1941's Twentieth
The Great Indian Spirit that watches over the Class of 1941 came through in his usual inimitable fashion and made the Tremendous Twentieth a colossal success. 113 members of the class were on hand with 100 squaws and 73 papooses (some1 of them bigger than the braves and squaws) for three perfect New Hampshire June days. We were blessed with superb weather and that set the stage for what was a most happy reunion with fellow classmates. It seemed like 1940 all over again as familiar faces popped up around campus in front of Dartmouth Row, at the Bema, on the golf course, at the Inn Coffee Shop, and all the places we remember so well. And there were plenty of little faces around that reminded you that we'd been out of college for twenty years.
Many of the reunion group arrived on Thursday but the main force started piling into Hanover on Friday. Most of us were housed in Middle Fayerweather and this was really nostalgic for guys like me (Mouse Hall) that lived in that dorm for two years. Red Taft as Reunion Chairman was on hand to welcome and register the class as we arrived. Before going any further we want publicly to thank Red for the wonderful job he did from start to finish. There was a minimum of red tape and fuss and a maximum of fun and relaxation. We had what many people on campus considered the most appropriate costumes of any reuning class. We had green and white striped vests, a la 1890, with gold chains and the words "1941-1961 Twentieth Reunion" printed on the pocket. Add to that white straw hats with green bands for all the men, women and children, and you can see that 1941 was prominent on the campus. My informants tell me that another Red, namely your class secretary Red O'Connor, was responsible for getting the uniforms and it's too bad that unforeseen business developments forced him to miss the Reunion and the fun of enjoying the fruits of his labor. (Also caused me to write these notes.)
After signing up I ambled over to the '41 tent which was conveniently placed between Dartmouth Row and South Fayerweather. There was a barrel of beer conveniently placed inside the tent. When I noticed thatBeany Nutt, Jack McMillin and Don Hagen were conveniently placed adjacent to the beer, I knew that I was in the right place. Gus and Stew Broberg were among the very early arrivals and looked like a perfect ad for West Palm Beach with their gorgeous coats of tan. We bumped into Ray and Sue Hall with their son and daughter when we went down to the village for lunch. Ray looked so streamlined that many couldn't remember which Hall was the fullback in 1940.
Most of the first afternoon was spent around the tent renewing old friendships and drinking beer. At 4:30 we had a class cocktail party and then on to the gymnasium for the alumni buffet dinner. Bob and Barb Harvey sat with us and we were thinking of the day Glenn Cunningham ran the famous 4.04.4 mile right where we were sitting. The Harveys have two girls marked as future swimming champs and a boy who has his heart set on Dartmouth.
The Friday night party in the tent was a ball. Stew Steffey took over at the piano for a while and we sang our class reunion song, "One of the Committee." The wives started leaving for the dorm around midnight but the party continued for a good part of Saturday a.m. For some strange reason nothing happened to the piano this year. Ten years ago it fell over at the Friday night party and at the 15th the Class of '46 stole it. Perhaps Taft arranged to have it tied down.
Saturday's highlight of course was the class picnic at The Keenes' which is a great little ski and summer spot about eight miles outside of Hanover. Sliced beefsteak was the prized item on the menu and it was absolutely the best we'd ever eaten. The kids meanwhile had organized a baseball game played with a plastic bat and a "whiffle" ball. It was an education to watch them play. Soon we found ourselves challenged and we responded to the call. George Sexton lived up to advance billing by clobbering a first-inning homer. Don Hanks proved himself a mean outfielder with some fancy catches. Lee Bye's son might show up in Dartmouth baseball livery some day if his performance in that game means anything, and Burt Hedin can expect his left-handed pitching son to pick up a nice major league bonus some day.
One youngster said "Hey, Dad, the kid catching has some name - Rocky Rodes - that's something isn't it?" "Yes," said the father, "and I'll tell you something else - his father is Dusty Rodes." Both were good performers.
Following the picnic many went to see the Webster Hall show "Pajama Game." But most of us went back to the tent for another party. Dr. Jack Shelby, who came with his daughter and son from Lubbock, Texas, traded the Reunion costume for his Texan shirt, hat and jeans. Jack's son will be in next year's freshman class. Bud Martin nearly sold Julian Koenig a car. By 2 a.m. things were slowing down and we left the balance of the evening up to the youngsters from the Class of '51.
A few notes of business to report. At the class meeting the following men were elected to the executive committee for the next five years: Dick Hill, Stacy Hill, Lew Johnstone,Red O'Connor, Dan Provost, Phil Hall, SnuffySmith, and Stew Steffey. This committee can appoint up to five more men to membership if they find it desirable to do so.
Telegrams were received from Gil Hurd and Les Davis who were unable to attend. George Baine was unfortunately in Riverside Hospital in Red Bank but getting well and reported that Tom Jardine had been in the same place with some broken ribs.
Dick Cordes probably made the longest trip to the Reunion, coming from Long Beach, California. Snuffy Smith the shortest - from a few blocks away. Mr. and Mrs. Robb Alexander came from Ogden, Utah, and the Minnesota contingent was in fine shape with the Kriegers, the Nortons and the Kelleys big Bob Nissen who looked like he could play left end right now. Voted as the two class members who had changed least were Carl Krogh and Brodie Bjorklund (41's answer to Elliott Ness).
When Sunday rolled around and we rolled out of Hanover, we really didn't want to go. It's a long time between meetings but this one was worth waiting for. Have a good summer.
1941's straw hats served a useful purpose, as three days of pleasant weather were enjoyed by those back for the 20th Reunion.
