

Milt Kramer