1941's "Fine" Fifteenth

THIS is a report on the Fifteenth Reunion. It was as fine a Reunion as one could ask for. We were blessed with the most beautiful Tune weekend you ever saw in Hanover. The sun shone brightly but not too hot-warm enough to go swimming but not so hot that you had to. We had two short thunderbursts of rain, one on Friday night just prior to our buffet supper and the second on Saturday morning while most of the class was in Carpenter Hall at the Class business meeting. That small amount of rain just kept temperatures at the right level and in no way interfered with anyone's party.

Although there were early arrivers who showed up on Thursday, the Reunion officially got under way on Friday. Those who arrived on Thursday got into the party spirit right away as they were entertained at the home of Frances and Snuffy Smith, our Reunion Chairman, who incidentally did a marvelous job of planning and organizing our Reunion. Among those present at Snuffy's were Barb and Lou Young, Jean and Red O'Connor,Kathy and Bruce Friedlich, Pat and StewSteffey.

On Friday morning they began to arrive bright and early. There was some confusion finding the 1941 tent even though we all knew it was to be located in front of "Woodward and next to the Sphinx. It seems that an enthusiastic group of 1940s put signs up all along the roads from New York to Hanover and from Boston to Hanover, all pointing to the 1940 Reunion. When they got to Hanover the signs led directly to our tent and to make things more confusing for the '41s, the tent was marked with a big "1940" when most of us arrived on Friday morning. We managed to get the signs straightened out and before long the place was jumping with classmates and their wives.

Official registration was going on all day Friday. We received green and white Ivy League caps and the wives got white crew hats with a green "D" on front. The Ivy League caps worn by the men of 1941 were easily the outstanding wearing apparel seen at the Reunion and were in great demand not only by the wives but by members of other classes. Numerous '40s and '42s were seen wearing the '41 caps around Hanover Saturday night and Sunday morning. Everyone got a white button on which names could be written in big black letters so you knew who you were shaking hands with before you reached the stage of embarrassment. And that's no kidding either - faces come back easy after fifteen years but names are tougher. But once you get the name, the association comes back and you're o.k. for the rest of the weekend.

Some folks came from points quite distant from Hanover. For example, Virginia andDick Cords and their son came from Los Angeles; also, Linda and Les Davis came all the way from their ranch at Cimarron, New Mexico. (And believe me, those horses were tired.)

Because of the warm weather it was decided that when supper was served in the class tent on Friday night, no one would change from the informal attire of the afternoon. This was most agreeable to all concerned and sport shirts and Bermuda shorts seemed to be the most popular dress at supper. One group among the first in the chow line and seated together included Bob Harvey, Jean and BillGalbraith, Mr. & Mrs. Karl Blume, Stu Mayand Audrey Smith, Carol and Hank Childs, and Sue and Frank Hall (had to get my wife mentioned somehow).

Just before dinner the cocktail hour was enjoyed by most everyone. After a few drinks most of the conversation went like this: "Hi, Jack, how's the old boy?" "Fine, Joe, you haven't changed a bit." "Neither have you, Jack." (All this while Joe is looking at Jack's cue-ball head and Jack is contemplating the spare-tire around Joe's inflated midriff.) The wives, though, were more candid in their comments. They admitted that these were not the college boys they married but 1956 versions of the same. There must have been 70 or 80 wives on hand. In fact some punster asked if Dartmouth was in the Wivy League.

Friday evening there was a reception at President Dickey's residence. We felt .sorry for Mr. & Mrs. Dickey as they stood in the reception line shaking hands with the hundreds of returning graduates and being very gracious hosts. We had Dusty Rodes with us and Dusty, being president of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, was thinking of standing in for President Dickey for a spell. But Mr. Dickey needed no assistance in spite of the heat and the tremendous number of guests.

I can't give you a report on the dance because after the President's reception we went back to the class tent and found a great party in progress. The next thing I remember it was Saturday morning and we were on the campus posing for the class picture which is probably reproduced somewhere in this magazine. Suffice it to say therefore, for the sake of the record, that there was a dance on Friday night.

Most everyone visited the various swimming holes on Saturday - that is, except for the usual mad men who chase a little white ball up and down the hills of' Hanover. The swimmers seen leaving for Storrs Pond, Lake Morey, etc., included Polly and Dick Hill, Patand Don Stillman, Fran and Brody Bjorklund,the Cords family, and Bobbie and VicSchneider.

Saturday at 6 we enjoyed what must have been the best outdoor lobster and steak cookout in Reunion history. The setting was perfect the Canoe Club on the banks of the Connecticut just north of the bridge to Norwich. There was plenty of clams, corn, steak and lobster. While there was no official scorecard kept, we heard via the grapevine that one of our boys handled two lobsters and two steaks. This is possible since there was plenty of food at the start and I don't believe it was all gone at the end.

Saturday night's party in the tent was marked by an invasion from the class of '46. These young huskies hauled their piano to our tent and took ours back to their tent. We watched them do it but we didn't believe it. They couldn't get their piano in tune with the five-piece band they had for dance music.

By Sunday noon people were shaking hands and saying things like "See you at the Yale game" or "See you at the Twentieth."

HAVEN'T CHANGED A BIT DEPARTMENT: Sandy Courter, Mort McGinley, Clif Stratton,Al Van Wie, Bob Thomas, Felix Lilenthal.

NEW CLASS OFFICERS DEPARTMENT: Chairman of Executive Committee is Lew Johnstone; Class Treasurer will be Sew Steffey for a second term; my successor as class secretary is Red O'Connor. The complete list of the executive committee will be given to you by Red in the next notes.

HAPPIEST PEOPLE IN TOWN: Pittsburgh Pirate fans Snuffy Smith, Stew Steffey and Karl Krogh.

With 113 classmates returning to Hanover, the Class of 1941 reuned during the final Reunion Weekend, June 15-17.

RETIRING CLASS SECRETARY