'57 Alumni Fund Breaks All Records
By July 4th it was clear that the 1957 Dartmouth Alumni Fund had shattered all previous records and that the final results would be the best ever achieved in the 43-year Fund history.
With some additional gifts and income still to be added, the 1957 Fund through July 3rd had received $915,000 from 20,350 alumni, parents and other contributors. This amount, largest in Fund history, was $50,000 over the 1957 Fund goal of $865,000, while the contributor total, also a new record, was 244 more than the 1956 total.
It was also expected that Dartmouth's alumni participation record of 70.9%, recorded last year, would be surpassed.
The Dartmouth Parents campaign, conducted as part of the Alumni Fund drive, also established new records in both contributors and dollars for the seventh consecutive year with 1,354 parents of Dartmouth undergraduates and graduates contributing $55,623 through July 3rd.
Unofficial, preliminary figures also showed that new records were set by a large number of classes. By early July, 36 classes had achieved 100% or more of their 1957 class dollar objectives, while 33 classes had reached 100% or better in participation.
The Class of 1925, led by veteran agent Ford Whelden, has again contributed the largest class dollar total in Fund history with $37,400 already recorded. The Class of 1924, under Phil Van Huyck, followed with some $31,680 on hand, while 1926, Andy O'Connor, head agent, and the Class of 1929 led by John Moxon, were just under $30,000.
THE new records were particularly impressive in view of the fact that as late as mid-June the 1957 campaign was running behind the 1956 pace in contributors and was ahead only slightly in dollars. An intensive last-minute campaign, conducted by some 2,000 class agents across the nation, was credited with producing a surge of late June gifts.
Alumni Fund Chairman Bill Morton '28 telephoned this message to the ALUMNI MAGAZINE on July 3rd:
"I am sure the more than 20,300 contributors who made this wonderful year possible for Dartmouth share with the Alumni Fund Committee and the dedicated army of more than 2,000 Class Agents the thrill and satisfaction that come from such an achievement. Once again, the record books have been re-written as class after class reached new high levels in contributors and dollars. Quite significantly, this represents a team achievement in which every class, every alumnus and every parent can feel justifiably proud. Sincerest thanks and congratulations to all."
General J. Lawton Collins (center), former Army chief of staff, who spoke at the ROTC com- missioning ceremonies in the Bema, shown with Captain C. E. Dickinson, Navy ROTC commandant, and other officers of the Dartmouth military units.
Seniors get their white clay pipes on the way to the Old Pine on Class Day
