1917 Holds Its Fortieth
SCHEDULED to commence on Monday, June 10, in itself an innovation, our 40th reunion got under way, to all intents and purposes, when 15 1917 couples were counted dining at the Hanover Inn Sunday evening. The real crowd began to arrive Monday morning and by the time of our first scheduled events, a cocktail hour followed by a buffet supper in our tent, 1917 was on hand in force. After supper we attended President and Mrs. Dickey's reception in the garden of their lovely home, an event always to be enjoyed.
On Tuesday morning we all assembled on the campus for the traditional picture following which the men went to Sanborn Library for our class meeting. That was followed by the Alumni Luncheon in Thayer Hall and the Alumni meeting in Commons where to the delight of all, 1917 was presented with the 1894 Cup which is awarded at each reunion to the class having present the largest proportion of its living members. This year we competed only with 1926, 1927 and 1928 and our possession of the cup was short-lived as it had to be returned within 24 hours to be competed for again by the classes reuning after we left Hanover.
The class meeting was opened with a hearty expression of thanks to Gil Swett and his committee for the fine job they had done in making and executing plans for the reunion. Then followed a moment of silence in memory of the 14 men who have passed away since our last reunion. The names of the following were read: Laurence Cornelius, Irving L. Sperry, Elmer W. Berry, Archie B. Gile, Baron S. Barnes, Edwin W. McGowan, Roland C. McGown, Stanley V. Lane, Maurice T. Healey, Jr., James H. Dodge, Charles C. Rodenbach, Fred B. Alger, Dean S. Sibley and Harold J. Weeks. Next came an unusual procedure for our class, the election of an honorary member. Because of the deep affection in which the whole Gile family is held by all of us Barney Thielscher, with appropriate words moved the election of Pete Caveney (Edward M.), son-in-law of Arch and Mary and husband of Joy, our class baby, as an Honorary Member. The motion was unanimously carried. The Nominating Committee through its Chairman, Karl Koeniger, then nominated the following to be members of the Executive Committee until our next reunion: Bob Boynton, Don Brooks, Harold V. Clarke, Ed Earle, Bill Eaton, Sumner Emerson, Mose Hutchins, Ralph Lynch, Ted Lonnquest, Norm McCulloch, Pete Olds, Vic Smith and Gil Swett. On motion made and seconded, the nominations were closed and the nominees were duly elected. Before the meeting adjourned there was comment with regard to the Alumni Fund and our participation in it, the Fall meeting of the class and finally, the possibility of another picnic at Gene and Lucile Towler's next Spring. Bob Scott announced that there will be the usual party at his home after the Yale game and urged much larger attendance.
The newly elected members of the Executive Committee met immediately following the class meeting to organize and elect officers. After much discussion all of the former officers were reelected to serve in the same capacities as heretofore. A committee consisting of the writer of these notes, Bill Eaton and Bob Boynton was appointed to arrange for the Fall outing. Then followed a discussion of the effectiveness of the Church Supper Plan. It was generally agreed that while in some areas the plan has not been as effective as hoped for in others, particularly the Alumni Fund campaign, the plan has definitely proved its worth.
On Tuesday evening while the men attended their stag banquet (Miss Gill's famous steaks), the ladies enjoyed an equally tasty filet mignon dinner at the Outing Club. President Dickey and Professor Foley honored us by their presence at our banquet. Each made a most interesting speech, President Dickey's on the serious side and Professor Foley's quite the contrary. Pete Caveney, our newly-elected honorary member, was presented to our membership and spoke a few words of warm appreciation.
Our formal program came to an end Wednesday noon with a buffet luncheon at the Outing Club. Following that our number began to diminish as one after another left for home. It was very generally agreed that this was far and away the best reunion yet and we can all thank Gil and Marie Swett who planned the over-all program, and Gil's many helpers including Bill Sewall who handled publicity and who contributed one of the finest promotion pieces it has been my pleasure to see; Bill Eaton and Bob Boynton who between them handled all matters in Hanover; Vic Smith who kept the finest set of attendance records I ever saw; Mose Hutchins who plugged the reunion in the Sentry and others who played lesser roles. Even the weather man did his part and provided three grand days.
So that you may know who was present,here is a list taken from Vic Smith's recordsof those who were with us part or all of thetime:
Ray and Peg Allen, Slatz and Helen Baxter, Bill and Helen Birtwell, Bob and Gail Boynton, Ralph and Evelyn Britton, Don and Helen Brooks, Mott and Frances Brown, Curly and Ann Carr, Walter Carr, Ralph Cocks, Carl Colby, Tom and Helen Cotton, George Clark, Leon Cone, Al DuPuis, Louis Cunningham, George and Helen Currier, John Davis, Ed Earle, Bill Eaton and his sister, Eleanor Kelsey, Al and Maud Edgerton, Sumner and Charlotte Emerson, Al Emmons, Forry Emery, Phil and Jo Evans, Pop Ford, Harry and Helen Fowler, Fred and Madeline Gates, Mary Gile, Bunny Holden, Frank Huntress, Mose and Pauline Hutchins, Duke and Dot Howe, Karl and Elsie Koeniger, Larry and Florine Lockwood and son Larry Jr., Hank and Polly Loudon, Sandy Lynch, Norm and Mary McCulloch, Spique and Ruby Maclntyre, Sam and Dorothy MacKillop, Russ and Dorothy Marr, Jim and Ruth Montgomery, Connie and Mary Murphy, Larry and I.ucile Nourse, Pete and Lucy Olds, Cliff and Peg O'Neill, Charlie and Anne Peters, Len Reade, Rey and Eleanor Reycroft, Jack Saladine, Martin Sanborn, Ralph and Ethel Sanborn, Ray and Pearl Sault, Bob and Anita Scott, Bill and Sally Sewall, Lea arid Sally Shea, Butch Sherman Deering and Helen Smith, Sherm and Gladys Smith, Vin Smith, Vic and Irene Smith and their very special guest, Anita Stillman, Fat (and that's now a misnomer) and Cornelia Spears, Bud Steele, Perc and Hortense Streeter, Howie and Dorothy Stockwell, Rog and Carol Stone, Skinny and Dorothy Sturtevant, Gil and Marie Swett, Tommy and Dorothy Thompson, Barney Thielscher, Willis and Frances Thompson, Gene and Lucile Towler, Em and Vera Ward, Walt and Phoebe Walters, Henry Waterman and John Young.
FLASH! The word from Hanover is thatthe Fall outing will be held at the OrfordInn, Orford, N. H., October 11, 12 and 13.The cost, including tips, will be $19 per person.For reservations write directly to theInn. The Inn is a homey place in a beautifulNew Hampshire town and you'll like it.
Some of those who could not be with ussent regrets and among those from whomword was received were Trennie Trenholm,Sam and Lou White, Don Aldrich, WesleyThompson, Bob Chase, Jim Durkee, DougFleming, Jim McGowan and Hal Walker. Aspecial letter from Wayne Palmer said thathe hopes to come North in the fall and tosee the '17ers in New York and Boston.
The Class of 1917 posed on the reunion-picture bleachers on the campus.
The Class of 1926 enjoyed its Therapeutic Thirtieth
CLASS SECRETARY
