1939
We usher in the springtime with glad tidings of great SUCCESS! From nearly every quarter comes the news that Bob Cushman, formerly general sales manager, Abrasive Div., Norton Co. (world's largest manufacturer of grinding wheels and abrasives), was made vice-president and general manager of the Abrasive Div. as well as a director of the company on Jan. 17, 1961. Cush started with Norton as a sales trainee in 1944, served in Syracuse; made west coast district manager in 1952; returned to Worcester in '55 to be assistant sales manager, manager of marketing services, and finally general sales manager. In his present position he replaces John Jeppson whom I vaguely recall as being Polly's and Cush's best man at their wedding in the Ming dynasty. He still sounds like a pretty good man. Strategic evacuation and all that sort of thing.
One of the many to write us concerning the "soaring sixties of Robert Cushman," and on Norton Company stationery no less, was the manager of field sales, Abrasive Div., Bill Russell. It was rather a ransom-type threat note, but we quote some other paragraphs: "Visited Howard Chivers at the Dartmouth Ski way two weeks ago where he is skiway manager. Visited Joe Batchelder Jr., advertising executive, at his home in Peoria, Hi: Joe is camped out in a 26-room mansion Overlooking the Illinois River where he makes a delightful martini.
"Please keep my name out of this and I will continue to feed you choice tidbits gleaned from my travel notes. Yr. Obd. Svt. Etc., Etc." (Bill, we'll obey your wishes every other time.)
Continuing with our theme of SUCCESS (R) (registered trade mark for the class of '39 permanent all-purpose fund raising cabala) we quote a paragraph from a January 24 letter sent to us by the director of purchasing, Union Bag Camp Paper Corp., 233 Broadway, N. Y. 7, N. Y., Skip Morse, greatgrandson of Don Ameche, inventor of the Common Code of which we have one right now.
Skip writes: "Under separate cover I am forwarding a copy of the 'Supply House Times,' a trade journal which is very widely read in the industrial distributors business. You will note that this December '60 issue features none other than our illustrious classmate, Lloyd U. Noland. This issue is certainly very complimentary to his company as well as to him personally. He certainly has made a great contribution to this industry and probably ranks as one of our most successful classmates. Perhaps this will feed you with a load of material for the next issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE."
And so it rightfully could. The entire issue - some 130 pages — is largely devoted to the Noland Company, "Wholesaler of the Year," the largest independent distributor of mechanical equipment in America, with a picture of our Bozo staring magnificently from the front cover. The contents unravel a his- tory of human progressiveness, sagacity and wit under two generations of enlightened management. For those of you who never really knew what Bozo did with himself down there in Newport News, find a copy of this magazine. You'll be proud you know him. (Horton Publishing Co., 317 Howard St., Evanston, Ill.)
Ed Oppenheim has been bursting at the seams with class pride and area pride. As a nabob in investments and securities and a former member of the Dartmouth Alumni Council as well as a citizen of Oklahoma City, Ed was chairman of the Host Committee for the i960 Dartmouth Regional Conference in his home town. It took place December 8 and 9 with delegates from six states and 1939 was better represented than any other class! Result, in Ed's words, "We scooped those New York guys for once." Their picture positively illuminated last month's galley proofs in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. Cleve Spillers from Tulsa, Paul O'Brien from Kansas City, Dick Shaw from Denver, Roger Stanwood from Houston all had a delightful reunion. They're hosting the Glee Club in Oklahoma City on April 2 and have invited us all out on an all-expense inspection tour. And you know how to twist the inference of that by now.
We have a friend named "Jack Widmer who went to Kenyon, was a Beta, grew up in La Grange, Ill., and who knows the damndest people. He was visiting Ham Mitchell (Dartmouth '38) in La Grange last week. They were discussing yore and Bud Clifford. "Do you want to see his son, Buzz?" asked Ham. Wid figured sure. Ham turned on TV. It was mid-afternoon, Saturday, January 28. Over a nation-wide hookup, Buzz Clifford was hitting the big time on a teen-age dance party singing his own compositions. So it's rock and roll? We hear he is under contract and has several numbers on the best seller list. So who needs insurance?
George Boswell, who writes sparingly and tardily, used Jocko's form letter dated June 21, '60 and sent same to us last week, suitably filled out. Nevertheless, 'twas welcome and needed. George continues to live at 11 Rue Girardon, Paris 18, France, with wife Elizabeth, son Craig (b. 1950); daughter Cynthia (b. 1953); son Laird (b. 1956 in the back seat of father's car at 0830 hours in midst of Parisian traffic jam; no ill effects on issue; issuers permanently jolted). George works in Paris ,as a reporter and economic analyst. He has seen no '39ers, but offers the old latchstring, for the freeloaders; catch is, they must come to Paris. He is always home except in August when the visitors rush into town. This may take planning!
We had a delightful note the other day from Dorothy Magee. We replied for still more news but have not had an answer. Son John is at the Berkshire School and apparently doing well. He hopes to enter Dartmouth in two years. Son Wm. B. Magee III is in the first grade at New Britain School and fighting it like mad. However, he too may follow father's footsteps. Regards were sent to all Walt's friends in '39 "who I am sure have not forgotten him anymore than we have." The return address was Box 212, Doylestown, Penna.
Secretary, 1908 Coolidge Drive Dayton 19, Ohio
Treasurer, 15 Meridian PL, Huntington Station, N. Y.
