1917's Advanced 45th
Because of space limitations in this issue of the MAGAZINE this report on our recent "45th" reunion must of necessity be brief. But let me say to those of you who were not present, our chairman, Bill Sewall, and his assistants staged a swell affair as was evidenced by the comments of departing 17'ers Wednesday afternoon. A rousing vote of thanks is due to Bill and his crew!
One of the very nice things was the presence of four of our widows, Mary Gile, Ruth Sisson, Anita Stillman and, last but not least, Jo Weeks. Their attendance added immeasurably to the occasion.
By noon on Monday a goodly number had checked in with our most efficient treasurer, Vic Smith and his good right arm, Irene. What a job they did! By the time we went to the gym for a dinner at which we were guests of the College, most of those expected had arrived. Following dinner our tent became the center of activity until 10 P.M. when we gathered in Silsby Hall to view pictures - movies and slides - assembled by Bill and Helen Birtwell who had done a magnificent job in rounding up pictures of former reunions. After the picture show music from our tent filled the air and lasted until the wee hours. Ed Earle started off at the piano and soon was joined by Slatz Baxter, until finally Helen Baxter teamed up with Slatz as they so often do. A group of 61'ers, attracted by the good music, seemed to have as much fun as we did.
The usual group pictures were taken on the campus under a sizzling sun on Tuesday morning, and then the men congregated in Silsby for our class meeting which will be more fully described below. That meeting had hardly ended when it was time to go again to the gym for a joint luncheon with reuning 15'ers and 16'ers. The afternoon afforded an opportunity for golf and such until it was time for the gals to go to the Outing Club for their dinner, and the men to Thayer for the reunion banquet at which Ralph Sanborn presided. Ralph had had the foresight to invite as our guest speaker the well known and popular Prof. Francis Lane Childs '06 who only a few days before had been awarded an honorary degree by the College. Near the end of the dinner we were favored by a brief visit from President Dickey who had interrupted a dinner party at home in order to pay his regards to our class.
Following the dinners many of our number attended a performance of "The Pajama Game" staged by the Dartmouth Players, but for a larger group the tent again became a hall of music and a setting for the showing by Gene Towler of a fine collection of color slides taken in previous years.
There was a sudden change in the weather late Tuesday night so that Wednesday dawned cold and wet. Naturally, this put a damper on our noon picnic at the Outing Club and forced us to enjoy our luncheon in the club house rather than on the lawn as had been planned. But the spirits of the group were high though the luncheon marked the end of a most successful reunion
Now to get back to the class meeting which was called together Tuesday afternoon by the secretary. At the outset Ralph Sanborn told of plans for the banquet that evening Then followed reports by the several officers, Vic Smith reporting that 187 men have paid class dues this year, and Bill Eaton that there had so far been 130 gifts to the Alumni Fund for a total of about $8,300 Gil Swett circulated a most interesting and comprehensive report on the status of our '17 bequest program and followed through with additional comments. Mose Hutchins reported on the SENTRY and Bill Sewall, as reunion chairman, told not only of the number in attendance, but also of the messages of regret received from several unable to be with us. Gene Towler and Will Pitch also spoke on the latter subject. Bill Sewall also extended warm thanks to all those who had helped to make the reunion such a memorable one.
As the last item of scheduled business Bob Scott, chairman of the nominating committee, read the names of his committee's nominees for election to the Executive Committee. Those nominated were Don Brooks, Bill Eaton, Sumner Emerson, Duke Howe, MoseHutchins, Norm McCulloch, Pete Olds, JackSaladine, Ralph Sanborn, Bill Sewall, VicSmith, Gil Swett and Barney Thielscher. There being no further nominations a vote was taken and those named were duly elected.
At the close of the meeting Sumner Emerson conducted a brief but most effective service in memory of the 24 men who have passed away since our 1957 reunion. The men memorialized were Donald B. Aldrich,Walter A. Barrows, Maurice A. Blackmur,Henry I. Bomgardner, Charles M. Clark,Henry W. Degnan, James T. Durkee, HerbertW. Griffin, Daniel L. Harris, Charles S.Hedwall, Kenneth W. Holden, Palmer E.Kizer, Karl W. Koeniger, Frederick W. McReynolds, Edward R. Meade, James Montgomery Jr., Russell J. Paul, James L. Rubel,Scott V. Rutherford, Walter C. Sisson, How and L. Steele, James M. Switzer, Donald F.Walton and John S. Young.
At a Tuesday afternoon meeting of the newly elected Executive Committee the following were elected to serve as officers until our reunion in 1967: Secretary, Don Brooks; Chairman, Bill Eaton; Treasurer, Vic Smith; Class Agent, Jack Saladine; Bequest Chairman, Gil Swett; and Editor of the SENTRY; Mose Hutchins.
After the election of officers there followed a discussion of the effectiveness of the geographical organization or so-called "Church Supper" plan adopted in 1954. To bring the discussion to a head, Sumner Emerson moved "That the Executive Committee rescind the action taken in 1954 to establish a geographical organization, and that in the future each officer have complete freedom to set up such geographical organization as he deems wise." The motion was seconded and passed with two dissents.
Our total attendance was 128 which included seventy men, fifty wives, four widows and four guests. It was good to count among that number some who had never before attended a reunion including Ike Sprague and Ed and Catherine Dewey.
One final word - the meals catered by the Hanover Inn at the gym and in our tent, and the dinners and picnic lunch at Thayer and the Outing Club were delicious.
Enthusiasm was high as the Class of 1917 returned for its advanced 45th Reunion and enjoyed nearly perfect Hanover weather.
The Class of 1921 had 170 men and women present for a fabulous 40th Reunion.
CLASS SECRETARY
