1927
This is being written a few days ahead of schedule, as we are leaving these parts in a couple of days for a short vacation in the Caribbean, hopeful that by the time we return winter will have departed, and spring will be with us. This is probably just wishful thinking, as it has never happened that way before; actually, for the past two years we have returned in the midst of blizzards. But you can always hope. For a while it looked as though we wouldn't get away at all, what with the flight engineers tying up most of the airlines, including those that we have to take, but now that they have decided to return to work it looks as though we will get away on schedule. If it weren't for my having missed a few items that were on hand at the time last month's column was being written, this one would have no news at all; as it is, it won't have much, the winter doldrums having evidently settled upon all of you. Despite any rumors to the contrary that you may have heard, avenues of communication really exist between this far outpost of civilization and the rest of the country - in spite of strikes, blizzards, floods and other handicaps, the planes are flying, and the trains are running, after a fashion, and somehow the mail still gets through. If you don't believe me, try it. You'll be surprised.
I was severely chided by Gordon Smith for failing to list him among the recent grandfathers, and justifiably so. Since Jonathan Paul Hunt, the new son of Smitty's daughter Elizabeth, is the first male child born into the Smith family in 45 years, he had ample grounds for complaint. The earth-shaking event took place on November 13, 1960.
Gus Cummings has been elected president of Thomas Flexible Coupling Co., a subsidiary of the Koppers Co., of which Gus is still a vice president, and general manager of the Metal Products Division. A recent issue of the Wall Street Journal reported that the Department of Justice is challenging the acquisition of this company by Koppers, and quoted Gus defending the merger on the grounds that no lessening of competition was involved.
Paul Hannah writes: "The news in the January MAGAZINE about the travels of George Friede and of Steve and Alice Mills prompted me to write a word or two about Betty's and my recent trip to Japan. This took place just before Christmas and was occasioned by some negotiations I was in charge of conducting for my company in Tokyo. Betty went along to do the sightseeing for the family, my sightseeing being limited to about a day and a half in the four weeks we were out of the United States. I did get an opportunity to renew some associations developed when I was there at the end of World War II and to see some of the countryside. On the way back we tried to find Nick Voorhis in Hawaii, where we spent a couple of days, but could not locate him at any of the Air Force or Army posts and assumed that he had been transferred. We got back in time for a grand reunion with our family just 36 hours before Christmas. It was grand to see you and the others at our fall reunion, and Betty hopes to be with us next October."
Gus Buschmann is in Vienna, on a sabbatical, brushing up on his auditory-oral German, of which he is Professor at Bates College.
A letter from Sid Voice explains his absence from the Class dinner in New York in January — he had a chance to run down to Florida for about ten days, and the attractions of Florida won out over the dinner. Sid has sold his big house in Hewlett, and is about to start building a smaller ranch house in Lawrence, Long Island, which he hopes to be able to move into around the middle of the summer. At the moment he is looking forward to the arrival of a grandchild who should arrive in Halifax, Nova Scotia, around the latter part of March. His daughter, Susie, is married to Alan Ward, a medical student at Dalhousie University there, and they will remain in Halifax for another year and a half, as the University requires a year of internship in Halifax following graduation.
Gordon Colby reports on the members of the Class in the New Haven "area. He says that Bob Mix prospers in his insurance business, and is very active in civic affairs. Bill Williams operates a laundromat in Cheshire, and Dan Jennette has his own construction business in Woodbridge.
Lee Gore writes from Ogdensburg, N. Y., that, since the climate there is very much like Hanover's, by now everyone has had enough winter, and he and Dottie hope to get away to warmer climes for the month of March. Last January, Dottie had an operation to do away with her leg brace, and a recurrence of osteomyelitis has prevented her from getting around very much, which is the reason they were unable to attend last fall's reunion. Happily, she is now making progress, though it is still slow.
The Alumni Fund campaign is now in full swing, and for the first time in several years it will be a normal campaign. While a few of us out in the hinterlands are still paying the final balances on our pledges to the Capital Gifts campaign, the vast majority of us have that behind us, and are now ready to take up the challenge of providing the funds to adequately meet Dartmouth's current needs. As you all know, the goal this year is $1,000,000, and 1927's share is $27,820. Our ability to raise this amount depends on each one of us doing his full share, as the days when we could sit back and let other members of the Class carry the major share of the load are gone forever. Larry Scammon has a great team of agents. Just remember that they are working for you, and for all of the rest of us in the Class of 1927, and give them your fullest cooperation. See you next month.
Secretary, 29150 West River Rd. Perrysburg, Ohio
Class Agent, Massachusetts Automobile Bureau 89 Broad St., Boston 10, Mass.
