1918's Festive Fortieth
'18's 40th reunion was terrific! T'was the greatest ever! "Everyone had a wonderful time - couldn't be better," seemed to be the opinion of all. Chris's official total: 128 '18ers, 87 wives, 3 widows, 10 children, 3 guests — total 231. There are 333 living '18ers. Percentage, 68% of living classmates out at the 40th including wives, children and everyone, as against 61% of the all time high in 1938 - so this topped 'em all and '18 won the cup for the most people back and for the greatest percentage attending.
About a year and a half ago, Bennie Mugridge got up at an '18 class dinner, and supported by Chris, offered to run '18's 40th. Together they did an outstanding job, and worked hard. Every class needs a Mike Stearns '08, and a Bill Christgau '18, to keep the class rolling.
A great sight at the Inn the first day was to see the fun the Alpha Delts and the Theta Delts were having together at one table, with Judge Pups Colie and his French beret, the Le fevres, the Sewall Strouts, the EverettYoungs and the Parker Pooles. Tidbits picked out of the air were "How come the women let him stay single?" (Re George Arnold). Weekend guests at the Em Morses were Rayand Betty Baldes — and at the Morses' cocktail party were the Shirleys, Ed Ferguson, the Reed Montgomerys, Henri van Zelm, KayPullen, Bill Christgau, and Cort and MarionHorr.
Heard on the air about Eric Ball: "a great guy to be with, too bad Rose didn't come." Minneapolis friends of the Barrs, tried to sell Ethel a burial plot. Ethel protested she knew none of those people out there but was assured by the salesman that she'd be there long enough to get well acquainted. "We can't understand why we never came before," said Hi and Rose Belding. "BillBemis is entitled to all door prizes"; said Dick Aishton here for his first reunion. "Swede Bennett looks about as well as anyone," was heard. Jake Bingham for nearly 20 years, on the first of each month, has faithfully sent all the news he could to me. About Amos Blandin we overheard — "Amos' talk at Hanover Holiday was a highlight, such understanding and warm human sympathy, tolerance and rare humor — how fortunate to have such a distinguished man in '18." Another quote — "At the meaningful Memorial Service, the litany was very beautifully read by Ed Booth. His Betty has added charm to '18."
The Boyntons had just come from their Salem High School graduation. The I.B.M.-er, Monk Cameron, and antiquer Ethel, sure built up '18's prestige in arriving at reunion, as did Ethel and Bob Knowles, each in a new Mercedes Benz. It was an inspiring sight to see Chris grab the mike at the dinner. He swung into it with power and conviction, and he enjoyed it as did we all. Bennie had lined up "Kelly" Hill '38, Dean of Tuck School, and he made a very impressive talk. John Dickey thoughtfully came in to greet the '18 class, then Harvey Hood followed with a nice talk.
Jim and Jerry Duffy told Chris they don't know where they've been all these years they had so much fun. John Donohue, voted the youngest man in the class, drove Chris and Charlie McCarthy down to Manchester for a nice visit with Hazel and Hubie McDonough, Hubie being unable to get away because of graduation ceremonies at Manchester High where he's principal. ZachTaylor sitting in Paul Erwin's room with George Arnold at 9.27 Wed. a.m. bending a few, said he was mighty glad he came. Phi Beta Kappa's Bob Fish, Frank Clahane and John Donohue said it was the best party ever.
Johnny Campbell said he was sorry that he couldn't make the reunion. Evelyn Colwell, Bob's widow, would have been at reunion only she was visiting Bob's sister in Holland. . . . "Finest looking couple on the campus" was overheard about Min and Bill Coulson, the adopted '18er who has done more for Dartmouth than a dozen full-fledged Dartmouth men. Luke and Ed Healy and BillChristgau drove down to visit Swede andRuth Youngstrom, and Eddie Ferguson had been looking forward to bringing Swede to reunion, if he'd been up to it.
Ray W. Smith, sans Bonnie, received the honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters from Dartmouth at Commencement. The citation given at that time will be found in the front section of this MAGAZINE. We congratulate you, Ray, for the distinction of your career.
Quick-Lunch Bob Fish felt definitely that Bill Mudgett should win the cup for coming the longest distance, Bob himself being out on the coast. Others who came from far afield were Johnny Cunningham, Denver; Al andBeckie Gottschaldt, Florida; Al Sibbernsen, Nebraska; Mel South wick, Tennessee; and Johnny and Florence Thayer from Florida.
It was a long journey into the night when Nipper Knapp drove Bob Fish to the Duke's. Said Nipper, "If Duke hadn't changed his name so many times, I could have asked someone where he lived." The Ted Hazens cannot capture the title from the record holders, Jim and Jerry Duffy, with their 16 grandchildren, but they (the Hazens) are on the way when they confided they have half a grandchild. Janet and Jules Van Raalte brought along their little dog Copper - but the huge hound that almost got Chris by the seat of the pants at the class picture was looking for a chance to devour him. DickHolton was complaining to Priscilla Shirley she doesn't invite him to their place on the Cape far enough in advance — as a witness we heard her issue an invitation for Labor Day.
Bob and Betty Shirley were there, and were as much a part of the reunion as anyone else. Alice and Louis Huntoon had a little cocktail party for their attractive daughter Mimi and her fiance just graduated from Dartmouth. Jack Slabaugh, who has a wonderful sense of humor, and loves to twit with most anyone, said he was telling some of his sons-in-law that the Hores were coming from Chicago for the weekend, which caused a panic in the household. Jack doesn't eat dessert, but he'll devour a pound of candy while watching TV. All missed Mildred Fish, who was taking in the Brussels Fair.
'18's old dependables, Edith and DickCooley were relaxed and having loads of fun looking forward to their vacation after reunion at their favorite spot in the White Mountains. Not only did Bennie Mugridge, whose wife Betty is active in the Red Cross and Regent of the DAR Chapter, do a wonderful job at reunion, but he was the best dressed, most colorful man right out of Esquire Magazine. Too bad Hort and GermaineKennedy could not make it from Paris - Eddie and Clara Felt were leaving soon for Spain and Portugal. Pat and George Stoddard were running the gauntlet of a checkup at Mary Hitchcock, and George is another to start painting Western landscapes. George longs for the sagebrush, so much so that he has put his lovely place at Stanfordville on the market. Speaking of the West, what a shame Linda and Bill Wright didn't make reunion - Bill just didn't get those cattle branded in time.
Ellen and Duke graciously held open house over reunion — Stan and M.O. Jones and Dan Shea were their house guests. Shamus seemed to have some competition with George Hull's attractive sister-in-law.
The 4 "little Syvertsen" girls have grown up since last reunion, and are real beauties. Rolf should get the award for one of the most beloved at Hanover — no wonder he looks so serene and proud of Margaret. Johnny Thayer's piano playing at the Outing Club sounded like the old days. The great Dane, Al Sibbernsen, looked lost without the "Field Marshal." He bellowed belly laughs when Banker Dick Aishton ribbed him about feeding only grass (no corn) to his cattle which makes beef for Dinty Moore's beef stews on Broadway. Nipper Knapp is warm in his invitation for any and all to stop in and see him at Gray Foundry Inc., Poultney, Vt. "Our little outfit has been here 130 yrs. and I have been here 42 of them and I am damned glad I won't be here 42 more." The fellows I missed were many and especially Hort Kennedy, Eddie Butts and Dave Skinner.
Thoughtful and faithful Paul Miner (and Helen), headed for the Cape after reunion, took time out to make a few comments. Re Chuck Palmer, "At the Outing Club buffet supper, Chuck delighted a small group of us with a rendition of some of his Georgia mountain songs. Chuck also introduced a few of us to the joys of snuff - he had a special high class variety with him and said he saw snuff used with much pleasure by persons in World War shelters abroad, where smoking was often forbidden." Re Ed Healy, Paul said "Legend had it that at one time he could take a city telephone book and tear it in half." He gave a glowing account of the beauties of northern Michigan. "Too bad Russ and Gene Howard don't live in New England instead of lowa, for they love to get back to Hanover." For most people, good food is part of a vacation, and the Miners were ecstatic about the meals that the reunion committee served up. Finally Paul adds, "Hugh Whipple and Eddie Ferguson made a perfect team of roommates in So. Fayer." After reunion Hugh went to Boston on business and to see his son Scotty and daughter-in-law, who returned a week ago from Saigon, Vietnam, and to spend a few days on Cape Cod with the Miners.
Good it was to see Walt Nelson and Hazel there - Walter, former commander for the Peter Minuet Post of the American Legion, in N.Y. City, was chosen recently as Chaplain. Dick White commented: "Mary Pope and Lucy Opper went off antiquing on Tues., a.m., and missed connections with Larry for meeting for the cocktail 'do.' But all wound up peacefully and we made the buffet. Doesn't sound amusing now but it sure was then."
New class officers are Tom Shirley, Secretary-Chairman, who has always done the toughest of class jobs and done them well, and with Priscilla ran the most enjoyable "banana" reunion; Bill Montgomery was chosen Chairman for the 45th reunion. Other class officers remain the same. Here are those at reunion:
Dick Aishton, Doc and Cathy Angell, George Arnold, Les and Lillian Badger, Ray and Betty Baldes, Eric Ball, Stump and Ethel Barr, Stan and Millie Bates, Hi and Rose Belding, Bill Bemis, Swede and Elizabeth Bennett, Jake Bingham, Amos and Alberta Blandin, Ed and Betty Booth, Phil and Marge Boynton, Tom and Pixie Bryant, Monk and Ethel Cameron, Hort and Betty Chandler, Bill Christgau, Frank Clahane, Gene and Betty Clark, Pups Colie, Mort and Gertrude Coon, Bill and Min Coulson, Helen and Lew Cousens, Johnny Cunningham, Don and Irene Davis, George and Dotty Davis, John Donohue, Hal and Sarah Doty, Lyman and Margareta Drake, Herb and Donna Duffill, Jim and Jerry Duffy, Duke and Ellen Duke, Ernie and Mary Ellen Earley, Eddie and Bea Emerson, Paul Erwin, Clara and Eddie Felt, Eddie Ferguson, Bob Fish, Bub Frost, Dave and Marion Garratt, Curt and Ruth Glover, Al and Beck Gottschaldt, Kay Gordon, Les and Harriet Granger, Fat Hardie, Ted and Helen Hazen, Ed and Luke Healey, Henry Hesse, Louis Hobbs, Dick and Edith Holton, Harvey and Barbara Hood, Cort, Marion and Judy Horr, Russ and Jean Howard, Woody and Cliff Hulbert, George and Clara Hull, and Clara's sisters - Pearle Edwards and Miss Tagliaferro, Louis and Alice Huntoon and dau. Mimi, Charlie and Margaret Isbell, Johnnie and Ann Johnston, Stan and M.O. Jones, Ken Jones, Nipper and Helen Knapp, Ethel and Bob Knowles, Jay and Mildred LeFevre, Charlie McCarthy, Ed and Hazel McDowell, Steve and Dorothy Mahoney, Paul and Helen Miner, Reed and Hitty Montgomery, Syl and Minetta Morey, Em and Carol Morse, Bill Mudgett, Ben and Betty Mugridge, Walt and Hazel Nelson, Ed and Maude Noyes, Tom and Mary O'Connell, Jack and Josephine O'Donnell, Clarence and Lucy Opper, Chuck and Laura Palmer, Howie and Ann Park, Al Piper, Parker and Marge Poole, Larry and Mary Pope, Axel and Betty Proctor, Kay Pullen, Dutch and Carrie Rau, Al and Marge Rice, Tom and Betty Robbins, Don and Bobby Robinson, Lang and Martha Robinson, Andy and Virginia Ross, Bill and Margaret Ryan, Phil and Doris Sanderson, Dwight and Peggy Sargent, Myron and Gladys Savage, Dan Shea, Fat and Lenah Sheldon, Tom, Priscilla, Betty and Bob Shirley, Al Sibbernsen, Jack and Thelma Slabaugh, Herm and Betty Smith, Ray W. Smith, Mel Southwick, George and Pat Stoddard, Sewell and Peg Strout, Pert Streeter, Rolf and Margaret Syvertsen, and four daughters - Rosalind, Margaret, Caroline and Astrid, Tom and Barbara Tarrant and brightfaced Jean, Zack Taylor, Stew Teaze, Johnnie and Florence Thayer, Curt and Gladys Tripp, Phil and Lyla Tusting, Jules and Janet Van Raalte, Henri van Zelm, George von Kapf, Chaunce and Betty Wales, Charlie and Marion Weston, Hugh Whipple, Dick and Marion White, Herm Whitmore, Walt and Evelyn Willand, Red, Peggy and Dixie Wilson, Ev and Katharine Young.
Any left out?
Classmates came from near and far to make 1918's reunion "the best ever."
RETIRING CLASS SECRETARY
