1931
Reporting the death of a classmate is never an easy task. Their past deeds and lost future are so much in our thoughts, that words can only attempt to immortalize the parts of them they leave behind in our memories. Bill Byrne died of a heart attack in August (see "In Memorium" section) and to share with you memories of him as held by Lloyd Wilson, and Herbert W. Hill '41 h, Dartmouth History Department, I wish to quote from their letters. First from Lloyd:
"He visited me in Washington, several times. He never changed, always exuberant, never worried, more vigorous than ever, always laughing. My wife was crazy about him and he had a host of friends. About 1949, polio struck him a terrible attack. He spent months of treatment at Warm Springs, Ga., - months more convalescing at home, several operations.
"Fifty percent of his almost complete recovery was guts, the other fifty percent the devoted attention of his wife who had two children to look after besides. At her request, I flew to Warm Springs to see him. Imagine, if you can, an uproarious several days with a college classmate who was semi-helpless. We whooped it up in a wheel chair from Warm Springs to Atlanta. Bill never lost his nerve or his spirit. Bill never changed ... boundless energy, enthusiasm for living, generosity to a fault, fine character, no worry, never slowed down even in his wheel chair days. . . completely wrapped up in his family and home . . . friends all over the globe. Couldn't do enough for them. I never had so much fun with one man anywhere in my life.. . he was as fine a man you could ever meet."
And from Herb Hill '41h:
"In winter of 1930, I began to look forward, in my office in Wentworth, to hearing a cheerful voice... with a question about some story in the daily paper, or whether I had heard the latest joke. . . Bill Byrne was around again, always with something interesting, always turning his enquiring mind to some problem. Over the years since then I saw Bill often ... the important thing is that all the time there was the same concern over the challenging, the new, the need of doing things better. There was always a spark, whether over segregation or politics or the best brand of beer ... his house was a place for friendly argument. A bad attack of polio made no difference in his spirit, and his interests, his cheerful liking for people, and for a good time .continued to show in everything he did. John Dickey told the freshmen this week that Dartmouth tries to make men independent, and even more, creative in that they leave behind them more than they inherited, by thinking for themselves. This describes Bill's approach to life; he will be sorely missed."
Lloyd is executive vice president of the Griffith-Consumers Company in Washington, D. C., the largest of its kind in that area. A native of Grand Island, Neb., he has lived in Washington many years with his wife, Deborah, and his two daughters. Why don't you spark a '31 gathering for your area, Lloyd? Chicago is having its second one this fall. Thanks for the fine tribute to Bill Byrne.
Dick Holbrook, our class chairman, reports the self-removal of Bill Steck from the job of Head Fund Agent a year ahead of schedule. Bill has done a big job for three years, being the first agent to take a class over the $20,000 mark immediately following a 25-year reunion compaign. A terrific salute to you, Bill. Bill Wilson is now readying himself to take over this important assignment a year early ("until I get tired"). JimGodfrey and Barbara spent the summer in Europe, and the Jim Frames gave California the once over. Russ Beckwith sent his daughter, Joan, to Skidmore this fall. The Holbrooks are spending some worrisome, exciting and engrossing evenings pouring over architect's plans for a new home on a hill near their present residence in Bedford Village, N. Y. He and Charlie McAllister, as governors of the Dartmouth Club of New York, have been active in deciding what to do about the future location of their club. Princeton has upped the rent. Here is a good spot to give the class notice of ten proud '31ers who are fathers of '61ers at the College: Holbrook, Hanaver, Page, Gilchrist,Denham, Cogswell, Boynton, Wendell, Russell and Reno. Six are from the New York-New England area and the rest from Illinois west to Colorado. My boy's outstanding written communications to date has been his enthusiastic impressions of the "great caliber of the '61 men on campus."
Our "private" news clipping service has come up with these items (some now slightly mildewed, but fresh news for most of you, it's hoped): Bob Oelman was honorary vice-chairman of the Dartmouth Convocation on Great Issues held in Hanover in early September; by appointment of Governor Harriman, Bill Walsh of Red Hook, N. Y., and the law firm of Guernsey, Butts & Walsh, has assumed a five-year term as trustee of the Dutchess County Community College; Peanuts Winslow, the sub-killing captain, has again been the subject of a feature article in the Portland, Me., Sunday Telegram. We have yet to hear of a formal invitation from you, Captain, for a private '31 cruise. It would not be profitable, but a worthy contribution to the solidity of '31 ers who could be trapped for the event: Cliff Walker, starting in 1931 as an actuarial assistant for the Connnecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company, has recently been promoted to the newly created post of agency comptroller. Cliff lives in Eastford, Conn., with his wife Irene and his two sons, Allan and Donald; "Finn" Rikkola acted as chairman of the Board of Appeals during a public hearing in Danvers, Mass. Are you still with Dunn & Bradstreet, "Finn"? Records on you are incomplete. Beany Thorn is the new president of the New York State Association of Insurance Agents. He started his running in college and has been running ever since! Howie Mason received a degree of Ed.D. from Harvard University on June 19; Walt and Gehring are the proud parents of Carl Walter III, born September 3, in Cleveland, Ohio. Welcome to this newest member of the '31 family and congratulations to the proud parents.
More good news! Bill Minehan, with most of the credit due his wife Mary, announces the birth of a daughter during a cold Milwaukee January night. Bill is so "scheduled-up" for his firm, Northwestern Mutual, that he was forced to decline an invitation from our Macomb Rotary Club. He will be in New York State and New England during part of November. Ernie Moore is all set to see Brown, Holy Cross, Harvard and Yale games. That sounds more like a schedule for a senior on the honor roll, than it does for Jack Elliott's (his boss, and former Peoria buddy of mine) star Jantzen girdle and brassiere peddler for New England. You, Ernie, are to take pencil and paper in hand after each game and send me the news. Bill and MarieBenger and Ed and Sara Hanaver were registered at the Inn in September. In Ed's case it was evidently to see his son safely deposited for the start of his freshman year. Red Gristede reports at last (to Ernie Moore): "spent a quiet weekend after a wild summer - lost my lawyer, doctor and secretary what's your trouble?" No doubt, Red, your secretary will be the most difficult to replace. Did she flounder on your grocery samples or drown in your "spirits"?
Address changes reported during the summer and early fall:
George M. Adams, Jr., CSCN/CHSA, 510, c/o F.P.O., N. Y.; Baxter Ball, 612 So. Flower St., Los Angeles 54, Calif.; Bill Little, (new house) Centre Island Road, Oyster Bay, L.I., N. Y.; Allan Wolff Jr., business change to 79 W. Monroe St., Chicago 3, Ill.; Robert Blocksom, Pres., Blocksom & Co., 2914 Lake Shore Dr., Michigan City, Ind.; John H. McCortney, Asst. Supt. Catalogue Sales Office, Sears Roebuck & Co., 925 S. Homan Ave., Chicago, Ill.; George C. Nickum, Nickum, Lamont & Fey, 71 Columbia St., Seattle, Wash, (is there a story with this, George?); Dr.Henry Almond, 26 Fairfield Dr., New Shrewsbury, N. J.; Fred S. Burkhardt, 4821 Myrtle Lane, La Mesa, Calif.; Joe Cboate, Treetopside, Lakeside Rd., Southbury, Conn.; Donald F.Ewing, 1519 Timber Lane, Falls Church, Va.; Ed Flynn, Fairmont Blvd., R.D. 3 Chagrin Falls, Ohio; Vernon Welsh, General Dynamics Corp., 445 Park Ave., N.Y.C., and residing at 25 Main St., Ridgefield, Conn.; Henry Reed, 2601 Woodley PL, N.W., Washington 8, D. C.; Arnie Rich, 1600 Hinman Ave., Evanston, Ill. (are you still a retailer like me, Arnie?); Attorney Charles M.Russell, 2638 Central Parkway, Ashland, Ky.; EdElmer, Apt 23C, 137 Evergreen Ave., Hartford, Conn.; Bill Hayden, 11602 S.W. Breyman Ave., Portland, Ore.; Montague Smith, 420 E. 23rd, Apt. 9F, N.Y.C. 10; Tower Snow, 140 Federal St., Boston 10, Mass.; Ed Stokes, 114 Lothrop St., Beverly, Mass.; Hawley Jacquith, Old Dutch Rd., Bedminster, N. J.; Sherman Pederson, 7860 S.W. Cedar Ave., Portland 1, Ore.; Seth Revere, Box 890 Chickasha, Okla.; Francis E. George, 322 Ridgedale Rd., Louisville, Ky.; George D.Busick, 4342 W. 156 th St., Cleveland 11, Ohio; and William E. Palmer, 132 S. Spaulding Dr., Apt. 102, Beverly Hills, Calif.
There are a few more but all within the previous town and mostly smaller ones, so for space-sake that will be it this month. All things and people cooperating, your correspondent and his wife will have been to Hanover and back before the next column is written. Too many failed to send their class dues to Pete Evans last year. If you haven't already, mail him $5. now: Autorama Motel, 2002 So. Dort Highway, Flint, Mich. It's what pays for your ALUMNI MAGAZINE.
Secretary, 345 West Murray, Macomb, Ill.
Treasurer, Autorama Motel 2002 S. Dort Hgwy., Flint, Mich.
Bequest Chairman,
