1935's 25th Reunion: CLASS SECRETARY

There was another Twenty-fifth Reunion in Hanover last weekend. It was rather special because it was our own. For those of you who were there, no need to commemorate the occasion in these notes; but for those who missed it may I say that diligent inquiry disclosed the suspected fact that we looked very much like those old crocks who staggered back for their Twenty-fifth while we were still undergraduates.

Anyway, 179 of us were on hand to celebrate the occasion, a rather high percentage I think, and with accompanying wives, children and camp followers our party reached a total of 520. Accordingly, we won two impressive cups: the Class of 1894 Attendance Cup for highest percentage of graduates back (33%) and the Class of 1930 Cup for largest number of members back.

The high-point of the reunion weekend was the presentation to the College on behalf of the Class of 1935 of a real whopper of a Twenty-fifth Reunion Gift. Coming so close after the general campaign for Capital Funds, the problem of holding up our heads to be counted among those classes which have contributed so generously to the college on the occasion of their Big Reunion was tough. Ted Harbaugh and Ted Steele deserve more credit than they will get this side of the Styx. The figure? It is quite extraordinary: $300,300.

The total contributed by members of our class since graduation now amounts to $496,000. This is the largest sum given by any class in Dartmouth history within 25 years of graduation. And if any son-of-a-gun wants to ease his conscience by raising that to an even half-million....

As it is, ninety percent of the 612 living members of our class have contributed. This is quite a record. And do you know, in this as in many other ways our class is beginning to shape up as slow starters but pretty strong finishers.

What else of interest? Well, for the record you have a New Class Chairman (old face though): Milburn McCarty. The Class Meeting on Saturday also retreaded me for Secretary; elected Dave Williams as Treasurer; Reg Bankart as a new Tear Bag editor (remember him?), Bob Naramore as Head Class Agent. Members of the new Executive Committee in addition to the officers are as follows: Allen Brush, New York; Howie Kaiser, New York; Jim Boldt, New York; Jim Sholkin, Boston; Dick Upton, Concord, N. H.; Sax Ziemen, Hartford; Ralph Lazarus, Cincinnati; Charlie Ganzel, Chicago; Cam Duncan, Texas; Frank Wright, Chicago; Mel Rothschild, Chicago; Fred Haas, Chicago; Frank Cornwell, St. Louis; Dave Smith, San Francisco; Bill Harwick, Rochester, Minn.; Jim Dickinson, Pittsburgh; Tom Wilson, Detroit.

The members of the nominating committee which produced this sterling list, thus avoiding being named themselves, were: Bob Naramore (chairman), Carl Funke, Fred Haley, Dick Muzzy and Frank Wright. Naramore didn't quite escape, however. He was nailed by a runaway committee.

Reg Bankart, whose services to the class in the past many years have really been beyond the call of duty, conducted the Class Meeting, was Master of Ceremonies at the Banquet and wrote a very moving memorial to those members of the class, fifty-three in all, who have died. By Sunday morning his voice had completely given out and the memorial was read by George Colton as part of the service held in Rollins Chapel. It is reproduced below.

The night before Bankart was in better vocal fettle and in addition to the presentation of the class gift other features of the banquet made it a very memorable affair. Jeanette Gill really did herself proud with an excellent dinner which was topped off by cognac (courtesy of Frank Specht) in liqueur glasses we were invited to take home (courtesy of Ted Harbaugh). Joe McDonald sprung a surprise announcement by presenting DonHagerman with the Sports Illustrated Silver Anniversary Goal Posts Award.

Pudge Neidlinger made the formal address of the evening and it was a humdinger. Never realized before the human problems of a Dean confronting his first graduating class, which we were; particularly coming after a man like Craven Laycock, which he did. Very mellow talk and very well received. Also well received at the banquet was the enforcement arm of the dean's office, one Spud Bray, now over eighty. Let bygones be bygones, we said, and gave him an ovation.

The Twenty-fifth Reunion of the Class of 1935 is over and it was a great success. So many contributed to it that their names can scarcely be recorded in this space. Starting off with the Hanover Holiday panel of seven '35 stalwarts: Cornwell, Diamond, Carl Crane,Benton, Dero Saunders, Mathers and Dave Smith, plus one long-suffering Dartmouth wife, Ruth Ley, and ending with the memorial service, it was a weekend to be long remembered.

The gratitude of the class as a whole should be extended to Ralph Specht, Reunion Chairman, notably assisted by brother Frank and the whole reunion committee. It was a big job well done.

Rather than just list the names of all those present I think it might be better to close with the words of our Class Poet, a former factory hand, aluminum pot salesman, freelance artist, Naval officer, and now advertising executive. "Man of the Arts and Man of Affairs," his citation read, "Man of Letters" might well have been added.

"Classmates and friends of the Class of 1935. We are gathered here to concentrate our thoughts for a few moments on those who cannot be with us today. Some of you we lost even before graduation. Others have left us over the intervening 25 years - some almost as recently as yesterday. As our final gesture on the occasion of this 25th Reunion, it seems fitting that we pause in our own busy, active lives, to commune with you who once laughed and cried with us, rejoiced and cheered with us, labored and relaxed with us, but who now live with us only in spirit.

"You, too, are part of Dartmouth, whether your lives be long or short. You, too, are part of the great tradition, and each in your way has helped to foster and build that tradition. As we stand reverently before the great white row, we remember you. As the wind murmurs softly through the hemlocks in the Vale of Tempe, we hear you. As the sun sets gloriously in a blaze of golden light behind the river, we see you.

'Brothers, while the shadows deepen, "While we stand here, heart to heart, Let us promise one another in the silence

ere we part. We will make our lives successful, We will keep our hands from shame, For the sake of dear old Dartmouth And the honor of her name.'

"Now we say, sleep softly, you who have sung with us, you who cannot sing with us today, for we feel your presence. You are part of our lives and of Dartmouth - past, present, and forever more. Amen."

Reg Bankart (center) and Milburn McCarty accepting from President Dickey both trophies won by the class of 1935 for attendance.

Phil and Tim, young sons of Wayne Geib '35, were part of the family turnout at the 25th.

The Class of 1935, back for its once-in-a-lifetime 25th, completely filled the campus bleachers at picture time.