1918

These notes are being prepared in the middle of December because the Shirleys are leaving for the West Coast to visit their daughter Betty in a week.

We assume by the time you read this that the suggested " '18 Annual Pow-Wow" to be held in Florida will be well on its way, with a date set and the reservations being made by Howie Park. We hope that this suggestion of Al Gottschaldt's works out so that the Class can look forward each year to a similar meeting.

Everyone will be proud to learn that NeilO. Sheldon has recently been elected president of The General Mutual Insurance Co. of Albany, N. Y. This company devotes its principal effort to servicing customers in New York State and Vermont. Our congratulations go out to Neil. We don't dare to call him by the nickname by which we know him, now that he has reached this distinguished position.

Our famous Classmate, Prof. Ed Booth, Professor of English Emeritus at Dartmouth College, presented an evening of readings of Othello, on Monday evening, November 9, in the Bryant College Auditorium, in Providence. The Times-Gazette of Warren, R. I., carried the announcement of this event as "one of the highlights in the College's plans to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare's birth." We tried to have Ed do some readings for us at Reunion. We wish now he had agreed to make them, as we still believe that it would have been another highlight of our Reunion, which we would have long remembered.

Jack Bingham is trying to make up his mind whether the Class Newsletter should be dignified with a name. We believe that he is still seriously considering naming it "THE ROAR." If any classmates have any other suggestions please get them in to him promptly, or it will be too late. He also is developing a birthday card, with the aid of George Stoddard, which we plan to send to you as your birthdays arrive; first to let you know we are thinking of you, and second, to let us know, by return mail, what you and your families have been doing. We believe you will like George's suggestions for this card.

Speaking of George Stoddard; he recently informed us that slowly but surely the Hanover Community is getting around to doing something about the Eleazer Wheelock grave. We think that by the next time you are in Hanover you will be able to find it easily and that it will have been given some degree of prominence in the cemetery where it is located.

Mel Southwick seems to be well on his way to recovery after some surgery, which was performed the last part of October. This was a very rare operation, known as "excision of the carotid body." The operation was introduced in this country just a couple of years ago. It is an operation which helps to relieve patients who have asthma or emphysema.

Stew Tease writes: "I am shooting a few golfs a week, and have played tennis a couple of times since I returned to Rancho Mirage in September." We are sure many of our class will envy his golf, as he still breaks 90 pretty frequently.

Various reports from Classmates: JohnnyCunningham: "Just back from our wonderful trip to Hanover, where we saw two football games and had beautiful weather. TomCampbell and I are the only 18'ers in this whole Denver area." Paul Miner: "Helen and I stopped in a few days ago to see Curtis J. Birkenmayer and his wife, Lee; who live at Redington Beach. They both look grand. Many of us will remember him as one of the bulwarks of our freshman football team." Amos Blandin: "We are delighted with the opportunity to have such nice visits with the Stan Joneses and the Johnny Cunninghams, while they were in Hanover." Bill Dutelle: "Have just moved into a 5-room bungalow. Getting too old to climb stairs to go to bed. Address — 642 West Vine Street, Springfield, Ill. 62704." Dwight Sargent: "We plan to go to Europe March 11, and stay until May 15. Looking forward to the trip with great anticipation." Jack Slabaugh: "On our recent trip east we spent a couple of days in Hanover, where we had long visits with the Amos Blandins, and the Stump Barrs. Dick White: "Saw Larry and Mary Pope very recently. Both in the pink. Dick and Marian took a trip to Nova Scotia, the Gaspe, and the eastern part of Canada this last summer. They had some good fishing in Georgian Bay last August." Bill Shellman writes from Skokie, Ill., that his wife, Gladys, _ is slowly improving from a bad kidney infection. Marshall Leavitt: "We drove to California the end of July to visit brother-in-law, then drove up through Washington and Oregon, and home via Trans-Canada Highway, Vancouver, to Montreal. All in all we drove about 11,800 miles." Dan Shea (via AmosBlandin): we understand that Dan plans to spend about two weeks in Hanover every fall from now on. Between the annual visits to the Stan Joneses and Hanover, and living the rest of the time in and around Florida, seems like Dan has an ideal life. StanJones: A few rare comments from his last summer's experiences — but too good not to pass on even at this late date. "Our home was brightened and made happy for a week by Al Sibbernsen, the Great Dane of Bennington, Nebr. The Dane's distended alarmingly at the sight of the bikinis on the beach. 'Nothing like this on the farm, he would say, and smile, and smile, and smile. The appearance of the writer on the beach in trunks for the first time caused quite a ripple. 'Look at that pore ole man, said a young thing to her escort. Surety they ain't going to let him in the ocean!' Similar admiring comments could be heard. But the writer did enter the water to a depth of three feet, dropping to his pinched haunches. This maneuver always brought the life guards to the edge of the sea in a body, yelling 'Mr. Jones! Mr. Jones! No farther! It was quite a sensation, really." W. T.Woleben: "Went back to the Fiftieth Reunion of my high school graduation at Bloom Twp. High School at Chicago Heights, Ill., and then visited Lincoln College, where I coached from 1924-1929." Pups Colie: "Had a 4-week vacation in Santa Barbara, after two fine weeks of fly fishing on the Madison, Jefferson, and Big Hole Rivers in Montana. Have seen no one from 1918 except EdYoung and Spud Richmond when we attended our 50th at Lawrenceyille." BillMontgomery: "Entertained Hnbie McDonough and Jake Bingham during this last summer, giving them a feed of my corn and vegetables. We had such a good time that we sat around the table from 12:30 until 5:00 p.m., not eating all the time, but occasionally. Have given my Reunion material to Hort Chandler, who will take over the responsibility for running our next Reunion." Lang Robinson: "We have had a long, dry, hot summer here in Illinois, which has kept activities to the minimum. A little work, a little golf, a trip to watch Ayres win the Hambletonian, and relaxing at home. That is about it. Not very exciting, but comfortable." Tom Proctor: "Enjoyed the Reunion very much. It was great to see all the boys again. I am still attending my farm, buying some cattle, and getting ready for another year." Howie Park: "After Reunion the Parks slowly cruised from Long Island Sound back to Miami. On the way we stopped off at Kilmarnock, Va., to visit friends for a few days."

We failed to call attention to the In Memoriam column in the January issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, where an In Memoriam to John E. O'Donnell was published. He passed away suddenly on September 30, 1964, at his summer home at Naples, Maine.

Secretary, 137 Annawan Rd., Waban, Mass.

Treasurer, Brush Island, Darien, Conn.