1940
One of the most pleasant weekends of the year for those of us living in Hanover is the Class Officers conclave in early May, when we have the chance to welcome back to Hanover the hard working officers of your class. This year's weekend was memorable for many reasons, not the least of which was the perfect spring weather we were able to muster. It made everyone look and feel good as they relaxed in the warm sun on the Inn porch or at the crew races or the tennis matches - all after the work sessions, of course. Our class was well represented by five of the officers - Diz, president; DonRamie, treasurer; Turk Lake, head agent; Jack Moody, reunion chairman; and me, secretary. The only two missing were HughSchwarz, class gifts chairman, who lives in Florida, and Sam Williams, newsletter editor, who was vacationing in Florida. Everyone but Diz had his bride along and don't ever underestimate the interest of the distaff side of the class in our projects and affairs. The rest of you '40 wives can rest assured that your interests at reunion and the Princeton weekend were well protected and discussed by the loyal spouses of the officers.
Plans were discussed for the two class events and the hopes were high that we might have 100% attendance at our 25th reunion a year from now. Jack Moody and his committee have lots of the details ironed out already and you will be hearing about them in due course, but for now block out June 17 through 20, 1965, on your calendar and make your plans for joining the green wave rolling up to the Hanover Plain and the Terrific Twenty-fifth.
There are still a few rooms available with the Class for the Princeton weekend, October 9 and 10. If you write me quickly, I'll see that you get taken care of, but if you wait, you'll have to bed down in Concord or Keene and commute.
A good letter from Jack McDonald described the May 1 gathering in Chicago of the largest '40 group ever assembled there. Hal Sommer vouched for the group of 16, who showed up at the University Club for lunch. Jack canvassed all 46 class members in the northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin area and lured the following stalwarts to the luncheon table for a couple of hours of fellowship and fun: Bob Raclin, Bud Raymond, Nick Turkevich, Bud Weil, Bo MacDonald, Bob Jordan (an outlander from Milwaukee), Dick Babcock, Bob Castle, Sid Craig, Walt Dance, Ken Elliott, Rowland Hall, Rollie Hillas, and Dave Leake, besides Hal and Jack. Will Pitz called in from Wisconsin during the luncheon, expressing his regrets but joining the group vicariously via the phone. Everyone had such a ball they made plans to organize a bigger group on a yearly basis. Jack and Hal deserve a lot of thanks for spearheading a regional undertaking of prime importance - they engendered a lot of; enthusiasm for the reunion next year - and I hope many other areas will do the same and let us know about it, either before or after.
Our family enjoyed a two-week vacation in the sunny south last month, two highlights of which were visits with classmates in Florida. We spent an entertaining several hours with Scotty and Loomie Rogers at their vacation retreat on the Gulf of Mexico. Scotty is still doing a lot of traveling and, in fact, had interrupted his week on the beach for a quick trip to New York. By dint of much hard work he is making his division of Parker-Hannafin thrive and grow and he buys new companies to fill in the gaps too.
It was fun to catch up with Jim and DeeAnne Thomas in Winter Haven. They live in the midst of 19 citrus trees and near a lake where they boat and swim - the man has it made! Jim didn't profess to liking the frozen juice better than the fresh, but he didn't seem too upset about the loss of some of his orange trees in last winter's frost. He's a real company man of the Minute Maid variety! Their four kids keep the old folks hopping and they hope to show them New England before and after reunion next year.
Out in Sausalito, Calif., the City Council has assumed a green tinge lately - in 1940 proportions as well. Both Mel Wax and BillChapin's wife Eleanor O'Hara Chapin, have waged an imaginative, hard-fought and successful bid for seats. Their platform centered on saving the waterfront of the town from all sorts of unattractive encroachments and Mel's work with the planning commission led to his draft to stand for the Council.
At the opposite end of the country, FredPUlsbury was elected to the City Council in Springfield, Mass., on the 160 th ballot to fill a vacancy.
The Fairfield County Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame honored Bill Hutchinson at a big banquet in May. Hutch's category, one of five so honored, was for the civic leader of the county who has also been prominent in football. It's a natural and richly deserved.
Alumni Councilor Stu MacPhail has recently been elected president of the Northwest Chapter, Steel Service Center Institute. So any of you guys who want more efficient steel service now know who the top dog is and can go right to the prexy for action. Look for Stu at the trade shows when his problems as president of Keelor Steel and Aluminum Company of St. Paul allow him to get out of town.
Bill Halsey sent me an announcement of the birth of his new firm for the practice of general architectural design and architectural planning and programming. He is now located in Cambridge, Mass., so stop by when you need some expert advice or services.
Another guy with a new office is BobArmstrong, who stopped managing public relations for RCA Whirlpool to become managing editor of Building Supply News for the Cahners Publishing Company in Chicago. Welcome to the Windy City, Bob, and be sure to get your name on Hal Sommer's list for the next blast.
Bill Hayes is just back from a flying trip around Europe, making certain all the PX's are well stocked with Shulton products. I'd like to plug it because the last time he was in Hanover he left a generous sample with me - and it's good!
That's all for another year - see you in the fall. It'll be too late then to make plans for Princeton, so do it now and don't be left out. Have a great summer and if you get up here to God's Country, stop by and say hello.
Secretary, 5 North Balch St. Hanover, N. H.
Class Agent, Procter and Gamble Mfg. Co. 17 Battery Place, New York 4, N. Y.
