1937
When, perchance, you read these lines, our 20th Reunion shall be little more than hours away. You have all the literature by now, the brochures and flyers giving all the latest on program, who is reserved, the cost (so much for so little!). The only word I can add is tor those torn by indecision. Late though it be, get off a wire to see if you can be squeezed in. Forget the ifs and ands; let your impulse be your guide, for you will never regret it when the show is over.
The large social note around New York these last few weeks was the annual get-together with '38 and '39, April 11 at the Dartmouth Club, with the big noise centering around Reunion. We were well represented by the Gordon Torreys, the Bill Dixons, Jon Coggeshall, the Carl Rays, Bob McCoys, Lanny Moores, the Mort Berkowitzes, Rowley Bialla, myself and Ben and Barbara Cardozo. '37 came through nicely with gifts for the raffle at dinner. Mutt' Ray lifted another lovely Underwood portable out of an inventory large enough so that the loss will not be noted. This useful article is always the prize most eagerly sought after. John Maloon, Gus Farwell, Will Coe and Charley Blaisdell also rose handsomely to the request for donations and sent outstanding gifts, even though none could be present at the party. Incidentally, when I talked to Blaisdell on the phone, he told me that Ron and Hatsy Brown were in New York en route via rail, air, and steamer for three weeks' holiday in Honolulu. Also, just by way of curious coincidences, Charley is the local Republican committee chairman in Pound Ridge, N.Y., his Democratic counterpart being his former roommate, Jim Wise. However, I drive through Pound Ridge frequently and I can tell you politics are pretty tame in exurbia, because the Democrats live just as high on the hog as the Republicans, except maybe the Republicans have another acre or so of land. As for Bill Coe, I had a newsy note from him recently. Bill is vice president and a director of Personal Products Corp. (a J & J subsidiary) and is responsible for manufacturing in Milltown, N. J., Chicago, and Sunnyvale, Calif. Besides his business activities, he is engaged in a host of social and community service activities, which is usually the lot of the more responsible citizens in the community. The Coes are also busy with a family of four: John. 18, and a Dartmouth hopeful this fall; Alan 15, Betsy 7 and young David who is 4. And with no more than our normal gallantry, Bill gives highest honors to his wife, Fern, for keeping the show on the road.
From Hartford I received a few paragraphs from the English department of the world's smallest college, to wit, Bud Butterworth, and sounding slightly jaded at that. True enough, Bud is the whole English dept. at Hartford College (enrollment, 50 females). I am not sure, but he may be the only permanent staff since he says the balance of the faculty is borrowed from neighboring big brother and sister schools. You, or your children at least, will remember Bud from the publication in 1956 of his book, "The Enormous Egg." Currently, when he can find the time, he is working on another book. Also in 1956, the Butterworths and all four children took off for Europe, wintering in a French Savoyard village amid its inconveniences, then traipsing the length and breadth of Europe. A desperate journey, says Bud, for all but saints.
Cdr. Bill Storck sent me a long and interesting letter from Manila where he is currently stationed as a member of the joint U. S. military advisory group. Bill is one of four navy officers assigned to the group (army and air force are also in it) and his area is advisory in logistics and supply to the small but eager Philippine Navy. Bill also helps program and procure materiel allotted to the Philippines under military aid programs. I felt very homesick for the tropics when Bill started to talk about palm trees, the dry season, those wonderful servants at $50 the pair per month and all those memorable things which seem to be common to tropical living the world over. Since Bill's mission has diplomatic overtones, there is considerable social and golfing activity both with outlanders and Filipinos. He even managed a round with Ambassador Bohlen. Living arrangements in Quezon City in suburban Manila are ideal, but, as is always true in the tropics, there must be an elevated cool climate to escape to from time to time and Bill has that at Baguio, a small resort village 5000' in the mountains only several hours away.
Needless to say, at the moment Bill wishes that for June 13-15 his retreat could be to Hanover to renew old friendships and raise a loud voice in song with Al Bryant, Rowley Bialla and other glee-clubbers. At some point during the Reunion, Bill, we will face west and raise a tall foaming stein of suds as a toast to you and others who could not be with us.
From 'way down in Marietta, Ga., Fred Ingersoll dispatched a note to tell me that he and Muriel will attend Reunion. Fred is a manufacturers' representative handling toys and housewares in seven of the southeastern states. If any of you need sales coverage in this area and these lines, Fred is your boy. Fran Evans was despairing of being able to come through with any news for us when Carl and Taffy Noyes had the happy thought of throwing a Dartmouth party at their home in Oradell, N. J. Besides the Evanses, the group also included Bandy and Peggy Dwinell, down off the rock pile at Montpelier, Vt.; Shel and Janet Wagner from Hastings, N. Y. Bud Reed and his wife Helen were supposed to show but begged off with tickets to "My Fair Lady." I always thought I was a reasonably hardy commuter until I read in Evans' letter that Bud Reed travels daily, as an exec, of Western Electric, between his home in Mountain Lakes, N. J., and his Long Island office! The exurbanite, let me tell all you country boys, is tireless and much given to self-punishment.
Host Noyes is an exec, of Chase Manhattan Bank and for extra-curricular, a Commander in the naval reserve. Also the proud father of two children. Shel Wagner is with June Dairy Products and he has three children. Speaking of Bandy Dwinell, who is Mr. Production at Rock of Ages Corp., reminds me that there is news from the sales side of the organization. Our fast-moving friend, Hank Whitaker who only joined up last September, has just been made advertising manager. That's another toast to remember.
And then, a card from another hard sell man, Wally Fisher, who was lounging the days away at the Edgewater Gulf Hotel, Edgewater Park, Miss., and with wife and children, too. Northwestern National Life underwrote this jaunt as partial payment for Wally's insurance business for '57. And just to stay in the same business, Peerless Insurance Co. (Keene, N. H., home office) has just announced that vice president Bob Heneage has been named head of the agency department.
Two more items from the news clips. BillLyons has been appointed sales manager for the United Kingdom by Pan American World Airways. Prior to the new assignment, Bill was for the past ten years regional director for Iberia and Africa. Le felicito, chico. Hal Putnam, temporarily withdrawn from the front ranks of the political wars in Massachusetts, has been appointed an assistant attorney general of the state.
And so ends, but for the Reunion write-up, my tenure of office as your reporter. Deepest thanks for your interest and your cooperation. I know you will do. as much for my successor. Good luck and good cheer to all. Don't forget the Alumni Fund.
'37ers and their wives at the annual 1937-'38-'39 dinner at the Dartmouth Club on April 11. The class column has the names and numbers of all the players.
Secretary, 869 Hardscrabble Rd. Chappaqua, N.Y.
Class Agent, 120 Broadway, New York 5, N.Y.
