1919's 45th
Your perennial secretary has had a hard time finding enough superlatives to describe the Fabulous Forty Fifth Reunion, for it certainly was one of our best from all angles. First of all, our most sincere thanks to Max Norton and Chug Sears for all their hard work in organizing the affair, and to the college organization, principally Dave Orr, for their cooperation. The weather was fine, except for some rain Monday night, and a breezy Tuesday which cooled the folks off. Sunday saw some early arrivals, among them Elisabeth and Norm Sterling from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Fat and HonJackson from their summer home in Sagamore Beach, Mass., and Ed and Bea Martin from Wellesley Hills, Mass. On Monday things really swung into high gear, with a tour of Hopkins Center for those who hadn't seen it, a short meeting of the executive committee with Cotty Larmon, and a cocktail party in the Class Tent at Russell Sage Hall, headquarters for the class. Following this first get-together came the Alumni Dinner in the Leverone Field House with the other reuning classes of '18, '20, and '24.
President and Mrs. Dickey were at home for the classes after the dinner and at 9 p.m. came Johnny Chipman's big "Sing Along" in the Spaulding Auditorium in Hopkins Center. Great credit goes to John for producing and directing this musical treat and everyone had great fun joining in the singing of the old songs of our undergraduate days. Jim Davis was responsible for the name of the show "Hear the echoes ring . . . the sound of Dartmouth."
Tuesday dawned nice and chilly and after breakfast in our tent, the class assembled in Rollins Chapel for a joint Memorial Service with '18 and '20, with Professor emeritus Edmund H. Booth '18 officiating. The service was a most thoughtful remembrance to our departed classmates and the program will be sent to 1919 widows. Following the services our class meeting was held in Silsby Hall with President Cotty Larmon in charge. It was voted to raise the class dues from $5.00 to $6.00 to take care of the increased cost of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE which, of course, is sent to all classmates paying dues. Also, it was voted to ask the class for an additional $4.00 per year, optional, to provide a fund for the possible memorializing with a book of classmates who died prior to the start of our book program in 1948, and to provide a fund for our 50th reunion in 1969 to be used at the discretion of the executive committee, noting that this reunion coincides with the 200th anniversary of the founding of the College. HowieCole spoke on behalf of the Bequest Program of the College and the class supported a resolution recognizing the importance of this phase of the long range planning of the College, but that it is, of course, an individual problem. The matter of a new class di- rectory came up, and, after the meeting, Lou Munro very kindly consented to get one out. It will be mailed to the class as soon as completed. Fred Daley, our hard working Class Agent, was unable to be present due to an operation (Fred came through with flying colors) and a telegram was sent to him expressing the thanks of the class for his fine work on the 1964 Fund. As these notes are being written, 1919 is at the top in classes of our group (1914-20) with 233 gifts totalling $27,647.00 and we have a good chance to stay there.
After the class meeting we adjourned for a picture on the campus and then to Storrs Pond (at the foot of Balch Hill) for our picnic lunch. Despite the aforementioned cool and windy weather, it was a great success - there were spirits available for those who needed them, and who didn't, and the food was fine. Later in the afternoon we assembled at the tent and then proceeded to Thayer Hall for our class dinner, ably M.C'ed by Ed Martin. President Dickey paid us a brief visit and the dinner put on by Jeanette Gill was voted tops by all. The setting was perfect - Spider paid tribute to the work of the class officers over the last five years and to Win Batchelder, our roving Newsletter Editor. Back to the class meeting for a moment - the nominating committee consisting of Spider, Harry Colwell, and Howie Cole came up with a big surprise, after hours of consultation - and the slate was elected so fast that none of the officers had a chance to get in a word. So your officers for the next five years are just the same - president, Russell R. Larmon, Hanover, vice president, Robert A. Jackson, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., secretary, George W. Rand, Hanover, and treasurer, F. Ray Adams, Springfield, Vt. At our fine class dinner Warner Bentley, Director of Hopkins Center, gave us a fine and humorous talk on the problems of this huge operation of the theater, music, and the arts.
Widows present at the invitation of the class included Mrs. Adelbert Ames, widow of Del, our adopted classmate; Mrs. Stan Fitts, Adele Ives, and Mrs. James H. (Howie) Wright and they were most welcome. Lack of space prevents listing all '19ers on hand but those coming from long distances deserve special mention - Wallace and Margaret Baker from Cleveland, George and Lisa Bingham from Maryland, Bill and Nancy Eads from Arkansas, Norm and Ruthie Jeavons from Virginia, Coke and Florence McCreery from Washington, Stan Mauk from Toledo, Eddie and Connie Seward and Collie O'Gorman from California, Bob Stecher from Cleveland, Jim and Polly Wilson from Ohio, Si and Gladys Stein from lowa and Ben Wylie from Pittsburgh. So let's all keep healthy for the Fiftieth in 1969.
CLASS SECRETARY
