1931

Some months ago I asked 'Jim' WilliamB. Swift to explain 'how come' his nickname. He's done so and here it is. "I was reminded of you last Sunday when my badge at a going-away party for my sister was labeled 'Jim/Bill.' It seems to me that you have only one nickname and are in good shape. I never know when I am with a group which name they will be using. My father started it all, and I have no idea why."

Jim tried to get in touch with Jack "Henkel" Reno while driving through Macomb, Ill., last December but could get no phone response.

Al Rikkola's office has been just around the corner from mine for the last three years, yet we never seem to bump into each other. We both mentioned this at the 100th Anniversary of the Boston Alumni Club last month. Darned if we haven't met each other three times since the dinner! There's an old saying to the effect "that things happen in threes" but I hope it's wrong this time, Rik, and that we keep seeing each other from time to time. Johnny Boermeester is right near by me but X do meet him frequently on the street, and we keep pretty much up with each other and pass news about some of you other fellows and have fun doing so

Ken Anderson's reputation in the life insurance business keeps right on growing. A notice in a trade publication regarding the East-West Sales Congress of the lowa State Association of Life Underwriters says, "The Congress is expected to draw life insurance salesmen and managers from all of lowa as well as Western Illinois and Eastern Nebraska. A turnout of 500 to 600 is expected to see and hear one of the most terrific groups of speakers yet to appear before the Annual Sales Congress." The article then gives Ken quite a nice plug.

The Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph (last September) gave Bill Grant a mighty nice write-up. I've heard it said more than once that the Grants just about run Denver and this article seems to confirm that fact. Amongst many other things it says, "As a candidate in the Denver mayoralty campaign this spring, Grant was endorsed by the two major Denver newspapers." He was described editorially as ."a man with abilities proven in an impressive variety of enterprises, business, welfare and political... a highly regarded lawyer with a quick keen mind and a respected social conscience." The rest of the article is loaded with activities Bill has or is participating in and as you might expect, he has been president or chairman or director of practically all of them. Wonderful record, Bill!

Both of these articles about Rog Donner and Johnny Benson are somewhat late but nevertheless - Rog has been made Vice President of the Investment Division of National Commercial Bank and Trust Company in Albany, New York and Johnny has been appointed to the Tuck School Board of Overseers.

An article about one of our few architects announces that George Conklin is active in town politics and last fall was "unanimously elected chairman of the Democratic Town Committee of Woodbridge, Conn, (near New Haven)."

I have eaten at the Boston Algonquin Club many times over the years but only a few days ago did I notice that the very attractive Algonquin Club matcß folders bear the impression "D. D. Bean and Sons, Co., Jaffrey, N. H." None other than our Delcie David Bean Jr., of course, who is another one of us (like Jim/Bill Swift and Shep/ Willard Wolff) whose nickname seems quite far fetched since his is Jack. Unfortunately, a few days after making the above discovery about the matches a notice was received from the college to the effect that Jack's father, 80, and founder and president of the company, died while vacationing in Florida. Our condolences, Jack and Marge. Marge, a few years ago you took time to send me a mighty nice note about the doings of the Bean tribe - won't you please be a good girl and do it again? And as frequently requested, won't some of you other nice wives do for me what the old man should do and drop me a few lines about your tribe's doings — don't make a big production out of it, just a few paragraphs of the family's high spots jotted down on anything will be mighty, mighty appreciated.

Johnny Rogers, way up in Houlton, Me., has announced his candidacy for the House of Representatives in the June primaries. He's a Republican. Good luck, John, party affiliations to the contrary. It's wonderful that so many of our classmates are getting into politics, both big and little.

Our class doesn't have too many of us in politics, but we do have a large number in teaching and they seem to keep very active as the Portland, Me., Sunday Telegram of January 5 reports on Ted Johnson. Ted keeps busy giving talks and lectures around his home area and frequently gets publicity for so doing. The article states, "Mr. Johnson, a Dartmouth College graduate, re- ceived his master's degree from Boston University. He is past president of the Portland Players and the Falmouth Memorial Library Association."

Thanks to the cooperation of Earl Fyler '29, we have some news about Gale Freeman other than the fact that he was appointed to another directorship or some other position of industry importance. Earl sent the Sunday, December 22, issue of the Chicago Tribune Society Section which outlines that "Thirty-one young women became 'Swan Princesses' for an evening last night as they were presented to Chicago society - in a setting taken from the 'Swan Lake' ballet." The article depicts the beautiful setting and describes it as "ethereal." Gale's daughter, Clara, was one of the fortunate young ladies and the write-up states, " 'Don't they look alike' was the reaction as Gaylord A. Freeman Jr. and his daughter, Clara, waltzed by." Very complimentary to you, Pop, but not at all exaggerated if you have held your own and are still as handsome as the picture on page 61 of the 25-Year Book. Congratulations!

Sam Groves' sphere of influence continues to expand with his election to the Corporation of Northeastern University.

Joe Choate has put in his fifteenth year as head man of the New York Boat Show. He is manager of the show and secretary of the National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers.

Edward J. 'Okie' O'Connor - it's good to get some news about the big boy. Okie is principal of the Samuel Brown Elementary School in Peabody and "is contacting fellow principals, headmasters and superintendents of schools throughout the country to help stimulate Kennedy Library Fund drives as classroom projects."

The months are rolling by so bloomin fast that I must not forget to state now (since even though this is written on February 29 it won't appear until the April issue) that the Alumni Class Officers' meetings take place May 1-2 at Hanover. Class Chairman, Bill Wilson, is taking full advantage of the situation and is killing two birds with one weekend. May 1 and 2 are Friday and Saturday so he's calling a meeting of the executive committee for Sunday and Monday, May 3 and 4. A number of us, therefore, will be able to attend both meetings with only one trip being required. Good planning, Bill! Let's hope we can plan as well for reunion (don't forget our 35th is next year according to the schedule even though it's only our 34th) when we meet on May 3 and 4.

H. Sherwood GuernseyNew Head Agent for the Class of 1931

Secretary, 36 Shaw Drive, Wayland, Mass.

Class Agent, Schoharie, N.Y.