1916

The Class will learn with deep regret of the death of one of its most distinguished members, Ed Riley, whose death is recorded in this issue of the DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE.

Ed was always a leader in the Class and his interests were varied. He sang in the College Choir, was a cheer leader, a member of the Christian Association cabinet, the freshman cross-country team and captain of the varsity track team, being one of the great quarter-milers of his era. One of his contemporaries said recently that it was just a matter of fate that he happened to come along at the same time as the great Ted Meredith. In the ICAAAA championships at the Harvard Stadium Ed's senior year he was beaten in the quarter-mile by Meredith in a tremendous finish. Meredith had to set a new world's record of 47-2/5 seconds, as Ed equalled the old world's record of 47-4/5. I believe the latter still stands as Dartmouth's best mark for that distance. Ed was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, Sphinx and Palaeopitus, and was president of the Class from 1916 to 1926. In Senior Popularity Elections he shared top honors as Best All Round Man, Most Popular, Most Respected and Best Athlete.

The Class extends its sincerest sympathy to Ed's wife, Winifred, and to all the members of his family, and was deeply touched at their request that memorial gifts be sent to Dartmouth in lieu of flowers. Many classmates, many collegemates and many just plain friends have known of his thoughtful acts and have been the recipients of his many kindnesses, and join in mourning the passing of one of Dartmouth's great sons.

Ros Magill remarks that old lawyers don't even fade away, - they just keep on as long as they can sit at a desk; and that he is doing just that, - and what comes naturally. Ros wrote an article for the January Reader's Digest entitled " 'Plugging the Loopholes' Is Not the Answer." He contends that our over-complicated income tax is a failure and that to provide the revenue the government needs we must install a new, simple, broadly based tax. Ros was laid up for a few weeks in the hospital, following an operation, but is now quite all right. He says that he would like to go to the Bahamas or Arizona but that it is not in the cards. He and Kitty were in Ireland last summer, "the countryside greener than green, and very pastoral and lovely." Ros has two grandchildren, - both girls, and adds "Dartmouth young men take care."

Ed (Gummy) Gumbart retired as Manager of Sales of the Chicago District of Bethlehem Steel Co. at the end of December. I do not have his permanent address, but he was expected to stay in Chicago for a couple of months after closing shop at Bethlehem.

Had a letter from my old sidekick BenMoxon, who retired some years back as Valuation Engineer in the Public Service Co. of New Hampshire, whose main office is in Manchester. About three years ago he and Evelyn went down to live in Pocasset, a little town on Buzzards Bay, where he had summered for fifty years, "his second home." His brother, Everett '19, recently retired, lives near him. Ben's son, Edwin, is a freshman at M.I.T. Ben and his wife are well and keep busy. His letter breathed contentment.

Through Rog Evans I learn that DanDinsmoor had a luncheon for Alec Jardine at his home in Los Angeles when Alec was out there early in January. Jean took all the wives who were present out to a luncheon and then on a shopping tour. There was a fine turnout to welcome Alec: Dan Coakley,Dan Lindsley, Shorty Hitchcock, SpenceSully, and Carl Eskeline, who came down from Santa Barbara. Lew Howell was away on business and the La Jolla contingent, Ruby McFalls and Verge Rector, couldn't make it. With Linus Murphy and Paul Wadleigh in the vicinity Los Angeles has a '16 luncheon group that would do credit to Boston or New York, and if we don't look to our laurels it won't be long before they are outstripping us effete Easterners.

My apologies to Ruby McFalls for leaving unanswered his nice letter of some months ago when I was laid up in the Bryn Mawr Hospital with a coronary, "that favorite recourse of so many men of more than average diligence, such as F. Stirling Wilson and Dwight Eisenhower, to name a couple," as Ruby puts it. He expressed the hope that my future years and golf handicap would be longer and shorter respectively by reason of the enforced vacation. Ruby has three sons, two living in California and one in Nebraska, and last summer had each family, successively, for a month's visit. With a total of nine grandchildren under seven years of age the summer was a ball. Fortunately the roof stayed on, but in the midst of it all Ruby packed off to the local hospital and "got separated from his Golf Bladder," and, to still quote him, "My game hasn't been worth a damn since." Verge Rector is his steady partner. He tells me that HoneyAbraham stopped by one summer's day, but unfortunately he was away at the time. And speaking of Honey, the lad certainly gets around. He is usually south bound to Florida in January and north bound in April. Max Spelke winters only walking distance away, and Honey reports that the Judge is well and enjoying his retirement. Honey's son, Fred '56 was married in May, received his doctorate in psychology at Indiana and had an assistant professorship at San Diego State starting in September. Ralph, a younger son, received his doctorate in mathematics at Michigan and is on the faculty at the University of California, Berkeley. Real reason for you to be proud of your boys, Honey.

Secretary, 7 Swarthmore PL, Swarthmore, Pa.

Treasurer, 684 Burr St., Fairfield, Conn.

Bequest Chairman,