1944

Class Reunion - The 15th Hanover —June 19, 20, 21

I understand from redoubtable Phil Penberthy that organization plans for our June Reunion are neatly packaged; that Entertainment Chairman Needle Allen has worked up a dandy; Musical Director Dick Ranger has cornered Tin Pan Alley's best combo; and in a surprise move, Jack Haffenreffer has been appointed Refreshment Chairman. Bucky Brandt takes on the Christian Dior task of designing suitable costumery, Finance Director McElnae will cushion Buck's extravagant taste, and Ad Penberthy (whose redoubtable husband hasn't had the courage to inform her, and who will learn here for the first time) will head the ladies' contingent. Bob McLaughry heads the home town Hanover Committee including Wemo Epply, Jim Browning, Frank Ebaugh, and Flyer Daley who pick up all the grismal details.

While in Montreal this week I ran into Bill McElnae who was up for a Waterman Pen Co. directors' meeting, and coming from a financial man it was gratifying to hear his enthusiastic views on the success of our June meeting.

Jerome Brody, president of Restaurant Associates, Inc. (such specialty restaurants as the Newarker Restaurant at Newark Airport, the Hawaiian Room at the Lexington and the spectacular Forum of the Twelve Caesars) has recently been named to the Sloan House YMCA Board of Managers. He is very active in charitable and philanthropic work in New York and Scarsdale, but does find time occasionally to take a spin in his 34-foot sloop.

Claire Arnold was kind enough to bring us up to date on Rog:

He is president of Buffalo Rubber and Supply Co. in Buffalo. The company is also the leading distributor of the famous Ebonite bowling ball plus equipment. Rog is not a golfer, but a rabid fisherman, almost as rabid as his wife who landed a 20 lb. Northern Pike in the French River re- cently. Rog is the best guide on Lake Nippissing where we spend two weeks each August.

After eleven years, we are expecting our third child. With two gals at home we are plugging for another right end for Dartmouth. The baby is due Feb. 28. If you hear an explosion it will be a boy. We'll send you a tear drop if it's another girl.

Jim and Mary Lang have moved from Butte, Mont., to Pasadena, Calif. They had planned to make reunion (Mary has hers at Sweet Briar too) before this further shove westward, and still expect to but would be more inclined if Needle Allen would have some kind of a prize for longest travelling distance, something like a plane ticket for example. In the move, Jim has been promoted to the number two slot in the Microwave Division of Motorola in the whole territory west of Denver.

Mac Corner makes the move from Pittsburgh to Chicago this month. He's the new District Contracting Manager for American Bridge Co. and will make his home in LaGrange. Mac reports he'll be on hand for Reunion.

Wily Willie Ard gets my nomination for the greatest author of all time, and since all of you are over-due for some enjoyable reading in this column, I'm quoting from a recent letter from Willie, the result of my plaguing him to return his directory card:

With me it's the same old grind - watching the smudge pots every night in my vast groves, cooking the sourmash for the PTA, judging Sun Goddess contests, playing roque for a dollar a wicket, losing my shorts to these poker playing cracker boys.

Eileen and I knocked for two in the genetic dept., eight years ago, and both kids have an abiding interest in learning to ice skate. Swimming on New Year's Day, water skiing, running around half naked - no. "I wanna skate on ice, Daddy-o!"

For laughs I write books. No. 30 will be very quietly published by Rinehart on Feb. 26. No. 31 in August. Two years ago I wrote a Western. It took 21 mornings and had no cows, no Apaches, no water rights, no homesteaders, and no plot. My agent read it and asked me what the hell he was supposed to do with it. The first editor he sent it to hasn't spoken to him since. The second editor bought it and so did Randolph Scott for a movie. It is one of those movies, like they say, doesn't get released, it escapes - and since I'm sure it has skulked in and out of Milford I can identify it as "Buchanan Rides Alone." He sure did in the theatre where I watched it and got nauseous.

At any rate, there are five Buchanans (by Jonas Ward) and some lunatic in Hollywood has optioned them for television. My other pseudonyms are Ben Kerr, Thomas Willis, Mac Keroon, Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound and Robert A. Miller.

Also television-bound myself. There are eleven in the "Timothy Dane" series and the boys with the gold have been sniffing around about them. But I'm adapting them to screenplays myself (which will take up '59) and forming a collapsible-type company to sell them to a producer. Warners, Desilu - one of those 50-50 deals.

Am going into it, Bob, with great reluctance for it will mean an interruption - if not an end —to the softest living imaginable.

Incidentally, if you have any influence with this MAGAZINE get them to review the February book. It's titled "As Bad As I Am" and is a sprawling, action-packed, sex-spilled epic about Herb West, Fletcher, the Tanzi Brothers and Kindly Old Earl Blaik. (You and Corroon are in it, too - on the next to the last line on page 504, except that the lawyers made me change your name to Pudge and Jack's to Hoppy. Your hosts of friends, though, can't fail to recognize you because of your quaint accents and curious smiles.)

In Hoc Signo Vinces, Bob, which I finally found out means, "You Can Light Either End." (Ed: end of quote)

Willie signed the letter with an asterisk after his name, the asterisk signifying, "Known the length and breadth of the Okeechobee Swamp as Ard The Bard."

Willie's interpretation of Sigma Chi's motto brings to mind another cigarette slogan, "They Said It Couldn't Be Done," and we respectfully suggest the tobacco company air the news that Boog McLoud is engaged to be married, some time in April. The fabulous Miss Lydia Ludtkie turned the trick. The Boog, incidentally, takes on the new position as sales manager for Battery Separator Sales of Evans Products in Plymouth, Mich., this month.

Carol Ranger was sweet enough to write and enclose some Kodachromes of last reunion, one of our collie drinking beer from a dixie cup. Carol and Dick are long on the Green, catching all but one of the football games; skiing will occupy their time until the golf course is playable. Between shifting sport paraphernalia and storm windows with screens and auditioning combos for reunion, Dick liaisons between the Ford Motor Co. and the New England Dealers to make the Most Beautifully Proportioned Car the most beautifully selling car.

Bill and Ginny White will be on board in June. Ginny reports that, "Bill has a very successful and growing business, managing six salesmen and five servicemen, as an independent agent representing Cummins-Chicago Corp. Their literature says they make the finest Perforators, Endorsers, Check Signers, Carditioners and Coin Handling machines in America. Bill built his own office building for his Philadelphia headquarters and has also established branch offices in Baltimore and Wilkes-Barre. A small measure of glory came with Cummins selecting him as the Manager of the Year." I also understand that the Whizzer sports a 183 bowling average and has a high single game score of 278, eleven strikes, one spare.

I've got more news but no more room. Egad!

Secretary, 1105 Center St., Milford, O.

Treasurer, Ballwood Rd., Old Greenwich, Conn.