1934

This is a two-part short story about Dartmouth spirit and one man's determination to kindle a flame where there is a dormant, if not dying, ember.

Part One began weeks ago when EdBrown, 1934's indefatigable treasurer, quietly undertook some research. He made a distressing discovery: 25 members of the Class of 1934 had never paid class dues, had never contributed to the Alumni Fund; in fact, had evidenced little interest in the College since graduation day. These 25 represented a mere 5 per cent of the 493 men who stood in the Bema that sparkling June morning 31 years ago and received their diplomas. But, to Ed, they represented 5 per cent too many. So, to each of the 25 he sent a message which said, in essence - Do you care to continue getting the ALUMNI MAGAZINE? Are you really interested in Dartmouth any more?

Just before we went to press, Ed received the first reply - "Yes, I am very interested!" At least one stray is back in the fold. That in itself is a tribute to Ed's missionary efforts. But, if the example of the one is not inspiration enough for the other still-laggard 24, Part Two of this story might be:

The setting was Washington on a quiet Sunday afternoon. It was a magnificent spring day that stirred the deepest yearnings for the outdoors; that strongly beckoned one to a countryside displaying the first traces of spring's flowering beauty. Yet, more than 1,000 persons with a deep love or at least an abiding friendship for Dartmouth moved indoors, instead! They filed into the Presidential Ballroom of the Statler-Hilton until there was not a seat left, there to hear and to be thrilled by the Dartmouth Glee Club. It was a tremendous testimonial to the greatness of that unquenchable thing called the Dartmouth spirit.

Tom Beers, who has attended a great many Dartmouth Glee Club concerts in his time, told us: "It was a moving and inspiring experience. After the singing of 'Dartmouth Undying,' my 16-year-old daughter Nancy leaned over to me and said, 'Daddy, do you want to borrow my handkerchief?' I wasn't ashamed to get emotional about it. Seeing those hundreds of people respond as they did was something that made you mighty proud to be a Dartmouth man."

To those remaining 24 seemingly disinterested 19345, we address this question: Can these hundreds (and many other thousands) of Dartmouth men be wrong?

HONORS - Frank S. Turbett named District Director of the Internal Revenue Service in Cleveland, moving up from a similar post in Newark, N. J. This had to be a billion-dollar promotion for Frank inasmuch as the total of federal taxes collected in Cleveland last year was $4.4 billion compared with $3.5 billion in the Newark District. ... Bill Baird, elected President of the Omaha Bar Association. (We are indebted to Bill Ramsey for sending along the glad tidings by way of an Omaha newspaper clipping on which Bill (Ramsey, that is) wrote: "A recent photo of my ancient friend Bill Baird." ... Herb Hawkes named Editor of the Bulletin of the Geological Society of America. This will keep him busy full time. Herb, now at the University of California, will continue to operate from Berkeley.

Chalk up one more presidency for the Class of 1934. This time the honor belongs to Henry Rigby who was moved up from executive vice president to the duties of President of the Keyes Fibre Company of Portland, Me. As president Henry will be the chief operating officer of the company. He was named executive vice president of Keyes in 1963. Previously he was with Champion Papers, Inc., as vice president in charge of operations and later as executive vice president in charge of corporate development and international operations.

NAMES IN THE NEWS - Dr. GeorgeMagrath (Mac to his 1934 classmates) has won a one-year renewal of his contract as superintendent of schools in Meriden, Conn. Mac has been there since 1949 when he was named principal of Meriden High. He's been superintendent since 1955. Mac, who holds advanced degrees from the Universi- ties of Connecticut and Vermont, has taught in Connecticut since 1940. ... Ted Gregory, Development Officer for Quinnipiac College of Hamden, Conn. (Great Town) recently re-elected to membership of the Family Service Corporation in Branford, Conn.

DILEMMA - During some recent long-distance telephone reminiscing with BobFord, we learned that Bob and Jean are facing a moment of truth, pleasant truth. Come next month, their son Doug will be getting his Business Education degree from Wagner College and son Russ will be getting his Mechanical Engineering degree from Tufts. The rub is that the boys will be grad- uating not just on the same day (June 5) but at the same hour (11 a.m.) - several hundred miles apart! So Bob will have to attend one graduation; Jean the other.

THE CUSTOMERS (ALMOST) ALWAYS WRlTE - (Delayed dispatch from our faithful Class of '34 correspondent, Hank Werner, reporting on Freshman Father's Weekend). ... "Registered in Hopkins Center and noted that Dave Hedges and BenBenoit hoped to make it but, at last moment. couldn't. It was good to see Bill Barnet, Fred Wolf, Jack Lynch and, all the way from California, Wendy Williams. We spent a lot of time introducing our sons to one another and reliving wonderful hours spent in Hanover. ... Stayed with Jo and Bill Wilson, and the weekend was so well organized I practically never saw them. Watched the freshmen swim against Exeter and swamp the prep team. It was great to see Mary andBob Engelman's twin son Steven take a second in the' 100-yard free style. ... Deniseand Steve Meigher's son, Chris, was listed to swim in the free style and butterfly, but unfortunately had a bout with illness. ... Saw the varsity hockey team trounce the alumni, 9-6. Barbara and Bill Smoyer's son, Bill, was easily the star with two goals and two assists for the varsity. ... Spent a pleasant hour with Marian and Orv Dryfoos' son, Robert '67. Bobby and wife Kathy became parents of a son, lames David, the following Tuesday. ... I wondered if this might not be a Dartmouth record — to have had three generations (Orv, Robert, and James) in residence in HanOver within 31 years. ..."

(Dispatch from our faithful Class of '31 correspondent, Bill Steck) — "I see quite a bit of Frank Heath inasmuch as we are both members of a fun-loving group of lawyers known as the Court of Nisi Prius. Frank is the clerk (fancy name for secretary-treasurer) of the organization."

REMINDER - June 30 is the deadline for contributions to the Alumni Fund (and a great opportunity for those laggard 24 to get back on the reservation).

Secretary, 7113 Millwood Rd. Bethesda, Md. 20014

42 Monroe Ave., Pittsford, N. Y. 14534