1937
First and foremost I have some notes that Art Ruggles received during the course of the collection of class dues. Art is such a well-known stalwart among us that he often gets a bit of news or two along with your checks. For instance, Tom Veling says: "Through Greenfield in early summer - noticed a ski shop and looked like a swimming pool being built - wondered if it was your place?" True enough, I think I've neglected to mention Art has a ski shop in his home as of last year, but I never heard of the pool. Tom said he was coming back to reunion, but I'm sure he knows now it is in 1958, not this year! Bob Cameron put in a hello for us, as did John Emerson.
Boz Bosworth notes: "Not much news here: same wife, same job, same four children plus one new one - a 16 year old girl from Helsinki, an American Field Service exchange student. So far, a most interesting experience for all." Just as an aside, I have often wondered why men, when asked about what's new, have a tendency to inject that phrase "same wife," and then carry on from there to children, job, etc. I suppose it means we've really been attractive enough over the years to have made several alterations in the marital state but through the exercise of character which we also have in abundance - we have remained steadfast to that person known as "same wife." How about a word from the wives on this score? And, Boz, please do not think I have singled you out in this discussion; that would make me very unhappy.
Carl Noyes, in a new home for a year in Oradell, N. J., also gave Rugbug a few lines about himself. Among other things, he saw Bandy Dwinell and his family last summer while they were on vacation at Lake Winnepesaukee. Later they drove over to Lake Morey for an indoctrination into the art of water skiing as taught by Bandy's two young sons. Carl also entertained Frank Evans and family (two daughters) at a cook-out last fall. I gather it was no different from many of those affairs; the chicken was burned, but a few drinks can drown a multitude of bad cookery. It sounds, too, as though Carl is avidly looking forward to reunion. I might add that just before he left (February 21) for a month's business junket to England, France, Germany and Spain, Carl Ray was busy working on reunion committees. So you see, men, the wheels are already beginning to turn to make '58 memorable.
Important news this month from Walt Johnson who, as you know, is chairman of the History Dept. at the University of Chicago. Walt is leaving in September for about a year's absence to accept the chair of Harmsworth Professor of American History at Oxford University. This is a signal scholastic honor which merits the heartiest congratulations of us all to Walter. But, Walt, since a class secretary is a schemer at heart for news, I must tell you that there is a price attached to these plaudits: you must write during the course of your year abroad.
Art Falk sent me a welcome fill-in on his activities of the last several years, starting with a job change in May 1955 to agency secretary of National Casualty, a move to a new apartment in San Francisco and then the start of a fast three week trip East, all in the space of a week. The latter included a night's stop-over with Connie and Sammy Schuck in Buffalo and a few short hours in Hanover. Incidentally, Art told me Connie was on a national Wildroot TV commercial around Christmas and was easily recognizable since he had a bottle in his hand, albeit hair tonic. More recently the Falks can recount two important happenings: The birth on February 6 of Donald Manwell Falk at Stanford Hospital, thereby preserving the Indian tradition. Young Falk weighed in at 9 lbs. 7½ ozs. and had a stretch of 21 inches. The Falks have also built a new house in San Rafael across the Golden Gate in Marin County. Art has talked to Don Albertsen several times. Don's travel agency arranged a vacation trip for Art's boss last summer. He also saw Art Hislop at the Glee Club concert a year ago. Many thanks, Falks, for a fine West Coast report.
And now, back to the East and Sherm Murphy from whom I had a letter filled with news. Sherm, an old Albany boy, has had his own law office in our capital city since 1951. Sherm and Caroline have four children: Sherman III, age 15, and Anne, Carol and Susan, 11, 9 and 4 respectively. Despite these responsibilities, the Murphys, with two allies at home in the persons of his mother and a trusted housekeeper, have been more peripatetic than most of us. Last March, for example, they took a two week cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam and in the summer of '55 they sailed to San Francisco on the President Monroe. While on the coast, they had a wonderful visit with Frank Danzig and his lovely wife Kay. They also met Frank's two young daughters. And by the narrowest of margins Sherm did not accede to Frank's importuning that he participate in a TV panel show of which Frank was the producer. At the moment of my writing, the Murphys plan to be off March 15 on the Ancon of the Panama Line. They were to disembark on the southbound voyage at Haiti and rejoin the vessel on her return call en route from Panama. When he is home in Albany, Sherm is active in Dartmouth affairs, both as an interviewing chairman and as one of Rowley Bialla's faithful band of assistant class agents.
By the by, let us not forget that Rowley's time of year is here again. Give as much as you are able as early as you can to the Alumni Fund, and you won't hear another word from Rowley until 1958.
A lot of news came in last month via the press. I have word that Bob Crawford, vicepresident of the Glens Falls Insurance Co., has been advanced to the post of assistant to top management in the general administration of company affairs. Tom McIntyre of Laconia, N. H. has been named chairman of New Hampshire's 1957 Heart Fund campaign. Tom is a former mayor of Laconia and has been active in the Democratic party for many years. As I remember it. it was Kefauver-McIntyre and Eisenhower-Dick Cooper in the last campaign in New Hampshire.
And a fashion note from Dallas where, last December, the husband and wife shoe-designing team of Herb and Beth Levine were introducing their new spring and summer fashion collection at Neiman-Marcus. You will remember that this team as Herbert Levine, Inc. won the 1956 Neiman-Marcus award. Herb and Beth met when they both worked for Bert Geller, of shoe making fame. They have a 3 year old daughter, Anne Sam.
And here are a couple of wind-up notes. Johnny Handrahan cited by his company, Equitable Life, for all-around excellence of performance with an award attesting to his competence. Don Miller, wife Clare and four children spent five days at the Norwich Inn in February. They saw many old Hanover friends, but old man Miller did not dare put on his skis, since he, like I, is still plagued with lingering back trouble.
In closing, here is a first announcement of the event for Metropolitan New York area men; the second annual husbands and wives cocktail party and dinner of '37-'38-'39 will take place May 17 - Friday — at the Dartmouth Club. More later.
Secretary, 869 Hardscrabble Rd., Chappaqua, N. Y.
Class Agent, 120 Broadway, New York 5, N. Y
