1933
Secretary, 80 Mooreland Rd. Melrose 76, Mass.
Class Agent, 31 Milk St., Boston, Mass.
Two "Man of the Year" awards to '33ers in one month - that's news. Bob Sands doesn't know about it yet, but your Secretary is taking the liberty of making that award in the name of the Class. We're sure that Sid Stoneman and all his assistant class agents will approve. This scribe is covering all '33ers outside the continental U.S. on the Alumni Fund and jumped the gun in making his contacts before the official start of the campaign in order to overcome the time lag in the mails. One week from the time of our mailing to Bob was all it took to have his check back to us. The speed of his reply, in itself, merits the title as you can well appreciate if you have ever been an agent and experienced the necessity of many repeat letters to shake some of you guys loose from your hard-earned bucks. On top of that, he doubled what already had been a generous contribution in previous years. He didn't stop there. By profession he's an accountant, but like the cobbler, his own personal records apparently come last. You see he is in Venezuela with Superior Oil and not subject to the annual bite that man with the white beard takes from most of us each year. In that enviable position, he wasn't sure that he had completed his Capital Gifts pledge so asked us to double check. This triple action on his part is more than par for the course. What better example could you fellows have to follow? Bob asks, "Doesn't anyone visit Caracas since Nixon ran the gauntlet? Would be delighted to see any '33ers who might be coming this way." He adds the enticement of a recent 50% cut in the duty on Scotch.
Bob (Mathis) Cox was named "Man of the Year" by the Junior Chamber of Commerce of McKeesport, Pa. Bob, as you know from previous notes, is president of Cox's Fifth Avenue, which, under his direction, has expanded from a single store catering to the ladies to three stores serving the whole family. Excerpts from the presentation will give you some idea of Bob's accomplishments and his merit of the award - "always been a willing worker in any cause which will help his community; has always contributed generously in all ways; president of WMCK; vice-chairman of McKeesport Transit Authority; member of Allegheny County Airport Advisory Committee; past chairman of McKeesport Parking Authority; past president of local Retail Credit Men's Association, Merchant's Association and Chamber of Commerce; in conjunction with Arnold Varga, recipient of many national advertising awards; avid sports fan and led group which brought night football to McKeesport; discovered and promoted the only Miss America that McKeesport ever had." The local judge, who made the presentation, stated that it was significant that the award was being made at the start of Brotherhood Week since "Bob Cox exemplifies it."
We imagine very few of us who watched the inaugural balls on TV in February realized that '33 was in that picture, too. Remember Bob Burns and his many promotional activities in Hanover? Bob, who is now vice-president of Music Corporation of America, was the assistant producer of the "Inaugural Gala" and responsible for procuring celebrities to the tune of $480,000 for appearances at the several balls. He was instrumental in getting two Broadway shows to close for the night so that Sir Laurence Olivier and Ethel Merman could appear. Bob entered show business booking big bands for dance halls and college campuses. In 1936, when the Dorsey Brothers split, he became manager for Tommy Dorsey and then several years later for the then promising Frank Sinatra with whom he stayed un- til recalled for two years' service in the Korean conflict. He had served previously in World War II as a major. Our records on Bob are incomplete or we'd give you more on him.
Back in 1957, Jack Huntress reached the conclusion that too many people were in too big a hurry making money. Most of us probably agree, but here's one fellow who did something about it. He chucked his job as merchandise manager for the Chrysler Division of Chrysler Corporation, packed his wife and three children in the car, and headed for Scottsdale, Ariz. His decision was inspired by two previous vacations there and a strong urge to get back to the more fundamental things in life - not the pressures of big industry. He felt that "push-button conveniences, traffic jams, dirty air and hurried business trips were not necessary to enjoy life." He wanted to start "a second life and grow up with my children." Smart boy. Jack is now the manager and co-owner of the Sugar Bowl ice cream parlor in Scottsdale and most happy. He began his career in advertising and sales promotion with the Boston Daily Record. The man who hired him for that job recently visited Jack to obtain his counsel on how to buy a house in Scottsdale. Between the Record and Chrysler, Jack was in advertising with Spiegel, Inc., served as an instructor in radio communications for the Air Force during the war and wrote several instructional manuals, and became advertising manager for the Nash Division of American Motors in 1955. Then came the big decision after his spell with Chrysler. Arriving in Scottsdale, he ran into a man who had dreamed of starting an old fashioned ice cream parlor and was looking for a manager and a partner. Are Helen and their three youngsters: Jaclyn, thirteen; Fred, eleven, and Margery, eight, happy? "We are going to stay right here and enjoy life," says Jack.
Miller Wachs has just been promoted from chief of the components development branch of Sikorsky Aircraft (the division of United Aircraft specializing in helicopters) to chief of engineering projects. In that capacity, he will be in charge of all project offices as well as support equipment, shop contract, and engineering change groups. Miller has been with Sikorsky since 1942 and has made major pioneering developments in rotor systems, transmissions and blades. He is a prominent figure nationally in the helicopter field. Born of missionary parents in Korea, Miller went to Dartmouth from Kimball Union Academy and subsequently received his Master of Science degree in Engineering from M.I.T. in 1935. He and Margaret have five daughters — no sons — and live in Stratford, Conn. We're sure Eddie Chamberlain '36 wishes there were more Dartmouth men like Miller.
Stan Colla sent us an announcement of the engagement of Miss Leslie Eugenia Collins of Pasadena, Calif., to his son, Coleman Park Colla. Miss Collins is a graduate of Smith and the daughter of Bob Hutchinson '35. Coleman was '58 and received his Master's degree at Thayer. At the college, he was Phi Beta Kappa, Casque and Gauntlet and Theta Delta Chi. We add a belated thanks to Stan for running the '33 get-together at the annual Boston Alumni dinner. GeorgeRideout, vice-president of Babson Reports, has done it again on the chicken dinner circuit. This time he was a featured speaker at the annual Institute for Maine Industry at Colby College in Waterville.
Wood Foster reports that a substantial number of the Class have replied to his recent letter regarding the bequest program. He urges those who have not yet returned the questionnaire to do so, even though the information is negative. The importance of this long-range program cannot be over emphasized - so if you are one of those who has not yet responded, please do so now. If you have mislaid the form enclosed with his letter, just drop him a line at W-1781 First National Bank Building, Saint Paul 1, Minn.
Address changes:
William F. Atwood, Olin's Rent-A-Car System, 2830 2nd Ave., Miami 37, Fla.; Henry P. Carruth Jr., 616 Edgewood Drive, Chillicothe, Ohio; James S. Merson, 15 Oakridge Drive, Hamburg, N. Y.; Robert F. Swander, 2885 Chatham Road, Cleveland 24, Ohio; Dr. James C. Walker, 264 Beacon St., Boston 16, Mass.; Robert A. Winger, Hoover World Wide Corp., 660 Madison Ave., New York 21, N. Y.
Bob Cox '33 (second from left) was named by the McKeesport, Pa., Junior Chamber of Commerce as 1961 "Man of the Year." He is shown receiving a plaque at the February dinner,surrounded by Chamber officers and speakers who praised his community services.
