1945
To strike the first letter of the first word of the first sentence of the first paragraph of this first column of the fall took more concentration and effort than that first swing at that first golf ball in the spring. After a summer in which physical exertion replaced mental activity, the old mind was mighty reluctant to turn over and start thinking. After several false starts, twenty minutes of silent and painful concentration, and much tensing and flexing of the fingers, the first note was struck, the quiet of the night was shattered by the hesitant staccato of the typewriter, and your Secretary was back in business again. It was a near thing, I assure you. What you are now reading almost didn't get. No remarks, please.
One of the unpleasant duties that I must perform in my capacity as secretary is that of writing obituaries such as you read at the end of this Magazine. By necessity they are factual and impersonal. Although Harry Hampton has ably commented on the passing of two of our classmates, George Pulliam and John Ahearn, I have reason to feel strongly about the loss of these two men and would like to record a few thoughts. I have been secretary of this class for six years and in that span of time I have had to close the records of but one of us. George and John, coming so close together, have served to remind me what a fleeting thing life really is, how easy it is for strong associations to disintegrate, how necessary it is for us to enjoy life's fullest measure. While time and distance may tend to loosen the bonds of fraternity towards final unraveling, the Dartmouth fellowship, with its tightly woven class unity, manages to survive and grow stronger through the passing of years. But when one of the strands breaks and is lost forever, as in the case of Pulliam and Ahearn, then it is necessary for the rest to take up the slack they leave and pull harder. And the irreplaceable strands will remain forever a reminder that George and John were once pulling with us. Their part in our Dartmouth adventure will never be forgotten.
In late May, too late for the June issue, I received an extremely interesting article concerning Executive Committeeman Tom Candler. It referred specifically to the 7th International Tugboat Race to be run on the Detroit River, but within the write-up was a brief history of the Candler family and the Detroit waterfront. Tom, who was directing the race, is the President of Candler-Rusche, Inc., a marine contracting and construction firm. The article states that this firm or the Candlers have in a period of fifty years driven more than 50% of the pile foundations and built more than 50% of the dock building in that area.
Through the underground comes word that one of Harry Hampton's most fluent and reliable sources in the Hanover vicinity has gone dry and that Hampton will have to do his own snooping henceforth. The Squire of Quechee Gorge, Howie Sawyer, is moving to Portland, Maine, to take up duties as associate anesthesiologist at the Maine General Hospital. And that will end the clandestine copy that found its way to Harry's habitat and' ended up in that green dope sheet, the "Mail Call." Those of you who had feared for your reputations may now rest at ease. However, sad as it may seem, we never did get a chance to hold a get-together in the Sawyer's 3rd floor ballroom. What a ball that could have been! Good luck, Howie and Annie; hurry back to Hanover whenever you can.
Recent appointments and promotions in life's ladder of success are: Harry Bissell, who operates and owns at least two Howard Johnson restaurants in the Wilmington, Del., area, has been appointed chief of the state civil defense emergency mass feeding section. Ed White has recently been named to the newly created Medford, Mass., Redevelopment Authority. John Guyer has been elected vice president of Guyer Advertising, Inc., national advertising agency in New York. He is also secretary of the company and a member of the board of directors. In addition he serves as an account executive. Howie Brundage has been appointed borough chairman for Essex Fells in the West Essex Community Chest drive. Howie, Nancy, and their three children have been living there since 1953. Chad Ramsdell is now in St. Johnsbury, Vt„ as commercial manager of the local office of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company. Jim Field has been named product manager for Kreml hair preparations made by the J. B. Williams Co. Jim moved to Williams' from Warner-Lambert Pharmaceutical Co., where his position was also that of product manager. Charlie Becker has been elected assistant cashier of the Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Chicago.
Kudos to Milt Cooper and Ernie Alexander for academic achievements. Milt for his Master of Science in Medicine degree at the University of Minnesota, and Ernie for his Ph.D. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N. Y.
Latest resignation from the '45 bachelors' club is sent in by Harry Carter. Miss Elizabeth Ann Edge of Littleton, N. H., a Wellesley lass, has snared Mr. Carter, special assistant to Gordon Gray, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Internal Security Affairs. Elizabeth was formerly executive secretary of the Winant Volunteers in London.
All for this month. You'll be hearing from me soon and probably from Barney Oldfield sooner. Be kind to that hard-working and efficient gentleman.
Mark Byrne '46, media executive at William Esty Co., has been made a Vice President of that New York advertising agency.
Secretary, Middlesex School, Concord, Mass.
Treasurer, R.D. 1, Stoney Ridge Rd., Avon, Ohio
