1918

The Notes for this issue were prepared by Allan Gottschaldt of 3656 Palmetto Avenue, Coconut Grove, Miami, Fla.

Tom has asked me to dash off a column re the classmates in Florida, together with any news we may have of the visiting firemen. (This is your ex-Dartmouth heeler sounding off, one Al Gottschaldt.) Problem is to deal with our glorious state in a mere column or so. However, it is encouraging to note that an increasing number of Eighteeners are seeing the light and are spending as much time here as they possibly can ... Let's lead off with our former class prexy, PaulMiner - the lad who used to run the dashes in near-record time for the Big Green. "Florida is still treating us well after two summers down here," reports Paul from his home at 3020 Pinehurst Avenue in Largo. (That's close to Clearwater, to save you reaching for the map.— Ed.) "We have good health, enjoy the outdoor life in almost perfect weather and manage to keep out of trouble. Helen and I like the swimming in the mild waters nearby. I play tennis doubles twice a week in Clearwater with a group around my own age - fish occasionally and try to keep up a good-sized garden and lawn. Have also put in considerable time as secretary of the local civic association. Most of my Dartmouth contacts are at the monthly luncheons of the St. Petersburg Dartmouth Club. Eighteeners I expect to see down here this winter include Tom O'Connell, Phil and Marjorie Boynton, Tom and Elizabeth Robbins, and Hugh andHelene Whipple. We would like to see a lot more and the latchstring is out for any and all of them."

Remember Jack O'Donnell. the classy infielder on the varsity nine? Says Jack: "This is our fifth winter here in Sarasota. We come down around October 1 and stay until May, and then head north to our summer home on Long Lake in Naples, Me., visiting in Connecticut on .our way up. The. only other member of our class in Sarasota is BillBlanchard, whom I see at our monthly Dartmouth meetings." Jack's address, by the way, is 2341 Tangerine Drive, Sarasota, Fla. BillBlanchard lives at 1201 Center Place, Lido Shores, in Sarasota. He allows: "I moved here a little over six years ago after selling out in Indianapolis. Took over a defunct building material business. It's now fairly big, fairly profitable and keeps me fairly busy. Five years ago I had an A-1 coronary, but snapped out of it pretty well and now I really behave myself. I did some real estate speculating and so far so good. Also acquired a small ranch last summer which has beef cattle on it. I don't know how many and believe me I don't herd them." (Bill then launches into praise of certain spots in Chile and Peru, but this is Florida propaganda, so - .)

Bill Higgins holds forth up in the center of Florida, at 720 South Primrose Drive, Orlando. Bill starts off with an untenable position - hell's bells, our class is made up of chaps who didn't get in a full four years at Hanover! Sez he: "Nice to hear from you. However, I have never considered I was part of the Dartmouth scene, as I was only there a year, set doubt if news of me would be of much interest. I am a retired Army colonel now living here in Orlando and leading the usual retired life except I still do some riding as befits an old horse soldier - to teach a few kids how to ride forward seat to do some jumping."

At long last, got a rise out of Charlie Benesch, residing at 127 Bay Point Drive, St. Petersburg, Fla. "There is little of interest I can tell you," writes Charlie. "Have been retired since 1949 and living in St. Pete since then. Start collecting Social Security in July. All I need now is a re-tread job and will be as good as new. Starting to wear out in spots (aren't we all, Charlie?) but there is still a lot of mileage left in the old tire." Wouldn't it be a grand thing some winter if we got all the visiting brethren and "the natives" together for a Florida reunion? Northern papers please copy. - Ed.

Since Bill Higgins didn't mention Harold Glendening and vice versa - chances are neither knows the other is in Orlando. Harold's address is 1551 Water Witch Drive, Orlando. The lad who used to knock marks for a loop tells us: "Soon after I finished the Government's case against the United Fruit Company in 1958, I came down here and retired. We have the toughest golf course in Florida here in Rio Pinar. I try it often but never master it. Will be glad to play with any Eighteeners passing through. (Here Glendening gets in a plug for Orange County (his) and I may be a traitor to Dade - Miami for publishing it. - Ed.) "Orange County, I believe, was the fastest growing county in the country in the decade 1950-60; all of which creates problems."

Most every winter the Ernie Earleys wend their way to Pompano Beach. Trust the season of 1961 will be no exception, for a get-together with Mary Ellen and Ernie is always a memorable occasion. Dan Shea occasionally makes this neck o' the woods, too. So does Bill Bemis, eminent Cleveland attorney. George Arnold was down last winter when the snow in Rhode Island got too much for him. Again this season, George? And then, of course, Gene Markey and his wife and their famed Calumet racing stable invariably appear on the social scene when Hialeah opens.

Frank Griswold lives over on the West Coast in Naples, and is with Watkins and Barkau, realtors ... Frank tells us: "I came down to Naples five years ago supposedly to retire, but it is an expensive place to live and when the opportunity came along to manage a private colored housing unit (now 90 units) I took it on.... Like all retired people in the South, I try to outwit the northern Yankee at the game of stocks. Don't do nearly as well as I would like to, but it gives me an interest and keeps me in touch with the goings-on of the world. Afternoons I generally go to the golf course. (I've noted in the press that Frank is one of the best senior golfers in the state - Ed.) Have seven grandchildren, one who entered Centenary College in Hackettstown this fall. My two daughters live in the Pittsburgh area. My wife Alys, the same one I started out with 42 years ago, thought she had diabetes, but having found a doctor who uses more sympathy and understanding than pills, she is now getting along very well."

Ivan Tefft phoned in from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. He has a fishing boat and is just yearning for some Eigh teener to come along for a voyage. His address is 4564 El Mar Drive. Ivan commutes up North with some regularity — claims he's semi-retired but still keeps his hand in things, legal-wise.... Received a disconcerting note from JohnnyThayer (Box 236, Delray Beach, Fla.), it read simply: "Terribly sorry, but I have to go to the Duke Hospital at Durham, N. C., for a very serious operation." Don't know details, but we're all wishing our barefooted piano player the best! Johnny is in the real estate business at Delray and is former mayor of that resort community.

As for your correspondent, I still hold forth in the advertising agency business in Coral Gables and Bee and I live happily at 3656 Palmetto Avenue, Coconut Grove - southwest corner of Miami. Three daughters all married and the grandchildren are numerous, with the eldest hoping to get in at Hanover in a couple of years. Think over that idea of a Florida reunion - say the winter of 1961-62, so that we'll have time to do some planning and promoting. Yes?

Thank you, Allan, for an interesting article!

Secretary, 67 Annawam Rd., Waban, Mass.

Treasurer, Write Inc. 420 Lexington Ave., New York 17, N. Y.