1928
Just before the last class dinner Os called me one night from Troy and said he and Mary were leaving for Europe shortly. This being about their 30th trip, I replied "How novel." After these pleasantries the clincher turned out to be, "Would I write the March notes for the ALUMNI MAGAZINE?" Ever unable to say "No," I agreed.
At the dinner Os gave me a folder with enough notes to last for many Campaigners and in addition told me that he had sent out to about half the class card questionnaires return addressed to me. Here I am ten days later swamped with letters and notes. I have never seen such a phenomenal response to a questionnaire. X must have at least a hundred return cards at this point, and they are still coming in. Result: I have so much news that I couldn't possibly include it all in the space allocated to us in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE so you will just have to read the Campaigner (ADVT.).
The class dinner at the Dartmouth Club on Wednesday, January 22, was without doubt about the most successful we have ever had. Perhaps this was because our own Bill Harris, renowned world traveler, was featured as our guest speaker. In any event 37, count them - 37, '28ers showed up and, as an added fillip following the dinner, seven of the wives showed up for the talk by Bill Harris and his movies. Bill, who works for American Express, looking for new places in the world to develop for tourism, gave a fascinating talk and lived up to his advance billing. Because of limited space I will not attempt to list all of the names, but you can certainly read them all in the next issue of Campaigner (ADVT.).
As you undoubtedly read in Prexy Bill Morton's end-of-the-year note requesting the return of your pledge cards - have you sent yours in yet? - the class has had considerable difficulty in obtaining a competent class agent replacement for George Emery, who has done such a magnificent job these past three years. Probably the high point of the class dinner mentioned above is the fact that Dynamo was successful in obtaining the promise of Howie Bush to be class agent for the coming year at least. Howie, whom most of you remember, has been quietly active in the class for many years and presently lives in Marion, Mass. We are all confident that he has the ability and drive to use the magnificent ground work that George has laid as a base for a real rocket takeoff for '28 in future Campaigns.
By now our own incredible Jack Rose will have held the first underwater press preview in history, at Weeki Wachee, Fla., where two hundred or more "journalists" were to be flown from all over the country together with the picture cast of Jack's new picture, "The Incredible Mr. Limpet." Arthur Godfrey was to have MC'd the event. Jack has been pregnant with this picture for I believe over two years and its delivery in April by Dr. Warner Brothers will, if I remember Jack's previously classified notes to me, portray the unlimited possibilities of using a fish as a spy. It will also include Gil Swanson as a 'movie star. Just how Jack wrangled Gil into the movie is not made clear in the notes I have before me.
A note here from Bill Heep to Os suggests among other things that we might sound out sentiment for another '28 party at St. Andrews in late May. As a one man sentiment-sounder-outer I am confident that this party will take place. More about it later.
Fran Young, whom I saw looking hale and hearty not too long ago, died of cancer of the throat on' January 9. Fran was an unusually pleasant and personable guy and we will sure miss him.
The thing that really triggered Os and Mary's latest junket — this time mainly to Greece - was word from Wat Dickerman who discovered a wonderful five-day steamer trip up the Adriatic Sea, stopping at the beautifully picturesque Yugoslav seaports and fishing villages and costing only a few fish per day. Several years ago when Os had me take over the ALUMNI MAGAZINE column while he went to Europe, I received from him a long and wonderful account of the trip just before I was about to write the column. I was sure that the class would be as interested in his report as I was and so I included it in its entirety in the column. The fact that this saved me a lot of work had absolutely nothing to do with my objective decision. No such luck this time. The deadline is very close and Os and Mary must be having too much fun to think about writing to me. So let's take up some of the questionnaires.
There are just too many of these cards for me to analyze carefully. However, one that intrigues me was written by a fellow who signs himself "Neary." He claims to be VP and "Toreador in Chief" for that hard- working advertising outfit "Pastepot, Tearsheet and Cutpurse." His single-minded purpose leads him to take all vacations on the golf course. His son, John Jr., was married in March of '63 to Carole Bailey of Ipswich Mass., and they are now living in Germany! His principal hobbies are "girl watching and dreaming." A hobby he didn't mention is thinking of ways to avoid being co-editor of the Campaigner.
Jim Montague is director of Southern Vermont Artists Inc. He spends his winters at Pawlet, Vt., and his hobbies are listening to music - doing prints - and writing verse.
Bruce Lewis, whom I thought had retired, says that he is still president of Lewis Historical Publishing Company. However, he claims that his hobby is yachting in the beautiful Palm Beach area. His son, Ralph, is with Socony-Mobil Company and his daughter Mary Virginia, lives in Butler, Pa., and is the wife of Kenneth Cypher. He has nine grandchildren.
Upton Bartlett is personnel director for Rockford Newspapers Inc. in Rockford. Ill. He spent his last vacation on the west coast and hopes to go to England this year. His principal hobbies are camera and hi-fi.
Al Lerer is now superintendent of schools in Maynard, Mass., and says that his principal hobbies are indoors. His son, Jeffrey, is a sophomore in high school and his other son, Meredith, is teaching in Natick, Mass.
A little bird experienced in space allocations for class notes in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE tells me that I've had it.
John Rose '28, center, co-authored the screen play and produced "The IncredibleMr. Limpet," a man-turns-fish war (of the sexes and World War II) film, in whichGil Swans on '28 (r), Omaha industrialist and friend of John's, has a "starring" roleas does Captain Bob Hartmann '40 (l), a bona fide officer in the U. S. Navy.
Secretary, Van Dyne Oil Co., Troy, Pa.
Treasurer, First National Bank, Boston 6, Mass.
