1940
Happy New Year to one and all! And welcome to 1965, the year of our first, last and only 25th Reunion. By now lots of plans have been made in lots of homes to head back to the Hanover Plain next June and we hope that your abode is among them and that you are planning to be aboard. Like the alewives returning to their happy hunting ground, our Class is fast approaching its time to return to the places and faces of the happiest time of our youth. Lest you think that is a red herring I have just dragged across your path, reconsider if you are fence-sitting on this reunion bit because never again will so many '40's assemble together again and you will be missed! I have seen a few 25'ers in the past several years here and the dominating feeling is the joy and satisfaction of coming back, especially on the part of those who hadn't ever returned or who had not attended previous reunions. So just because you haven't been a steady customer at the Hanover Inn, don't feel the 1940 parade is too far down the road to catch up to - we're not over the hill yet!
Last week I stumbled on hilarious evidence that someone reads these feeble attempts at writing a monthly column. I've had the distinct feeling over the past four years that audience reaction was slim to the point of non-existence which further meant that readers were non-existent. However a short article in the December Atlantic on the hypothetical search for a Mr. America - the commonplace, typical American male who had achieved a certain prominence along with a certain aplomb dispelled that thought. The writer of the article had turned to college class notes to set up his criteria and there found himself in the morass of cliches most class secretaries wallow in - the stilted phrases, the folksy jargon, and the back-slapping verbalism ad nauseam. Being closer to it than most, I was getting a real kick out of this witty article when a paragraph which, for the author, tied all the triteness together jumped out of the paper at me! It was my own deathless prose of several months back - quoted verbatim - returned to haunt me. I can only wonder if it will be legal for me to put on future questionnaires that I've "been published" in the Atlantic Monthly? I'm sure it is the only way I'll ever make the grade, and to think I didn't get a byline!
But the article has made me so self-conscious that never again will I "glean newsworthy items" about all of the "stalwart sons" of "Dear Old." Well, hardly ever that is. But I suppose I can say that I actually saw a good group of them two nights ago in Boston at a dinner meeting Gordie Wentworth arranged for all of our classmates in the Beantown area to discuss our 25th year gift and our Big Reunion. Making the scene to bring us up-to-date on the former was Hugh Schwarz all the way from Florida. Reunion plans in general were discussed by Diz who managed to route a business trip to Chicago by way of Boston to attend the dinner. Jim Schaye, who is in charge of uniforms, had several samples of possible choices along and everyone agreed that the classy class of '4O will make the Hanover Plain a swingin' place come June! The uniforms will be things you will be able to use afterwards - both for the man and woman - so that is another reason you will be glad you came. Representing the glorious state of New Hampshire was Ken Arwe from Keene and Don Rainie from Concord, both busy barristers. Bill Halsey who opened his own architectural firm a few months back looked hale and hearty, as did also Joe Burnett, Bill Squire, Chet Brett, Staff King, Ted Miller, Larry Herman, and Howie Stockwell. Everyone there indicated they would be on hand in Hanover next June 17-20 and expected to see you too!
A recent letter from Stu Mac Phail confirmed his plans to be here for the 25th also. And he is not only bringing his everloving, Janet, but is making reservation for the Dick Grays, the Hal Wonsons, the Bill Maxsons, and the Bob Lakes. That's the kind of caravan organization work that thrills a reunion chairman! Stu will be on deck a day or two early for Alumni Council meetings here.
The Alumni Records office has let me know that Hunter Phelan has moved back to Columbia, S.C., after a brief period in Chicago. He can be reached at 1431 Medway in that Southern city when he isn't being vice-president of Supermarket Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The same source told me to address all future mail for GeorgeStevenson to 1506 Lynglen Drive, Glendale, Calif., where he moved from Duluth. He's with the Stevenson-Edwards Company which sounds like a rather full proprietorship. What does S-E do, George?
Several months ago I had a good letter from Colonel James Timothy bringing me up-to-date on his army career since he left the class after our freshman year. Pat graduated from West Point in 1942 and while a commanding officer of an Infantry Heavy Weapons Company in the ETO he earned several notable decorations. Since World War II and before the Korean War he spent the years going to Command and General Staff College, being on the War Department General Staff, a White House aide, an assistant military attache in Paris, a member of SHAPE, and an instructor back at West Point. Since, he has continued to earn a variety of important and interesting assignments both here and abroad and is presently the Commanding Officer of the 1st Brigade of the 101th Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, Ky. Fine to catch up to you again, Pat, and we all hope your duties will allow you to make our reunion as you plan.
I've had an urgent plea from Pat andEddie Miller to try and locate Pat's red cashmere coat which was switched with another similar one during the Princeton weekend. All you gals who were here then or at the Lake Morey Inn and think you have your own red coat please run right over to the closet and check the label to make sure it's really yours, the one Pat has isn't as new as hers was nor does it fit her as well as it should!
Whit Miller was honored by his alma mater and Sports Illustrated by being nominated to the Silver Anniversary Ail-American Team. He was one of sixty-nine cited for their success in life 25 years after their senior football days when they sparkled on the gridiron. Being senior captain of a team that, during a three-year stretch, won 19, tied 3 and only lost 5 should have been thrilling enough for one man's lifetime, but Whit has gone on to greater glories since. He was one of the organizing partners of Toro Mfg. Co., a company whose advertising and scope of operations underscores a phenomenal growth pattern, and was president of the firm from 1950 to 1954. He has since been an executive of the Vendo Co., and now is president of Cramer Posture Chair Company in Kansas City. A worthy honor justly deserved.
Last month, before the Johnson Landslide, Dick Mather was pictured in the Albuquerque, N. M., paper as a smiling candidate for state representative. Of course, his Democratic opponent was smiling too and the important thing to discover is which one is still smiling. How about it, Dick? What were the results? Hope you survived the onslaught and are carrying forward the two-party system in the Southwest.
Bob Weil has written me that he will be at reunion next June following his daughter's graduation from Wheaton. Bobby has been trying to stir up some southern interest in the trek north for the Big Event among classmates as well. He has also been laboring hard to reorganize the Dartmouth image in his home state through club wor and enrollment contacts. At this point he really feels like a vox clamanting in the deserts of Alabama. It's such important work however so keep it up and count your reward in heaven!
It looks like it will be a good year on the slopes of the North Country. If you get up this way skiing drop by for the latest weather report and don't forget to keep your knees together and bent. See you next month if you make the mailman see me in the meantime.
Secretary, 5 North Balch St. Hanover, N. H.
Treasurer, 64 North Main St., Concord, N. H. 03301
