1927's Thirty-fifth Reunion
The reunion which marked thirty-five years as alumni for the Class of 1927 has now passed into the realm of history. For those of you who were unable to be there, this will be an attempt to recreate a bit of what the rest of us enjoyed during those three days.
I'm sure that we all realize that we have grown a bit older since our thirtieth reunion, and your secretary is certainly no exception to this. However, when I drove up to the front of Middle Mass on Sunday afternoon, and looked at the group assembled on the porch, I must admit that I was a little shocked - everyone looked so much older. As I got out of my car, walked up to identify the early arrivals who were gathered there, I looked carefully at their badges to see who they were. I don't know whether I was more surprised or pleased to discover that they weren't 1927 at all, but the tag end of 1912, who were vacating the dormitory make room for us. After that, all members of 1927 looked pretty young, but I will have to say that if we are as good men as they are when we are the fifty-year class, we will be doing mighty well.
Quite a number arrived during the afternoon and evening of Sunday, but in tribute to our more advanced years, it was an early evening, and by eleven o'clock things had quieted down to the point where sleep was not only possible, but enjoyable. It looked as though it might be a quiet reunion, but that only proves that early judgments are not necessarily sound.
Monday was arrival day for most, with the earlier arrivals gathering in the tent, sampling the delicious brew provided by John Tanzi, and by the time we gathered in College Hall (Commons, to those of you who don't keep up on the official nomenclature) for cocktails at 4:30, nearly everyone was there. We moved from there to the gym, where we enjoyed a delicious supper, provided by the College, in conjunction with the other classes who were reuning with us - 1922, 1926, and 1928. Following that, most of us paid our respects to John and Chris Dickey, at a reception in their beautiful garden, then back to our tent for an evening of visiting with classmates whom we had not seen, in many cases, for years too many to number. Music was provided by a combination of 1927 and 1928 talent, and moved back and forth between our tent and 1928'5, and wherever the music was, there the crowd was also. Our contribution consisted of Nibs Dowe on the piano and Charlie Huntley on the trombone, and to them we owe a debt of gratitude that is impossible to express. Needless to say, it was neither a quiet nor early evening.
The fine weather forsook us on Tuesday, and we awoke to a drizzling rain which? threatened to continue through the day, and", nearly did. It stopped enough so that it wasn't too difficult getting to Thayer for breakfast, or to the Class meeting in Carpenter Hall at 10:30. However the skies opened in earnest as we were gathered for our Class picture in front of Dick's House,, with the result that many of the less hardy' souls are missing from the picture, and many of the rest are hidden by umbrellas, or so draped by raincoats as to be nearly unrecognizable.
The Class meeting was presided over by Chairman Bob Stevens, who called for reports from the officers on Class activities; during the past five years. Our Bequest Chairman, Lee Greenebaum, presented a resolution to the effect that "the Class of 1927 formally endorses the Dartmouth Bequest and Estate Planning Program, and pledges to the College that the members of the Class of 1927 will, to the extent possible in each individual case, endeavor to take appropriate action to provide for Dartmouth in their estate planning." This resolutionwas unanimously passed. Howie Mullin, chairman of the nominating committee, presented the following names for the Executive Committee: Charles W. Bartleti, EdgarM. Batchelder, Leslie B. Battin, Dudley B.Bonsai, Carleton G. Broer, William B. HeadJr., Bruce McKennan, Norman F. Page,John P. Sheldon, George W. St. Amant,Robert W. Williamson. These men were unanimously elected, and the meeting of the Class was adjourned, following which the Chairman convened a meeting of the newly elected Executive Committee, who elected the following officers: Chairman, Robert N. Stevens; Secretary, Roger M.Bury; Treasurer, Harry B. Cummings. The Chairman then appointed these additional officers: Head Agent, Andrew M. Rankin, to be succeeded prior to our next reunion by Samuel Z. Wormser; Newsletter Editor, Michael E. Choukas; Bequest Chairman, Leon C. Greenebaum; Fall Reunion Chairman, Paul R. O'Connell. Other officers will be appointed by the Chairman soon. Appreciation for their services to the Class was voted to the officers who are retiring as of this reunion; Battin, Broer, Cusack,Oliver, and Scammon.
After the meeting, we all went to Dick's House, where the picture was taken under the difficulties mentioned earlier, then moved inside for the fine and moving memorial service and dedication of the 1927 Memorial Lounge, conducted by the Reverend Nick Carter. This was the high point of the reunion, and I believe that we all came away with a feeling that this memorial to those members of the Class who are able to be with us only in spirit follows the wishes of Mr. E. K. Hall, expressed in a letter to the Class, written shortly after the cornerstone of Dick's House was laid, in which he said "It is our earnest hope that you all will maintain your interest in the House as long as there is a single member left, and that, as you come back to Hanover from time to time in the years to come, you will drop in at the house and leave a word of welcome and good cheer for the boys who at the time are making the House their home."
Our luncheon was held at the Outing Club House, and the afternoon was free for anything we wished to do. We gathered in College Hall for cocktails at five, then went to the Inn for our Class Banquet, where we were treated to a resume of the past 35 years by Doane Arnold, with apologies to Ogden Nash, which only the strict limit placed on the length of this report by the Editor prevents me from quoting here. Perhaps the Speak will make it possible for you to read it. Along a more serious vein, Paul O'Coimell spoke of the problems posed by the tremendous expansion of our urban centers, including the growth of the suburbs, decay of the core areas, transportation, and the many other problems faced by our city planners. John Dickey found a few moments from his very busy schedule to welcome us back to Hanover. The evening ended at the tent, and, again, it was late before most of us got to bed.
It was a fine reunion, as I'm sure that all who were there will agree. We were fortunate in being housed in Middle Mass, which has been completely renovated, with conveniences we are not used to in dormitory living. As we have come to expect from our present reunion committee, everything was perfectly planned, and the machinery ran smoothly. People found time to do whatever they most wanted to, whether it was tapping the keg in the tent, touring Hopkins Center, attending the Hanover Holiday lectures, playing golf, or, in some remote cases, sleeping. The crowd wasn't as large as five years ago - there were 69 members of the Class and a total at- tendance of 140 - and perhaps it was just a little quieter; after all we are all five years older, but we can still have a lot of fun. Prize for the longest distance traveled went to Bed and Grace Williams, who came from Palo Alto, for their first appearance in many years.
Shorty Oliver and his Reunion Commit- tee have set a standard which it is going to be hard for future reunion committees to meet. Planning and operating a success- ful reunion takes a great deal of planning and hard work, and the Class will be eternally grateful to them.
Don't forget the Fall Reunion, which will be the weekend of October 5 and 6, at the time of the Penn game. See you there.
1928 celebrated their thirty-fifth reunion at the same time as the classes of 1926 and 1927.
RETIRING CLASS SECRETARY
