1946

It’s hard to believe that summer is over that the warmth of the sun diminishes each day, and the days themselves grow shorter. Now comes the wind, the chilling rains, the dismal grey days, and the snow. This is the time of the year that we, here in the Northeast, look at you-all in the sunny Southland and the balmy areas of the Southwest, and wonder what possesses us to stay here and suffer the winds, the cold, the snow, and the ice. But as we ponder (and obviously search for a consoling answer) we think of fall, perhaps the East’s most glorious season, the ever-changing colors, the crisp, clear, cool nights and football. And for a while, at least, we revel in the glory of our surroundings, and happily we prepare to join the hordes of Greens at the tail-gate picnics, to enjoy the camaraderie of the Ivy League, and to witness the spine-tingling thrills at the Bowl or the Stadium, or wherever the troops in Green (and they’re brainy, too) manage to squeak out a close one over one of the lesser tribes.

The season also brings your new Secre- tary to the brink of another task, another chore (and a five-year chore, at that) but admittedly a pleasant one to which I’m looking forward. I hope that the results, i.e. the words that appear here each month, make you look forward to the column too.

Before catching up to the present season, we have some unfinished business from lune. Unfortunately, your recorder, in try- ing to accurately report every detail of that hilarious Reunion, became exceedingly verbose, with the unfortunate result that considerable lineage had to be cut. Even so, ’46 wound up with the longest column, which was only fitting since we had the best reunion. (No modesty in this class!) I won’t go into another lengthy discourse, but, honestly, it was the most magnificent, most exhilarating, most satisfying (and most exhausting) meeting of the clan ever wit- nessed by that wonderful town of Hanover. Superlatives cannot do justice to FRANKLY the XV. The weather was superb, the scen- ery was beautiful —as only Hanover can be in the spring and the spirit of Dart- mouth surrounded everything and everyone. Many, many times (but not so many that it ever sounded monotonous) we heard the words, “isn’t it great to be back.”

Incidentally, our statistics did not make the last issue. 88 fortunate 46’s were ac- companied by 81 beautiful wives. (Was it noticeable to the rest of you men that our brides seem to look younger each reunion, while we get oldfer, fatter, and balder wonder what Kinsey would say about that!) In addition, there were 26 of the cutest and best behaved children on hand, shown off by 11 proud mothers and fathers. Three guests made a total of 198 revelers not the largest, but obviously the happiest group on campus.

Now to a real “thank you” which had to be left out of the June column, and that’s to “perennial undergraduate” and penman extraordinaire Tom “Gus” Gil-laugh. Thanks, Gus, for the excellent and witty reporting over the past five years as Secretary of our class a grand job, which was climaxed by your election as President of the Class Secretaries Association and your masterful handling of the annual Class Officers’ dinner meeting in Hanover. You did us proud, Gus, and ’46 is grateful for the part you played and will continue to play in her development.

Also, thanks to Jack Whitman for help- ing us compile the notes for the reunion report; and to wife Jackie for doing most of the work on same (and then having the only mention of her presence at reunion cut out due to my verbosity). Since she’ll probably be doing a lion’s share of the work on this column from now on, how- ever, she’ll have many chances to get back at me.

I have three reports of budding political aspirations that should get into the column before they’re ancient history. LowellThomas Jr., whose legal residence is now Anchorage, Alaska, has tossed his much- traveled hat into the political ring by seek- ing the Republican nomination for the U. S. House of Representatives. Lowell has traveled extensively the world over but has made his home in Anchorage for the past two years.

Dan Ruggles hopes to represent his dis- trict in the Vermont General Assembly and is a candidate for State Senator. Dan is very active in Vermont affairs and wants to broaden his scope of activities by this worth- while venture.

Another aspirant for a state post is Ste- phen Weekes of South Harwich, Mass. Steph, who has been chairman of the Harwich Re- publican Town Committee for two years, has announced his candidacy for the Re- publican nomination for State representa- tive. Previous experience in local politics includes three, three-year terms as select- man.

Good luck to all of you. If possible. I’ll report the results in a later issue a line from each of you regarding the outcome sure would help.

Bob Case has been appointed manager of plant protection and security for the Gen- eral Electric’s main plant in Schenectady, N. Y. Those who would test the secu- rity of this GE plant had better think twice, because Bob also has the inside track to the armed might of the Ist Armored Rifle Bat- talion, 105 th Infantry, New York Army Na- tional Guard, where he is lieutenant colonel in command. Bob and Mary Frances live in Scotia, N. Y., with their four boys and one girl. He’s been with GE since 1949.

I want to wind up this issue by reporting the one serious note of our otherwise un- businesslike reunion, and that is the election of Class Officers and Executive Committee, an event which took place at the Class Meeting. The following slate was nominated and duly elected by unanimous vote, to serve until our next reunion. Chairman, JackWhitman; Treasurer, Frank Ettari; Class Agent, Tom Adams; Bequest Chairman, Andy Murtha; Newsletter Editor, GeneBokor; Reunion Chairman, Ben Moats; Sec- retary, Bob Kimball. Executive Committee: Jim “Chip” Coleman, Ted Fajen, Tom “Gus” Gillaugh, Fran Cox, Buol Hinman, Jim Shute, Jim Heller, Jack Sayers, Bob Hunt, Ed Woolman, Jim Barnet, Ham Bailey, Ralph Smith, Obie Obermayer, and Dave Weld.

All of the above men are dedicated to the two-fold purpose of continuing to build class unity and strength; and through a stronger class, to help build a better and stronger Dartmouth.

Well, I believe that’s all for now. Next issue will bring a report on our performance in the Alumni Fund and a raft of notes on the many men to whom interesting things have happened.

Secretary, 12 Kenis-ton Rd. Lynnfield Center, Mass. Treasurer. 66 Argyll Ave., New Rochelle, N. Y