1911's First Fiftieth
The FIRST FIFTIETH is a thing of the past as we expected it to be, but it left those 83 men and 64 wives who were here highly pleased that they had made the effort and they were already looking forward to the next. It was especially gratifying to have eight of the gold star wives with us to represent their men! The award for coming the longest distance went to Gerry Barnes from Los Angeles, which was a repeat performance of his 25th. There were ten other repeaters whose score is now ten reunions attended, starting with the Fifth. Here they are: Burleigh (who living in Hanover cannot miss), Ken Clark, Ed Keeler, Partridge, Pearson, Reilly, Russell, Sanderson and Sterling. There were many more who had missed only one, but the real bouquet must be shared by four whose Fiftieth Reunion was also their first reunion; McLaughlin, Morton, Pearse and Smith. Special commendation should go to Cap Hedges, who, with Coleen, flew on from Cedar Rapids, wheel chair and all, and he did not miss any of the activities either.
A somber note was cast by the deaths of several who' had planned on being with us, even to having made their reservations. The death of Fred Harris was especially tragic, occurring only the day before reunion. John Pearson left immediately after Commencement to represent the class at Fred's funeral in Brattleboro.
Many letters and telegrams of regret at enforced absence, and extending best wishes to those present came from classmates, widows and children, including a mature man of almost fifty years, once called our Class Baby. Nearly all who had to remain at home wrote with deep feeling of their inability to attend. Those who did make it, if their spoken and written comments since can be believed, found it a grand experience.
A few of the enthusiasts jumped the gun and arrived on Thursday which resulted in an unanticipated but delightful gathering in the evening at the Burleighs. All 35 units at the Motor Lodge and the Inn were occupied and Massachusetts Hall was filled, with an overflow into North Mass. On the whole the weather was good except for rain Saturday morning, especially at the time of the class picture taking and the Service of Remembrance. The sun arrived in time for the Alumni Dinner in the evening and Sunday was a beautiful day.
There was practically full attendance at all the 1911 functions starting with the dinner on Friday evening, the reception at the home of President and Mrs. Dickey and the Glee Club Concert. The group picture on Saturday morning had to be taken in Webster Hall because of the heavy downpour. The Service of Remembrance, held in the White Church, brought universal praise. It was arranged by Gabe Farrell and conducted by him and Bob Barstow and Mert Wilson. It was a fine tribute to our departed classmates.
The roast beef dinner in College Hall Saturday noon served by Jim McFate and his Hanover Inn crew preceded a short business meeting where every man and his wife and our widows were called upon to rise and show themselves, and there was not an absentee. Brief reports were made by Josh Clark who stated the class was below its quota both in participation and dollar amount; Bendy Griswold was happy to announce that the class is solvent, with more money in the till than when he took over as treasurer; Pat Partridge pleaded with his classmates to keep him informed so he would not have to invent news of them; Sam Aronowitz, whose brief statement that the College must depend on bequests if it is to survive, determined one widow to add to her will a bequest to the College as her children were now able to care for themselves. The secretary confined himself principally to a statement of class statistics; of 158 men living out of our original 395, there were 83 present, along with 64 wives and 8 widows. He also referred to the many messages of regret he had received and read a few telegrams received that day. A committee with John Pearson as chairman was appointed to prepare resolutions to the College for their hospitality.
The nominating committee, comprised of Wee Kimball as chairman and Bill Gooding, Chick Jordan and Chuck Emerson proposed the following slate of members of the Executive Committee for the ensuing five-year period: Aronowitz, Burleigh, Josh Clark, Sarge Eaton, Griswold, Hedges, Knapp, Lovejoy, Macomber, Malley and Partridge. There being no other nominations it was moved, seconded and voted that the secretary cast one ballot for those named, which being a majority of all votes cast, they were declared elected.
At a later meeting of the committee the present officers were urged to continue, with the remaining four being designated as committee members. Eaton and Hedges will continue as V.P.s. The committee also agreed on the following actions: that class dues of five dollars per year should continue to be collected but on an annual basis rather than for the five-year period; that the present policy of sending the ALUMNI MAGAZINE to all interested men and widows should be continued; that the contribution of ten dollars to the class memorial fund upon the death of a classmate likewise be continued; that since the next regular reunion will not be until 1966, plans will be made to renew our informal June reunions at the Mountain View at Mary Silk's urgent invitation.
The cocktail hour at the Hanover Inn at four o'clock on Saturday provided a pleasant interlude between the dinners. Following the Alumni Dinner that evening 1911 predominated the events prior to President Dickey's address. Sid Hayward '26 presented both silver cups for attendance to 1911. Our competition at this point consisted of the classes of 1901 and 1906 and it was no surprise that the greatest number at this part of reunion week would be found in 1911. But 1911 also won the competition based on the percentage of graduates back with a score of 61.8% which was also,better than the record of all the other reuning classes in the following week. The Alumni Award of the replica of the Wheelock Bowl to the secretary by Charlie McGoughran '20, President of the Alumni Council, was gratefully received, and deserving it or not, he is going to keep it. Ken Clark who had been chosen to give the address for the Fifty Year Class, confirmed our good judgment, as measured by the hearty applause of a very attentive audience. You may each judge for yourself as it appears elsewhere in this issue.
The remaining event of the evening was the Players Performance of "The Pajama Game" which was admirably presented to the great enjoyment of a filled house. We were the guests of the College at this and the Glee Club Concert.
Sunday morning found the men joining in the Commencement Procession and again saw 1911 honored by the presentation of the Honorary Degree of Master of Arts to Jim Malley. The brunch at the Outing Club was a fitting close to the two-day celebration of our graduation from Dartmouth a half century ago. Our record is one that we may all be proud of as we now join those classes which are grouped together in the Alumni Fund Green Derby as just one of those old Classes. On Sunday afternoon all had departed, either to their respective homes or the Lake Morey Inn where seventy of us spent a delightful three days — but more of that at another time.
Attendance list:
Allison, Aronowitz, Ballou and wife, Barnes, Barstow and wife, Beane, Bowker, Burleigh and wife, Caproni, Card and wife, Chamberlain, Dick Chase and wife, Cheney, wife and daughter Barbara Cheney, Josh Clark and wife, Ken Clark and wife, Coggins, Crooks and wife, Dudley and wife, Dunham and wife, Sarge F. Eaton and wife, Emerson and wife, Farrell and wife, French and wife, Gardner and wife, Les Gibson and wife, Gooding and wife, Gordon and wife, Griswold and wife, Halstead and wife, Holden and wife, Hedges and wife, Hoar and wife, Ingersoll, Irwin and wife, Jenkins and wife, Chas. Jordan and wife, Gov. Jordan and wife, Judd and wife, Ed Keller and wife, Bob Keeler, Kenworthy and wife, Kimball and wife, Knapp and wife, Learoyd and wife, Locke and wife, Lovejoy and wife, McLaughlin and wife, Macomber and wife, Malley and wife, Marden and wife, Mayo and wife, Morton, Moseley and wife, John Norris and wife, Spim Norris, O'Leary and wife, Partridge and wife, Patten and wife, Pearse and wife, Pearson and wife, Pendleton, Pickering and wife, Porter, Reilly and wife, Russell and wife, Sanderson and wife, Scotford and wife, Seaver and wife, Shepherd and wife, Sherwin, Stebbins and wife, Steeves and wife, Sterling and wife, Dick Stevens and wife, Trask and wife, Waldron, Whieeler and wife, Mert Wilson, Winship, Smith, Inez Adams, Marion Agry, Ruth Backus, Lillian Cooper, Mildred Rollins, Ruth Hastings, Ruth Mathes, Vera Briggs.
The Class of 1915, back for its delayed 45th Reunion, shared the spotlight with 1916 and 1917.
CLASS SECRETARY
