1921
Five 1921 men in the news recently. BillEmbree thoughtfully contributed the February 11 copy of the Washington (D. C.) Report which contained a good photo of Bob Elsasser, first vice president of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, chatting with a group of tycoons at the Southeastern Area Transportation Conference in his city during the first week in February. The Rev. Charles P.Gilsonßector of St. Michael's and All Angels Church, Rumford, R. I., was also publicized in the Paw tucket-Central Falls (R. I.) Times as the principal speaker at the annual meeting of the Park Place Congregational Church, Paw tucket. The background profile of Charlie's life deserves quoting verbatim:
"Mr. Gilson was born in Portland, Maine. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and, until 1945, was in business in New York city, first with the Bank of America and later with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
"In 1945 he joined the Military Welfare Service of the American Red Cross and went to the Pacific area with the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division. He was stationed in the Philippines after its recapture and, after the war, in Japan. In January 1946, he returned to this country to resume business in New York.
"At that time he was offered a position as treasurer of the Episcopal Church Mission in China and returned to the Orient in that capacity. While in Shanghai he was ordained to the Episcopal ministry. In 1949, when the Communists entered Shanghai, Mr. and Mrs. Gilson learned some of the inconveniences and difficulties encountered by those living in a totalitarian state. They were finally forced to leave China because Chinese friends were getting into trouble for being associated with the church mission.
"After a tour of Europe and a period of lecturing and working at denominational headquarters in New York City, Mr. and Mrs. Gilson came to Rhode Island. He became rector of St. Michaels and All Angels Church in July 1953."
Then G. Harry Chamberlaine gets his handsome face in the N. Y. Herald Tribune for being promoted from advertising manager to vice president and advertising director of Good Housekeeping magazine, a Hearst publication.
The January 17 issue of Sports Illustrated had a two-page photo of a group of U. S. sportsmen attentively watching a championship squash match. Imagine our surprise and pleasure to find our own Ort Hicks looming large in the center of this candid shot.
On Page 21 of the February 24 N. Y. Journal-American, John Watson's column All Around the Town" was entirely devoted to the story of Doug Storer, owner of BelieveIt or Not. Doug was currently newsworthy because of his recent visit to President Paul E. Magloire of Haiti to whom he presented the original Believe It or Not cartoon of The Fortress of La Ferriere in Haiti." He also successfully offered a design for a special Haitian postage stamp (to become a collector's item, of course), the proceeds of its sale to provide hurricane relief for the Island. Incidentally, Doug completed arrangements for his Christmas mailing from Fort Christmas, explored the largest salt mine in the world, the oldest hospital in this hemisphere, the world's largest natural swimming pool, and verified that oysters do grow on trees.
Phil Noyes, in writing his regret at missing the annual Dartmouth Alumni Association of Boston dinner in February, just happened to mention the birth of his seventh grandchild in Springfield, Mass., on January 28 under the auspices of Dr. Paul Sanderson. It's a girl, Lynn Elizabeth Noyes, making his score four girls and three boys. Can you top this?
To make up for Phil's absence at the D.A.A. of Boston dinner, Bill Barber came down from Manchester, N. H., and brought Randy Childs with him or vice versa. DanRuggles was reelected vice president of the association with no contest. On hand to applaud were: Tom Norcross, Walt Prince, Leon Bateman, Don Sawyer, Russ Bailey, Bill Fowler, Tom Cleveland, Jack Campbell, Stan White, Jeff Lawrence (with his son-in-law, Dr. Sands), Stan Oliver, Bill Perry, Reg Miner and John Woodhouse from Wilmington Del., who happened to be in town.
The pleasure of renewing old friendships among our own classmates and men in adjoining classes, the excellent dinner, the agreeable impression created by our new football coach and the other good speakers on the program combined to provide a most enjoyable evening. In a pre-banquet session BillPerry, Don Sawyer and your secretary tried to transmit to Bill Barber the lessons gained from planning our Thirtieth Reunion. After much vocal and liquid persuasion Bill finally accepted our portfolios on behalf of the success of our impending TRIGINTAQUIN-QUENNIAL.
Last evening while entertaining friends at dinner and a performance of the Solid GoldCadillac, the cry of " '21 Up" rang out. In one corner of the restaurant, Bill and Edith Perry waved gaily, while Dan and Dot Ruggles,Hank and Peg Cook, and friends seemed to fill several rows in the theatre orchestra. That's what makes life so pleasant around Boston.
Any '21 men, women and children who are in the vicinity of Boston on Wednesday, May 18, should plan to join us at our annual dinner before Dartmouth-Night-at-the-Pops. The place is the Green Room at the Hotel Gardner, Massachusetts Ave., one block from Symphony Hall. Our private bar opens at 5:30 P.M. A good lamb chop dinner for three bucks, including tax and tip, is served at 7:00 P.M. The Pops begin at 8:30 P.M. Bring your wife, children or friends but let your secretary know in advance how many.
When you read this you should have received Don Sawyer's "Great Challenge to a Great Class" which marks the start of the 1955 Alumni Fund campaign. Don's slogan is "Every Man Alive in 1955," which means that he and his agents are making tremendous efforts to get every living member of the Class of 1921 to give at least $1 to this year's fund. He is convinced that "some class is going to do this some day, and 1921 is just the one to do it. We'll leave no stone unturned to try to make it this year. When, as and if this is accomplished, I am sure that the effect on future giving to Dartmouth will be terrific. It will multiply the value of our gifts many times over by spurring other classes to greater efforts.
"Our quota this year is set tentatively at $14,460, an increase of approximately $1,000 over last year's quota. In order to win, place or show in the Green Derby, this means that we will have to have a minimum increase of 10% per gift over last year."
In a recent conversation Don produced some statistics which show that there is a sizeable proportion of '21 men who have given exactly the same number of dollars each year since 1950. This would seem to indicate that their Dartmouth association has a fixed value to them, that they have had no increase in their incomes during the past four years or that their response is automatic, without any serious thought for the increased need of the College or the maximum earning power which men of our generation are expected to have attained.
Don is giving nearly 50% of his time to the campaign. His agents are likewise giving much of their time, money and energy. The least that the rest of us can do is appreciate their efforts and devote a bit of serious thinking to their problem.
From some late news flashes via Bob MacDonald we learn that George McMillan is hanging on at Garden City, L. I., N. Y. while he looks forward to retirement and while his son is at the U. S. Naval Academy. George hopes to make the next reunion. Speedy Fleet is bragging of his influence because the 1955 registration plate of his car bears the number SF1921. George and Madeline Harris are thoroughly enjoying living in New York City after an absence of 29 years. Some of their old friends are still around and they are meeting new ones, especially in the local Dartmouth group. Sandy Sanders has moved his office back to Houston after eleven years in Fort Worth and is looking for a house there. He recently closed a big oil royalty deal with a New York millionaire on the latter's 74-foot yacht which was moored at Sea Island, Ga. Eleanor, daughter of Stan and Helen Parker, is engaged to Lt. (jg) Paul S. Cushman USNR of Glens Falls, N. Y. She is a graduate of Abbot Academy and Mount Holyoke while her fiancé graduated from Lowell Technological Institute and O.C.S. His fraternity is Phi Psi.
EDITOR'S ADDITION: Reg Miner, 1921 class secretary, has been promoted by the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company to the position of Second Vice President in charge of city mortgages and real estate. He joined the company in 1928 and had been director of the city mortgage department since 1953.
Secretary, 21 Chestnut Street, Wellesley Hills 82, Mass.
Class Agent, 200 Berkeley St., Boston 16, Mass.
