1944
Class Reunion - The 15th Hanover — June 19, 20, 21
I just had a pleasant chat on the phone with the Organization Man, Phil Penberthy. I was interested in the latest count of reunion reservations and the number of kegs of beer Jack Haffenreffer was shipping, but Phil who has the Reunion problems neatly packaged, also has the responsibility of our Alumni Fund and Capital Gifts campaigns and this is his greatest immediate concern. As reported to you last month, '44 has come through handsomely on the Capital Gifts campaign so far. Nevertheless, Phil has a long, hard home stretch to fight. You can help him regain some of his youthful buoyancy if you'll get your pledges in early and not tease him down to the wire.
But back to Reunion, or the Fifteenth Fiesta. First attendance returns show 135 men and 120 ladies holding definite reservations. Phil didn't have the exact number but claims that in addition "there are a flock of 'possibles'." As far as the beer goes, Jack Haffenreffer has earmarked forty kegs. Egad! Costumer Bucky Brandt has lined up a fetching green straw sombrero with white piping and numerals, with matching (but not straw) green vest mit tassels, numerals, et al. And it appears that Needle Allen's auction will be a first class bit. Phil, Needle, and Marty Shea met last week to review the loot already in. You'll be flabbergasted at the quality of the things that will be put on the block. Sounds like the prizes offered in those giant soap contests.
Remember, the Fiesta festivities begin Friday June 19. Nothing official until the cocktail party on the lawn of the Hanover Inn at 5:30. Our headquarters at Topliff Hall will be open for registration all afternoon. We'll have a buffet supper on the lawn, a reception at President Dickey's home at 8:30, and the Alumni Dance at College Hall beginning at 10. Of course, the Class Tent will be under a head of steam all day . . . and night.
On Saturday we have the golf tournament and the Class Jamboree at Keene's in Etna where Needle will hold his auction. We'll be out there for cocktails and dinner, then back to Hanover for the Players' Show and the Tent. The fiesta Windup will take place Sunday at Jim Browning's home on Rope Ferry Road.
Our Reunion Attendance Chairman, Joe Dammann was recently appointed vice president for domestic subsidiaries of A-S-R Products Corporation. A-S-R manufactures precision metal products and aircraft and missile components, with Gem Razors and blades its principal consumer items. Subsidiaries in this country are Supreme Products in Chicago, Com-Air Products in Los Angeles, U.S. Relay Co. in Azusa, Calif., and the Lightfoot Soap and Cosmetic Co. of Hoboken, N. J. He should have a nice selection for the auction.
Sherm Davis who has been with Minnesota Mining & Mfg. in Bristol, Penna., these past few years has been pulled into the home office in St. Paul, Minn, (as division salary administrator). And Mac Corner who has been with the American Bridge Division of U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh has been transferred to Chicago as District Manager. And to further confound this Directory thing, CharlesClucas, long time New Yorker moved to Stockbridge, Mass. We've finally located Charley Fox. He's up in Chicago with the Business consultants, Booz, Allen, & Hamilton. And here's a move that will take some explaining. Teeny Riggs pulled stakes in Oklahoma City for Tulsa. He had a sweet thing going for him in Oke City and must have a dandy in Tulsa. Don Smith, V.P. of Kenyon & Eckhardt in N.Y.C. has just been appointed account supervisor. In San Francisco, John Downs is Regional Manager of the Boston Insurance Company and Haiden Ritchie, V.P. and Secretary of Johnson & Lewis, Inc. Hockey coach, Jack Riley has recently taken to the speakers' circuit.
Here's what a composite of a typical '44 looks like, based on median averages: he's pushing 37, is a medical doctor with his own practice, lives in New York, is married to a girl named Pat, has 3.1 children, hates to write letters, particularly about himself with news for this column.
To give you a bit more background warm-up for your trip to Hanover, we originally matriculated 699 into the class. Four more were transferred, giving us a total of 703. We graduated 492, a pretty respectable average even for a non-war class. The professions we chose, in order, are Medicine (73), Education (40), Law (34), Machinery and Manufacturing (33), and Insurance (28). The East is still the most popular place to live, New York leading with 120, Massachusetts second with eighty, then Connecticut with 49 and New Jersey with 44. We have members in all states but one and in twelve foreign countries. Most play golf and it appears an 88 would be a representative shoot. We give 97% endorsement to the institution of marriage and about 80% to Ike and the GOP. The class operates in the Grey Flannel league with a few wealthy farmers and ranchers in the midst. Average income has reached the point where the friendly Internal Revenue people occasionally take a second peek at the returns. In all, you'll find a very respectable assemblage on the Plains June 19th.
It is with a sense of deep personal loss that we report the untimely passing of Dr. BradLong who died in San Francisco April 9 after a prolonged illness.
Secretary, 1105 Center St., Milford, O.
Class Agent, 67 Highland Ave., Rowayton, Conn.
