1952's "Fabulous Fifth"
GENTLEMEN you have a class to be proud of!! The troops can still take it and love it. There may have been a little more poundage around and there were a few skulls that reflected light better than they did in 1952, but, beyond these minor changes, '52 broke all records. There were more of us back than had ever returned for a fifth reunion in the College's history. We won the attendance cup for the weekend. We went over the top on the Fund Drive before reunion. As for taking it and loving it I am thinking, at the moment, of a small but stalwart gathering of about ten at Five A.M. Sunday morning who finally cracked the four bottles of champagne reserved for the Midnight Marauders. Membership to this select group requires only that you have the staying power to last until the first cork pops. From there on it's easy.
For the benefit of those of you who couldn't make it, we missed you. We had a ball. Plan now to make the tenth. As for the wives, without question they were among the most attractive that I have ever had the pleasure of being with. But enough of generalities, here's the way it went:
If you were among the earlier arrivals and got there on noon Friday, you probably went right over to Ripley, Woodward and Smith. Already there was a gathering, but in small groups. You said hello to the familiar face but with the name on the tip of your tongue and not quite out. It didn't take long though before the names started coming naturally, mostly because this is where you knew it best anyway. The tent looked a little impersonal at that hour with the piano and chairs stacked up and a few tables around, but it had possibilities. It was hot. The sky was overcast and it was muggy. People were arriving and it was amazing how familiar they all were. More than that though, it became increasingly apparent that while this group had a lot in common - graduate school, married, or maybe not, the service, — each man was doing something different, and most important, not what you thought he probably would be doing, based on your recollection of him.
Along about three, yours truly managed to locate the Bell, and Bins finally located the last of the safari hats. The matriculation committee, under the direction of Bill Breed, Cliff Fitzgerald, Howie Smith, their wives and various other members of the North Shore and Boston contingents, commenced the beer bath and waist measurement tests. Once you passed these hurdles, you were signed in, duly crowned with a customfitted safari chapeau, and presented with your first glass of a famous malt beverage. By four or five the tent was overflowing and people were still arriving. Those who had read the program began to ease off on the beer and by six George Hibben had the cocktail bar open. Gin and tonic, Tom Collins, Whisky and —, the choice was yours for an hour and a half. Some of the '53's began to drift over and an occasional '51 put in an appearance. And nobody heard the thunder.
By seven-thirty you were ready to eat and Angelo's (from Concord, remember) served up the most delicious buffet that you've had in some time. And then it came down "in buckets." You were glad you had your sports clothes on and it became evident that the tent had more than one purpose. The shower was short but furious and it left the air cooler that night and the rest of the weekend hot and sunny.
For some, the President's reception followed, and then the dance in College Hall. But for many others this was the time for more activity in the tent or visits to the other classes. '52 and '53 shared a band made up of members of each class, in fact almost to the man it was the Chiefs all over again. Rusty Jackman still does fantastic things with that trombone. And on it went into the morning.
While there may have been a slight lull between the hours of six and eight A.M., if you were at the tent shortly after that hour you could find Bill Fisher busy with ice, vodka, tomato juice and various condiments the formula of which still remains the secret of the Fabulous Dartmouth Bachelor Clan of 1952 which numbered 45 as of that weekend. The Manifesto of this unique organization was signed by all those eligible (and some who weren't). On other parts of the campus at that hour several fraternities held corporation meetings, and for others there was the simple problem of getting out of bed, which for some reason seemed more difficult that day.
At ten-thirty there was a brief meeting of the Class at 105 Dartmouth where this writer had the pleasure to announce the new Executive Committee, the men you elected to run the show for the next five years. They are: Bob Binswanger, Ray Buck, Sam Daniell, Ed Finerty, George Hibben, Bernie Lewis, Terry Malone, Don MacLeod, Dorn McGrath, Pete McSpadden, Al Reich, Johnny Rosenwald, and Dick Watt.
The meeting concluded with the showing of the Class films which, incidentally, are available to any of you who would like to see them. More were taken at reunion as well.
The next stop was center-of-campus where the Class picture was taken, the results of which appear with this article. There followed the Alumni luncheon at the gym and the picnic complete with softball game these latter two functions organized by Bob Foley and Tony Quimby. For many, Saturday afternoon afforded an opportunity for golf and even better (it was hot), swimming at Storr's or the Ledges in West Leb.
At six that evening coats and ties were the order of the day and the gals got a chance to get out of their Bermudas and into a dress as the Class gathered at College Hall for another cocktail party well organized by the New York contingent. Along about this time, one of the highlights of the weekend arrived in the form of a jazz band complete with tuba, and banjo. Shortly after seven the parade, led by the band, headed for Thayer Hall and a wonderful roast beef dinner. There followed a riotous program M.C.'d by J. Rosenwald, complete with a speech from a representative of the F.D.B.C.F.T. (Bachelors), a rebuttal by Louise Davidson representing the wives, many excellent stories by the M.C., awards for such accomplishments as least hair on top, travelled greatest distance, man who has everything, most poundage since graduation, etc., presented by Rog Malkin; some original letters from "those not in attendance" read by Sam Harned; and the announcement of the new Class Officers as follows: President, Bernie Lewis; Secretary, Ray Buck; Treasurer, Ed Finerty; Class Agent, John Rosenwald; Newsletter Editor, Dick Watt.
From there we adjourned to the tent and a great evening which saw a gathering unexcelled anywhere. Some of us took time out to see the Players production of "Rags to Riches" and before you knew it there was Sunday morning and the sun staring you in the face. As mentioned, the Midnight Marauders got very little shuteye that day.
At ten, a memorial service was held in the Bema for those members of the Classes of '51, '52, & '53 who have passed away. It has been a long time since I have attended a service so well conducted and in such an appropriate surrounding. Bill Leffler '51, Fran Frellick '52, and Tom Fraser '53 did an excellent job. The balance of the morning was devoted to the traditional milk punch party and by noon the crowd had begun to thin out.
According to our figures approximately 200 came back, the largest fifth reunion gathering in Dartmouth's history. If you count the wives (just try not to) you go well over the 300 mark. Where did they come from? Well the list (we hope it's complete) is appended, but they came from as far as California, as near as Hanover, from Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Boston, New York, Denver, Chattanooga, other points South, North, East, Midwest and West.
Why was it so good? Well part of the reason is the fact that Bins did such an outstanding job of organizing. The other reason, however, is the plain and simple fact that so many came back.
So be it for our first five. In a way, I am going to miss the deadlines and I'll definitely miss the letters. On the other hand turnover is a good thing and there's plenty for everyone to do. This column is in good hands as Ray Buck (Address 5 South Park Street, Hanover, N. H.), takes over this fall. See you at the Yale Game.
'52's in Attendance—Fifth Reunion
Acker, Anderson, Andretta, Bainbridge, Barker, Barstow, Barto, Benisch, Bethel, Bigg, Bingham, Binswanger, Black, Blair, Bond, Brace, Breed, Bricker, Brooks, Brown, Buck, Calhoun, Carleton, Carter, Cates, Chapell, Cates, Clarke, Clough, Cogswell, J. Collins, Condit, Cooke, Cowperthwaite, Crowell, C. Curtis, Daniell, Davidson, A. Davis, G. Davis, Domash, Dorsey, Doty, Dubuque, Edson, Ehinger, Elkins, Ellis, Fier, Fiertz, Figur, Finerty, L. Fisher, W. Fisher, Fitzgerald, Fleck, Fletcher, Flounders, Foley, Foster, Freeh, Frellick, Gibson, Goldsmith, Greenberger, Griswold, Grocott, Grolnic, Gschwind, Gsell, Guenther, Gundersen, Hall, Harned, Hart, A. Haskell, Heap, Hecht, Heusinkveld, Hibben, R. Hill, Hinds, Hoffman, Hovey, Ingham, Jackman, Jankowich, Jelly, Judson, Katz, Kay, Keenan, R. Kelly, Kezer, Kinne, Kinnier, Klein, Kreider, Lefkowitz, B. J. Lewis, B. Lewis, Liddle, Linman, Little, Littlehales, F. Logan, N. Logan, Lombardi, Lord, MacLeod, McCrillis, McMahon, McNary, McSpadden, McWilliam, Malizia, Malkin, Malone, Mandel, Martino, Meredith, Montgomery, More, Morgan, Morris, A. H. Morse, D. Myers, Mykrnatz, Neiditz, Nevens, Nightingale, Noble, North, Novak, Nubel, Oberndorf, O'Neill, Palitz, Pandaleon, Pegg, Pratt, Prew, Prior, Quimby, Ringstad, Rose, Rosenwald, Roth, Saunders, Schiffenhaus, Schochet, Schuldt, R. Scott, Serenyi, H. Smith, P. Smith, Spurr, Stahl, Stanley, Staubes, Steinharter, Stevens, W. Stewart, Sunderland, Susen, Sweet, Swicker, Taylor, Teevens, W. Thomas, Thornton, Toffey, Trautwein, Trowbridge, Unkles, Van Dorn, Vesprini, Wagshul, Wall, Wallis, Walton, Waters, J. Watson, Watt, E. White, Wilcox, Wiley, H. Williams, C. Wilson, Wooldredge.
1952 models the latest style in hats
RETIRING CLASS SECRETARY
